Guardian Codex

Guardian Codex was a free-to-play mobile RPG that framed its adventure around a near-future conflict between the Empire and the Resistance. Players fought back by entering the Codex matrix to recover legendary Guardians, then building a squad for turn-based battles, story quests, and boss encounters that could be tackled solo or cooperatively online.

Publisher: Square Enix
Type: Mobile RPG
Release Date: November 3, 2016
Shut Down: July 30, 2017
Pros: +Tactical turn-based fights with up to four commands per Guardian. +A large roster of 100+ Guardians to recruit. +Plenty of upgrade paths for improving your team.
Cons: -Noticeable lag and connection hiccups. -Damage values felt uneven and in need of tuning. -Several features are gated behind skill point unlocks.

Guardian Codex Shut Down on July 30, 2017

Overview

Guardian Codex Overview

Set in the year 2030, Guardian Codex drops you into a world split by open war, with the Empire opposing a scrappier Resistance movement. Your role is tied to the Codex matrix, a digital space used to track down ancient Guardians and bring them back to the front lines. From there, the game leans into collection and party building, encouraging you to assemble a lineup that can answer different elements, rarities, and enemy patterns.

Guardians were primarily obtained through a summoning feature known as Guardian Grab, and the roster offered more than a hundred options to chase. In combat, you brought three Guardians into a fight and could also include an ally Guardian, giving battles a bit more flexibility when you needed a specific element or utility pick. Encounters played out in classic turn-based fashion, with each Guardian having up to four actions to choose from, which made team composition matter more than simple auto-attacking.

Progression largely ran through PvE Quests that pushed the narrative forward while steadily opening up new activities. For bigger challenges, boss fights were available either as solo attempts or as multiplayer battles with up to three other players, which was often the faster route for tougher targets. Between fights, Guardians could be strengthened through multiple systems, including leveling, gear, Evolution, and Rebirth, giving the game a familiar mobile RPG loop of recruit, upgrade, and take on the next tier of content. Skill Points were also part of the overall progression, used to unlock features and character-related skills over time.

Guardian Codex Key Features:

  • 100+ Guardians – recruit a wide range of Guardians with different rarities, elements, and roles.
  • Turn-Based Combat – command your team in turn-based battles, selecting from up to four attacks per Guardian.
  • Story Progression – move through the narrative via PvE Quests and escalating mission tiers.
  • Multiplayer Fights – join online boss encounters with up to three additional players for co-op clears.
  • Enhance Guardians – upgrade your roster through systems like Evolution, Rebirth, gear, and leveling.

Guardian Codex Screenshots

Guardian Codex Featured Video

Guardian Codex: Multiplay mode demo #1

Full Review

Guardian Codex Review

Coming soon!

Links

Guardian Codex Links

Guardian Codex Official Site
Guardian Codex Facebook Page
Guardian Codex Reddit
Guardian Codex Google Play
Guardian Codex iTunes App Store

System Requirements

Guardian Codex System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System: Android 4.3 and up / iOS 8.0 or later.

Music

Guardian Codex Music & Soundtrack

Coming soon!

Additional Info

Guardian Codex Additional Information

Japanese Title: ガーディアン コーデックス
Developer:
Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

Platform: iOS, Android

Languages: English, Japanese

Global Release Date: November 3, 2016

Shut Down: July 30, 2017

Development History / Background:

Guardian Codex was a free-to-play mobile RPG developed and published by Square Enix. As a long-running leader in the RPG space, Square Enix has produced a wide range of console and mobile titles, and Guardian Codex fit into that mobile portfolio as a collection-focused, turn-based experience. The project was created by the same internal group associated with Guardian Cross and Deadman’s Cross, carrying forward a similar emphasis on acquiring and strengthening a large roster. It launched globally on iOS and Android in November 2016, and service ended on July 30, 2017.