According to history, Christopher Columbus went on an expedition in 1942 that ultimately led to the discovery of the Americas. He did all these in ten weeks, with only a hundred men aboard on three ships. That is a lie. Well, according to this game. Here Be Dragons is a satirical turn-based strategy game which gives a new take on Columbus’ travels. Featuring a unique living map graphics, this game featured a group of crazed captains that you need to lead and monsters that you need to eradicate. If you are looking for a challenging tactical game, this game is worth your time.

Fun game, flop story

To be clear, Here Be Dragons is a satirical take on the discovery of the Americas. It doesn’t concern itself with anything real. In fact, it casts Columbus as a childish moron, who dreams of becoming a pirate. Over the course of the game, the player gets the reigns of several sailors. Each of them built around a single joke of a personality trait. You will then need to control these sailors as you try to complete the missions. Be warned, though. While the game promises a satirical plotline, the cutscenes and the dialogues are not humorous at all.

But, despite the failed attempt of humor, Here Be Dragons’ tactical gameplay is actually fun. It takes the form of tactical turn-based combat where players face a wide variety of nautical beasts. Each unit has an attack and defense value. They also get a salvo on each turn, which can bring damages that can destroy the enemy. Here Be Dragons also introduced a dice mechanic in which every choice you make depends on the turn of the dice.

All in all, Here Be Dragons is a surprisingly solid tactical strategy game wrapped in an unfunny experience. The game is engaging and deeply challenging. However, it is bogged down by powerfully unfunny attempts at humor.