Summary
Unicorn Overlordis a tactical role-playing game with a beautiful mix of classic RPG elements and the latest ideas and gameplay styles of modern games. Vanillaware’s work was ten years in the making, and it shows in the intricate details throughout the game, including the complex commands you can attribute to each unit for tactical moves.
Several tactical RPGs play similarly to Unicorn Overlord and share the combat style, detailed customizations of tactics, and the open growth of your units/characters. There is also a new trend in JRPG games where the art styles are returning to a classical anime-like design of their worlds and characters.
Valkyria Chronicles is a strategy RPG game set on the fictional continent of Europa. While most RPGs take place in a high fantasy setting, Valkyria Chronicles is very much more modern and is an interesting twist to the typical formula. Taking elements from World War II, the game follows Welkin Gunther and Alicia Melchiott as they join Squad 7 against the empire.
The game is very tactics-oriented and has you rely on understanding the different classes of each of your units. Certain units are more effective depending on distance, positioning, and targets. Learning this and strategically navigating the battlefield makes the experience very involved and interesting.
This tactical RPG is set in the fantasy realm of Thra following the rebellion of the Gelflings against the evil Skeksis.Octopath Traveler 2follows the events of the Netflix prequel series and the game plays very much like Final Fantasy Tactics with the Dark Crystal Aesthetic painted over it, which gives the game a good structure to work with.
Many of the units in the game are characters and creatures from the world of Thra, from the Keeper of Secrets, Aughra, to the Chamberlain and General Skeksis. Gelfling heroes like Brea and Rian are also character units that you can use in battle. As a well-made tactical RPG clone, this game is great for fans of tactical role-playing and fans of the Dark Crystal.
The Octopath series brought a resurgence of the SNES graphical look of RPG character sprites that were popular in the early days of Final Fantasy and Fire Emblem. Octopath 2 follows the 8 possible adventures in the world of Solistia. Each character represents a different class known in the genre and their stories tend to overlap and branch together.
Octopath Traveler 2 continues the style and aesthetic introduced in its predecessor, combining 2D sprites for characters and creatures with 3D environments. The art style of themaps and overworld travelis similar to how you would traverse in the world of Unicorn Overlord, where much of the world is a backdrop with character sprites. Octopath Traveler 2 is a more traditional RPG, but if you love the art style and setting in Unicorn Overlord, this is a high recommendation.
GrimGrimoire is one of the big anime-like fantasy RPGs made by Vanillaware, the developer of Unicorn Overlord. You play a magically gifted child, Lillet Blan, as she explores learning in the mystical arts in the Wizarding school of the Tower of Silver Star. Throughout the game, you will command legions of familiars in increasingly complex tests of strategies.
GrimGrimoire represented the starting point of Vanillaware’s trademark art style, which is a combination of Japanese anime with a Renaissance art flare. This stunning art carries on in the rest of Vanillaware’s catalog of games and is often the main appeal that draws in new and old fans. The tactical gameplay is engaging and intuitive asyou use magical creatures, from fairies to dragons,to conquer each level with varying effects.
Odin Sphere is another great Vanillaware game, more in the action RPG genre than Unicorn Overlord. This game follows the journeys of five characters that wield Psyphers, weapons imbued with untold power that fuel the conflict of the world. Odin Sphere has very clear references to Norse Mythology, from featuring Odin and his Valkyries to Ragnarok.
This game contains all the beautiful 2D art and details Vanillaware is known to embrace. The animation of the characters also has a lot of subdued detail that gives the idea of a storybook coming to life. Its gameplay is very involved and keeps you on your toes in battle. Since every character’s Psypher is a different weapon wielded and used by different characters, the gameplay options are very diverse.
During the ten-year development of Unicorn Overlord, George Kamitani from Vanillaware released Dragon’s Crown. It’s a compelling and beautifully illustrated game that plays like the Beat-em-up games Golden Axe and the setting of Dungeons & Dragons. The appearance in Dragon’s Crown is best described as Fantasy world illustrations from the ’70s and ’80s coming to life.
There are elves, monsters, fearsome warriors, and knights, along with powerful sorcerers that you can play to tear through dungeons for loot and monsters. If you love the art style and worldbuilding in Unicorn Overlord but want to be more hands-on in combat, then this game is perfect for you.
The Banner Sagatrilogy as a whole is anintricate and wonderful story to be immersed in. The entire trilogy should count here, but because of how expansive this world is, the first game is vital to start with. The story explores the unsteady alliance between humanity and a race of horned giants known as the Varl as they struggle against the monstrous Dredge.
The Banner Saga is part of Oregan Trail survival, with strategy mechanics for the combat being similar to Fire Emblem and Tactics Ogre. This mix of genre and gameplay styles helps in constructing an atmosphere that makes you sigh in relief during your peaceful travels. It also helps build the intensity during combat and losing characters in battle can lead to some sorrowful moments.
Tactics Ogre: Rebornis the remastered version of one of Square Enix’s classic tactical RPGs, and is one of big examples of a very in-depth and addicting RPG game to play. Join the adventures of Denam, Catuia, and Vyce as they join the rebellion against Hierophant Balbatos of Galgastan. They are also joined by aplethora of recruitable champions that fill your rankswith diverse personalities.
As the intrigue develops, this game introduces multiple branches and choices that can actively affect the narrative of the story. Unicorn Overlord has this, but it just determines whether some characters will join the liberation army or won’t. This is a great piece of video game history brought back to current platforms, and it’s worth playing for tactical RPG fans, especially those who got started with Unicorn Overlord.
Triangle Strategy is a very nostalgic-styled tactical RPG that takes inspiration in gameplay and design from Final Fantasy Tactics. War is threatening the continent of Norzelia, and it’s up to Serenoa Wolffort to thwart the machinations of Gustadolph Aesfrost when he overtakes the kingdom. Along the way, he must protect the balance of the three virtues.
The key mechanic in this game that makes you invest in the choices you make is the three-sided Karma meter. Utility, Morality, and Liberty.These three factors drive the outcome of the story, making every decision count to tipping the scale of influence. If you enjoyed Unicorn Overlord’s tactical gameplay and art, this is an additional great game to play.
Fire Emblem: Engage is the seventeenth installment of the long-running Fire Emblem series, and they’re all known for the rich gameplay, compelling stories of the characters, and the terrifying risks of seeing your favorite characters fall in battle and stay gone. You play as Alear, the chosen wielder of emblem rings that inhabit the spirits of past heroes to fight the Fell Dragon.
Engaging with these emblem rings is the major mechanic in the game and can boost the abilities of your allies throughout the game. The heroes returning through these emblems range from Marth and Ike to more recent additions like Lucina and Corrin. This game is a love letter to one of the biggest Tactical RPG franchises in gaming and is a must-play option if you enjoy the tactics and gameplay of Unicorn Overlord and want to see what else is out there.
