Rediscovering This Year’s Overlooked RPG Gem: The Best Strategy Experience in Years

Writing about games might sound like a dream career—and honestly, in many ways, it really is. However, it comes with its own set of challenges. One of the downsides is that not every game hits that sweet spot of excitement or motivation. Often, I find myself flipping the switch from ‘fun mode’ to ‘work mode,’ especially when I’m tasked with diving into a game that’s not quite my style as often as once a week. Imagine having to log 50 hours into Call of Duty while juggling the demands of editing, meetings, reports, and some head-scratching Google updates—it’s no walk in the park!

But then came Unicorn Overlord, released back in March. This game turned out to be a refreshing change—a true game-changer, if you’ll pardon the pun. Once I got my hands on it, both for a preview and subsequently the review copy, I found myself immersed, clocking an impressive 100 hours in just a couple of weeks. I was hooked, playing in bed, during commutes, and even while waiting in line for gigs. It broke the spell of the ‘mundane work game,’ injecting some much-needed fun back into my routine.

So, how does one capture the essence of Unicorn Overlord? Imagine treating yourself to a lavish meal at an upscale restaurant—one you could only splurge on once a year. It’s that kind of luxurious experience, with a bit of an unconventional twist. The game is a harmonious blend of familiar comforts and surprising, exotic flavors that delight the senses.

Unicorn Overlord is a tactical RPG that takes the concept of auto-play to another level. It’s more about building and managing your army rather than the action of battle itself. Think of it as marrying the strategic nuances of Final Fantasy 12’s Gambit System and Tactics Ogre, with a little borrowing from Fire Emblem thrown in for good measure.

It harks back to the 1990s, echoing classics like Langrisser and Shining Force. However, Vanillaware, true to form, has taken familiar RPG tropes and expectations, remixing them to create something fresh and distinctive. There’s nothing quite like Unicorn Overlord, and that’s a big part of its appeal.

Consider the battle mechanics. If you wish, you can bypass every battle entirely. The game’s mechanics calculate stats and maneuvers behind the scenes. You can delve into the numbers, optimizing your characters and organizing your squads to ensure they dominate the battlefield. But that’s not the heart of the game.

Much like Fire Emblem, this game encourages a player-driven narrative, where character interactions and skill synergy create engaging scenarios. Watching your units team up and seeing their dynamics unfold is downright irresistible. More than a few times, I found myself so absorbed in perfecting my strategy that I missed my stop on the Tube!

One of the standout features of Unicorn Overlord is how it makes even the simplest engagements feel intense. Crank up the difficulty, and you’ll need to become intimately familiar with your army’s capabilities to stand a chance of success.

This RPG reels you in with its depth. You know it’s a gem when landing a slight boost to your flying squad’s damage output elicits a fist-pump, and a missed attack with a 95% hit rate can send you back to the drawing board. Vanillaware expertly balances challenge with reward, making it an intricately layered RPG sandbox.

In a year brimming with remarkable RPGs, Unicorn Overlord might not have received the spotlight it deserves. But if you’re after something truly distinct and enchanting for the festive season, this game is a fantastic choice—even over my actual Game of the Year pick. It’s the perfect way to recharge as you look forward to the year ahead.