METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN
Game
Game2024Published by indie.io
Dream Tactics
Developer Spectra Entertainment Inc.
Dream Tactics is a GBA-styled strategy RPG with cunning card combos and deep character customization. Pick your party, manage cards to create unique playstyles, and outsmart hordes of pillows in turn-based combat to save the Dream World from its inevitable collapse. From the Steam store page
213 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 4, 2026 · last updated Oct 7, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
91
LovedLoved
168 positive · 16 negative
95% range 86–95%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 168 | 16 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
29 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
652 of 704 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 213 · most liked firstI enjoyed the characters, art, story and mechanics but the combat starting getting boring about half way in since there are just far too many mobs. I ended up having literal turns of nothing on the field and wondering why the battle didn't end. Then reinforcements would show up for the 4th time. It ends up making combat feel dragged out rather than fun. The final boss felt horribly designed with all the teleporting to other maps in between along with the unexplained debuff mechanic that really…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A solid tactics game with pretty fun designs and deckbuilding, I enjoyed the goofy dialogue and how the game played. Coming from indie devs, what they made is an incredible game that is well made, though a bit rough around the edges. That said, I can't recommend this to other strategy games as battles tend to play out the same in most scenarios and players are at a higher disadvantage here than other strategy games. For example, players are strictly limited to 4 usable characters in your…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a fantastic game, super cute and addictive. And hard! Especially if you play on Nightmare difficulty and/or with Hardcore mode enabled (perma-death). For me there are three highlights: Pacing: After the first introductory chapter, you arrive at a hub area with access to four chapters to choose from. You can freely enter and leave any chapter at any time, meaning if you get stuck on a fight, you can always check if progression is easier in another chapter and grab new items, money, and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →7.5/10 Surprisingly good even though I don't usually like anime artstyle or rated G subject matter. The good reviews are definitely deserved here. It's a tactical/strategy RPG with a card/deck system instead of just having abilities. Revolves around card combos, redrawing cards, etc. Pros: - Good music, if slightly repetitive at times. Most noticeable in longer fights - A good balance between "cute" and fun, with some subtle jokes for adults ("Pillow Enlargement Pills", lol). In other…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A pretty solid GBA-era tactics game that I expected to be short and sweet, but it wasn't. Pros: + Strong fundamentals, it does everything a tactics game should. + Funny writing, I like all these characters and the pillow enemies are cute! + GBA-era pixel art that's both functional and stylish. + Great customization of characters with a variety of deckbuilding and equip options. Cons: - Too long. I expected it to be maybe 15-20 hours long, but there are a lot of unnecessary battles…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very solid game, although I wish it had a final QoL patch. A bit limited in the technical department. + Beautiful and colourful environments. + Very cute character designs. + Fantastic soundtrack. + Hilarious dialogue. + Every character has many different builds and item combinations. + Has Steam Cloud support. It's a good game to play on the Steam Deck. + You can unlock a (limited) randomizer mode when you first finish the game. ~ The overarching story is nice but there aren't that many…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Please add the ability to move faster or sprint while exploring the overworld... Map exploration is extremely tedious with this limited movement speed
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A nice, cute little game. You direct a party with up to four active members. The main character is Neru, a human girl summoned to the dream world to defeat a great evil. She is supported by an adorable cast of side characters, the most prominent ones being Luna (the blue haired bunny-girl) and Sophie (the green haired lancer). The story is kind of feel-good and rather well written. I, for one, loved the dialogues and occasional humor. As far as graphics go, it's kind of a low pixel…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →for a game about girls fighting pillows this game has an astonishing level of depth to its combat due to it's unique equipment/ card gimmicks. Plus that hardcore difficulty does not mess around.