Battle for Wesnoth cover art

Battle for Wesnoth

2005Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Amiga

The Battle for Wesnoth is a turn-based tactical strategy game with a high fantasy theme. Build up a great army, gradually turning raw recruits into hardened veterans. In later games, recall your toughest warriors and form a deadly host whom none can stand against! Choose units from a large pool of specialists, and hand-pick a force with the right strengths to fight well on different terrains against all manner of opposition. Wesnoth has many different sagas waiting to be played. Fight to regain the throne of Wesnoth, of which you are the legitimate heir... step into the boots of a young officer sent to guard a not-so-sleepy frontier outpost... lead a brutal quest to unite the orcish tribes... vanquish a horde of undead warriors unleashed by a foul necromancer, who also happens to have taken your brother hostage... guide a band of elvish survivors in an epic quest to find a new home... get revenge on the orcs by using the foul art of necromancy... There are at least two hundred unit types, sixteen races, six major factions, and hundreds of years of history. The world of Wesnoth is absolutely huge and only limited by your creativity — make your own custom units, create your own maps, and write your own scenarios or even full-blown campaigns. You can also challenge up to eight friends—or strangers—and fight in epic multiplayer fantasy battles.

What it feels like

The narrative takes its fantasy scenarios sincerely, delivering emotional stakes in campaigns involving redemption and revenge.

Earnest55%

What it's about

The game is explicitly high fantasy with multiple races, magic, and epic quests across the world of Irdya. Multiple campaigns involve defeating great evils and reclaiming thrones, following classic heroic arcs.

High Fantasy85%
Heroic Quest60%

How it plays

Grid-based turn-by-turn combat with positioning, terrain advantage, and unit specialization is the definitive core system. Hex-grid movement is the foundation of positioning and spatial strategy in every battle. Sixteen races and two hundred unit types embody distinct classes with specialized roles and abilities.

Grid Tactics Combat95%
Grid-Based Movement90%
Class System80%
Party Management75%
Leveling & Grind65%
Character Builds60%
Level Editor & UGC55%
Resource Management50%

How it's structured

The game features seventeen solo campaigns with distinct narrative arcs and characters, forming the primary single-player content. Veterans are recalled across campaigns and games, with units gradually improving and persistent progression between playthroughs. Hundreds of unit types, sixteen races, and custom content creation tools ensure substantial replay value across different armies and strategies.

Campaign85%
Meta-Progression75%
High Replayability70%
Nonlinear Progression65%
Competitive PvP60%
Team-Based35%
Procedural Levels30%

Shares Grid Tactics Combat, High Fantasy, Class System, Party Management.

Both lean into Campaign, High Fantasy, Grid Tactics Combat, Class System.

Campaign90%High Fantasy90%Grid Tactics Combat80%Class System85%

Shares Grid Tactics Combat, High Fantasy, Party Management, Class System.

Both lean into Campaign, Grid Tactics Combat, High Fantasy, Party Management.

Campaign95%Grid Tactics Combat82%High Fantasy80%Party Management85%

Shares Grid Tactics Combat, High Fantasy, Class System, Party Management.

Both lean into Grid Tactics Combat, Campaign, High Fantasy, Class System.

Grid Tactics Combat80%Campaign85%High Fantasy85%Class System65%

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Grid Tactics Combat90%Campaign75%Party Management80%Class System70%
Fate38% match

A lesser-known kindred — High Fantasy, High Replayability, Party Management, Leveling & Grind. 95% positive across 4,427 Steam reviews.

Both lean into High Fantasy, High Replayability, Party Management, Leveling & Grind.

High Fantasy70%High Replayability70%Party Management60%Leveling & Grind65%
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