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Children of Zodiarcs

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch • 2017

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Quick resume

A story-driven, tactical RPG set in the fantasy realm of Lumus; a world divided by affluence and poverty. Take control of Nahmi and her fellow outcasts, utilising a brand new deck and dice based combat system to strike a blow to the noble Lords’ and Ladies’ unquenchable thirst for profit.

Global score

70/100

Genres

Indie, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure, Tactical, Card & Board Game

Similar games

    Pros

    • Unique card and dice combat system
    • Deep tactical gameplay with customization
    • Challenging but fair difficulty
    • Engaging dark fantasy story
    • Polished art and music

    Cons

    • Linear story progression
    • Limited party size and customization
    • Some rng frustration
    • Short game length
    • Slow animations without speed-up

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Expression, Fellowship, Cooperation, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Expression, Strategy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      3

      "Players can customize decks and dice, experiment with builds, and choose strategies, though party members are fixed and story progression is linear."

    • Competence
      3

      "Challenging tactical combat with dice and card mechanics requiring skillful play and adaptation; some grinding needed but skill impacts success."

    • Competition
      -2

      "Focus is on single-player experience with no multiplayer or ranked modes; players compete against AI and personal challenges."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Players engage in skirmishes and arena modes for additional playtime; some find grinding repetitive but many enjoy extended play."

    • Cooperation
      -4

      "Gameplay is single-player with fixed party members; no multiplayer or cooperative modes."

    • Creativity
      4

      "Strong customization of decks and dice faces allows creative tactical builds and playstyles."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions are balanced and cooperative within party; no evidence of dominance or power assertion over others."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Dark story and immersive tactical gameplay provide distraction and engagement away from real life."

    • Expectation
      -3

      "Players engage voluntarily out of interest in tactical RPGs and deck-building mechanics; no obligation or pressure noted."

    • Experimenting
      4

      "Players encouraged to experiment with dice crafting, deck building, and tactical approaches to battles."

    • Exploration
      -2

      "Game is mostly linear with limited map variety and story progression; exploration is minimal."

    • Expression
      3

      "Players express themselves through deck and dice customization; character appearance customization is limited."

    • Fantasy
      4

      "Set in a dark fantasy world with steampunk elements, featuring imaginative fiction and character-driven narrative."

    • Fellowship
      -4

      "Single-player focus with minimal social or community interaction."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop characters by unlocking cards and upgrading dice, learning new strategies and synergies."

    • Health
      -4

      "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity or health-related features."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention during tactical battles; some downtime between missions but not idle play."

    • Intimacy
      -4

      "Limited to character interactions in story; no close social relationships or emotional sharing with other players."

    • Leadership
      -3

      "Players control a fixed small party but no leadership or management over larger groups or other players."

    • Progression
      4

      "Character progression through leveling, unlocking new cards, and upgrading dice; meaningful accumulation of power."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Game offers moments of flow and satisfaction but also challenging battles that can cause tension."

    • Sensation
      2

      "Enjoyable audiovisual presentation with unique dice rolling animations and music, though not highly stimulating."

    • Status
      -4

      "No social status or recognition systems; achievements are personal and not publicly ranked."

    • Story
      2

      "Narrative is present with character development and plot twists, though some find it shallow or unengaging."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Tactical grid combat with deck and dice mechanics requires planning, positioning, and problem solving."

    • Thrill
      2

      "Dice randomness and challenging battles create suspense and excitement, though some frustration with RNG."

    • Value
      3

      "Good value for price with 15-25 hours of gameplay; some complaints about short length and replayability."

    • Violence
      3

      "Combat involves attacking and defeating enemies with weapons and magic; story includes dark themes and killing."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must manage resources, positioning, and health to survive challenging battles."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026