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is surprisingly good! It's a rather clever deckbuilder and turn-based tactics game. It gets right down to mechanics and doesn't waste your time. The story comes up organically. It's cute and funny and combat is *really* hard on Nightmare. Exploration is rewarded by unlocking new cards and breaking barrels for money. Great QoL features - if you lose a battle, you respawn right before it. no need to mess with saves - merchants buy and sell items for the same price! (I absolutely love…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I played on the highest difficulty and 100%'d the game. It's a fun ride. Overall + Extremely modular, your imagination can run wild + Rewards good builds and exploration with more items and money - Nonlinear progression limits story design and difficulty - Trap gauntlets make treading old ground annoying The game has a good flow to it. Several systems, including the redrawing of cards, borrowing cards from other heroes, and equipment that modifies cards are designed to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I had a hard time reading if I'd like this game before I bough it. I generally like turn base tactic games, but it's not a genre where I'm easily willing to purchase. This game came up on sale, so I pulled the trigger. I'm surprised I liked it. I mean... you're fighting pillows as enemies. They dev really leans into the theme they created here, creating a very cohesive experience. The game's plot isn't terribly deep, but it's kind of nice not dealing with typical JRPG drama. It's a solid,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's one of the best games I have ever played. It's simple, relaxing, have humorous stories, easy controls, good for refreshing from working. Nice graphics & unique item effects. Well I can also get all of the achievements on easy with hardcore mode.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →3.8/10 huge fan of fire emblem and FF tactics this one is just all around lacking when it comes to combat
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Characters have no personality. Boring story. Repetitive gameplay.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →thought it was strategy game, but the mini games where you have to avoid arrows is just obnoxious, if you could skip this the game would be pretty decent, otherwise it is just meh
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is propably the most fun game I've played this year. I was never a huge fan of card battlers or tactical RPGs but this game made me more interested in the genre. Currently going for 100% achievements
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Quite a mixed bag. The story and characters were so shallow I had to force myself through the latter half of the game. Unfortunately, it wasn't worth it as the ending was even more disappointing. The world and exploration were done well, with interesting puzzles and secrets (except the desert, I hate massive open deserts). The combat is good, but is repetitive and lacks depth. The decision to split the zones into 4 separate instances prevented any difficulty scaling, as they had to be balanced…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[Edit:] ***9/10!!!!*** Dream tactics is a fantastic indie tactical RPG with enough depth and care put into it that I'd recommend it to anyone. It has an incredibly charming story with writing that did make me genuinely laugh out loud a couple times, or at least shake my head and groan in comedic pain. The music is befitting each individual world you explore, and only the first world felt repetitive to me, though nostalgic when you revisit it. The combat can be as sophisticated or simplistic…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Man, I'm not sure how much this game sold, but it's not enough. I've played a lot of tactical RPGs, especially Fire Emblem, and this one was a real treat. I was a bit unsure when I saw it had a card based combat system along with the standard tactical grid, but it's a perfect combo. I sort of binged this game in a few days. I usually can't play a game that long, but I kept wanting to come back. The game offers lots of customizability in terms of building out your units. You can mix and match…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a fairly solid tactical RPG, 25-30 hours or so of gameplay will be available. Graphically it's reminiscent of the GBA era. It's very colorful, which works well with the theme of being in a dream world. Terrain has a good amount of detail, though the sprites are a bit small for my tastes. There is a zoom option, but it will make things a bit blurry or pixelated. Gameplay involves exploration and combat, exploration has fairly expansive areas, with a good amount of secrets and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hungover. Thought maybe I would play Dream Tactics because its a good game and fun with a lot of heart. But Democracy calls. Helldivers 2 is such a great 'pass the time' game. #BluToid
unlabelledView post →I'm a simple man. I have no way to change the displayed buttons from Xbox to Playstation or Nintendo, I leave a negative review.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Much better than Sea of Stars to me
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Ta-da! For once, my schedule is...mostly on time! Not only that, we're finally free from the months-long cycle! On Tuesday, we'll be checking out a charming turn-based game I found a while back: Dream Tactics. Then on Thursday, we'll start the full version of Jenny the Witch!
