Agarest: Generations of War is a strategy RPG that blends grid-based tactical combat with generational storytelling across five distinct eras. Players guide a lineage of heroes as they confront resurgent forces of darkness in a world rebuilt by the gods after an ancient conflict. The experience centers on managing party positioning, resource management, and relationship choices that directly influence future protagonists.
Gameplay
Combat unfolds on a grid where each character operates within a unique Extended Area. Positioning allows chained attacks that combine multiple party members for larger combos and access to advanced abilities. Turns involve movement followed by attacks that consume Attack Points, with regeneration occurring after each round. Special Points accumulate to enable Extra Skills, Special Arts, and Over Kills against powerful foes.
Equipment upgrades occur at the Blacksmith's Guild through enhancement to level five followed by irreversible conversion, or through alchemy that merges items into stronger gear with a chance of unexpected results. Exploration follows a map-based structure where players visit locations to trigger battles, quests, or story events that advance the narrative.
The Soul Breed system forms the core progression loop. Across each generation, players build affinity with three female companions through dialogue choices. At the end of a generation arc, marriage to one eligible heroine determines the stats, abilities, and appearance of the next protagonist. Multiple playthroughs reveal different character outcomes based on relationship strength and selections.
Game Modes
The primary experience is a single-player campaign that spans five generations of heroes, beginning with Leonhardt. Story progression alternates between tactical battles and visual novel-style dialogue sequences where choices shape relationships and the light or dark path alignment.
Map navigation drives the structure, with points that lead to combat encounters, town visits, or key story moments. No separate multiplayer or competitive modes exist. The generational format encourages repeated campaigns to explore varied hero builds and endings tied to marriage decisions.
Story and Progression
The narrative follows the awakening of darkness in a world created from the remnants of defeated dark gods. Each generation introduces new protagonists whose traits inherit from parental choices made in prior eras. Dialogue sections feature affinity-building conversations that restrict marriage options to companions with sufficient rapport.
Resource systems like Action Points and Special Points add layers to battle strategy, while permanent shop unlocks from alchemy reward experimentation. The five-generation span creates a long-form campaign focused on legacy building rather than isolated missions.
Is It Worth Playing?
Steam user reviews rate the game as Mostly Positive based on over 1,600 submissions. It suits players who enjoy strategy RPGs with tactical grid combat, equipment crafting, and branching character inheritance across multiple story arcs. The combination of chained attacks, relationship mechanics, and generational consequences provides depth for those seeking extended single-player campaigns with replay value through different marriage outcomes. Availability on PC remains steady with included bonus content packs that expand early resources and dungeons. Those preferring fast-paced action or multiplayer elements may find the deliberate pacing and dialogue focus less appealing.
