Into the Breach

 Switch
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 186 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 143 out of 186
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 186
  3. Negative: 22 out of 186

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  1. Captflaam
    Sep 8, 2023
    9
    Very good game fit so well with Switch experience, short or long sessions, on the cough so good
  2. tronkiwoo
    Jul 27, 2023
    10
    Amazing if you like strategy games, chest like, and you need to think twice before making a move
  3. LAROR01
    Feb 1, 2023
    9
    Fantastic game on the switch. Perfect for tv or on-the-go. It's like chess but with incredible variety because you can change what your chess pieces can do and the enemies are varied as well. The visuals are not the most appealing but it's still a great game.
  4. Bkillinm
    Nov 20, 2022
    10
    This game holds a special place in my heart. If you like tactical or strategy style games give it a try it won’t disappoint. It feels and plays like advance wars with a darker twist. It’s intelligent, well designed, and most important it’s fun. It is the type of game I will remember for the rest of my time on earth.
  5. stephanrewind
    Aug 16, 2022
    8
    It’s not often that developers strike gold twice, and yet after the excellent FTL, Subset games did it again with what I consider the best turn based tactical game I ever played.
    Into the Breach is a lesson in game design. You’d have reasons to be skeptical about the depth and the sophistication of the gameplay based on the tiny 8 x 8 maps and the 3 units limit of your squad. You could be    It’s not often that developers strike gold twice, and yet after the excellent FTL, Subset games did it again with what I consider the best turn based tactical game I ever played.
    Into the Breach is a lesson in game design. You’d have reasons to be skeptical about the depth and the sophistication of the gameplay based on the tiny 8 x 8 maps and the 3 units limit of your squad. You could be even more doubtful when learning that the game only has 4 islands to conquer, and that a run could take as little as half an hour to play, if you choose to complete only 2 islands.

    And yet I guarantee you that all your reservations will be dissipated within the very first few turns of the game. At its core is an original and clever system, where you know what the ennemy units will do, and you have to react accordingly. you could compare the foundation design with a mix between Final Fantasy Tactics and Slay the Spire. Like in Slay the Spire, the ennemies go first, and the game has a structure constituted of short runs, which unlock new squads, pilots, and weapons as you progress.

    It’s worth nothing that Into the Breach requires a lot of thinking. It’s a game in which you have to carefully consider each move, which can be quite unforgiving. However it never feels unfair to me. At the hardest difficulty, it’s a serious challenge, but I think most patient and dedicated players will be able to overcome it.

    Without being particularly memorable, art and music both fall right into place and give the game a cohesive, very appropriate retro 16-bit feel. This may not be a very popular opinion, but I love that there’s very few dialogue or story in the game. The focus is clearly on gameplay, as it should be.

    Into the Breach is one of the very few games I beat entirely, unlocking all the achievements, squads, and pilots. I thought I was done when the developers recently very generously put out a fantastic update that adds quite a bit of content, which prompted this review. I would have gladly paid 10$ for this update and yet it’s free, which says everything about the respect the developers have for their players, and their long term commitment to their game.
    In a nutshell, Into the Breach is a gem!    … Expand
  6. TheLinkgirl
    Jul 26, 2022
    4
    It's come to my attention that turn-based tactics games are not the sort of things I enjoy. I find them stressful, boring, and difficult to manage, with no game giving me a good point of entry for the genre. Into The Breach might be one of the best in its genre, but that's like saying the dirt I ate yesterday was better than any dirt I've ever tasted.
  7. titten
    Jun 22, 2022
    10
    A flawless Switch port! This is how it is done. Fast and fluid controls, text size that is readable. The devs has done a great job with this.
  8. leeuk321
    May 26, 2022
    10
    This game is fantastic, and like others have mentioned, it's like chess meets [insert great game here]. Really satisfying figuring out how to best outmanoeuvre the enemy, levelling up your pilots and powering-up your mechs.

