[Time to roll up my sleeves.]
Developed and published by
https://chucklefish.org
"Wargroove is medieval Advance Wars. It's that simple."
- Eurogamer, Wesley Yin-Poole
"Heck, it's a dog in uniform - I'm sold."
- PC Gamer, Samuel Roberts
Release Date: February 1, 2019 on NSW, PC and XB1.
PS4 to follow soon!
Price: Just USD 19.99, EUR 16.99, GBP 15.99. What a deal!
Platforms:
Cross-platform play available on Day 1 across Switch, PC and Xbox One!
User-made campaigns and individual levels can also be shared across platforms
Wargroove is also an Xbox Play Anywhere title, so buying the XB1 version gets you the Windows 10 version of the app as well.
The Steam (Win32) version will have mod support, as per the devs' previous disclosures.
No cross-play for the upcoming PS4 version as per Tiy's comment in the Shawn Layden interview thread.
Purchase Links:
Nintendo eShop
Microsoft Store
Steam
PSN store link to be edited in when it goes up
Genre: Turn-Based Tactics
Physical release: None announced as of this time. But why wait for a physical release? Buy it now, you coward!
No. of Players: 1 to 4 (PVP), asynchronous multi, single screen multi, skirmish modes vs. bots also available
Port info: The Xbox One and PS4 ports were done by veteran port studio Blitworks (they did the NSW/XB1 ports of Salt & Sanctuary/Full Metal Furies, and the upcoming OlliOlli: Switch Stance)
Developed and published by
https://chucklefish.org
"Wargroove is medieval Advance Wars. It's that simple."
- Eurogamer, Wesley Yin-Poole
"Heck, it's a dog in uniform - I'm sold."
- PC Gamer, Samuel Roberts
Release Date: February 1, 2019 on NSW, PC and XB1.
PS4 to follow soon!
Price: Just USD 19.99, EUR 16.99, GBP 15.99. What a deal!
Platforms:
Cross-platform play available on Day 1 across Switch, PC and Xbox One!
User-made campaigns and individual levels can also be shared across platforms
Wargroove is also an Xbox Play Anywhere title, so buying the XB1 version gets you the Windows 10 version of the app as well.
The Steam (Win32) version will have mod support, as per the devs' previous disclosures.
No cross-play for the upcoming PS4 version as per Tiy's comment in the Shawn Layden interview thread.
Purchase Links:
Nintendo eShop
Microsoft Store
Steam
PSN store link to be edited in when it goes up
Genre: Turn-Based Tactics
Physical release: None announced as of this time. But why wait for a physical release? Buy it now, you coward!
No. of Players: 1 to 4 (PVP), asynchronous multi, single screen multi, skirmish modes vs. bots also available
Port info: The Xbox One and PS4 ports were done by veteran port studio Blitworks (they did the NSW/XB1 ports of Salt & Sanctuary/Full Metal Furies, and the upcoming OlliOlli: Switch Stance)
- Wargroove was designed by developers Chucklefish as an homage to Intelligent Systems' beloved Advance Wars series of turn-based strategy games. They're apparently big fans of AW, and after seeing that no modern equivalent of the same genre was available in the market, they set out to create a spiritual successor, incorporating modern enhancements and additional features while they were at it. Based on the unit types revealed so far (helpfully available on the Wargroove Wiki), AW fans should feel right at home. Chucklefish has promised us some surprises however, so it should be fun to see what upgrades they've made to the old formula in the decade (!) since Advance Wars: Days of Ruin released.
- This launch trailer summarizes the basic gameplay nicely. If you need longer samples from actual Wargroove matches, I've included several links in the Media section below.
- If you'd like to go more in-depth, Medium has a great episode of their Fire Emblem podcast (Talk FE To Me) containing an far-ranging interview with members of the WarGroove team: Talking Wargroove with Indie Developer Chucklefish Games! There's a YouTube version of the podcast, as well as a summarized text transcript if you dont have time for a 1hr 20 minute video right now; there's a lot of fascinating stuff (like the reasoning behind choosing a fantasy setting, which seems sound), as well as pictures of Chucklefish's office dog wearing a helmet, which is fantastic.
- A full 33+ mission Campaign Mode playing as a variety of commanders. The total length of the cutscenes alone (pre- and post-mission, as well as occasionally in-mission) reportedly totals more than 1hr 30mins.
- An Arcade Mode, seemingly intended to be played fighting game style. Choose a commander, and fight 5 other commanders on randomly selected PVP maps; you get a special cutscene at the end of each character's "route". Intended to help you familiarize yourself with each character.
- Local and online Skirmish modes (with rule customization!), as well as additional co-op and competitive modes; 30+ 2-player PVP maps, 10+ 3-player PVP maps, and 6+ 4 player PVP maps. Can also be played offline vs. CPU bots, in any of the above listed configurations. Online matches can also be played asynchronously!
