Reviews

RuneQuest: Warlords Review – A Solid Tactical RPG with a Flavor of Its Own

RuneQuest: Warlords is a new tactical game firmly rooted in the lore of the tabletop game RuneQuest and the world of Glorantha. The project confidently draws on Bronze Age mythology, the cults of the gods, and heroic archetypes, presenting it all in a turn-based battle format where the scale of the army matters more than precise positioning, understanding of the mechanics, and the skillful use of heroic abilities.

Developer: Virtuos
Publisher: Slitherine Ltd.
Platforms: PC
Release date: December 9, 2025

Visually, RuneQuest: Warlords is restrained yet striking. Battle maps are easy to read. Rocky hills, fortifications, settlements, and open plains are maintained within a unified palette, creating the feeling of an ancient, harsh world.

Unit animations are informative enough to understand who’s attacking, who’s preparing to strike, and who’s under threat without unnecessary cues. They’re atmospheric and functional, yet the screen isn’t overloaded with effects. The tactical map and visual cues help quickly assess the situation. In this regard, RuneQuest: Warlords is a model for many of its genre peers.

The sound design, on the other hand, leaves a more mixed impression. Basic effects are present, and the music provides background noise without being distracting, but many units operate almost silently, and the repetitive lines quickly become irritating. It’s not that the sound design is a complete failure, but it noticeably lags behind the game’s visual and technical aspects.

The gameplay is based on a hybrid system that combines turn-based tactics and small-squad control. The player commands a hero and their companions—warriors, militia, and animals . The hero is the central figure, possessing additional action points, runic abilities, and the ability to dramatically change the course of battle with jumps, enhanced attacks, and support effects. Regular fighters have a more limited role, but they hold the front line, surround enemies, and absorb the brunt of the damage.

The combat system requires taking into account many factors: zones of control, line of sight, terrain types, and distance. A single mistake or poor unit placement can quickly lead to the loss of a unit, which will be irreparable. The AI is quite aggressive and can punish carelessness. It tries to surround, eliminate vulnerable targets, and press the squad’s weak points.

There’s an interesting battle rush system that accumulates through successful attacks and enemy kills. When it reaches its maximum value, an effect associated with the selected faction or rune is activated, temporarily boosting the entire squad. At the same time, the enemy can also reach their “peak,” causing the battlefield situation to change very quickly.

Between missions, the player develops their squad. Units gain experience, become veterans, and their loss is deeply felt. The hero develops with special points that allow them to enhance their mobility, defense, team skills, and runic abilities. However, the game doesn’t boast a wide variety of units or development options.

The campaign is structured linearly and consists of pre-set missions. They feature a variety of objectives, including defending settlements, storming fortifications, rescuing allies, and suppressing raids. Over time, the battles become repetitive, but I wouldn’t say they become boring. Interestingly, with sufficiently focused play, the medium difficulty can feel quite easy.

The story and presentation of the world of Glorantha is one of the most controversial aspects of the project. For longtime RuneQuest fans, familiar elements, the names of gods and cults, will certainly contribute to the atmosphere, but for newcomers, the game barely explains what makes this world so unique. The story is straightforward, the dialogue is laconic. Interlocutors almost never delve into the world’s conflicts or mythology. In other words, Glorantha is a backdrop, recognizable only to those familiar with the RuneQuest universe.

RuneQuest: Warlords certainly has a solid foundation and style, and its developers have a keen grasp of tactical fundamentals. However, the presentation is seriously lacking, the progression is lacking variety, and the sound design is a bit under-performing. Fans of turn-based tactics will likely be captivated by its strict but fair combat rules, but it’s hardly a recommended entry point into the world of Glorantha.

Pros