3 new turn-based games for February

Building empires with people, fires, and frogs

Jan 29, 2025

There were some really great games released in January that I didn’t write about…I wished I had though, instead of planning an ambitious month-long calendar (that I didn’t finish).

Hello JOMT Reader!

January is starting off strong with games like Whispers of the Eyeless, Citizen Sleeper 2, and Heart of the Machine still planned for release in the next couple of days. I’m personally excited for Heart of the Machine — given all the world-wide conversation about AI, it feels like a very timely game. There is a big name coming out next month, so let’s get this list started!

Civilization VII

🔗 Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1295660/Sid_Meiers_Civilization_VII/
📅 Release date: February 11, 2025
🖥️ Developer: Firaxis Games
📢 Publisher: 2K
🎮 Platform: Steam (PC/Mac)

What list of turn-based games would be complete without Civilization VII, the franchise that needs no real introduction? But if you're new to the franchise, this game might be the best one to step into; if you're a veteran, there are some important changes from what you might be used to.

You'll still be building a bustling, thriving collection of humans and buildings, fighting others for control of resources, land, and ultimately, the world. But unlike in past games where you chose a country/civilization to lead through the ages, this time you'll pick an immortal character, who you’ll guide through different civilizations throughout the course of the game.

Other features like worker placement and military unit movement, have been removed or simplified to make the management layer less arduous. It should help newcomers to the franchise feel like they are running an empire, not a kindergarten of workers.

Some of the changes have already been met with resistance, especially among long-time fans of the franchise, but I think some of these new takes are exactly what the franchise needed to make it a different entry!

Dawnfolk

🔗 Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2308630/Dawnfolk/
📅 Release date: February 13, 2025
🖥️ Developer: Darenn Keller
📢 Publisher: Astra Logical
🎮 Platform: Steam (PC/Mac)

If a complex city-building game like Civilization isn't your thing, maybe the simpler mechanics of Dawnfolk will be your cup of tea. You start in a world without light, but accompanied by your magical fiery assistant, Lueur.

With Lueur's help, you'll light your way to new lands, choosing how you want to develop the newly discovered tiles. Along the way, you'll face choices that impact your growing population. Whether you help them or not is up to you, with lasting consequences for your civilization.

These big strategic decisions are punctuated by Undertale-like minigames. How well you do will determine the size of your reward, whether it is resources or time to deal with the impending Darkness.

I'm looking forward to building my pixel art civilization with a trusty flame by my side. Hopefully, I won't set my own civilization ablaze!

Die in the Dungeon

🔗 Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2026820/Die_in_the_Dungeon/
📅 Release date: February 21, 2025
🖥️ Developer: ATICO
📢 Publisher: HypeTrain Digital
🎮 Platform: Steam (PC/Mac)

The success of games like Slay the Spire has led to an explosion of turn-based, deck-building, rogue-lite games in recent years. It's a mechanic that's been around officially since the board game Dominion released in 2008. Part of the beauty and drawback — both at the same time — of card-based games is the amount of information you can stuff onto them. Text-based comprehension is a necessity for playing these games.

That unfortunately, makes these games somewhat less accessible, unless the text is replaced by easy-to-understand symbols. That's where Die in the Dungeon shines, trading cards for dice. Not just six-sided dice, but other-sided ones, that can be combined for powerful effects.

You'll battle enemies in procedurally generated dungeons, building and powering up your collection of dice and dice board. Relics will augment the power of your board and dice but also come with drawbacks that you'll have to navigate.

The dice mechanics combined with adorable pixel art will be one to watch out for if you're a fan of rogue-lite games!