Best games by Brace Yourself Games

Phantom Brigade (2023)

Phantom Brigade (2023) plunges players into a desperate campaign as the last surviving squad of mech pilots, fighting to reclaim their war-torn homeland in a unique hybrid real-time and turn-based tactical RPG. Celebrated by critics as a "tremendous f***ing video game" (Waypoint) and "wonderfully clever" (Rock Paper Shotgun), it redefines turn-based combat with a cinematic flair. Players predict enemy movements, orchestrate precisely timed countermeasures, and then hit "execute" to watch the physics-based action unfold in real time, demolishing every square meter of destructible environments with a diverse arsenal of railguns, beam weapons, and energy swords salvaged from fallen foes. Beyond the explosive tactical battles, the game offers deep strategic decisions on a world map, extensive mech customization to fine-tune performance and aesthetics, and a robust modding system, ensuring endless replayability and player-driven narratives. Phantom Brigade stands out as one of Brace Yourself Games' finest achievements, demonstrating the studio's prowess for creating innovative and deeply engaging experiences beyond their acclaimed rhythm-roguelike, Crypt of the NecroDancer. VentureBeat aptly noted it delivers "A triple-A experience ... made by an indie game studio," a testament to its ambitious scope, polished mechanics, and compelling gameplay loop that Kotaku declared, "I cannot overstate how cool this is." By blending complex tactical planning with dynamic, real-time visual execution, and offering unparalleled customization alongside a compelling narrative, Phantom Brigade solidifies Brace Yourself Games' reputation for pushing genre boundaries and delivering high-quality, memorable titles that resonate with players and critics alike, earning its place among their best.