- A Puzzle Mode with 25+ missions, challenging you to figure out ways to defeat the specified enemies within a single turn. Looks pretty neat.
- A comprehensive Map Editor, which can be used to build individual maps as well as full-fledged campaigns, including the scripting tools you need for triggers and dialogue, branching paths, unlockable missions and secrets. I mean, just take a look at this shit, it's crazy! You can also freely share your creations with the WarGroove community using the game's dedicated Sharing Center. (GameXplain has an excellent breakdown, which I've posted below.)
- A Gallery where you can view unlocked images from the game, including concept art and some other things the devs are keeping under their hat for now.
- A Codex where you can read up on WarGroove lore, game specific strategy, unit damage charts and more.
- A Jukebox where you can enjoy the game's booming OST at your leisure.
- Support for 10 different languages at launch: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese!
There are four main factions, with three commanders each (for a total of twelve).
There is a fifth "faction" with two additional secret commanders, which I will not list here in the OT as they are spoilers; they can be unlocked by making it through the campaign.
Mercia
Voice Actress: Tamara Fritz
Past roles: Eudico (WarFrame: Fortuna), Female Player Voice (My Time At Portia), Kusanagi Gladiator / F. L. E. X. Silhouette (Heroes of Newerth)
"Queen Mercia is the young daughter of King Mercival II, the legendary and beloved ruler of the Cherrystone Kingdom. She is well-meaning, but inexperienced in the matters of diplomacy. Much more comfortable on the battlefield than on the throne, she hopes she can use her energetic and fearless spirit to rule the country she has now inherited, and gain the respect of those around her."
Groove: Heal Aura. When used, it heals all units in a large radius.
Emeric
Voice Actor: Jason Marnocha
Past roles: Megatron (Transformers: Prime Wars), Levant (Regalia: Of Men & Monarchs), Keicho Nijimura (Jojo's Bizarre Adventure), Amadeus Guildenstern (Never Stop Sneakin')
"Emeric is the Cherrystone Kingdom's royal mage, and a close friend of the late King Mercival II. He now finds himself tasked with guiding the newly crowned Queen Mercia through her royal duties."
Groove: Cherrystone Defense, in which Emeric deploys a Cherrystone, providing a defensive bonus to all nearby friendly units.
Caesar
Voice Actor: ... woof.
"Despite being a dog, Caesar has managed to create an incredible air of authority and dignity around him, so much so that he is able to command whole armies to defend the Cherrystone Kingdom."
Groove: Inspire, which allows all adjacent units to act again this turn.
Valder
Voice Actor: Sean Chiplock
Past roles: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Revali), Freedom Planet (Spade)
Also voices the Floran Tribe commanders Greenfinger Zawan and Sedge.
"Ruling necromancer of the Felheim Legion, Valder secured control of the Fell Gauntlet at a young age and with it, the power to raise the dead. Valder aims to show the world there is more to a zombie than a shambling corpse."
Groove: Raise Dead, creating an allied, full-health Soldier unit adjacent to him, which can act immediately.
Ragna
Voice Actress: Kimlinh Tranh
Past roles: Snip & Clip (Snipperclips), Fidget (Dust: An Elysian Tail), Ms. Fortune/Robo-Fortune (Skullgirls)
"Assembled from the remains of fallen heroes, Ragna was created by Valder to lead the Felheim armies. With a mind as fractured as her body, Ragna makes a manic game of war that feeds her compulsive need for victory."
Groove: Shield Jump, allowing her to teleport to a tile within 5 tiles and deal 5 damage to adjacent units when she lands.
Sigrid
Voice Actress: Elsie Lovelock
Past roles: Never Stop Sneakin' (theme song), Rooster Teeth's Death Battle (Tracer)
Also voices the Floran Tribe commander Nuru.
"Sigrid is a High Vampire and one of the most powerful warriors in the vast wastes of Felheim."
Groove: Vampiric Touch, which drains all health from an enemy unit and heals her.
Tenri
Voice Actress: Dawn M. Bennett
Past roles: Kale & Kefla (Dragon Ball Super), Frieda Reiss (Attack on Titan), Setsuna Tokage (My Hero Academia), Sister Lily (Black Clover)
"Tenri is the long reigning empress of the sprawling and mighty Heavensong Empire. Having lost her mother at a young age to the Felheim Legion, Tenri will stop at nothing to eradicate necromancy."
Groove: Tornado, which allows her to move any unit, friendly or enemy, to another location nearby.
Koji
Voice Actress: Amber Lee Connors
Past roles: Ms. Joke (My Hero Academia), Brandish (Fairy Tail), Vernal (RWBY), Nozomi (Keijo!!!!!!!)
