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Wartales

Wartales

Shiro Games · released Apr 12, 2023

AdventureIndieRPGStrategy

Wartales is an open world RPG in which you lead a group of mercenaries in their search for wealth across a massive medieval universe. Explore the world, recruit companions, collect bounties and unravel the secrets of the tombs of the ancients!

Steam page ↗OpenCritic ↗
77
VGC Score
■Stablehigh confidence

anchored at patch: “Community Update #7 – Releases on September 7th!” (27d ago)

84%
At launch
86%
Steam all-time
77%
Press
69%
Player sentiment
64%
Recent sentiment

Screenshots & trailers

What players say

Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 305 sampled Steam reviews (189 positive / 116 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.

What positive reviews talk about

  • Combat14% mention it
  • Story & writing13% mention it
  • World & exploration11% mention it
  • Grind & repetition9% mention it
  • Bugs & crashes8% mention it

What negative reviews complain about

  • Bugs & crashes22% mention it
  • Combat12% mention it
  • Story & writing11% mention it
  • Grind & repetition11% mention it

Satisfaction by hours played

Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.

Under 5h

32%

19 reviews

5-15h

59%

39 reviews

15-40h

71%

69 reviews

40-100h

58%

69 reviews

100h+

65%

109 reviews

Review sentiment over time

Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.

How this score was computed

The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (OpenCritic)–7722
All-time Steam reviews86%791000
Metacritic user ratings––0
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)64%63193
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 5, 2026) · 185 reviews sampled · 193 total reviews in window · weighted 109.5 up / 61 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (18)

Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.

  • 40
    Pure NintendoPure Nintendo
    trust 80Nov 16, 2023

    “Any potential Wartales displays as an outlaw fantasy RPG is negated by frequent crashes. There's fun to be had with party management and a robust turn-based combat system, but until the stability issues are addressed, the game's not worth the frequent backtracking previous save points.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    Gaming ProfessorsGaming Professors
    trust 76Feb 16, 2022

    “Wartales definitely has a lot to offer and is already clearly among the best in its category. The developers at Shiro Games have incorporated the best they could into the game, focusing on the harshness of the medieval setting and its gloomy atmosphere, combined with tactical RPG elements and turn-based combat. Combined with survival elements and various moral choices that can influence the world, this is clearly a great combination. However, some game mechanics remain a bit of a mystery, these aren’t exactly bugs, but it would be helpful to explain how they work in the tutorial.”

    read full review ↗
  • 88
    Indie Games DevelIndie Games Devel
    trust 73Mar 18, 2024

    “Every mistake, every waste of valor points, every death of an ally, every failed mission, serves as a teacher. There are few videogames (and I assure you, being a hopeless lover of the most difficult games) that manage to convey such a sense of triumph and achievement as Wartales. We as players grow alongside our characters, treasure the harsh lessons taught by the game, devise ever more imaginative tactics to bypass or nullify the obstacles in our path, and eventually come to dominate the game.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    NintendoWorldReportNintendoWorldReport
    trust 69Sep 26, 2023

    “undefined.Wartales is a game that I very much want to like, and suspect I would, were I playing it on PC or presumably a more powerful console. I have plenty of positive things to say about it but at the end of the day, it just doesn't run well on Switch. Wartales is a very interesting game, but between poor tutorialization and awful performance on Switch, it may be buried a bit too deep to be worth playing on this platform.”

    read full review ↗
  • 84
    GamesCreedGamesCreed
    trust 66Apr 20, 2023

    “The more you play Wartales, the more you’ll find that many of the mechanics get deeper and deeper. The game is enjoyable as a whole. RPG-style strategy games are always more fun when played with a large group of people, and Wartales delivers on that front. It’s not a heavy RPG by any means, the story and dialogue are pretty sparse, but the turn-based combat is where it shines.”

    read full review ↗
  • 60
    FingerGunsFingerGuns
    trust 66Apr 12, 2023

    “In conclusion: Wartales is a mix of great ideas tempered by some questionable design decisions. I really want to love this game, and there is plenty of fun to be had, but I can’t help but feel like there was a missed opportunity to make a good game a true great. For fans of the genre I do recommend picking it up and giving it a go, but I really hope that the game gets expanded upon in the future to let it live up to its full potential.”

    read full review ↗
  • 65
    Games FreezerGames Freezer
    trust 66Oct 22, 2023

    “A GOTY Contender Crippled by Technical Issues”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    GameblogGameblog
    trust 64May 3, 2023

    “Wartales is an excellent sandbox RPG that gives you total freedom on the path to experience.”

