Jeanne d'Arc

What if Joan of Arc heard voices because an ancient demonic force had entered her? From this bold idea grew Jeanne d'Arc — fantasy tactics that take a historical legend and dress it in the garb of supernatural adventure.

The game comes from studio Level-5, a name known for series such as Professor Layton, Dark Cloud, and later Ni no Kuni. It draws loosely on the Hundred Years' War and the fate of the French heroine, but quickly strikes out on its own path — Jeanne obtains an ancient magical armlet that grants her the power of transformation and the strength to face the supernatural threats standing behind the enemy armies.

As a game, it is a tactical RPG on isometric grids, though with a noticeably friendlier approach than the genre's harsher titles. Combat is enriched, for example, by a system where positioning units next to each other lets you chain turns and attacks, rewarding clever placement and creating dynamic chains of action. The transformation mechanic gives key characters a serious extra punch at decisive moments.

Visually, Jeanne d'Arc is colorful, clean, and beautiful — it looks like animated anime, with lively characters and brisk cutscenes. The tone is more serious where it should be, but the overall feel is more adventurous and optimistic than that of its grim competitors.

It is precisely in this accessibility that its greatest strength lies. Jeanne d'Arc offers enough depth to satisfy seasoned strategists, yet doesn't intimidate newcomers. It's an ideal gateway for anyone who wants a taste of tactical RPGs and doesn't want to start with the hardest one.

Why play: Accessible, colorful, and beautiful fantasy tactics by Level-5 — deep enough for connoisseurs, but a perfect introduction to the genre for newcomers.