Wargroove 2 Review (PC)

The trebuchet launches another devastating attack, obliterating one of my swordsmen. I was expecting that, but it still hurts to lose an entire unit so quickly. He was part of a larger group that managed to eliminate some opponent units. Some are back in the village, hoping to top off their health before they return to the battle line. This unit was significantly down in terms of HP, so I basically used it as bait.

I move my chevaliers (capable mounted warriors) up once my turn starts, attacking one of the siege engines. Rhomb, my capable general, swoops in next, targeting the other. He does not have access to his special ability yet, but he is powerful enough to take away three-quarters of its health. An assist from a perforator (basically pikemen) eliminates this big capable enemy unit. The other one will shoot and probably eliminate one of my units next.

This is all happening in the middle of my line. On both flanks, I am on the defensive. The Floran, under Nuru, are pushing and the fact that my defenses are mostly made up of the weak swordsmen does not help. I need to decide whether to pull back and try to defend Lytra for another five turns or whether I am better served by concentrating what strength I have to go after the enemy commander.

Wargroove 2 is developed by Chucklefish and Robotality, with publishing duties handled by Chucklefish. I played it using Steam on the PC. The game can also be played on the Nintendo Switch. The title has solid turn-based tactics mechanics and offers both classic campaigns and a rogue-lite Conquest mode.

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Trouble is brewing once more in Aurania and new faces are joining the armies that will clash across this fantasy world. The Faahri are mice, capable when it comes to warfare but obsessed with uncovering magical secrets, including some that are best kept hidden. The game introduces them in the relatively short tutorial, with a decent cast of characters that deliver a lot of lore details.

Familiar faces from the first title also make an appearance in the three core campaigns. Players will travel across the world, battle fierce enemies, and unlock a final campaign that will bring all the narrative threads together. There’s nothing groundbreaking here but the characters are decent.

In addition to the narrative single-player campaigns, Wargroove 2 also introduces a new rogue-lite experience. Players will pick a Commander and then move across a randomly generated map, with mechanics that are classic for the genre. Some nodes feature straight-up battles against enemy forces, sometimes boosted by their own Commanders. Players also have opportunities to reinforce and heal their forces, as well as interact with their rivals.

Regardless of the chosen mode, the game is turn-based and deeply tactical, focused on careful use of terrain and special abilities. Each encounter features a beautiful map, filled with forests, rivers, fortifications, settlements, forests, and more. Players control an initial set of units and can produce more to bolster their ranks.

Depending on the type, soldiers can move a certain distance during a turn and attack once (fighting ends the turn for that unit). A match-paper-scissors system makes cavalry better at running down archers but more vulnerable to pikemen. Air units and ships bring their own special mechanics and players have to carefully plan to counter them. The game also features riflemen. The mechanics deliver a ton of tactical options, with a focus on terrain and delivering critical damage as often as possible.

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Commanders, who all have special abilities that charge as their comrades fight, are the most powerful units on the battlefield and can single-handedly win many scuffles with normal troops. It’s easy to push them too hard, so make sure they are not overwhelmed by superior numbers and deploy their powers every chance you get.

Wargroove 2 has strong mechanics and tries to deliver a variety of scenarios to test the player’s skill. It’s easy to fail on the first attempt (playing without tweaking the difficulty level) but it’s genuinely fun to try out new strategies and find the key to unlock a particularly testing tactical puzzle. There are Conquest battles that feel unfair, although it is this level of challenge that keeps the mode interesting.

Wargroove 2 offers both local and online multiplayer, allowing gamers to challenge their friends or other members of the community. The title also delivers a full editor that seems easy to use, offering fans the tools to put together their own maps and even their own campaigns. It’s a great way to build a strong community around the tactics-driven experience.

Wargroove 2 takes the already very cute presentation of the original and expands on it. The mice powered armies of the Faahri are a joy to watch in action, especially when their cavalry comes into play. The rest of the factions are just as lovingly animated and the game works hard to make sure players can always click on a tile or unit to get all the details they need. The story cutscenes sometimes move a little slowly, especially when all the featured characters have something to say.

The clash of weapons can become a little audio, but the rest of the game’s audio works well. It does not feature fully voice acting but characters do deliver abbreviated phrases to underline their emotional stances. The soundtrack is suitably heroic and fantasy-themed, a good companion for the constant tactical analysis.

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The Good

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Conclusion