There’s a very specific itch that tactical RPG fans have, the kind that only gets scratched when positioning matters, mistakes are punished, and victories feel earned rather than handed out. Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch didn’t just scratch that itch for me, it dug in and refused to let go. As someone who loves the XCOM combat, especially in recent titles like WarTales. I went into this game curious, maybe a little sceptical, about how well that formula would translate into a roguelite structure. I came out thoroughly satisfied.
Tactical rouglite, how does it fair?
At its core, Veil of the Witch understands what makes grid-based tactical combat compelling. Movement is deliberate. Line of sight matters. Terrain matters. Flanking isn’t optional, it’s survival. Every encounter feels like a small puzzle where the solution isn’t always obvious until you’ve already committed to a risky move. That tension, that moment of hovering your cursor over a tile and asking “can I survive this?” is pure XCOM energy, and the game absolutely nails it.
What surprised me most was how naturally that combat fits into a roguelite loop. Altough you will not lose characters if they die during a run, mistakes are still devestating. Poor position in the first battles means that most resources and rewards will be used to recover your party and hindering battles to come.Although since runs are temporary and players to dont lose anything ‘external’, the game encourages experimentation. You’re not hoarding items “just in case.” You’re adapting on the fly reshaping your squad, your builds, and your strategy based on what the game throws at you. That adaptability is deeply satisfying when paired with combat systems that reward smart positioning and synergy over raw stats.
Losing runs doesnt mean starting from scratch
Each character brings something meaningful to the battlefield. Tanks aren’t just damage sponges they’re zone controllers. Ranged units feel vulnerable but powerful when properly protected. Support characters genuinely matter, especially in longer fights where resource economy and survivability start to spiral out of control. This is where the XCOM inspiration shines brightest: winning isn’t about wiping the enemy quickly, it’s about controlling the flow of combat as well as mitigating damages.
The roguelite progression also deserves credit for respecting the player’s time. Failure doesn’t feel like a reset button, it feels like feedback. You learn what went wrong, unlock new options, and head back in with a slightly stronger foundation and a much sharper plan. That constant forward momentum kept me engaged far longer than I expected. Even losing runs felt productive, which is exactly what a good roguelite should accomplish.
What’s surrounds the gameplay?
Narratively, the game keeps things restrained but intriguing. The mysterious Witch, the cursed island, and the fragmented memories all serve as atmospheric glue rather than intricate exposition. I appreciated that the story never pulled focus away from the gameplay. It’s simply there to motivate the player, which feels like the right choice for a game so mechanically driven.
Visually and tonally, Veil of the Witch leans into a sombre, grounded fantasy aesthetic. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. The clean readability of the battlefield takes priority, which is crucial in a tactics game where one misread tile or miss-click can potentially cost a good run. The games simplicity also deserves a mention. Heading into runs and navigating them is as simple as a couple clicks which makes it a fantastic game for handheld devices too.
My Conclusion
If I had to summarize my experience in one sentence, it would be this: Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch feels like a game made by people who understand why XCOM works, and wanted more of it. That combination won’t be for everyone, but for players that enjoy games such as XCOM or WarTales but without restarting the game because ‘you can do it better’. Those who enjoy calculated risks, tight tactical decision-making, and learning through failure, it’s an incredibly satisfying experience.
Lost Eidolons:Veil of the Witch is available now on Playstation 4/5 , XBOX’s, PC and Nintendo Switch
