Massive Chalice, developed by Double Fine Productions, is a rare confluence of tactical combat and generational stewardship, marrying the immediacy of battlefield decisions with the slow burn of dynastic planning. Set in a fantastical realm under siege by an encroaching, immortal foe known as the Cadence, the game charges you - not merely as a commander, but as a custodian of centuries - with defending humanity until a prophesied victory can be forged.

The titular Chalice serves as both narrative anchor and advisor, its dual voices dispensing guidance with a mix of wit and gravitas. Yet the true weight of leadership falls on you, as you appoint heroes to noble houses, arrange politically astute marriages, and nurture bloodlines imbued with unique traits and combat proficiencies. The decisions here echo across generations: a brilliant hunter today might sire a dynasty that, decades hence, could spell either salvation or ruin.

On the battlefield, Massive Chalice offers turn-based encounters of measured intensity. Each hero is precious, for death is permanent, and age itself is an implacable adversary. Sending a seasoned veteran into battle risks losing irreplaceable skill; holding them back invites strategic stagnation. The Cadence’s units are varied and unnerving, demanding adaptability and a willingness to sacrifice.

Visually, the game opts for a stylized, angular aesthetic - evocative of carved stone and ancient heraldry - which complements its themes of lineage and enduring struggle. The score is equally fitting, a sweeping yet restrained accompaniment that underscores the gravitas of centuries-long warfare.

Massive Chalice is, at its heart, a meditation on mortality and legacy. It asks the player to think not in turns, but in lifetimes; to balance the urgent needs of the present with the uncertain promises of the future. In doing so, it transforms strategy into something both intimate and epic, leaving behind not merely victories, but histories.

There's just too much shooting you in the foot at every turn. Terrible (as in they affect your kingdom in negative ways) random events that you can't affect meaningfully, hero attrition from every enemy trying to ruin your day (be it by blowing up in your face, doing awful AoEs or deleting your hero's EXP), low birth rates, enemy encounter difficulty climbing way too fast, negative quirk overload, the list just goes on. I really struggle to see how this is supposed to be enjoyable except for those who are really extreme gluttons for punishment. No cover system against ranged attacks alone hurts this game so bloody bad so when you get pierced by a single Bulwark tearing into three of your heroes while your own guys barely get a single shot in that doesn't even deal a third of their HP (you only get one attack per round too) I really wonder who is supposed to find this enjoyable. Stick to the lower difficulties and pretend like there's real strategy involved I guess. It's all just HP trading and the game really seems to hate the possibility of you having any - let alone competent - heroes so do your best to enjoy it while you do, happy for ya if you can but I really don't see how I am supposed to. Been too spoiled by turn based strategy games with more fleshed out and balanced systems maybe so maybe it just aged poorly, what do I know. Just check the date of this review, make your own call and have a shiny day.

Great turn-based strategy game! The breeding mechanics is super interesting, I've never seen anything like that in other games.