75
MONSTER
Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an American made JPRG and dungeon-crawler, based on the best-selling Battle Chasers comic series by Joe Maduriera and inspired by JPRG greats such as Final Fantasy, Suikoden, Chrono Trigger, and Phantasy Star. It was developed by Airship Syndicate, funded through Kickstarter and published by THQ Nordic. The game features beautiful environments; a gorgeously animated strategic turn-based combat system; and hand-crafted dungeon rooms which are randomly arranged for a different experience each time. Players will battle enemies, find secrets, solve puzzles and explore the world.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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70
A charming, accessible RPG with strong character interactions and nostalgic comic roots, but relies on JRPG tropes, shallow backstories, and underdeveloped arcs—solid for fans, but lacks originality and emotional depth.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
70
Positive Reviews (80-100)
17%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
80%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
A charming, accessible RPG with strong character interactions and nostalgic comic roots, but relies on JRPG tropes, shallow backstories, and underdeveloped arcs—solid for fans, but lacks originality and emotional depth.
Gameplay Mechanics
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78
Battle Chasers: Nightwar delivers deep, strategic turn-based combat with innovative mechanics like overcharge and mana management, blending JRPG roots with procedural generation and replayability. But grinding, repetitive dungeons, clunky systems, and uneven difficulty sap its shine, leaving a polarizing mix of tactical brilliance and tedium.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
78
Positive Reviews (80-100)
57%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
43%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Battle Chasers: Nightwar delivers deep, strategic turn-based combat with innovative mechanics like overcharge and mana management, blending JRPG roots with procedural generation and replayability. But grinding, repetitive dungeons, clunky systems, and uneven difficulty sap its shine, leaving a polarizing mix of tactical brilliance and tedium.
Graphics and Visual Design
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85
Battle Chasers: Nightwar dazzles with Joe Madureira’s comic-inspired art, lush environments, and fluid animations, though technical hiccups and repetitive design elements slightly dim its brilliance.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
85
Positive Reviews (80-100)
94%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
6%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Battle Chasers: Nightwar dazzles with Joe Madureira’s comic-inspired art, lush environments, and fluid animations, though technical hiccups and repetitive design elements slightly dim its brilliance.
Music and Sound Design
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82
Most critics laud Battle Chasers: Nightwar's immersive, thematically rich sound design, praising Jesper Kyd and Clark Powell’s dynamic blend of urban beats, cultural instrumentation, and epic scores that elevate its fantasy world—though some call it functional, lacking standout moments.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
82
Positive Reviews (80-100)
76%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
24%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Most critics laud Battle Chasers: Nightwar's immersive, thematically rich sound design, praising Jesper Kyd and Clark Powell’s dynamic blend of urban beats, cultural instrumentation, and epic scores that elevate its fantasy world—though some call it functional, lacking standout moments.
Voice Acting
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77
Voice acting in Battle Chasers: Nightwar shines in key moments with top-notch performances and comic-style flair, enhancing immersion and narrative, though some critics cite sparsity, uneven quality, and stereotypical dialogue as drawbacks.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
77
Positive Reviews (80-100)
44%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
56%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Voice acting in Battle Chasers: Nightwar shines in key moments with top-notch performances and comic-style flair, enhancing immersion and narrative, though some critics cite sparsity, uneven quality, and stereotypical dialogue as drawbacks.
Technical Performance
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60
Battle Chasers: Nightwar delivers a solid core experience but stumbles on technical execution. PS4 and Xbox One stabilize post-patches, while Switch battles hardware limitations and frame drops. PC faces bugs despite fixes. Performance varies wildly across platforms, yet most agree it’s playable—flawed but fun, with issues largely mitigated by updates.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
60
Positive Reviews (80-100)
5%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
91%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
5%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Battle Chasers: Nightwar delivers a solid core experience but stumbles on technical execution. PS4 and Xbox One stabilize post-patches, while Switch battles hardware limitations and frame drops. PC faces bugs despite fixes. Performance varies wildly across platforms, yet most agree it’s playable—flawed but fun, with issues largely mitigated by updates.
Replay Value
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71
Procedural dungeons, side quests, and difficulty options boost replayability, but grind-heavy design, luck-based randomness, and repetitive mechanics muddy the experience—mixed reception hinges on player tolerance for JRPG tropes vs. open-world variety.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
71
Positive Reviews (80-100)
23%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
73%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Procedural dungeons, side quests, and difficulty options boost replayability, but grind-heavy design, luck-based randomness, and repetitive mechanics muddy the experience—mixed reception hinges on player tolerance for JRPG tropes vs. open-world variety.
Overall Verdict
75
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
75
Positive Reviews (80-100)
59%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
41%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
A love letter to classic JRPGs with standout art and combat, but marred by technical flaws, grind-heavy mechanics, and narrative shortcomings—worthwhile for fans despite imperfections.
75
MONSTER
Reviews
92 reviews found95
RPG Fan
Nov 29, 2018
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes that Battle Chasers: Nightwar successfully blends classic JRPG elements with modern execution, offering an intense and rewarding experience. It balances nostalgia with fresh mechanics, making it a fun and engaging adventure despite minor flaws.
90
RPGamer
Oct 16, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A highly praised indie effort that exceeds expectations, particularly with its deep combat system and visual/audio design. While the narrative is modest, the game's strengths in gameplay and presentation make it a must-play for JRPG fans.
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90
GamingTrend
May 11, 2018
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes that Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a must-play indie gem, praising its graphics, music, and strategic combat while acknowledging Switch-specific technical limitations. It's deemed one of the best modern turn-based RPGs.
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90
TrueAchievements
Oct 5, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The game is praised for its tactical combat, art style, and character development but criticized for pacing issues, limited difficulty scaling, and uneven experience gain. It is ultimately described as fun and challenging, with a strong foundation despite flaws.
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85
Riot Pixels
Oct 18, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A positive assessment, with the game praised for its engaging mechanics, strategic depth, and nostalgic JRPG charm, outperforming other recent RPGs in variety and enjoyment despite minor flaws.
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85
DualShockers
Oct 2, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review praises Battle Chasers: Nightwar as a standout turn-based RPG from an independent studio, highlighting its unique mechanics, character focus, and potential to attract new fans while satisfying existing ones.
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85
GRYOnline.pl
Oct 12, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review is generally positive
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85
Gaming Nexus
Jun 20, 2018
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes positively, calling the game a solid, enjoyable RPG with strong production values and faithfulness to its source material, though it acknowledges typical JRPG conventions.
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83
IGN Spain
May 21, 2018
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review concludes that Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a well-crafted, visually appealing RPG that successfully modernizes classic turn-based mechanics. While not revolutionary, it is praised as a enjoyable and accessible entry in the genre with a strong artistic identity.
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80
Vandal
Oct 4, 2017
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a solid turn-based RPG with engaging combat and a unique art style. While it has minor flaws like load times and limited narrative depth, its tactical gameplay and dedication to the source material make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.