Turn Based Gamer is a place to find features and reviews of the freshest turn-based offerings and past glories of the genre. The revived XCOM and the Divinity Original Sin series are our favorites here at TBG, they are only the standard bearers for the turn-based game genre as a whole. At Turn Based Gamer we will feature and review games that we enjoy playing that are fully or partially turn-based and maybe even a few that aren’t. We love games with a good story or lore with interesting or innovative gameplay. We especially like to focus on overlooked, underappreciated indie turn-based gems.
At TBG we are not paid to promote or review games. We offer our honest thoughts and opinions about games that we play ourselves. If we feature a game we haven’t played ourselves we will credit or link the source where we received this information. We like to play games on multiple platforms including PC, Mac, Xbox, PlayStation 4 and iOS. Most games we have purchased with our own hard-earned money, but if a developer would like TBG to feature or review their game we do accept promotional keys. If you have a key for any major gaming hub or platform (like Steam, GOG.com, Epic, Xbox, PS4, iOS) you would like to submit please email tbg@turnbasedgamer.com or hit us up on Twitter.
Review Policy
Any game we feature or review will receive a thorough and honest look. We are not big fans of negative comments on the internet in general, so in this vein, our review policy is as follows:
Potential
While this is the lowest category it doesn’t mean a game is “bad” or not worth your time. It just means there are aspects that hold the game back from reaching its potential.
Decent
The game is well-made but doesn’t do anything innovative with the gameplay or story to push the genre along. It is worth your time and money, but it may have one or two aspects that hold it back.
Solid
The game is good. It’s fun to play with at least one excellent aspect, most likely a good story or innovative gameplay. You may not remember this game in the future, but you will solidly enjoy the time and money you spent on it.
Recommended
This is the type of game that you will remember and probably return to play again and again. It has multiple excellent features, most likely an interesting story and innovative gameplay.
Conversation
Finally, if you would like to be part of the TBG conversation we have that Twitter page, a growing Steam Group, and an Xbox Club (Turn Based Gamer). Come check us out!
Contributors
As this is only a startup blog at the moment we are finding our feet. Eventually, we would like to expand and have more contributors write on TBG. We will let you know when we are ready for this step.
Turn Based Gamer
I started and run this site. I am a middle-aged gamer who started out playing games like Wasteland, The Bard’s Tale Trilogy, the SSI Gold Box Series on my friend’s Apple IIgs and later Fallout 1+2 on my family’s eMac. In addition, I had the normal Atari-Nintendo-PlayStation-Xbox progression of the time. More recently I have graduated to multiple gaming hardware and platforms in order to explore all the artform has to offer. I play all types of games but I keep coming back to turn-based games. My motto for gaming today is “gameplay trumps graphics, substance trumps style. It’s that simple.”
Mossy Bear
I am just starting out as young turn-based gamer. I grew up with the Wii, iOS games and now the Xbox. My interest in gaming was mostly for shooters and action platformers, but lately I have found a love for modern turn-based games. Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden was one of the best games I have ever played. I am starting a journey in turn-based gaming by playing the new XCOM and Divinity Original Sin games. I plan to offer my insightful analysis and opinions about the genre as I gain new experience in this genre. As Dux said “they used to call it a ‘Boom Box’. Touch that red button and it goes boom” sort of like our gaming boxes today and the turn-based genre in general.