Turn-based action games

Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it?

Hello Scientist Gamer!

I’ve noticed something wonderful happening in the indie game dev space in the past little while. Once upon a time, games were hyper-focused on one game genre. An FPS didn’t suddenly become an RPG, and turn-based games were too slow-paced to be considered action games. But more and more, these boundaries between game modes are blurring — and I love what it is doing to my gaming brain.

Take the recent release of the Omenroad DLC for the turn-based tactics and storytelling game, Wildermyth. Omenroad introduces rogue-like gameplay on top of the already fantastic turn-based tactics mechanic. The loot and characters you develop during the rogue-like run can be used in the main story campaigns and vice versa. It’s such a simple addition but one that adds depth to both play modes.

It’s not the only example and I’m sure there are more games I’m not aware of, but today, I want to introduce a game that has managed to bring fast(er)-paced action to the turn-based genre.

🔗 Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1969810/Enter_the_Chronosphere/
📅 Release date: coming soon (demo available now)
🖥️ Developer: Effort Star
📢 Publisher: Joystick Ventures
🎮 Available on: Steam (PC)

What is Enter the Chronosphere?

The best way to describe this game is a turn-based rogue-like action game. Or maybe another way to look at this game is real-time with micro-pause action game. Whatever way you want to describe it, you guide your character through levels filled with enemies and loot, one step at a time, trying to get to the next level.

I wrote about a game with a very similar concept, Quasimorph, but Enter the Chronosphere isn’t grid based. You’re free to move wherever you need/want to. And you’ll need this freedom because there is a lot that happens on screen.

You’ll start with basic weapons that you can find upgrades for as you make your way through the levels. In my short run with the game, I found a shotgun, chainsaw, grenades, double handguns, and a bomb launcher. The bullets that you fire and the type of damage you do can be modified by the perks that you find.

Since the action progresses one “step” at a time, you can see bullets in the environment that haven’t yet reached their target. When there are a lot of enemies and bullets on screen, it can become a bit of a bullet hell, but a controlled one as you have time in between steps to plan how you can move to avoid them all.

Barriers to playing the game

There aren’t a whole lot of barriers to playing this game. You use your mouse and right click to move around and the left click to fire your weapon. My inability to keep this simple control straight in my head led to some hilarious moments where I fired bombs and grenades where I didn’t want to (in front of my face) and in the ensuing panic, walked right into them. There are a couple of other controls for healing and swapping weapons, but the minimalist control scheme helps to keep your focus on the action.

The game is presented in an isometric view (like Diablo) so it should be easy on the eyes as well. I love the vibrant colours and art style in this game, which helps with visibility as well. No dark corners or low contrast settings that will make things hard to see.

How long you can expect to play the game

This is one of those games that scratches the “just one more turn” itch. Each level probably won’t take more than 5 minutes to complete, as you blast your way through. The demo includes 13 levels, although I’m not sure whether that is the end of the game or run. In my play through, I encountered a boss (who made quick work of me) on level 5, but the Steam page does say there are multiple chronospheres to explore.

Because this is a rogue-like game, you’ll likely want to play more than once. You’ll be able to unlock characters, abilities, missions, new maps, game modes, enemies, and secrets, meaning if you are an achievement hunter, there will be a lot for you here.

Final thoughts

As you probably guessed, I love when games cross over genres to create a fun experience. This is especially true for turn-based games that tend to be long, drawn-out affairs.

But Enter the Chronosphere will let you walk away from the action if you need to, leaving you in a hailstorm of bullets for you to figure out later. In my testing, I caught myself marvelling at all the enemies and bullets on screen, a beautiful collage of bullets and destruction, which quickly turned into a panicked click-fest.

If you’re looking for fast-paced, pausable rogue-like action game, I highly recommend Enter the Chronosphere as it is loads of fun!

If you liked what you read, please consider giving this post a like!