Dragon Quest Wars cover art

Dragon Quest Wars

A turn-based tactics game testing positioning and team optimization against human or AI opponents.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION1 /10READS5 /10VARIANCE3 /10OPTIMIZATION7 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    1/10

    Turn-based piece moves require no twitch input

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    5/10

    Human opponents adapt positioning in versus matches

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    3/10

    Monster abilities and dice-like spell outcomes add chance

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    7/10

    Positioning, team selection and turn order are solvable

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Game details

Released
2009
Developer
Square Enix Product Development Division 9
Franchise
Dragon Quest
Platforms
Nintendo DSi
Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB users
63/100
Role-playing (RPG)StrategyQuiz/TriviaCard & Board Game