Wartorn Early Access review: A beautiful game that doesn’t pull its punches

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If you haven’t come across the game ‘Warborn’ yet, that’s alright, I hadn’t either until recently. I chanced upon it while watching a trailer right before receiving a review copy. Let me tell you, a mere 60 seconds of footage was enough to spark my excitement for ‘Warborn’, and I can hardly wait for it to download onto my computer.

Prior to sharing my thoughts about Wartorn, allow me to present to you the newest game developed by Stray Kite Studios. In essence, Wartorn represents an intriguing fusion of real-time strategy with roguelike elements. Within this game, we assume the roles of sisters Yara and Elani, who have been forced out of their home and embark on a perilous quest to locate shelter for themselves and other displaced refugees.

In this game, the adventure unfolds around the mentioned sisters as they traverse a turbulent realm. Accompanied by our caravan, we face numerous challenges, one of which is ensuring the satisfaction of our traveling companions. To tackle this issue, we have a mystical hourglass at our disposal. This artifact compels us to repeat the same day repeatedly.

How beautiful it looks!

I’ll kick off this discussion with an unconventional approach, focusing on visuals. It’s been my belief that graphics in games aren’t the primary factor. In fact, I’ve often thought they’re the least significant aspect of contemporary games. But I’m grateful to have been corrected on that notion by masterpieces like Wartorn. The game title is strikingly beautiful, and the art team from Stray Kite Studios truly deserves recognition.

The game employs an exceptional, watercolor-esque aesthetic which might initially remind one of watercolors. However, it’s important to note that not everyone may appreciate this style due to certain areas appearing somewhat gritty and dim. Nevertheless, Wartorn overall presents a visually appealing image.

Additionally, each unit within our caravan stands out for its exceptional focus on detail, much like the surroundings they replicate on screen can captivate.

Protect your caravan, like your own eye

Let’s shift our focus now to discussing the gameplay, which is essentially the heart of video games. To be honest, my gaming time has been limited recently. Yet, the captivating game from Stray Kite Studios often made me resist tearing my eyes away from the screen. Navigating the caravan on the map and progressing from one location to another brought back memories of becoming ensnared in the “one more game” loop while playing Football Manager.

In this scenario, we’re not engaging in a typical real-time strategy game. Instead of constructing bases, amassing troops, or waging direct warfare, we journey by caravan and decide our path. Often, I find myself at junctions where I must pick a direction, with some choices appearing straightforward initially, but they can lead to valuable lessons.

In other words, although Wartorn isn’t solely about strategy games, it does incorporate aspects typical of such games, such as the essential role of resource gathering in gameplay. We must consistently monitor the food resources and the morale of our people to ensure success. The demoralization of the expedition members signals the end of the game, necessitating a new start.

PROS:

  1. Engaging gameplay;
  2. great graphics;
  3. very well designed maps;
  4. successful combination of RTS with roguelike.

CONS:

  1. Difficulty level;
  2. bugs.

What are the general structures of missions we’ll encounter in Wartorn? Upon initial analysis, they don’t appear overly complex. Essentially, our objective is to make it to the final destination. You can achieve this goal in two different strategies – either by eliminating every obstacle enemy along the way, or by stealthily dodging them and sprinting towards the map’s edge to reach the finish.

Previously, I noted that Yara and Elani aren’t the only team members we control. During our operation, a maximum of five team members fall under our supervision, each possessing unique abilities. It would be advantageous to strategize their deployment in order to fully utilize their capabilities. For instance, water mages can create rain, whereas their lightning-wielding counterparts can summon storms, which interact with one another. Enemies within reach of these abilities should naturally suffer the consequences, correct?

It’s important to note that some units can inadvertently harm their allies too. For instance, a massive troll, in a moment of carelessness, hurled a rock at the enemy group only to have it ricochet back and strike his own comrades. Regrettably, this unexpected turn of events led to a catastrophic outcome as the skillfully placed mages on the hill swiftly wiped out the remainder of my forces, resulting in an overall defeat.

