We’ve Overlooked One of the Year’s Top RPGs, and It’s a True Gem in Strategy Gaming

Writing about games for a living is a dream gig—at least on paper. Sure, it’s fantastic, but like anything, it comes with its own set of challenges. Sometimes, games just don’t hit the right notes for me. When you’re diving into a new title every week that might be miles away from your personal tastes, your brain often flips to ‘work mode’ rather than ‘fun mode.’ Imagine plowing through 50 hours of Call of Duty in a single week while juggling meetings, editing tasks, and deciphering Google’s latest Core Update. It can feel more like heavy lifting than a joyride.

Enter Unicorn Overlord, which made its grand appearance back in March. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt so driven by a game. When I first started my preview and quickly followed it up with a review copy, I found myself pouring 100 hours into it in merely two weeks. I became so engrossed that I played on whatever device I had at hand—be it in bed, on my commute, or even in the queue for a concert. Unicorn Overlord lifted the burden of ‘another game for work’ off my shoulders and genuinely elevated my spirits.

Now, how would I describe Unicorn Overlord? Think of it as a lavish dish at a top-tier restaurant—the sort where you might only indulge once a year. It’s polished and opulent, offering a medley that’s not easily replicated at home or found in less-celebrated venues. It is a harmonious blend of familiar comforts and unexpected twists that delight your senses.

This is a tactical RPG that gives you the reins of a small army, focusing more on recruitment, management, and troop deployment rather than the combat itself. Imagine a delicious concoction inspired by the best aspects of Final Fantasy 12’s Gambit System and the Tactics Ogre series, with a dash of Fire Emblem for good measure.

It has that nostalgic 1990s vibe, evoking memories of classics like Langrisser and Shining Force. But leave it to Vanillaware to shake up the existing formulas and standards of the genre, crafting something refreshingly distinct. There’s nothing else quite like Unicorn Overlord, and that’s precisely what makes it special.

Let’s talk combat. You can actually bypass battles entirely if you wish. The stats and in-the-moment gameplay function somewhat like a hidden spreadsheet. You can easily spend hours fine-tuning your characters, assembling your teams, and sending them forth—with assurance that they can overcome any adversary. Yet, what truly captivates isn’t just the mechanics.

Much like Fire Emblem, the narrative of Unicorn Overlord lets you delve into relationships between characters as they battle together. How these elements mesh or clash is enchanting—it’s the kind of RPG magic that hooks you. I’ve been glued to the Switch version, constantly trying to perfect each map, to the point where I missed my Tube stop eight times in one week. That’s how all-consuming it is.

The true allure of Unicorn Overlord, at least for me, is how it treats even the easiest fights as if they’re pivotal. When pushing the difficulty levels, a deep understanding of your army is essential—just like a real commander—to even hope for victory.

You’ll know you’re hooked when you find yourself internally cheering over a mere 5% boost in your flying squad’s damage output or cursing when a 95% accuracy hit misses, forcing you to re-strategize. Vanillaware has masterfully captured the balance between challenge and satisfaction. If you decide to dive into the finer points of the game’s mechanics, you’ll uncover an intricately detailed RPG landscape that’s as rich and responsive as any in recent memory.

This year was a blockbuster for RPG fans, yet Unicorn Overlord might have slipped under the radar for many. If you’re in search of something truly extraordinary and distinctive to dive into over the holidays, this would be my go-to recommendation—even above my Game of the Year pick. It’s ideal to refresh your mind before welcoming a new year.