Blackguards

What it’s like

Blackguards offers a grim, tactical experience rooted in the dark fantasy of the Dragonlance universe, though it stands firmly on its own merits. You lead a party of anti-heroes—convicted criminals and misfits—through a mature narrative focused on survival, betrayal, and moral ambiguity rather than traditional heroism. The core loop is strictly turn-based tactical combat on hexagonal grids, emphasizing positioning, environmental hazards, and brutal executions over open-world discovery. While the story provides a compelling framework of doubt and treason, the game functions primarily as a series of challenging skirmishes. Progression relies heavily on mastering combat mechanics and character customization rather than narrative branching or replayability. The atmosphere is consistently heavy and cynical, delivering a gritty fantasy experience that prioritizes strategic depth and tactical satisfaction over exploration or social simulation.

Strong in CombatAtmosphere / MoodDifficulty / ChallengeGameplay / MechanicsStory / Narrative

Keep in mind The game lacks meaningful exploration and world interaction, feeling more like a series of connected battle maps than a living RPG. Narrative choices have limited impact on the overall plot, which may disappoint players seeking deep role-playing agency.

AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from pcgamer.com, ign.com, metacritic.com, reddit.com, gamesradar.com.