unlabelledView post →maps get too lengthy during the mid game, so its not as much fun anymore. i enjoyed the game mechanics but after a while it gets boring repeating the same tactics over and over again. I wish game maps were more shorter with a few stronger enemies rather than a big map with multiple weak enemies. i really enjoyed fighting bosses and challenging groups, but it gets tiring fighting like 5 groups of (3-5) enemies in 1 map.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An adorable Fire Emblem-like strategy game (I have never played another strategy game yes) with a LOVELY card twist! I'll be honest I was bored to sleep at that one massive battle near the end because I spent an entire session failing it but besides that one time, the whole game was amazing! Great writing, gameplay rarely gets stale because the enemies change it up nicely, I love almost every single character, the fact you can recruit some of the supposed "villains" is hella awesome. The main…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you see this QTP with your current game rotation: Ok so i just finished a game (Harvestella) and i am waiting for Sky FC remake to drop, so right now i am only playing one game -Star Ocean 4 (a replay) So for the other 3 ill put what i am considering next: -Dream Tactics -Teslagrad -Rain Code
unlabelledView post →This game is incredible, and the only game that successfully combine deck-building with Tactical RPGs. I can't wait for a sequel or other games by the devs. Please be patient with the opening area, the game turns out to be much better than it seems.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Solid tactics game with a cute story that lets you be very creative with builds and playstyles. The art and sound design is amazing as well. I really enjoyed my time with the game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[look towards the bottom for Chinese Review, 后半部分是中文评测] A great work that combines turn-based tactics with deck-building elements. When I started playing, it had just received a Nightmare difficulty update, so I dove straight into the hardest setting for my first run. After about 20–30 hours and completing the game, I realized this might be my favorite indie game of the year. I’d like to share a few points: 1. Playability: A perfect blend of traditional strategy and deck-building. Over the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Amazing game. Great build variety. Great Enemy variety. Funny Characters. Nice story. The game gives you a lot of options how to build characters that really changes the way you can play. The best fire-emblem like i ever played.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Magnificent tactics RPG if you're looking for that Fire Emblem like experience, it's a shame you can't use all the characters on the same run, hopefully if there's a sequel you'll be able to fight with your whole party.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Charming indie game that is a bit too long for my liking. In fact, it got pretty boring halfway through. Tactical deckbuilers are pretty hard to balance and in this game you get new cards by opening chests. You can get equipment as passive enhancements but even those only come via chests or the shop. Therefore, growing your team is a bit too dull especially in the beginning. Later on, you get new characters when you venture to new locations but that also means a majority of the chests are for…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very fun tactics game. Between the card based combat system allowing you to build your characters' decks in a variety of ways, and many pieces of equipment that you can find throughout the game that provide unique changes to the card abilities, this game provides incredible customization options when building out the characters. My wife played through the game at the same time, so we often would look over at the other's team and see that they had come up with completely different builds that…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the best SRPGs I've played in years. The deck building and random card draws on each turn might make the game sound frustratingly RNG-dependent, but you have a variety of tools at your disposal to work around and mitigate the RNG which is a core component of the game's strategy. There's a huge number of equippable items to find throughout the game which don't just give stats but offer modifiers to how characters play, like reducing the size of your card hand in exchange for more MP, or…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An excellent tactical RPG—if you're into this genre, definitely give it a try. A few things to be aware of, though, that might turn off some players: *There is no opportunity to grind for experience or farm for items; there are a fixed number of battles and a fixed number of treasure chests, and enemies that are defeated stay defeated. *Enemies scale in level as you do; while the game throws enough equipment and abilities at you to help you compensate, there are a few battles that, if you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bravo game devs, thanks for giving us an absolute gem! Earthbound-like humor and charm combined with incredibly in-depth customization options for your party. If you're a fan of Fire Emblem or Final Fantasy Tactics then this game is a must play for you.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Overall, I would recommend this game. The art is really charming and the music is great. The story is silly and simple but in a refreshing way for the genre. I really enjoyed at least 60% of the maps, and most of the boss maps struck the right balance of being challenging while also feeling fair. However, I'm unfortunately not a fan of the final boss. Without going into too much detail, it felt like it was a test of my patience and endurance rather than a final test of my strategy. The…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Story & Difficulty & Game Style All PERFECT G.O.A.T
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is honestly my Game of the Year for 2024. It is such a fun and unique experience. Imagine Final Fantasy Tactics, but replace the Job system with a super engaging Constructed Fromat Deckbuilder. This game encourages you to think tactically In the heat of combat, but much more crucially, encourages you to apply that tactical thinking BETWEEN combat as well! The itemization and build customization that this game allows for is unbelievable. Progression through the game unlocks build-defining…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvXY... Heya folks, here's a new First 10 Minutes video! In this one, I'm playing an indie tactical RPG called Dream Tactics by Spectra Entertainment Inc. and Indie.io. #dreamtactics #videogames #indiegames #rpg #gameplay #first10minutes
