Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception

Blending visual novel storytelling with grid-based tactics, Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception delivers a measured mix of narrative depth and mechanical precision. Developed by Aquaplus and published by Shiravune and DMM GAMES, it first launched on PC on January 23, 2020. Between lengthy, character-driven chapters and turn-based strategy encounters, the SRPG layer emphasizes mastery of turn order, zone control, and combo timing. Units grow through RPG progression, with skills, elemental affinities, and positional bonuses rewarding expert planning. The visual novel cadence suits methodical theorycrafting, while encounter design favors clean execution over grind. Fans seeking strategy games like XCOM will find a slower, lore-rich alternative that still prizes tactical efficiency. Mouse-friendly inputs on Windows complement the deliberate pace, and the soundtrack underscores political intrigue, mythic stakes, and meticulous battlefield decision-making.