    If you're into brainless, soulless, glittering AAA games, this isn't for you.
  9. BitKit
    Jan 6, 2022
    10
    There isn't much to add. Excellent turn-based gameplay successfully adapted for console controls
  10. ZoRDoK
    Dec 27, 2021
    5
    Ok game. Nothing interesting above puzzles with 3 types of units. May be later I'll like this game, but not now.
  11. Redleg
    Nov 28, 2021
    10
    My favorite switch game (and most played). I came back to it after a long break and fell in love again. There is so much to love. I feel like the underdog playing this game. In every battle, you are outnumbered. To succeed, you must work out the perfect combination of your units’ abilities, and frequently find a way to use one unit to counter multiple enemy moves. E.g., if I moveMy favorite switch game (and most played). I came back to it after a long break and fell in love again. There is so much to love. I feel like the underdog playing this game. In every battle, you are outnumbered. To succeed, you must work out the perfect combination of your units’ abilities, and frequently find a way to use one unit to counter multiple enemy moves. E.g., if I move here, I can block a shot from enemy #1 (so it hurts my unit slightly, instead of killing the city I’m protecting), and then I can knock enemy #2 over a space so he both a) will hit a random mountain with his attack, instead of a city, and b) will block enemy #3 from emerging from the ground next turn, which will hurt enemy #2 and delay enemy #3 from entering the fray so I will be slightly less outnumbered next turn. This is the kind of action you have to figure out with every unit, every turn. You have only three units, so it’s manageable. Highly replayable. Different mech teams to try, wide variety of weapons. Can play through the sections of the campaign (the islands) in any order, with scaling difficulty. Can fit in one battle if you have a few minutes, or finish a campaign if you have a couple hours. Art and music fit the theme well. My first time playing, I didn’t know what I was doing and eventually lost. But it was so much fun, and I learned. Use your mechs as human shields to protect your cities from incoming shots with their own bodies (just don’t let your mechs die). Get as many reactor cores as you can (to upgrade your mechs). What this game does not have: lots of story time. No voiceovers, no cut scenes. You won’t need a voice-acted story to motivate you. The seemingly desperate situation you are in, every turn (until you figure out that perfect move and turn the tables) is your motivation.… Expand
  12. narren96c
    Oct 14, 2021
    8
    Works like a charm. Had to get used to controls on Switch, but otherwise it's great!
  13. H1rund0
    Aug 29, 2021
    0
    Hardly a "game". Overrated to the extreme. "Procedurally generated roguelike" equals 0 skill, sheer luck and massive frustration. Bad graphics, bad sound, horrible game design. Boring, repetitive, no replayability. Waste of money, still not worth it if it were free. Shame for devs and 10/10 spammers alike.
  14. FunkyBoi
    Jul 25, 2021
    7
    I'm struggling to rate this game on a scale of 1-10. The gameplay itself is seamless, decisions are all impactful, there is room for a great depth of strategising and planning on behalf of the player, all of which is fantastic from a strategy game perspective. As a rogue-like, however, I find the replayability of the game less persuasive. Most of the starting builds themselves are entirelyI'm struggling to rate this game on a scale of 1-10. The gameplay itself is seamless, decisions are all impactful, there is room for a great depth of strategising and planning on behalf of the player, all of which is fantastic from a strategy game perspective. As a rogue-like, however, I find the replayability of the game less persuasive. Most of the starting builds themselves are entirely unique, which is a great positive, but the lack of diversity in upgrades and builds eventually led me to feel as though I was being shoe-horned into one specific playstyle with each starting build, particularly given the relative weakness of some builds compared to others. Some builds allowed great freedom and creativity in the ways the player was able to tackle puzzles, whilst others felt quite underequipped to deal with many of the challenges at hand, particularly low-damage high-disruption builds which rely more heavily on enemy AI and movements rather than player decisions. I enjoyed the game, but I wasn't absorbed into endless cycles of replay as I have been with other compelling rogue-likes such as Hades or Dicey Dungeons. I'd certainly recommend the game to fans of the strategy genre, but I would be hesitant to recommend it for those solely interested in picking up a new rogue-like.… Expand
  15. Bass2Mouth
    May 19, 2021
    10
    Finally a strategy game with no randomness or win by being the quickest … one of the best strategy games you can buy
  16. MrTusks
    Jan 12, 2021
    9
    Addictive and satisfying turn-based strategy that is more like chess than Starcraft. The variety of teams you can you make this endlessly playable.

