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Would you like to build a dog army? Want to fight frogs? You can do all that in more in Wargroove 2

2K View2023-10-09

Wargroove 2

Turn-Based TacticsPixel GraphicsTacticalRetroCo-op CampaignTurn-Based StrategyStrategyRoguelike

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SHOULD I PLAY WARGROOVE 2?

If you enjoyed the first Wargroove, you won’t want to miss the follow-up. Wargroove 2 builds on the deep strategic gameplay that made the original game great, adding new factions and units, expanding naval combat, and introducing a whole bunch of loveable new characters. The map creation tools are better than ever, and there’s even a new roguelike-inspired gameplay mode. It’s a terrific strategy RPG for players of all skill levels, and if you’re a fan of the genre, you should definitely give it a try.

TIME PLAYED

I spent around nine hours with Wargroove 2, so I had plenty of time to check out all its gameplay modes. While I focused most of my attention on the main campaign, I also had a lot of fun with the brand-new Conquest Mode, which features randomized battles and permadeath. I also played around with some player-created maps and tried making a map of my own! I’ve enjoyed everything so far, but I’m really looking forward to seeing more of what it has to offer.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT WARGROOVE 2?

• Addictive gameplay. Like its predecessor, Wargroove 2 is a strategy RPG in the style of Advance Wars. What does that mean? During each turn, your units can conquer and claim villages, barracks, and other types of bases. You earn gold from every base you claim, and you can use that gold to recruit new units to the battlefield. If you’ve lost a lot of units, or if your units aren’t a good match for the enemies you’re fighting, it’s no big deal. You can always recruit a few more.

That resource-based gameplay is really compelling, especially when there’s such a wide range of units to choose from. If I was being hounded by flying enemies, all I had to do was recruit some archers. When there were pesky enemy ships to deal with, I could summon a kraken to take them out. I always felt like I could change the tide of battle, even when things got tough.

• Colorful pixel art. Even though I had a fantastic time playing Wargroove 2, I think I loved looking at my units even more. The game’s retro-inspired graphics are absolutely gorgeous, but screenshots don’t do them justice. Every single sprite has unique animations, and commander units even have over-the-top special attacks. Some of these units were also in the first Wargroove, but there are also tons of new types to admire.

• Tons of customization options. Strategy RPGs often have rigid rules, but Wargroove 2 is content to let players enjoy the game in any way they’d like to. The game has a traditional difficulty level that can be adjusted, but it also has a bunch of other difficulty options to help tweak the game to whatever feels best. I could reduce the amount of damage my units took, increase my income, and even give myself the ability to undo my turns. Best of all, I was free to adjust the settings at any time, so I could always mold the game to my preferences.

• It’s beginner-friendly. Wargroove 2’s adjustable difficulty makes it suitable for newbies, strategy RPG diehards, and everyone in between. Even though it’s a sequel, the story is also a solid entry point for the series. There are a few returning characters and some references to event from the previous game, but if you dive in without playing the first game, you should have no problem following the story.

• There’s so much to do. Wargroove 2 is an absolutely massive game, and there’s a huge range of content available. The main story campaign is huge, with maps that can last for an hour or more. When I wanted a break from the story, I could switch over to Conquest, a randomized mode that offers all kinds of challenges. Since Wargroove 2 also lets players create and share maps, there’ll pretty much always be something new for me to do.

WHAT SUCKS ABOUT WARGROOVE 2?

• No more Puzzle Mode. The first Wargroove included a fantastic gameplay mode that required you to win battles in a single turn. These maps forced me to play the game in a different way, and I had a ton of fun figuring out solutions to the puzzles they presented. It feels a little silly to complain about absent features in a game that has so much content, but I really missed Puzzle Mode.

• Some maps are a slog. Wargroove 2’s is mostly a blast to play—mostly—but a few of its maps have some serious pacing issues. On larger maps, I often spent entire turns just moving my units, and then had to watch my enemy do the same thing when their turn rolled around. Most maps involve battles, but there are also maps with nontraditional objectives, like running away from enemy forces and guiding units to escape. I liked the idea of these maps, but some of them were a chore to play through. Wargroove 2 is usually pretty snappy, but when the action slows down, things really grind to a halt.

💬 Will you fight as dogs, frogs, and other creatures in Wargroove 2? What’s your favorite strategy RPG? Share your thoughts in the comments!