The world of fantasy role-playing games is filled with legendary heroes, ancient prophecies, and chosen warriors destined to save kingdoms. Wartales takes a very different approach. Here, there is no grand destiny waiting for you, no magical sword placed in your hands, and no royal title promising fame and fortune. Instead, you lead a struggling band of mercenaries as they try to survive in a harsh medieval world where every meal costs money, every battle carries consequences, and every decision can shape your company’s future.
Developed by Shiro Games, Wartales has earned a reputation as one of the most compelling tactical RPGs in recent years. Its appeal lies in how it blends open-world exploration, turn-based strategy, party management, and emergent storytelling into a package that feels deeply personal. With Wartales: Starter Edition, new players receive an excellent introduction to this brutal yet fascinating world, combining the full base game with two expansions that add fresh layers of management and challenge.
Rather than simply offering extra content, the Starter Edition feels like the definitive entry point for newcomers. Including The Skelmar Invasion and Contract: The Tavern Opens!, this version expands the mercenary fantasy beyond battlefield victories. You are not just commanding soldiers; you are building a living organisation, balancing combat, commerce, reputation, and survival. It is a slow-burn adventure where the smallest victories often feel like the greatest achievements.
The Art of Survival
At the heart of Wartales is a simple but powerful idea: survival comes before glory. Your mercenary company begins as a small group of fighters with limited resources, basic equipment, and a constant need for supplies. Every journey requires careful planning, because wandering too far without enough food or money can quickly turn a promising adventure into a desperate struggle.
Exploration unfolds across a vast open world filled with villages, ruins, enemy camps, and hidden secrets. The world does not wait for you to grow stronger. Dangerous enemies roam the land, and taking on a battle above your level can lead to devastating losses. This creates a constant sense of tension, because every choice matters. Do you chase a valuable bounty and risk losing your best warrior, or take a safer contract that keeps your company stable?
The turn-based combat system remains one of Wartales’ greatest strengths. Battles take place on tactical grids where positioning, abilities, and teamwork are essential. A well-planned ambush can turn the tide of a difficult fight, while poor preparation can leave even experienced fighters overwhelmed. The game rewards patience and careful thinking rather than simply charging forward.
Your companions are more than interchangeable units, so every loss hits harder. Each mercenary develops their own skills, equipment, and personality over time. Watching a new recruit grow into a reliable veteran creates a genuine emotional connection, especially when that character has survived dozens of battles alongside you.
Expanding the Mercenary Dream
The Starter Edition’s greatest strength is how naturally its additional content fits into the existing experience. Contract: The Tavern Opens! introduces a completely different side of the mercenary lifestyle by letting players establish and manage their own tavern. It might seem an unusual addition to a gritty tactical RPG, but it works surprisingly well.
Running a tavern gives your company another source of income and reputation. Players can customise their establishment, hire employees, choose decorations, and create menus to attract customers. It adds a satisfying economic layer that changes how you approach your campaign. Instead of constantly chasing every coin through dangerous battles, your company can slowly build a more secure foundation.
The tavern expansion also highlights one of Wartales’ greatest qualities: everything connects. The money earned through your adventures can support your business, while the success of your tavern can provide resources for future expeditions. It creates a feeling that your mercenaries are building something meaningful rather than simply moving from one battle to the next.
The Skelmar Invasion offers a very different experience, focusing on conflict and challenge. The expansion introduces the region of Ormance, a territory devastated by invasion from the Skelmar clans under the leadership of High Jarl Sven. The area feels appropriately hostile, filled with dangerous encounters and battles that test whether your company has truly mastered the game’s systems.
While the base game teaches you how to survive, The Skelmar Invasion asks whether you can thrive. The increased difficulty and new enemies offer a welcome challenge for experienced players, while the expanded territory gives veterans another reason to return to the world.
A Tactical RPG Built for Consoles
Historically, complex strategy and management games have often struggled on consoles. Wartales contains a wealth of information, from character statistics and equipment management to skill trees and tactical positioning. Thankfully, Shiro Games has handled the transition impressively.
The console controls feel natural once you understand the layout. Navigating menus, managing equipment, and selecting combat actions is smooth, keeping the experience’s depth intact without feeling overwhelming. The slower pace of Wartales also suits controller play, giving players time to think through their decisions.
The visual style remains one of the game’s strongest features. Wartales does not rely on flashy fantasy spectacle; instead, it embraces a grounded, gritty medieval atmosphere. Snow-covered landscapes, abandoned settlements, and quiet campfire moments all contribute to a world that feels lived-in and believable.
The presentation also reinforces the adventure’s emotional side. Sitting around a campfire after a difficult battle, repairing damaged equipment, and preparing for the next journey create a rhythm that feels almost like running a historical expedition. The game understands that the quiet moments between battles are just as important as the fights themselves.
The Cost of Ambition
Wartales: Starter Edition is an enormous package, but its complexity can occasionally be intimidating. New players may find the early hours demanding as they learn how everything connects. Managing money, food, injuries, and morale can feel overwhelming until the systems begin to click.
There are also moments when the open-world structure can feel slightly directionless. The freedom is part of the appeal, but players seeking a heavily guided adventure may struggle with the lack of traditional quest markers and narrative structure. Wartales expects you to create your own stories, which will not appeal to everyone.
However, these issues are minor compared with the depth and freedom the game provides. Few RPGs create such a convincing sense of responsibility for a group of people simply trying to make it through another day.
Final Verdict
Wartales: Starter Edition is an exceptional introduction to one of the most rewarding tactical RPGs available today. By combining the full base game with The Skelmar Invasion and Contract: The Tavern Opens!, it delivers a complete experience that captures every facet of the mercenary lifestyle.
Its brilliant tactical combat, meaningful party management, and constantly evolving world create an adventure in which every decision feels important. Whether you are defending your company from invading armies, expanding your tavern empire, or simply trying to afford your next meal, Wartales makes even ordinary victories feel special.
This is not a fantasy adventure about saving the world. It is a story about surviving within it. For players willing to embrace its slower pace and demanding systems, Wartales: Starter Edition offers one of the richest and most rewarding medieval RPG experiences.
