Endless Tactics: Trial Run

[h3] A tactical roguelite worth wishlisting. [/h3] Really enjoyed Endless Tactics: Trial Run. The turn-based combat is challenging and satisfying, but the RNG-based unit shop is what stood out most to me. Every run gives you different options, forcing you to adapt your strategy instead of relying on the same build. The progression and tactical decisions give it solid long-term potential, and I didn't encounter any major bugs during my playtest. If you enjoy turn-based tactics with roguelite randomness and strategic decision-making, this is definitely worth keeping on your radar.

Endless Tactics: Trial Run is a game that I got into pretty quickly because it takes the usual turn based strategy idea and mixes it with mining and survival. I play as the commander of a planetary mining expedition, sending units onto dangerous planets to collect resources while trying not to get completely overwhelmed by alien creatures. It has a nice science fiction atmosphere, and the pixel art gives everything a simple but effective look. The main gameplay is about defending my mining operation while making decisions about when to push forward and when to get out. I can control different units, including military vehicles and larger mechs, and each turn gives me time to think about where I want everything positioned. The alien hordes keep putting pressure on me, so I cannot just sit around collecting resources forever. I really liked this balance between trying to make a profit and trying to stay alive. The extraction system is probably my favourite part. Once things start getting too dangerous, I can extract back to my orbiting spaceship and use what I earned to improve my equipment. The tempting part is that I can also stay longer and risk everything for better rewards. That creates some genuinely good decisions because I am constantly thinking about whether I have enough resources to make another push or whether I should just take what I have and leave. There are also artifacts that can completely change how a run works. I can collect and combine them to create unusual builds, and some of them have effects that are much more dramatic than a normal upgrade. I liked this because it gives the roguelite side of the game some personality. Different artifacts can encourage me to play in completely different ways, while the procedural elements and planetary hazards help keep each run from feeling exactly the same. The planets themselves add another layer of pressure. I have to deal with things like meteor showers, earthquakes and other dangerous events while continuing to manage my operation. There are also Apex enemies that can appear if I stay around long enough, which makes greed a real part of the gameplay. I enjoyed that because the game does not simply tell me when it is time to leave. I have to make that decision myself and accept the consequences if I push my luck. My biggest issue is that Trial Run obviously feels like a preview rather than a complete game. There is only a limited amount of content available here, and the experience sometimes feels like it is setting up ideas that the full Endless Tactics will hopefully expand on. I also found the number of systems a little intimidating at first. There is a lot to understand between units, mining, artifacts, upgrades and extraction, so it took me some time to get comfortable with everything. Overall, I think Endless Tactics: Trial Run is a very promising strategy roguelite and a good introduction to the larger game. I especially liked the way mining and survival are tied together because it makes every expedition feel like a gamble. The extraction system gives the runs a nice sense of tension, while the artifacts provide plenty of room for interesting builds. It is still clearly a prologue, but considering that it is free, I think it does a good job showing what makes Endless Tactics worth keeping an eye on. Rating: 6.5/10