    Sometimes relies on RNG--a game might sometimes hinge on random starting placement or weapon drops, but not often.
  17. Phuz
    Dec 19, 2020
    3
    To the pompous twunt that reviewed this a 10 to counter balance the low scores - are you stupid? Because someone has a different opinion to you, you rate it extra high to try and invalidate their opinion. Do you think that you are superior to others and that your opinion is worth more? BotW gets 100/100 all over the show as does God of War and they are 2 of my least favourite games of allTo the pompous twunt that reviewed this a 10 to counter balance the low scores - are you stupid? Because someone has a different opinion to you, you rate it extra high to try and invalidate their opinion. Do you think that you are superior to others and that your opinion is worth more? BotW gets 100/100 all over the show as does God of War and they are 2 of my least favourite games of all time.

    I rate this a 3 but also an excellent buy for some people. It is a good game made in a cheap, nasty way. They should have tried to get assistance from a big company to make this a decent game.

    Firstly I don't like the roguelike aspect. I have had levels generate and the starting enemy positions have made levels impossible before I even made a move. It just felt a bit like I got screwed with this being a permadeath game. The randomness is the real killer of this game for me.

    The graphics are pretty awful. The screen has a very cluttered feeling and can be a bit much playing at a distance trying to make out the difference between things on screen. At home this is fine where I am 1m away but at my gf house where the TV is about 4m away it is a hard task sometimes and I'm forever leaning forward and having to stand up.

    So it is what it is. A grid based puzzle game. A very challenging little puzzler. Very mind taxing and fun. If that sounds up your street great, if not then don't even bother.

    It's £11 and for me it is worth £5, get it in the sale. It shows why games like Radiant Dawn for Wii start at £70 on ebay. Radiant Dawn and Fire Emblem in general smash this game out of water.

    The production value is just so low it is really bad and I feel they would have been better making this a better looking, more refined 2D game, than the poor looking 3D one it is. It's just a really strange one because there is so much to criticise and a lot to like. I think what we have to remember here is that this is priced close to what Valkyria Chronicles is. There is no way that for the couple of extra quid that VC costs that I would ever consider Into the Breach over it. If you love strategy/puzzlers then this is great but if you are testing the water in the strategy genre this would not be high on my recommendations. Go for an old Fire Emblem, or Valkyria Chronicles. If you like simulator style games and visual novels and want to try out the strategy genre then get Fire Emblem 3 Houses.

    Into the Breach just stinks of rock bottom budget.    … Expand
  18. NRD_Leodis
    Nov 19, 2020
    10
    Terrific puzzle/strategy game. I'm not a usually a fan of turn based combat but this game has me hooked.
  19. INU4SH4
    Sep 30, 2020
    8
    This is easily one of the most addictive roguelikes I have played in a very long time. It's highly strategic and forces you to make very difficult and impactful sacrifices to save the world. You have many different mechs/pilots and most of them feel really rewarding to play and strategize with. Another thing I love about this Switch port is how you can fully control it with the touchThis is easily one of the most addictive roguelikes I have played in a very long time. It's highly strategic and forces you to make very difficult and impactful sacrifices to save the world. You have many different mechs/pilots and most of them feel really rewarding to play and strategize with. Another thing I love about this Switch port is how you can fully control it with the touch screen. Quite versatile.

