Sword of Convallaria

If Final Fantasy Tactics was reborn inside a mobile game gacha machine, Sword of Convallaria would be the result, and honestly? That’s not always a bad thing.

Set in the post-war embers of Iria’s independence, this pixel-drenched tactics RPG opens with tension, political unrest, and a literal nightmare scenario. You’re a mercenary squad leader dragged into a conflict that spans rebellion, magic minerals, and shady smuggling ops. There’s weight here, or at least the illusion of it, though the story’s occasionally sluggish pacing makes it feel like it’s marching in place between battles.

Combat-wise, Convallaria delivers a refreshingly pared-down take on grid tactics. It’s not reinventing the wheel, more like polishing an old one. Your team of gacha-pulled misfits faces off in short, satisfying skirmishes where barrels explode, terrain matters, and flashy skills keep things spicy. It’s fast enough to auto-battle, but nuanced enough that you’ll want to occasionally take the wheel.

Where it really stabs at greatness is the second story mode, a more traditional, gacha-light campaign that lets you raise characters from scratch. It’s gated, sure, but it quietly reveals the devs’ real passion project buried beneath the monetization scaffolding.

Then there’s Sakimoto’s soundtrack, which doesn’t just carry the vibes, it sells them. Pair that with HD-2D-ish visuals and you’ve got a feast for the ears and eyes, even if the character writing could use more seasoning.