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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Wartales is worth buying if you want a medieval RPG built around turn-based tactical battles and running a mercenary company on the road, and you are comfortable with a long, open-ended game. Nothing in the reporting we could confirm suggests the paid add-ons are required to enjoy the base game. The one expansion worth weighing is The Fief, and only if settlement management appeals to you.
What Wartales is
Steam’s store listing describes the game this way: “Wartales is an open world RPG in which you lead a group of mercenaries in their search for wealth across a massive medieval universe.” Shiro Games is listed as both developer and publisher, and the release date on Steam is April 12, 2023.
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The phrase that matters most for buyers is “lead a group.” Wartales is less about a single hero and more about the company you travel with, the choices you make about it, and the fights that follow from those choices. Metacritic’s review excerpts frame the game as a blend of survival simulation, turn-based combat, and tactical RPG systems, which is a useful way to set expectations before you start.
Tactical combat
The battles are turn-based and tactical. For players who enjoy planning positions, reading an enemy’s likely moves, and accepting that one bad turn can cost a unit, this is the core draw. For players who want fast, reflex-driven action, the pace will feel deliberate.
#1 Best Overall
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Turn-based combat also shapes the rest of the game. Because fights are a sequence of decisions rather than a single moment, they tie into the survival and travel side of the experience: a fight you could win cleanly on a full stomach may become a costly one when your group is worn down.
Managing a traveling mercenary company
Running the company is the second pillar. You are responsible for a group that moves through the world, and that group needs to be kept functional between fights. If you enjoy logistics, roster decisions, and slowly building a crew that feels like your own, this is where Wartales earns its reputation. If you prefer to focus purely on combat encounters, expect the management layer to take up a large share of your time.
Rank #2
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How much game you are signing up for
Wartales is a long-form open-world RPG. Its breadth comes from the number of systems that run at once: combat, travel, company upkeep, and the wider medieval setting. That breadth is the reason many players stay with it, and also the reason some bounce off it. The game asks for patience with systems that reveal themselves gradually, rather than offering a steady stream of spectacle.
Before buying, ask yourself whether you are happy to spend long sessions managing a group and planning fights, and whether a slower pace is a feature rather than a drawback. If the answer is no, the game’s depth will likely feel like friction.
Rank #3
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Do you need the DLC?
Steam lists several official DLC products for Wartales. The sources available for this article do not establish that any of them is required to play the game, and they do not provide enough comparable coverage to rank the add-ons against one another. The guidance below is therefore about what each add-on adds, not whether you must buy it.
The Fief
PC Gamer’s coverage from September 21, 2025 describes The Fief as adding fief and settlement management. If you enjoyed the company-management side of the base game and want to extend it into owning and developing a holding, this is the add-on that speaks to that interest directly. If your enjoyment comes mainly from tactical battles and travel, the expansion adds a system you may not use much.
Rank #4
- Tauche in ein ausgeklügeltes Abenteuer ein, das von Klassikern der Science-Fiction inspiriert wurde
- Setze eine Kombination aus Fernkampfwaffen, Gerätschaften, Verbrauchsgegenständen und Nahkampf ein
- Schalte mit dem gesammelten Wissen neue Gerätschaften, Waffen und Fähigkeiten frei
- Aufregende Bosskämpfe: Grauen erregende Gegner, die nach vielseitigen Strategien und Taktiken verlangen
Other official add-ons
Steam lists further official DLC beyond The Fief. We could not confirm their contents with enough detail to recommend or rank them, so judge them from their Steam store pages, and treat the base game as a complete purchase on its own.
What the review numbers actually tell you
Steam’s English user reviews stood at 84% positive from 13,708 reviews in a snapshot taken on October 8, 2026. That figure is a user-review score on one platform, and it moves as players post new reviews. Check the live number on the store page before relying on it.
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Metacritic’s review excerpts describe the genre mix but do not support a current aggregate critic score for this article, so we do not report one. Read the favorable user score as evidence that many players who finish the game like it, not as a critic verdict.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Decision table
| Factor | What to check | What the current evidence shows |
|---|---|---|
| Tactical combat | Do you enjoy turn-based planning? | Turn-based tactical battles are the central combat design. |
| Mercenary-company management | Do you enjoy running a traveling group? | Managing the company is a core system, not an optional side activity. |
| Long-form commitment | Can you spend long sessions on systems-heavy play? | The game is a long-form open-world RPG; exact playtime is not stated in the sources reviewed. |
| Fief management (The Fief) | Does settlement management appeal to you? | Described by PC Gamer on September 21, 2025 as adding fief and settlement management. |
| Platform performance | Will it run well on your platform? | Not verified for this article. Check current platform-specific reports before buying on console or Steam Deck. |
Who should buy it, and who should wait
- Buy it if you like turn-based tactics and want to lead a mercenary company through a large medieval world.
- Buy it if you enjoy slow, systems-driven progression more than constant action.
- Wait if you want fast, reflex-based combat or a tightly paced story.
- Wait if you are unsure about long sessions spent on group upkeep and planning.
- Consider The Fief only after you have decided the base game suits you and settlement management is something you want.
Platform performance
This article does not verify performance on specific platforms. Console stability, Steam Deck behavior, and feature parity across versions are not covered here because current, reliable reporting was not confirmed. If one of those is your main platform, look for recent reports from players on that exact hardware before purchasing.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
