Othercide Reviews

Though there are plenty of other well-made SRPGs on the Switch today, Othercide does more than enough to differentiate itself from the pack and carve out for itself a unique identity. The striking art style, endlessly punishing gameplay and esoteric storytelling ensure that this one will likely only appeal to longtime fans of the genre, but it’s more than worth the effort. Despite the difficulty, Othercide is quite a rewarding experience, and this coupled with its well-built gameplay systems makes for a game that we can confidently state is worth your time. Don’t let its frequent struggles in the performance department or its intimidating challenge dissuade you; Othercide deserves a spot in your Switch library.

Othercide is a difficult but satisfying and rewarding experience. From the art design to the music to the challenging battles and management, players will get lost in this horror strategy for hours!

Othercide is a hauntingly beautiful tactical game with a striking art style, slick combat, and deep lore just waiting to be discovered.

It feels like an artsy, short-ish game taken over by a producer that said, “You know what the kids like? Hard games. It’s what’s in!”, so there’s more grinding than maybe there ought to be, and the story goes from depressing and sad to literally rubbing your face in it. I mentioned Sucker Punch above and that’s actually a good comparison: it’s stylish enough to be interesting, but it’s really not all that deep. And obviously, if you need a pick-me-up in these grimdark days, this ain’t it, chief.

2020 has been one hell of a year for the turn-based tactics genre with a ton of surprises. Gears made its first genre shift and it was a wonderful XCOM-inspired adventure. XCOM itself got experimental with Chimera Squad and the full XCOM 2 experience was released on Switch. However, my favourite turn-based tactics game of the year so far is Focus Home’s Othercide, a game I’ve been closely following since its announcement.

Bleak and hopeless, but that’s the point.

A tactics game that taps into our inner goth rock fan.

A unique take on tactical RPGs with an interesting blend of roguelike mechanics. However, not everything comes together well.

There are many kinds of turn-based SRPGs out there but I bet you haven't played anything quite like the darkly stylish Othercide.

Some narratives choose ambiguity to shroud a stronger sense of mystery around its story. Things are left unexplained or given explanations at a surface level, raising more questions then it answers. Othercide is a narrative light on detail, but leaves just enough breadcrumbs to at least keep you engaged until the next big revelation. Once you set foot in its world and grasp a faint understanding of its rules, you’re already in it for the long haul. A darkness covers the land, with foul crea...

Othercide is an evocative and absorbing tactical roguelike, albeit one whose style occasionally gets in the way of the substance.

When the issues of a game are rolled and stomped by its greatness, then it’s something to invest on if you have some spare.

An impressively original take on XCOM style turn-based strategy that gains in depth and versatility what it loses in accessibility, with some of the best boss encounters of the year.

PlayStation LifeStyle review: Birth powerful Daughters to slaughter enemies in Othercide, a turn-based strategy game with roguelike elements from French studio Lightbulb Crew.

The easiest way to describe Othercide to somebody who hasn't played it is that it's goth XCOM. While that description is broadly accurate, it should also be noted that the game does differentiate itself from other tactical turn-based games with some interesting ideas that mostly work. There are some issues here which we'll get to in due course, but on the whole, this is a fantastic strategy game with a gorgeous art style.

A combat system that’s deeper than it first appears is the real star here, but you’ll likely also stick around for the perverse and disturbing universe and the story that plays out within it. The voiceover work will quickly annoy you and the difficulty is unfair, but there is still a bit to enjoy here, assuming you can ignore some of Othercide’s shortcomings. I wanted to like Othercide much more than I did.

Othercide is an engaging tactical rpg and I’m going to hop right back in. There are so many different strategies to employ that it never gets boring. The timeline is a fantastic idea that adds a lot of strategic options. It can be almost too hard at times, but I know I’ll get through anything given enough time.

Othercide has a number of interesting quirks and its art design, with gothic and noir elements, creates a uniquely forboding atmosphere. Unfortunately, it's also got a ridiculous degree of difficulty that you normally don't associate with the turn-based strategy genre. The game's roguelite concepts are more than welcome, though repetition and restarts, combined with the genre's slower progression and mission system, will make playthroughs feel like time-consuming affairs.

Othercide is a modern gothic take on turn-based tactics. It's stylish, difficult and a solid addition to the genre.

The end result is that Othercide just failed to land for me. It’s entirely possible that the developers are able to adjust numbers and patterns a little to make something more enjoyable, but until that time? I struggle to see myself recommending it to most people. Give it a shot if you’re a devout fan of the genre or really revel in the graphical style, just don’t expect anything too significant.

Nevertheless, taking down my first boss was a real rush, even though I’d had to go through seven times just to accumulate the buffs I needed to win. And using your gunslingers to take out another gun-wielding enemy is fun, particularly if they’re one turn away from blasting your head off. Seeing new monsters lumber onto the screen is a treat, though occasionally foes can be hard to pick out, even if you turn on colourblind mode. In a similar vein, Othercide‘s message text is insultingly small; it’s hardly a win for accessibility.

Othercide blends beloved elements of turn-based strategy with its own unique brand of style and gameplay. A gorgeously macabre world awaits players with its stunning art design and intuitive mechanics. While early developer bugs interfered with smooth gameplay, the title deserves its praise. Othercide is a refreshing experience that contains deep content to explore. Innovative gameplay mechanics help drive an intriguing narrative forward while staying true to its own flavor. Othercide works so well with all these intricate details because it holds a classic blueprint at its core. As I played, I couldn't help but notice how chess-like the title is. This is perhaps why its gameplay is so strong because it forces players to make similar moves and sacrifices. Othercide is a masterfully-created strategy title because of how it encourages players to think several steps ahead. It pushes players into difficult spots as a way to confront difficult decision making -- there may be times when you have to make the choice to wipe and start all over again. It's a title that offers deep content beyond the scratched surface. Othercide may challenge you harshly, but it also adequately rewards your perseverance.

Othercide is a tactical roguelike with a flair for the dramatic, satisfying combat that rewards careful planning and knowing your enemies, and difficult, sometimes heart-rending shepherding of your resources. I still haven’t made it to the final, semi-secret unlockable boss, since this journey gets what the kids would call “bastard hard” by the end. But even so, I’m really looking forward to finishing my business with them and uncovering the remaining secrets of the dark dream. Don’t sleep on Othercide. This is one for the musty, moldering books.