Fantasy War Tactics R

Fantasy War Tactics R Review

Fantasy War Tactics R is a free-to-play tactical RPG from NEXON that aims to deliver a console-style strategy feel in a mobile-friendly format. It was announced in early 2015, ran a short 10-day closed beta test in April, and then launched globally on November 4, 2015. What makes it memorable is not just the production value, but how much its battles reward smart movement and setup, rather than pure stat checks. Players who enjoy tactics classics such as Final Fantasy Tactics will recognize the grid-based structure, while the game’s combo attacks and terrain interactions give it its own identity.

A campaign led by a would-be conqueror
The narrative is more central here than in many mobile collection RPGs. Instead of casting you as a straightforward savior, the game frames the protagonist as a confident wizard chasing world domination. The twist is that a shadowy group, the World Reformation Council, appears to have already “reformed” the world in its own image, setting up a conflict that is less simple than hero versus villain.

Story scenes appear before and after missions in a dialogue-heavy format, and the writing often leans into light comedy and character quirks. As you unlock more Heroes, you can also access extra conversations that add context and personality, which helps the roster feel less like a list of stats and more like a cast.

Stage-based progression built for short sessions
The main game is structured around a large set of instanced stages across multiple islands. Each map advances the story and introduces different enemy compositions and terrain layouts, keeping the tactical puzzle from getting too repetitive early on. You bring a party of up to five Heroes, and most missions are designed to be completed quickly, often in just a few minutes, which suits mobile play well.

Clearing stages rewards player experience, Hero experience, gold, and occasionally gear or new Heroes tied to the story. After a clear, stages also open up a “Hard” difficulty variant that improves the payoff, giving you a reason to revisit earlier maps when you need materials or levels. There is an energy system, so extended grinding sessions are somewhat limited unless you invest resources.

Grid battles that feel familiar, but not shallow
Combat takes place on a tiled battlefield where you act with one Hero at a time, choosing where to move, whether to attack, and when to end a turn. Once your squad has acted, enemies take their turn, and the cycle continues until one side is eliminated. On paper it is straightforward, but the game consistently pushes you to think about angles, spacing, and setup.

A standout mechanic is the way multiple Heroes can join in when targets are positioned correctly, allowing coordinated attacks that feel satisfying when you plan them. For players who want faster progression, there is an Auto option that handles actions for you. The AI is serviceable for routine clearing, but manual play is where the tactical depth actually shines.

Positioning, type matchups, and bonus rules
Fantasy War Tactics R layers several systems on top of basic movement and attacks. Instead of a traditional elemental wheel, Heroes use a rock-paper-scissors type relationship. Hitting a weaker type grants a 30% damage bonus, while striking into a stronger type causes a 25% penalty. The result is a gentle but meaningful incentive to build a mixed squad, rather than relying on a single favorite unit.

Terrain also matters. Higher ground can increase damage, and some Heroes gain additional boosts depending on specific terrain such as water, rocky areas, or grass. Attacking from behind provides extra damage, which makes flanking and careful pathing valuable, especially on maps with choke points. Certain Heroes also have cooperative bonuses when paired with specific teammates, adding another layer to party composition. Between attack patterns, skill tile shapes, and combo opportunities, fights reward planning without becoming overly complex to operate on a phone screen.

A sizeable roster, earned in multiple ways
Building your team is a major part of the loop. New Heroes are awarded naturally as you progress through the story, and many of them appear in scenes so they feel integrated rather than purely collectible. Beyond that, Heroes can be obtained by collecting Gene Fragments from stages, using Ancient Coins earned through expeditions, or completing achievements. This approach is notably different from many mobile RPGs that lock most characters behind a pure gacha pull.

Each Hero comes with a type, unique skills, attack patterns, and situational bonuses that influence how they perform on different maps. Equipment, such as helmets, armor, and rings, is obtained from summons and stage rewards, and some items are soul bound. The variety in kits and patterns keeps battles from becoming one-note, since swapping even a single unit can change how you approach a grid.

Cash Shop/In-App Purchases (IAP)
The monetization focuses on equipment summons, cosmetic costumes, gold, and energy. Equipment pulls use Crystals, and you can select the star tier you are summoning for (with higher tiers costing more). Equipment tiering is also tied to Hero tiers, since only certain Heroes can equip higher star gear. Importantly, Crystals are not used to directly summon Heroes, which shifts the biggest power chase away from pure character gacha and toward gear optimization and time saving.

Costumes provide small stat boosts, and buying additional energy can accelerate farming, which in turn can translate into stronger teams, especially for PVP. Overall, spending is not mandatory to enjoy the campaign, but it can provide advantages through better equipment access and faster grinding, which is where the pay-to-win concerns come from.

Final Verdict – Great
Fantasy War Tactics R delivers a surprisingly complete tactics experience for mobile, supported by sharp visuals, a charming story, and combat systems that reward smart positioning and team planning. It does ask for a fair amount of repeat runs to grow your roster and gear, and the shop can speed up progression in ways that matter for competitive play. Still, for anyone who enjoys strategic RPG combat and wants something built around short, satisfying battles, it remains an easy recommendation.

Fantasy War Tactics R Links

Fantasy War Tactics R Google Play
Fantasy War Tactics R iOS
Fantasy War Tactics R Official Facebook
Fantasy War Tactics R Wikia

Fantasy War Tactics R System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Android 4.0 and up / iOS 6.0 or later

Fantasy War Tactics R Music & Soundtrack

Fantasy War Tactics R Additional Information

Developer: NEXON GT
Publisher: NEXON
Platforms: Android, iOS
Release Date: November 4, 2015

Fantasy War Tactics R was developed and published by NEXON, a large Korean game company known for major PC MMORPGs like MapleStory and Vindictus. The game was initially revealed in early 2015, followed by a short 10-day closed beta in April 2014, and it later launched worldwide on November 4, 2015. As a free-to-play mobile tactics title in the style of Final Fantasy Tactics, it stands out for offering a comparatively deep turn-based system on phones and it surpassed 100,000 downloads within a week of release. NEXON has also published mobile games such as Pocket MapleStory and Legion of Heroes.