unlabelledView post →Wow, a tactical RPG that's unique and doing its own thing with an original setting instead of being a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ version of X Fire Fantasy Tactics Ogre Wars Emblem Com Advance with the most god awful dialogue and characters imaginable. What a concept. I held off on getting this game for a while in lieu of games with higher production value, but honestly this game's actually pretty solid, especially for the price. Listen bro you fight PILLOWS in this game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After beating the game on Hard mode i will say if you have any experience with fire emblem,tactic ogre or final fantasy tactics you will either like this game a lot or think its a cool spin on the genre using cards over weapons and tomes while still having the difficulty you'd expect from those games. the story overall is quite simple while still being enjoyable and the ability to choose how you progress is really nice as well so your not forced to clear an area once your go there and can…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Quite possibly the most enjoyable strategy RPG I've played since the PS2 era. The (shooting) stars of the show are the greatly satisfying team customisation options and tactical gameplay, which offer a huge variety of builds and strategies for slaughtering hordes of fluffy pillows. The presentation oozes retro appeal, and the story has a charming Saturday morning cartoon vibe, with most characters having an endearing degree of psychopathy that makes me thankful there's no friendly fire (except…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The story is simple enough to understand, but is written well enough that it isn't a bore. Battle mechanics are easy to pick up. I like that there a lots of options for card and equipment synergies which adds to the depth of the strategies. With the right mix of allies and equipment, one can be pretty overpowered which is a plus if you're into that. All in all, this is a gem that I will come back to from time to time.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →shoutout to calvary units they always carry any srpg i play well in this games since, slime mount really charming srpg with slay the spire card system for funny combos along with mixing and matching equipments too! even on easy mode its kinda hard like the classic GBA fire emblem games its nice
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Decided to not play Grimstone and play Dream Tactics tonight, and wow, a good game feels SO refreshing. #blutoid
unlabelledView post →Dream Tactics ($13.49) - Beneath this fluffy exterior lies a deceptively challenging and addictive turn-based strategy game... a rare usage of deckbuilding that doesn't feel tacked on, and an art style that feels like if the GBA Fire Emblems were cuter. store.steampowered.com/app/1897650/...
unlabelledView post →Good game. Cute aesthetic, simple, yet engaging gameplay. I really appreciate a tactics game where I don't have to worry about too many units.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Needs better keyboard support, if i disable mouse control i can't rebind movement to wasd
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In just under an hour, we're trying out a new (for me) turn-based game -- Dream Tactics! I played a small amount on my own a while back, but this'll mostly be new for me~ Waiting room: youtube.com/watch?v=PAxO...
unlabelledView post →Loved the game and loved the story! If you like strategy games that reward exploration and experimentation with character builds, this game will scratch that itch. You are heavily incentivized to mix and match cards and equipment from different characters throughout the game and some items may even have you rethinking an entire character. The story is charmingly simplistic and works well with the fun and interesting environments you'll find yourself in. The humor is also well done and each…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Heya folks, here's a 1st set of screenshots featuring Dream Tactics by Spectra Entertainment Inc. and Indie.io I started on this one late last night, and I'm enjoying it so far. Still working my way through the first area of the game, though. #dreamtactics #videogames #indiegames #rpg #screenshots
unlabelledView post →This game, behind the "small scale" of it, is a real gem ! the universe is colorful, with a very unique theme. Story is very simple, but it makes for the charm of the game in my opinion. the dialogues and various banters are simultaneously cute and funny, a good change of pace compared to the classic over-serious themes we meet in the genre. Most of all, I think where this game really shines is in its gameplay, which achieves to be both very intuitive to learn and addictive, with a lot of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Is a very fun tactics game with deckbuilding. Each character of your team has its own deck that can be customized. The game is light hearted and fun with charming and cute characters. Some battles of the game are very hard so sometimes you are going to need to stop your quest in one of the worlds to travel to others to become stronger and get better gear.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun TRPG / deckbuilder that played well on my Steam Deck. There are a lot of differences between Dream Tactics and a classic Fire Emblem (even though both feature turn-based tactics and pixel art). Dream Tactics doesn't have support conversations, combat animations, individual character levels or randomized growths, but instead offers its own intentional design choices such as unlimited buyback, a flexible campaign and action/exploration sections between turn-based battles. There are plenty…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The gameplay is really nice, if a bit cumbersome sometimes. The dialogue is genuinely witty. Clear buy from me.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great tactical RPG gameplay with an interesting card battling twist that leads to incredibly strategic gameplay if you play your cards right (no pun intended). I love the graphics and music as well. They're both very well done and give a nostalgic feel to the game. The writing also deserves a special shoutout too; probably the strongest aspect of the game—and that's saying something given how great the rest of the game is. There are a lot of wonderfully funny moments all throughout the game, as…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →this is straight up one of the best tactics games i've played. endless meaningful customisation, tons of ways to beat ♥♥♥♥ up, super fun
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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