What’s new to play this week in terms of RPGs, Strategy, and Roguelite Games
Hey everyone, hope your week is off to a great start! Before diving into the main topic—which you probably guessed from the title—I wanted to give you a quick update on how things are going over at Turn Based Lovers and how I’m planning the content.
To keep it brief, the arrival of my twin daughters has obviously taken up the little free time I had for managing and creating new content, so I’ve been struggling to keep up with news, overviews, previews, and lists. That said, I haven’t given up! I’ve decided to schedule content more efficiently and try to organize everything on a regular basis. What does that mean?
Basically, I’ll be grouping the main news into a single end-of-week article—pretty much like I used to do with the classic Weekly Recap. As for the new releases, I plan to publish a recap on Mondays, giving us a quick look at what’s coming up.
As for new game overviews, I might still publish them on the fly like I do now, but the plan is to group them into lists whenever possible—like Indie Showcases or Top New Announcements, for example.
All this to say—don’t worry if you see fewer updates than usual; it’s just a temporary adjustment to manage this hectic period. Now, let’s finally talk about what’s coming up this week, which also happens to be the busiest week of the month, featuring some of the biggest titles we covered in last month’s recap.
The week kicks off with Champions Tactics Reforge, a game that wasn’t even on our radar until now. It’s a PvP game where you’ll face off against friends and strangers using small figurines reminiscent of classic tabletop games. The visual style is striking, and it features various modes and unlockable figurines. Check it out and let me know your thoughts when it debuts on Steam on May 19. Oh, I almost forgot, it’s free to play.
The day after, we’re getting a new DLC for Sea of Stars called Throes of the Watchmaker. This major update adds around 8 hours of storyline, packed with side quests, new NPCs, and even a brand-new playable character. Definitely worth checking out—especially if you haven’t yet tried this charming pixel-art JRPG.
On May 21, we’re getting a strategy RPG I’m really curious about: Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution. In this game, you’ll step into the shoes of an alternate Bonaparte, fighting the revolution while piloting giant mechs. Besides tactical battles, you’ll also have to navigate the political landscape—which might just be the toughest challenge of all. We’re currently working on the review, which should be out soon.
Also dropping on the 21st is the return of the infamous train bound for the underworld: Monster Train 2. This sequel to the beloved roguelite seems to retain the core structure of the first game while introducing new factions, cards, and mechanics. If you loved the original, there’s no reason to skip this one.
Another game to watch out for is the new tactical title featuring the beloved Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, called Tactical Takedown, launching on May 22. I haven’t tried it yet, but it seems to lean more toward puzzle gameplay than pure RPG elements. Still, getting to control the four turtles sounds pretty exciting.
On May 23, we have the debut of Twilight Wars, an RPG with management elements that puts you in charge of a spy agency. You’ll tackle missions with combat reminiscent of Darkest Dungeon while also managing your base. The game has had several playtests, and there’s still a demo available if you want to see if it’s your kind of game.
Lastly, to wrap up the week, we have a strategy game that I’ve come across a few times—both via email and while browsing—but I haven’t had the chance to try it out yet. Stay tuned for more impressions when I get my hands on it.
The game is called 9 Kings, and it’s also coming out on May 23. It offers a strategic management experience with an auto-battler combat system. While it’s not a purely turn-based game, it does include a pause system that lets you develop your city using cards, and then face enemies to see if your strategic choices pay off.
That’s the lineup for the week (that you will also find listed below). Let me know if I missed anything or if you found something interesting that you plan to play. You can share your thoughts through the new Reddit channel or my social profiles. Wishing you a great week. Ciao
- Champions Tactics Reforged – 19 May
- Sea of Stars: Throes of the Watchmaker – 20 May
- Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution – 21 May
- Monster Train – 21 May
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown – 22 May
- Twilight Wars – 23 May
- 9 Kings – 23 May
