One of 2024’s hidden gems is a turn-based tactics game where wizards are spec ops soldiers and the script is even better than the combat. We didn’t have as much time as we hoped before Christmas; to go back and review interesting games we’d missed earlier in the year. Only a few were left out but since there’s nothing new of note out at the moment we wanted to cover a few more, before the year begins in earnest. Top of that list is Tactical Breach Wizards, which was on our to do list for most of 2024 for two main reasons: people kept recommending it to us and it’s got an awesome name.
![[Tactical Breach Wizards screenshot]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235293253-b13c.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
For once we get to praise an indie game for having a memorable name, instead of one that actively puts you off wanting to try it, and we’re happy to report that Tactical Breach Wizards does exactly what it says on the tin. That is, you control a bunch of wizards who are really good at performing tactical breaches.
![[Tactical Breach Wizards screenshot]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_235293261-e781.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
There’s a dry absurdity to the set-up, which works much like XCOM’s turn-based combat, only with no aliens and where the special forces soldiers are packing magic wands instead of sniper rifles. As wacky as that sounds the game is anything but a farce and the most surprising thing about Tactical Breach Wizards is its great storytelling and memorable characters.
In the reality of the game, magic is commonplace but otherwise things work pretty much as they do in the real world. Main character Jen is a witch but she’s also a private investigator, who gets recruited as the result of a conspiracy involving, amongst other things, the Druid Mafia.
