Square Enix quietly released 2022’s tactical RPG hit

Some friends and I have a saying about video games: “Less talk-y, more do-y.” It’s an extremely broad (and sometimes refutable) criticism aimed at the fact that, more often than not, video games are better when they let their gameplay speak for them. The DioField Chronicle The latest champion for this sentiment is

Published last week The DioField Chronicle is yet another in Square Enix’s wealth of 2022 releases. This tactical RPG is described as an alternative to the grid combat system of Fire Emblem’s XCOM. Final Fantasy TacticsInstead of using real-time battles in freeform maps, they opt for live combat. The game plays somewhat like a MOBA as Oli Welsh explained in August. I had a similar experience. A-TeamTraining montage: I switched between my party members and activated their special abilities, while theirs cooled off.

I am fully expecting it DioField to go down as one of 2022’s “hidden gems,” and that’s OK. It’s not the boldest tactical RPG, and it’s not trying to be. Its dialog is sparse. The plot points are contrived. And any emotional gravitas I have is replaced by a push to get me into the next battle against a surprising horde zombies. And herein lies DioField’s greatest strength: This is the crux of it all.

Image: Lancarse/Square Enix

Here’s a March post about how I was disappointed by Triangle StrategyThis is a great game, but it could have been even better if it was not so impractical. The game’s turn-based battles, base-building strategies and emergent storytelling were outstanding. They were separated by tedious, overwrought scenes about geopolitical strife and political subterfuge. Some of these took more than twenty minutes. By the time each exploration or combat scenario rolled around, I was too frustrated to truly enjoy them — no matter how compelling these interactive sections actually were. There’s a wonderful, hypothetical version of Triangle Strategy It relies on the game’s gameplay to drive its story forward. But, alas!

DioFieldThe other was a mercenary who threw me in combat just moments after I had left the menu. I was defending a carriage that had been toppled by a bandit attack. The carriage’s passenger, an important member of a nearby mercenary group, was so impressed by my skills that she immediately invited me to join their ranks. I arrived at the company’s base, the timeline jumped several months, and I was soon buying new weapons, upgrading my skills, unlocking new characters, and planning for the next battle before jumping into the fight. The same rhythm continued for 15 more hours. Then there were the volcanoes and weaponized meteor showers. There was also giant wolves. Then there were the zombies. We can’t forget the zombies.

I don’t remember… well, Any Of DioField’s major plot points — but I don’t care. It’s refreshing to play a game that understands its strengths (entrancing tactical combat, flashy character abilities, and a streamlined yet flexible progression system) and doesn’t strain to be the next Iliad. “Show, don’t tell” is one of the oldest maxims in storytelling, and video games are particularly well suited to practice it. But it’s still an altogether rare occasion when that actually happens. The DioField Chronicle is a “do-y” game, as my friends would say. It makes up the difference in its literary ambition by being concise, energetic, and moving forward with great momentum.

The DioField Chronicle The game was available on Windows PC and PlayStation 4 as well as Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on September 20th. Square Enix provided a prerelease code for the Switch. Vox Media also has affiliate relationships. They do not affect editorial content. However, Vox Media might earn commissions on products sold via affiliate links. Here are some links to help you find. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here.