"Koji is the son of the Empress Tenri and heir of the Heavensong Empire. A prodigy inventor, Koji spends much of his time in his workshop, tinkering and inventing things."
Groove: Sparrow Bombs. When used, two unique Sparrow Bomb units are spawned nearby, which may then immediately move up 5 spaces and then detonate, damaging nearby enemy units.
Ryota
Voice Actor: Aleks Le
Past roles: Alexis Doucet (Grancrest Wars), Nightmarionne (Five Nights At Freddy's - Ultimate Custom Night)
"Ryota is a man of action rather than words. In battle he's truly in his element, making him a deadly foe, and an even more valuable ally. Ryota's dedication to the Empire has seen him quickly rise up through the military ranks, now second only to the Empress herself. He lost his legs in battle but he's just as powerful with his replacement prostheses, designed by the great craftsmen of Heavensong."
Groove: Blade Dash. When used, Ryota dashes through multiple enemy units, dealing damage to them in the process.
Greenfinger Zawan
Voice Actor: Sean Chiplock (see Valder, above)
"Each Floran tribe has a Greenfinger, who leads the tribe and offers direction. Kind and patient, Greenfinger Zawan has spent many years among the Floran people in their jungles, and hopes for their continued survival."
Groove: Wild Growth, which creates a line of five vines which block enemy movement. The vines degrade over time at 1HP per turn, and can be attacked by enemy units without attacking themselves.
Nuru
Voice Actress: Elsie Lovelock (see Sigrid, above)
"Though smaller and friendlier than most Floran, looks are deceptive, and Nuru is a lethal warrior, capable to taking down far larger opponents."
Groove: Teleport Beam, which allows her to immediately beam down an active friendly unit next to her, which is paid for with Gold.
Sedge
"As a ruthless killer, Sedge takes true joy in hunting down prey and destroying opponents on the battlefield."
Groove: Sadistic Rush, which strikes a target for 35% damage. If it dies, the Groove is recharged.
There is supposedly one additional commander other than the fourteen referenced above, but the method to unlock him is presently unknown.
Screenshots
Extended Gameplay Videos
PC Games N (April 2018)
Eurogamer (March 2018)
The Sixth Axis (April 2018)
True Gaming Network (May 2018)
PC Games N (April 2018)
Eurogamer (March 2018)
The Sixth Axis (April 2018)
True Gaming Network (May 2018)
Music
This is Chucklefish's YouTube playlist showcasing the themes of all 12 commanders. Check it out!
This is Chucklefish's YouTube playlist showcasing the themes of all 12 commanders. Check it out!
The WarGroove Factions Quiz!
Can't contain your hype for WarGroove? Take a fun quiz to determine which faction best suits you!
Official WarGroove Discord
Chat directly with the devs in their official discord!
WarGroove on Twitter
Keep track of the latest Wargroove news as it happens!
Buy some sweet Wargroove merch!
Care of The Yetee. Mmmmm... merch.
Wargroove OST on Bandcamp
Buy a copy of the game's digital OST, from PhoneticHero.
The Beginner's Guide
New to the Advance Wars style? Have some useful beginners guides to help get you up to speed.
USGamer
Critical Hit
Steam Community Guide for Units
This last one is written by one of the Wargroove beta testers, and breaks down the utility of various units. A must read!
Reviews:
Metacritic -
NSW 86
PC 79
XB1
Opencritic - 84 (based on 35 reviews) Link
A sampling of some reviews:
IGN - 8.5
Critical Hit - 85/100
Eurogamer - No score
USGamer - 4/5 (Kat Bailey!)
Destructoid - 9/10
Metro Game Central - 8/10
The SixthAxis - 9/10
EGM - 8.5/10
RockPaperShotgun - Unscored
PC Gamer - 78/100
Pre-Release Press
Siliconera, January 2019 (interview)
Rock Paper Shotgun, October 2018 (preview)
Gamepur, April 2018 (preview, PAX East build)
Indie Game Website, October 2018 (preview)
Accolades
"Wargroove's brain-teasing tactics and impressive level editor make it the Advance Wars successor fans have been waiting for. " - IGN, Tom Marks
"Wargroove takes a classic formula and repurposes it for a more traditional swords-and-sorcery fantasy setting (with battlepups). With its large number of modes and impressive suite of creation tools, it's almost enough to fill the Advance Wars-sized hole in our heart." - Kat Bailey, USGamer
"There's a lot to love with Wargroove. I definitely have my qualms with some of the campaign mission design and plot, there is so much here to love. I can't say that it's a completely innovate entry into the genre, but I think it's safe to say that Wargroove is a title that needs to be in every turn-based strategy lover's catalog." - Destructoid, Patrick Hancock
To all: It's my first OT of any kind (whether on Era, or in the Old Country), so be gentle. I hope this serves.
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