Star Chronicles: Delta Quadrant (2015)

Star Chronicles: Delta Quadrant, a 2015 release from Back To Basics Gaming, invites players into a compelling sci-fi turn-based strategy experience. Piloting a humble exploration vessel, your mission to find a new home for your people takes a sharp turn when you're ensnared by the sinister Dark Order, thrusting you deep into hostile, unknown territory. The core gameplay loop revolves around tactical, chess-like movement on a tiled grid. You'll engage in turn-based combat, destroying enemies to acquire vital loot and experience. This progression system allows your ship to level up, enhancing its hull, shields, and engines, while skill points unlock further customization. The lite rogue-like elements ensure that while death is a likely outcome, each playthrough makes you stronger for the next attempt to escape. This title’s inclusion in the "Best games by Back To Basics Gaming" list is well-earned due to its successful execution of approachable yet engaging strategy. Star Chronicles: Delta Quadrant offers a refreshing take on the genre, deliberately avoiding overwhelming complexity to provide a "fun little sci-fi title." The game excels in its player agency through its robust customization system, allowing for distinct playstyles – defensive, aggressive, or adaptive. Players can dynamically reallocate power between engines, weapons, and shields, and even modify ship hard points to favor additional weapon mounts or shield generators. This freedom to tailor your ship and strategy to overcome the ever-present threat of the Delta Quadrant’s inhabitants makes for a rewarding and replayable experience, showcasing Back To Basics Gaming's knack for creating accessible and enjoyable strategy titles.