    The only negative point I can give to this game is that the lore could have been further explored. The story could have been more memorable. The gameplay totally makes up for the lack of narrative but it could always be better. Sometimes the RPG might also be against you but a good pilot should always be prepared for the worst and endure.    … Expand
  20. GabFire
    Aug 9, 2020
    8
    Muito legal esse jogo e tem a cara de um console portátil como ''Switch'', belo trabalho e espero ver mais jogos da Subset Games no futuro como esse e ainda melhores.
  21. DingerDonger
    Jul 5, 2020
    7
    I am a big fan of RPGs and strategy games, so of course this game is right up my alley. I like all the different squads and whatnot, but the game is a little shy on content. After a while I just couldn’t be bothered to beat the same few levels over and over with different ship combos just to grind for points. If the game had more content to make the experience of unlocking everything lessI am a big fan of RPGs and strategy games, so of course this game is right up my alley. I like all the different squads and whatnot, but the game is a little shy on content. After a while I just couldn’t be bothered to beat the same few levels over and over with different ship combos just to grind for points. If the game had more content to make the experience of unlocking everything less tedious I would me inclined to give it a higher score. The gameplay itself is fantastic, though. If you like SRPGs this is a great pickup, just expect a lot of grinding if you are a completionist.… Expand
  22. Theobaer
    Jun 27, 2020
    10
    With Into the Breach, Subset Games has created a true masterpiece. It is down-to-earth, multi-faceted, challenging but never overwhelming. It is simply a dream come true for all fans of turn-based strategy games:

    No matter how many rounds you may have played, no two games are alike. Far too numerous are the possibilities that arise from position, combination, action and effect. And I    With Into the Breach, Subset Games has created a true masterpiece. It is down-to-earth, multi-faceted, challenging but never overwhelming. It is simply a dream come true for all fans of turn-based strategy games:

    No matter how many rounds you may have played, no two games are alike. Far too numerous are the possibilities that arise from position, combination, action and effect.

    And I haven't even mentioned how different the Mechs play, how varied they are, or that they can be improved during the course of the game.

    New equipment reveals new ways of playing but also new decisions that need to be made. And no matter how many of them you make in the course of a game, they are never tiring or trivial, but always of noticeable consequence.

    Just as noticeable are the grey cells that search for answers when the opponent positions his units on the randomly generated maps, because the space beetles have come up with similarly impressive skills and agility and take their toll.

    Conclusion:

    For just under 13 Euros (as of March 3, 2018) you can already get the Game of the Year in the category: Round Based Strategy Game with Into the Breach.
    … Expand
  23. bingbang
    Jun 22, 2020
    9
    My first 'just one more' addiction since... I don't know, maybe Threes! on the iPhone? It's been a long, long time since I've had this sort of attachment to a game.
  24. Rollingwithkids
    Nov 1, 2019
    10
    Liked the game so much on PC I felt compelled to try it on Switch too. And its great, the interface is excellent and playing on the TV is unexpectedly cool. Me, a hardcore PC gamer, playing strategy games on the TV. Ha, that's unexpected.
  25. auditbadger
    Sep 8, 2019
    10
    I think that this is truly a unique game and I would recommend that if you are a fan of this type of genre then I think you should give this game a try.
  26. Welkinz
    Aug 31, 2019
    8
    It is a really good game, and fun to play. Honestly even Normal mode is a bit hard for me. Sometimes I have to switch to Easy mode. I enjoyed how the developers design the gameplay mechanics and various mechs
  27. Hoplite
    Jul 23, 2019
    10
    If your like me, dumb and impatient, you won't like this game when you first start. It has a bit of a learning curve...not too steep, but while I almost gave up to go study, several external circumstances kept me going. Unfortunately for my studies, now I am hooked. Take the time to google a few tips to get you started in understanding the basics of the game. Once you get that, the realIf your like me, dumb and impatient, you won't like this game when you first start. It has a bit of a learning curve...not too steep, but while I almost gave up to go study, several external circumstances kept me going. Unfortunately for my studies, now I am hooked. Take the time to google a few tips to get you started in understanding the basics of the game. Once you get that, the real game begins to emerge, and man is it a dragon. I'd expect nothing less from the creators of FTL. Thank you for another amazing game. If you like chess or advance wars...this is like chess on steroids.… Expand
  28. Did-
    May 19, 2019
    10
    What if you could see where the enemies are going to hit before deciding your movements and actions in your favorite tactical-RPG? That’s the twist Into the Breach added to the tactical realm, and it’s brilliant. All enemy attacks are foreshadowed, and the goal is not to kill the enemy team as efficiently as possible, but more so being able to counteract their plans.

