Cyber Knights: Flashpoint
" Deep cyberpunk tactical RPG with unique heist strategy but clunky UI and visuals "
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint Review
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint is a turn-based tactical RPG blending stealth, combat, and base management in a cyberpunk setting. Players lead a mercenary team on varied missions—heists, hacks, assassinations—balancing stealth and loud combat, with a dynamic security AI escalating threats based on player actions. The game features deep character customization, multi-classing, and a strategic layer managing relationships, resources, and upgrades. The initiative-based turn order and unique abilities add tactical depth, while the cyberpunk narrative and emergent storytelling enrich the experience. Developers are highly active, frequently updating and refining the game, showing strong community engagement and support. Though still polishing, the game already offers a robust, addictive gameplay loop appealing to fans of XCOM, Invisible Inc., and Shadowrun. Despite some UI quirks and visual roughness, the core gameplay and strategic complexity stand out.
Highlights
Players praise the deep and innovative gameplay mechanics, especially the stealth and tactical combat balance, and the initiative-based turn system. The cyberpunk setting, rich customization options, and emergent storytelling contribute to strong immersion. The strategic layer involving base building, faction relationships, and resource management adds meaningful depth. Developers’ frequent updates and responsiveness are highly appreciated. The game's replayability, mission variety, and character progression systems receive consistent acclaim. Fans of tactical RPGs find it addictive and rewarding, with many calling it a standout in the genre.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the game's visual presentation, described as functional but lacking polish, with stiff animations and rough character models. The user interface is often called unintuitive and cluttered, making inventory and weapon management cumbersome. Tutorials are verbose but sometimes unclear, leaving players to rely on external resources. Some gameplay elements like hacking and stealth mechanics have a steep learning curve. Minor bugs and jankiness persist, though frequent patches mitigate these issues. The storyline is seen as serviceable but could be tighter and more engaging. Some players find the time pressure and security escalation stressful or restrictive.
Pros
- • Deep, engaging stealth and tactical combat with meaningful trade-offs each mission.
- • Highly customizable characters with multi-classing and implant options.
- • Dynamic security AI that escalates challenges based on player actions.
- • Rich cyberpunk atmosphere and immersive world-building.
- • Strategic base management and faction relationship systems add depth.
- • Frequent and responsive developer updates improve the game steadily.
- • Replayability through procedural missions and varied team builds.
Cons
- • Visuals are functional but lack polish and have stiff animations.
- • User interface can be unintuitive and frustrating to navigate.
- • Tutorials are overwhelming and sometimes unclear on key mechanics.
- • Some bugs and jankiness remain despite frequent patches.
- • Storyline could be tighter with higher stakes and better writing.
- • Time pressure from security escalation may feel restrictive to some.
- • Hacking minigame and complex systems have steep learning curves.
Rating Criteria
About This Game
A modern tactical RPG with some of our favorite elements: gridless movement, environmental cover, specialized overwatch, initiative manipulation and more. Independent enemy unit AI opens up a world of creative stealth options; pick them off one by one, stage diversions, or use advanced tech to sneak right by them.
Combat is challenging and in-depth. Powerful abilities, tricked out weapons, and smart coordination can give you an edge, but once you go loud expect things to escalate. Move fast and avoid getting pinned down to accomplish your objectives and get out alive.
The ecosystem has collapsed. Only 112 cities remain, sheltering under massive domes or inside of mountains. Artificial consciousness has been created, killed, and outlawed at a global level. Megacorporations, nanotech and quantum computing have radically altered the world… and your character is one of the few equipped to handle it.
Choose your jobs to build your rep without taking on too much heat. Work your network of underworld contacts to trade favors, pay bribes, and gain advantages before taking on a heist. Plan your path through multi-stage missions, and commit your crew to legwork that could reveal new opportunities or threats.
Balance factions, favors, reputation and more. Rivals, fixers, arms dealers and corporate big shots... who you work for, who you fail or betray, all of it can open and close opportunities for you. Watch your heat, and try to make sure more people owe you than the other way around.
Extensive talent trees, more than 40 multiclass combinations available at full launch, weapon modding, safehouse upgrades, evolving character traits and more combine to give players endless ways to build a crew that can take on any job. Rich visual customization (hair, outfits, faces, eyes, tattoos, facial hair, accessories, color options for everything, and more) & naming lets you personalize any of your characters.
Your squad members evolve as you play, shaped by your choices, their injuries, interactions, even their presence on some missions. Inspired by years of tabletop RPGs, our custom-built Casting Director story engine uses all this information to choose and place squad members and NPCs into world events and storylines it selects for you on each playthrough. Who will end up a betrayer, a friend in need, or the villain this time? Create new squads, discover new stories, and watch how your choices make it all fit together.
Trese Brothers Games makes deep, highly-replayable strategy games & RPGs. Cyber Knights: Flashpoint is our 9th and best yet, made possible by our dedicated fans and player support from our previous games. We're long-time fans of cyberpunk and are thrilled to bring together both a fresh take and so many of the genre's classic themes around some of our favorite gameplay.
Sound like your kind of game?
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“The spiritual successor to Invisible, Inc. is finally here”
RockPaperShotgun
“Shadowrun's RPG spirit lives on”
Splattercat
Cyberpunk mercenaries RPG! Turn-based squad tactics with unique heist-planning strategy. Build your crew wisely; their stories will become interwoven with your own. Pull off heists with powerful cyberware, faction connections, multiclassing, weapon modding, stealth, hacking, and more!