Games Like Shards of the Realm

About Shards of the Realm

Create your own story — manage your party and fortress, explore, craft, forge alliances or become the enemy they fear. Shards of the Realm is a complex old-school Strategy/Tactical RPG, inspired by the classic X-Com series. It features a living open world and a wide range of deeply interconnected mechanics across both tactical and strategic layers, with over 50 hours of gameplay.

Develop your stronghold, manage workers, trade, build — everything demands smart strategic planning. On the battlefield, a flexible class system, multiclassing, skill synergies, and destructible environments allow for a wide variety of tactical approaches. A deep research and crafting system lets you prepare your squad for any challenge the world throws at you.

Tactical combat — physics, positioning, destruction

No dice rolls or abstractions — real projectiles and physical collisions drive the combat. Positioning, cover, and interaction between units are crucial.

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No grid and no fixed number of actions — action points are your only limit. Spend them however you want.

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Anything can be used as cover: terrain, trees, even allies or enemies.

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Directional armor zones (front, flanks, rear) reward clever flanking and ambushes.

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The environment is destructible — blow up cover or open new paths.

Friendly fire is enabled — even melee attacks can harm allies if you're reckless.

Build your team — no templates, just your tactics

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Squad of up to 9 fully controllable characters

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4 base classes and 8 unique subclasses with distinct playstyle, roles and abilities

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Multiclassing support and a skill tree with 60+ active and passive abilities

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Deep status effects system with differenct auras, buffs, debuffs, synergies

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No "correct" builds — design your heroes your way: classic tank/DPS/support setups or hybrid roles

Strategic depth — your stronghold, your rules

There’s no loot rain — nearly all gear is hand-crafted via research and production.

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Your fortress is the core of your economy, science, recruitment, and crafting

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Over 200 various items such as weapons, armors, tools, rings, trading goods to develop and produce

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People are your main resource — who goes to the lab, who to the forge, who to the battlefield?

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Six NPC factions with their own goals and rivalries. Your choices shape the political map — trade, ally, or wipe them out

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Day-night cycle affects visibility on both global and tactical levels

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Hidden dungeons with unique rewards and challenges

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Demonic Sieges — a global threat and a tactical opportunity. They can destroy your stronghold or help you eliminate a rival

Shards of the Realm is a game where one mistake can cost you everything. But if you enjoy meaningful decisions, deep mechanics, and a world that reacts to your choices — this is the game for you.