14 DAY TRIAL // I tank one hit with my hero while bringing in a seedling to green three tiles. This will kill the enemy currently attacking me and heal some of my creatures. The battlefield is now opponent free, with two set to come out of their burrows next turn. The best idea is to move my hero away from danger, heal him, and see what my summons can do.
Oaken is developed by Laki Studios, with publishing handled by Goblinz Publishing. You can play it via Steam in Early Access, with the game set to stay there for 5 to 7 months. The title offers a relatively classic take on the tactical, turn-based, card-driven rogue-lite space, set in an interesting plant universe.
The player chooses a role and a guide and embarks on a quest to try and find and restore the voice of the Great Oak, the power that supports this beautiful and verdant universe. The effort involves plenty of combat but also bits of lore and choices that affect how the character interacts with the world.
The mechanics of Oaken combine tactics and cards. The player hero will appear somewhere on a battlefield. This avatar can move once and then attack during one turn. But his true power lies in his magic. It can be used to summon new creatures, from an expanding list, or to launch direct ranged attacks. Based on the chosen guide, players also have special abilities like healing or extra attacks.
The encounters have a variety of objectives and pose plenty of challenge. Positioning is as important as good ability use. It’s fun to experiment and try out ideas to see how they play out. Outside of battle, gamers have plenty of options. They can choose whisps that improve cards, they get events that can boost their abilities, and they can get extra cards to work with.
Oaken is one of the cutest titles in its genre. The heroes, units, and battlefields are filled with bright colors and beautiful designs. The violence sometimes feels like a violation, and I enjoy the areas where I had to only defend or spare some potential opponents. The soundtrack adds to the immersion and the beauty, although it can use a little more variety.
Conclusion
The developers are gathering data and feedback from the community, saying that they are hoping to reach the full potential of the title with help from players. I would like to see Oaken add a big twist to its core ideas before full launch but will play it even if it remains somewhat conservative in its approach.
Preview code provided by the publisher.
