Summary
Accessible strategy games do exist in varying degrees, with games such asInto The Breach, for example, giving players plenty of room for mistakes. However, this genre is abundant with unforgiving experiences that are quick to punish mistakes.
Whether it’s permanent death mechanics, dangerous enemies, or a fast rate of play, there are many strategic experiences on the market that challenge players in unique ways. Theseunforgiving strategy gamescan be frustrating, but beneath their challenging exteriors are often rewarding gameplay loops.
DUSKERSis a distinctive top-down strategy game that hinges its design around a unique method of controlling units. In the game, players are tasked with salvaging what they can from derelict spaceships by controlling a small squad of drones via a command console.
This slow and methodical control adds a great deal of tension to the already-tense atmosphere; the laborious and intentionally-clunky process of moving drones around emphasizes cautious play and careful planning, punishing players for acting rashly or misreading the situation. As a result,DUSKERScan be a tremendously unforgiving experience.
Quasimorphisa turn-based strategy gamewith the structure of an extraction shooter, tasking players with looting industrial facilities and completing objectives while contending with a myriad of threats. In keeping with its grim-dark setting,Quasimorphis an unforgiving experience, thanks in large part to the brutal nature of its survival mechanics.
Players must not only worry themselves with fighting or fleeing from the game’s abundance of enemies, but they also must contend with starvation, injury, and impending insanity. This results in a gameplay loop that requires constant attention on the part of the player and solid planning if they’re tosurvive any of its sci-fi dungeon-crawls.
This open-world sandbox allows for a great deal of freedom,championing player agency with emergent gameplayand RPG mechanics. However, this comes at the expense of accessibility, not only in the game’s controls and busy user-interface but also with the sheer hostility of its world.
This is in large part thanks to the deep well of knowledge required to navigate the world appropriately. There are many, many threats, both obvious and not, lurking inKenshi’s crevices, and it takes time and practice for players to gain the strength and knowledge needed to survive.
XCOM 2’sdeeply tactical turn-based combat encountersoffer tense, nail-biting scenarios that can be tremendously rewarding. However, this addictive tension is only possible via the game’s addition of permanent death mechanics.
With each squad member under the constant threat of kicking the bucket for good,XCOM 2’s combat becomes deliberate and entirely consequential. For better or worse, this makesXCOMa fairly punishing andunforgiving strategy game.
Wildfrostis a game of open information. It’s a roguelike deck-builder with a tactical twist, providing players with dynamic battlefields with which to freely maneuver units and play cards. However, with its generosity of rewards and information,Wildfrostcan be tremendously punishing; just one mistake or one misread can result in a steady death spiral or even instant defeat.
In sharp contrast tothe game’s unforgiving combat, however, is an innovative rewards system that allows for tremendous freedom when build-crafting. Furthermore, the wealth of rewards between battles ensures thatWildfrostmaintains a brisk pace, keeping defeat from feeling too crushing.
Battle Brothersisa sandbox RPGthat takes place in a dark and hostile low-fantasy setting. In keeping with the tone of its world,Battle Brothersis quick to punish mistakes in a swift and often brutal manner, resulting in an unforgiving gameplay loop that’s rarely kind to newcomers.
InBattle Brothers, players are tasked with managing a company of mercenaries, completing dangerous contracts in order to make a living. This means that conflict is simply not avoidable inBattle Brothers, and sooner or later, players will have to face down its myriad dangers.
Despite its age,StarCraft 2remainsa competitive game in online play, featuring a multiplayer versus mode that can be a deeply unforgiving experience for newcomers. This is in large part due to the pace of the gameplay, with every decision and every mistake having a potentially massive impact on the state of the game.
Since a single mistake can quickly snowball into a full-on death spiral,StarCraft 2can be a frustrating experience at times. However, those who stick out the frustrations and learn to overcome the weaknesses in their play will find a truly expressive and diverse sandbox of competitive strategy.
Darkest Dungeonis a strategy RPG in which death and defeat are ultimately unavoidable. While preparing properly and exercising caution during its harrowing dungeon-crawls can increase a player’s chance of success, the game’s combat mechanics and dangerous array of enemies aren’t afraid to punish even those who have made the necessary preparations.
As a result,Darkest Dungeoncan be a decidedly unforgiving experience. However, this synergizes with the game’s grim-dark tone. Furthermore, this difficulty only makes victory all the more rewarding to accomplish.