    read full review ↗
  • 83
    PC GamerPC Gamer
    trust 64Apr 14, 2023

    “Don't be fooled by its drab exterior, Wartales is a deep and richly rewarding exercise in party creation.”

    read full review ↗
  • 77
    EvilgamerzEvilgamerz
    trust 61Apr 24, 2024

    “Although Wartales isn't perfect, the many small details that are slowly presented to the player make for a very enjoyable experience. You can play the game in many different ways and the game promotes a lot of experimentation. The game is simple in presentation, but it manages to add enough charm. In particular, the fact that each location looks different ensures that you will not get bored quickly. The new regions and the gameplay change little to the core of the game and the challenge lies mainly in exploring, balancing and expanding your group of mercenaries. Do I have enough food? Do I have enough food to feed everyone? Do I have enough resources and medicines to survive a surprise attack? This is a game where your loyal mercenaries and the journey are what matter most, not the final destination.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Saving ContentSaving Content
    trust 58Apr 12, 2023

    “Wartales is unlike anything else I’ve played this year, as it boasts a massive landscape of near-emergent gameplay where you are not the hero of the story, but you do have a crucial role to play in it. It’s a grim, dark world to take part in, but it’s utterly fascinating at the events that take place, and how you can help shape or unmake it. The dynamicism in which things unfold makes replayability high, and the inclusion of multiplayer co-op is the perfect kind of game night with friends. Shiro Games have crafted something special here, and Wartales excels for letting you make your own successes or failures through the choices you make along the way.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    SoftpediaSoftpedia
    trust 51Apr 15, 2023

    “Wartales is the perfect game for those who love turn-based action and min-maxing their characters. The progression system is well-thought to keep you engaged while you explore each map. Combat and crafting are two other complementary systems that add extra layers of strategy.”

    read full review ↗

…and 6 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. Community Update #7 Gameplay Overview
    Aug 12, 2026
  2. Community Update #7 – Releases on September 7th!
    Aug 5, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  3. Wartales update available on Xbox
    Jul 16, 2026
  4. Patch Notes for v1.0.47020
    May 21, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  5. Patch Notes v1.0.46922
    Apr 29, 2026
  6. Patch Notes v1.0.46890
    Apr 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  7. Patch Notes v1.0.46862
    Apr 24, 2026
  8. Patch Notes v1.0.45961
    Mar 11, 2026
  9. Patch Notes v1.0.45594
    Feb 3, 2026significant · resets scoring window
  10. Patch Notes v.1.0.45242
    Dec 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  11. Patch Notes v.1.0.45207
    Dec 16, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  12. Patch Notes v1.0.45150
    Dec 12, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  13. Patch Notes v.1.0.43708
    Oct 22, 2025
  14. Patch Notes v.1.0.43682
    Oct 21, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  15. Patch Notes v.1.0.43579
    Oct 9, 2025
  16. Patch Notes v.1.0.43488
    Oct 3, 2025
  17. Patch Notes v.1.0.43457
    Oct 1, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  18. Patch Notes v1.0.42273
    Aug 6, 2025
  19. Patch Notes v.1.0.42195
    Aug 1, 2025
  20. Community Update 6 Out Now!
    Jul 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  21. Patch Notes v1.0.41402
    May 22, 2025
  22. Patch Notes v1.0.41340
    May 15, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  23. Patch notes v1.0.41284
    May 7, 2025
  24. Patch Notes v1.0.41230
    Apr 30, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  25. Patch Notes v1.0.41212
    Apr 29, 2025
  26. Wartales: The Beast Hunt - Out Now
    Apr 29, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  27. Patch Notes v.1.0.40128
    Mar 11, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  28. Patch Notes v.1.0.40090
    Mar 7, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  29. Community Update 5 Out Now!
    Mar 6, 2025significant · resets scoring window
  30. Wartales - 2025 Roadmap
    Feb 25, 2025
  31. Patch Notes v.1.0.39291
    Dec 19, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  32. Patch Notes v.1.0.39212
    Dec 13, 2024
  33. Patch Notes v.1.0.39173
    Dec 12, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  34. Community Update 4 Out Now!
    Oct 3, 2024significant · resets scoring window
  35. Patch Notes v.1.0.36897
    Sep 5, 2024
  36. Patch Notes for 29/08/24
    Aug 30, 2024
  37. Patch Notes for 27/08/24
    Aug 27, 2024
  38. Patch Notes for 26/08/24
    Aug 27, 2024
  39. Wartales Roadmap Update! [17/07/2024]
    Jul 17, 2024
  40. Patch Notes for 13/06/2024
    Jun 13, 2024

…and 14 earlier patch announcements.