Thank god, the indie scene is overflowing with fascinating turn-based titles. This is evident from the daily emails I receive about new games to feature—though, unfortunately, I can’t keep up with them as quickly as I’d like. Some time ago, I got an email about a very promising SRPG that seems to place a strong emphasis on unit customization.
It’s called Years of Division, developed by Cold Sap Games, and it thrusts you into a turbulent world of political intrigue, devastating betrayals, and a fragile peace on the brink of collapse. Set on the war-torn continent of Yelos, the game challenges you to navigate a landscape reshaped by the ambitions of rulers and the unpredictable twists of fate.
Gameplay centers on tactical turn-based battles in Fire Emblem style. Victory hinges on your ability to adapt to evolving combat scenarios, harness versatile magic, and unleash devastating critical attacks at opportune moments. Looks like the game offers depth through choices, enabling you to manipulate the terrain, buff allies, or strike with overwhelming force.
Customization is a cornerstone of Years of Division. Each character’s stats are shaped by your decisions, allowing you to design units that perfectly align with your strategy. What intrigue me the most is the chance to choose whether to train a unit in magic, specialize in weapons, or create a balanced blend of skills and utilize items to bolster their effectiveness in combat.
Beyond the battlefield, you’ll explore the world of Yelos, recruiting fighters from diverse backgrounds and forging bonds among your team members. These relationships provide tangible buffs in combat. As you progress, the secrets of the conflict unfold, revealing the hidden truths that reignited the war and offering the hope of reuniting the shattered lands.
I recommend keeping an eye on Years of Division and supporting the developer, as I believe they’re working on a very intriguing project. There’s no release date yet, but there’s a demo available for you to try. Below some screens, overview and trailer.
About This Game
For a thousand years the Kingdoms of Kaylia and Darakma were united in a war against their neighbor, the Sovereignty of Devess. Now, only a dozen years after the truce that brought peace to the land, war returns. The new king of Darakma launches a surprise attack on Kaylia in the name of his god, and all who live on the continent of Yelos brace themselves for the fallout of his actions. Alliances are broken, families separated, and lovers turned to enemies as the two closely joined lands are divided for the first time in history.
Annaka and Arcett, the princess and prince of Kaylia, are caught up in the conflict. Rally a team to their sides and do battle with bandits, soldiers, and maybe worse to find the truth and perhaps reunite this broken land.
TACTICS ARE YOUR KEY TO VICTORY
- Fight your way through a series of turn-based tactical battles and uncover a plot of betrayal, intrigue, and mystery.
- Wield powerful and flexible magic. Heal and buff your allies, change the terrain, rain down destruction, transport units across the map, and more!
- Accumulate power and unleash remarkable Critical attacks when the moment is right.
- Prepare devastating counter-attacks with a Reflexes build or press the attack by developing Haste. New tactics are opened up to you by your choice.
DESIGN YOUR TEAM TO ENABLE YOUR STRATEGY
- Build your units exactly as you wish. Your character’s stats are determined by your choices, not random growths.
- Plan your team’s collective capabilities by choosing each character’s path and determining their abilities. Will you dabble in magic? Pick up a second weapon? Or stick to what you know best?
- Collect treasure and assign it to your units to bolster their combat effectiveness.
- Play the way you prefer with modular difficulty settings. Prefer fewer stronger enemies? Or do you hate to let any ally die? Design the perfect difficulty setup for your play style.
EXPLORE A FANTASY WORLD AT WAR
- Gather a team of fighters from across the world of Yelos.
- Forge bonds between your allies and gain buffs based on their personalities.
- Discover the truth that cast the world back into war!
