Tense, tactical, and turn-based, XCOM 2 boasts some of the greatest combat mechanics in videogame history. You take Firaxis’ strategic shooter, stuff it into an eyepatch and captain’s hat, and set it loose across the isometric, RPG worlds of Diablo 4 or Baldur’s Gate 3. This is Flint: Treasure of Oblivion. A combination of deckbuilders, classic-style CRPGs, positional battles, and, of course, pirates, it feels like dozens of classic PC games combined into one. The story is told through detailed and expressive hand-drawn comic panels. As well as your abilities and movesets, you can also build and customize your entire crew. Assassin’s Creed 4 might be a distant memory, but its spirit certainly survives – Flint: Treasure of Oblivion is about to make a splash on Steam.
Playing as the eponymous James Flint, you begin Treasure of Oblivion having just escaped the stockade with your second in command Billy Bones. There’s rumor of a great fortune buried somewhere along the Central American coast and you’re determined to get there before any of your pirate rivals. An RPG and deckbuilder, Flint Treasure of Oblivion is all about your cards and your crew. Everyone you recruit will bring different strengths and abilities. The more you explore its rich, maritime world, the more potential compadres you will meet, all of whom come complete with their own cards.
But it’s not all about sheer force. Like XCOM, in combat, positioning plays a large role. If you and your crew manage to get the high ground over your attackers, you can inflict more damage, or maybe use the environment to score devastating critical hits. Conversely, if you’re ambushed, you need to escape to a better vantage point before you can turn the tables.
You can be ruthless, too – you are a pirate after all. If a member of the crew isn’t cutting it, no pun intended, abandon them on land and find someone better. It’s all about building the strongest band of seadogs you can.
Though cards and dice rolls drive Flint’s combat, the story is focused and driven, and propelled by gorgeously drawn comic book panels. It’s also inspired by real history and some of the most legendary people and places of piracy’s golden age. If you want to try Flint: Treasure of Oblivion for yourself, it’s on Steam as of Tuesday December 17. You can get it right here.
Otherwise, you might want to play some of the best pirate games, or maybe the best single-player games available on PC.
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