    Each turn is a    What if you could see where the enemies are going to hit before deciding your movements and actions in your favorite tactical-RPG? That’s the twist Into the Breach added to the tactical realm, and it’s brilliant. All enemy attacks are foreshadowed, and the goal is not to kill the enemy team as efficiently as possible, but more so being able to counteract their plans.

    Each turn is a small dynamic chess-like problem. You need to carefully study the environment, and where the enemies are targeting their attack. Then, respond accordingly, to minimise or preferably prevent their damages. Sometimes, it may seem impossible to prevent all damages, and when you finally see a possible solutions, you get a really cool epiphany or Eureka moment. Other times, you’re just dead, due of past choices.

    Because attacks are foreshadowed and everything during your turn is deterministic, there’s not much randomness in battles. Don’t get me wrong, there are still a lot of random elements, but most of them are not game-changing, it’s not a matter of a probability to hit and kill an enemy or miss and be killed, it’s more a way to add variability in the battles.

    Once you’ve finished the game with the first squad of mechs, which is a pretty straightforward squad of offensive mechs, you can try 7 other squads, each focusing on other aspects of the game, such as a squad putting everything on fire, a squad that move enemies around, and one that freezes the enemies to prevent them to act. Every squad plays differently and provides a new way to solve problems.

    These squads are bought using coins gained by earning achievements, which I always love to see in games. They’re not just useless trophies but are actually a meta-game mechanics. Most of them are not complicated to unlock, but they encourage you to try to play differently.

    The main problem I have with this game, is that I will be way more demanding of any other Tactical-RPG I might play in the future. The bar is high.    … Expand
  29. nusco
    May 6, 2019
    7
    When I started playing Into the Breach, I was expecting a tactical game. I didn't make much progress until I understood that I had to play it differently. All the people comparing this game to chess have a point. One way to describe is: a game where each move should be considered like an end-of-game chess problem. As such, Into the Breach feels like a crossover between a checkerboard gameWhen I started playing Into the Breach, I was expecting a tactical game. I didn't make much progress until I understood that I had to play it differently. All the people comparing this game to chess have a point. One way to describe is: a game where each move should be considered like an end-of-game chess problem. As such, Into the Breach feels like a crossover between a checkerboard game and a puzzle, more than a tactical game.

    I read some reviews complaining that the game lacks content. I think that they're missing the point: Into the Breach lacks content in the same sense that playing checkers lacks content. It's a game that builds up something complex on top of relatively simple elements, and it works very well in that respect.

    If the game's concept is up your alley, then you can add a point, or even two, to my score. What it does, this game does right. The design is tight and well-planned, with a number of challenges that look excessive until you wrap your mind around the game, and then become though but fair. I'm not a big fan of this style of gaming, but I still had fun completing Into the Breach.    … Expand
  30. greengrapejelly
    Apr 16, 2019
    8
    For someone who is super into board games, this more than filled my craving. The difficulty toggle works very nicely for introducing people to the game, and it's overall just really fun to win games.
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best Switch Game of 2018
40
#40 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
55
#55 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Aug 22, 2019
    90
    I'm in constant awe at the sheer number of choices available and I'm always searching for that perfect move – even if it doesn't truly exist. [Issue #38 – March/April 2019, p. 19]
  2. FNintendo
    Nov 19, 2018
    70
    Into The Breach is a challenging turn-based strategy game that features a competent gameplay and a wide variety of levels. While it could certainly use a more elaborate plot and some more weapon tutorials, it's safe to say that this rather orthodox work will appeal to fans of strategy games looking for something that follows the genre's main tenets.
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  3. Nintenderos
    Sep 27, 2018
    80
    Into the Breach is an indispensable game for all lovers of turn-based strategy titles. With a magnificent soundtrack that will accompany us in each battle we will fight against the unstoppable Vek through continuous reboots of the timeline and different Mechas that we will unlock as we play.
    Read full review
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