In many instances, it’s beneficial to strategize each engagement carefully, as a headlong rush into battle often results in loss. However, there are times when seeing massive trees or trolls collide with enemy formations can be exhilarating. But the elation is short-lived, for one slip-up could lead to our troops being flanked by forces we’re unable to counter.

Challenging battle ahead

Frankly, I enjoy games that have a decent level of difficulty, yet not to the point where they’re as tough as soulslike games. However, playing Wartorn made me utter profanities due to the tension. Stray Kite Studios seemed to relentlessly challenge me from every angle, leaving me battered and bruised, but I kept returning for more after each encounter. In a strange way, this struggle is what makes Wartorn so appealing to me.

It seemed as though the characters within the game were destined for defeat throughout my playtime. Regardless of our actions or strategies, it appeared inevitable that a formidable foe would reduce our caravan to scraps.

In essence, Wartorn is quite challenging, making it more suited for experienced RTS players rather than newcomers. If you enjoy meting out frustration to yourself, then perhaps the constant deaths in Wartorn could be seen as a form of self-punishment. It’s important to note that this game doesn’t tolerate errors lightly, so making use of its time-slowing feature is crucial. However, even with this strategy, you may still find yourself helplessly watching your defeat unfold, albeit in slow motion.

As someone who cherishes tranquility during gaming sessions, allow me to share my experience with the game “WarTorn.” If you’re seeking a laid-back gaming experience, I would advise steering clear of

It’s not as rosy as it might seem

To put it simply, throughout my review of the game “Wartorn“, you’ll find it praised extensively with high compliments. This might lead one to believe that it’s virtually flawless and every strategy enthusiast should consider adding it to their collection. However, despite its merits, there are some drawbacks, making it not perfect but still a game worth considering.

In the playable demo of Wartorn, there were numerous bugs evident, with those concerning unit behavior being particularly problematic. Frankly, I could only count on one hand instances where my troops acted rationally and selected the optimal route to the designated destination. My patience was severely tested when the squad halted mere steps from the target, turned back, and then circled it. Predictably, they encountered enemy forces along the way and suffered significant damage.

Difficulties arose when units were carrying out commands because it seemed like my orders weren’t reaching them with a noticeable delay or not at all, particularly during unfavorable instances such as attempting to escape from an enemy’s spell range. I eagerly anticipate the developers resolving these problems in the upcoming launch update for the game Wartorn.

Does Wartorn have a chance for success?

It’s now time for me to wrap up my assessment of the game titled “Wartorn”. Truthfully, until the very end, I’ve been grappling with what score to assign it. While on one side, I had an enjoyable experience playing it, and the graphics were so captivating that at times I’d reopen this game just to appreciate the views.

In this setup, everything seems perfectly arranged, making the game quite enjoyable as you stealthily protect the caravan and delve into the intriguing pasts of the two main characters. Yet, the experience is significantly dampened due to an overly challenging difficulty level that’s further aggravated by technical issues such as bugs that interfere during gameplay.

To clarify, I enjoy tough challenges in video games, but when playing Wartorn, it felt like the developers occasionally cranked up the difficulty to an almost unbeatable level. There were instances where, regardless of my actions, the outcome remained consistently unfavorable for me.

Is it possible that “WarTorn” is a game intended for dedicated gamers who have unique eating habits like consuming cereal with milk or pizza using a fork and knife? In truth, this isn’t necessarily the case, but it’s crucial to recognize the high level of challenge in “WarTorn”.

Let me tell you, there’s nothing quite as gratifying as eventually cracking the code on that elusive level that’s given you trouble for hours on end. But just when you think you’ve made progress, you’re likely to be met with disappointment and forced to start over on the next level. Yet, this very cycle is what makes “WarTorn” so captivating; without it, the game wouldn’t retain its unique allure.

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2025-06-18 10:32