Dice Gambit fuses XCOM combat and Persona's style, and I can't look away

Blending the turn-based tactics of XCOM with the visual flair of Persona 5, Dice Gambit is tugging at both sides of my brain at once. Putting you in charge of a family of monster-hunting Inquisitors, it even tosses in some delicious dice-rolling mechanics to put a fresh spin on the format, ensuring that I'm unable to pull myself away from its slick design. After first impressing us with a demo in 2024, Dice Gambit is now out on Steam, and you can check out the early hours thanks to a free demo.

From the start of Dice Gambit, you'll put together your own noble family, complete with a distinct crest and color scheme to match, which runs across everything from your outfits to the dice you bring into battle to ensure you always look good. Combat in this turn-based strategy game feels somewhere between XCOM 2 and Baldur's Gate 3 - there are grids, but they're pleasingly hex-shaped for more movement freedom, something I'd love to see adopted in more turn-based RPGs.

Where things get more distinctive is at the start of your turn, where you roll a bundle of dice to determine what actions are available to you. Rather than numbers, each face bears symbols that indicate whether you can use them for attack, defense, or movement skills. With numerous classes to choose between and over 200 powers available to be learned, developer Chromatic Ink promises that you'll be able to "break the game by discovering and creating over-the-top builds and synergies."

Furthering the Persona side of the equation is the ability to build relationships with the townsfolk. Complete missions for the eccentric elites and you'll gradually earn influence, which can unlock access to fresh facilities, and thus open the door to more powerful skills. Every one of the nobles you meet has their own story to tell, so you'll need to choose your allies carefully as you grow your family's reputation.

That family goes beyond your current characters, too. You're able to advance your lineage by marrying partners and birthing heirs that inherit a blend of powers (and looks) from their parents. You won't have to wait to bring them into the fold - through the magic of sci-fi incubators, your offspring will be ready for action in just one week. I'm immediately reminded of fusing Personas, but in a more dystopically sinister fashion.

Dice Gambit is out now on Steam, priced at $24.99 / £20.49, but a 15% launch discount means you'll pay just $21.24 / £17.49 if you buy it by Thursday August 28. You can get it here - at the time of writing there's still the opportunity to download a free trial of its first act, but move fast as Chromatic Ink says it plans to replace this with a more standard two-hour demo.

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