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Overview
Wargroove is a turn-based strategy game developed and published by Chucklefish, released on February 1, 2019 for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. It draws clear inspiration from the Advance Wars series, filling a gap that had been left open on modern platforms for years. The core loop is familiar: capture properties, build units, and outmaneuver your opponent across grid-based maps. What separates Wargroove is the layer of commander-driven mechanics sitting on top of that familiar foundation.
The campaign follows Queen Mercia of the Cherrystone Kingdom, a young ruler forced to flee her home and seek allies across four factions: Cherrystone Kingdom, Heavensong Empire, Felheim Legion, and Floran Tribes. The story unfolds through animated pixel art cutscenes that give each commander a distinct personality. It is not a deep narrative, but it does enough to make you care about the characters you are moving across the battlefield.
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Commanders and the Groove system
The standout mechanic in Wargroove is the Groove system. Each of the 12+ commanders has a unique ability that charges as they deal and take damage. Once the meter hits 100%, players can trigger it for a battlefield-shifting effect. Mercia heals nearby allies. Caesar the dog charges through enemy lines. Valder raises fallen units as undead soldiers. No two Grooves work the same way, and choosing the right commander for a given map is a genuine strategic decision.
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Key features at a glance:
- 12+ commanders across 4 factions
- Unique Groove ability per commander
- Campaign, Arcade, Puzzle, and multiplayer modes
- Full map, campaign, and cutscene editors
- Free Double Trouble DLC included
What does the map editor actually offer?
The in-game editor is more capable than most players expect. It handles custom maps, full story campaigns with branching sub-quests, cutscene scripting, and rule modifications, all without external tools or mods. Player-created content can be shared and downloaded directly through the game. For a certain type of player, this alone extends the lifespan of Wargroove well beyond its base campaign.
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Multiplayer and extra modes
Wargroove supports local and online multiplayer for up to 4 players, with both competitive skirmish and co-op options. Arcade mode runs players through 5 consecutive opponent fights to flesh out each commander's story. Puzzle mode strips the game down to single-turn challenges that test positioning and unit synergy in concentrated bursts. These modes are not filler; Puzzle mode in particular is a sharp tool for learning how unit interactions actually work.
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Content and replayability
The free Double Trouble expansion adds the Outlaw faction with commanders Wulfar, the twins Errol and Orla, and Vesper. It brings a co-op story campaign playable locally, online, or solo, along with 2 new unit types (Thieves and Riflemen), new Arcade missions, and a Volcano map theme for the editor. The music for the expansion was composed by Phonetic Hero, giving the Outlaw faction a sonically distinct identity from the base game. Between the base campaign, Double Trouble, Puzzle mode, and the volume of community-created maps available, Wargroove offers a substantial amount of turn-based strategy content for players who want to dig in.