Recent Switch release Treasure Stack aims to resuscitate the classic puzzler’s appeal. In execution, it was more than just a simple deviation from formula, and Toad’s ability to shift elements around endowed Woods with distinction. Lifting monsters and bombs, the humble resident of the Mushroom Kingdom, toiled to remove successions of same-colored objects. Unlike most puzzlers where players direct the fall of puzzle pieces, Toad served as your on-screen surrogate. While Tetris and Puyo Puyo have inspired countless clones, 1994’s Wario Woods hasn’t been as fortunate. Recommended For: Those who appreciate straightforward strategy without worrying about intricacy. If he should falter, you’ll appreciate that his demise doesn’t end the game, but you will have to pay to bring him back from the depths. In Pirates, your character, Jim, takes to the battlefield rather than directing from the sidelines. While this means that the compilations Easy and Normal difficulties won’t be too taxing, you can definitely reach a quagmire on the Hard setting. Fortunately, each title in the Braveland Trilogy allows you to revive fallen units with the currency earned across each skirmish. That said, careless players can expect a few casualties during combat. Success is rather simple, and by amassing large units, buying new equipment, and acquiring new abilities you’ll undoubtedly conquer each battlefield. Different character types are signified by different icons, while the power of each unit is indicated by a number. Here, you’ll take turn positioning your units, before issuing them to attack with either a melee or ranged strike.

Regardless of your point of entry, the turn-based battles across the Braveland games will likely draw comparison to the Might & Magic Heroes games. So, begin wherever you please since the additional mechanics found in Braveland : Wizard and Braveland: Pirates don’t radically upend the formula. There’s no narrative overlap and each title will impart the fundamentals of play. Of course, the choice is yours to challenge the suggestion. Jump past the main menu, and the game will prod you to play the games in order of release. With Braveland Trilogy, the developers have bundled the trio of titles into a single Switch download.

Although each game provided a simple character arc and a condensed playtime, it still provided some of the gratification of a role-playing experience. Your character, (a Warrior, Wizard, or Pirate across the games) gradually grew from a humble combatant to a formidable force, cultivating an army in the process. A node on the map would either provide a bite-sized dose of exposition or toss players onto a hexed battlefield occupied by enemies. Each of the three franchise entries followed a straightforward route, guiding players across a board game-like path. We tackle rudimentary hex-based strategy across the Braveland compilation before sending a heap of trash blocks to rivals in Treasure Stack, as we look at two recent indie releases for the Nintendo Switch.Īcross the last five years, Russian-based Tortuga Team has brought approachable, turn-based combat onto mobile devices and PCs with the Braveland series.

Braveland maps