Jagged Alliance cover art

Jagged Alliance

Classic mercenary tactics game about retaking an island sector by sector.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION0 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE5 /10OPTIMIZATION8 /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

    0/10

    Turn-based orders only

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    Enemy guards follow AI routines

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    5/10

    Hit rolls and hidden enemy placement

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    8/10

    Mercenary hiring economy and sector strategy

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.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Fallout Shelter cover art

Fallout Shelter

Pure Optimization · base management sim

E
R
V
O
Fallout Shelter
Sid Meier's Civilization III cover art

Sid Meier's Civilization III

Pure Optimization · 4X strategy

E
R
V
O
Sid Meier's Civilization III
Loop Hero cover art

Loop Hero

Pure Optimization · deckbuilding autobattler

E
R
V
O
Loop Hero
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones cover art

Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones

Pure Optimization · tactical RPG

E
R
V
O
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
X-COM: UFO Defense cover art

X-COM: UFO Defense

Systems & Chaos · turn-based strategy

E
R
V
O
X-COM: UFO Defense
Tropico 4 cover art

Tropico 4

Pure Optimization · political city builder

E
R
V
O
Tropico 4

Game details

Released
1995
Developer
Madlab Software
Platforms
PC, DOS
Modes
Single player
IGDB users
79/100
StrategyTurn-based strategy (TBS)TacticalWarfare