Review: Disciples: Domination

A strategic war guided by choices, where every class and every position shape the fate of the battlefield

The arrival of Disciples: Domination marks an ambitious return to one of the densest identities in strategic fantasy. It builds its experience around structural choices, rigorous tactical combat and a world that is already born in ruins.

STORY

Disciples: Domination leans heavily on the legacy of the Disciples franchise, maintaining the dark, strategic and narratively dense tone that has always defined the series. The game takes place in a universe marked by conflicts between divine, demonic and primal forces, preserving the classic identity without simplifying its worldbuilding.

The narrative is not overly expository, but unfolds through frequent and well-written dialogues. There is a clear effort to give weight to character interactions and to the group’s journey, including main quests, companion quests and well-structured side missions.

A curious detail is how dialogues are presented. When a conversation begins, the game transports the player to a kind of narrative space separated from the active map, which can feel slightly unusual during the first hours, but reinforces the focus on storytelling and character development throughout the campaign.

Within the franchise structure, Domination follows the classic philosophy of the series: methodical progression, strategic decisions with real consequences and a world that does not automatically adapt to the player. This approach keeps it faithful to the tactical roots that set Disciples apart from faster-paced strategic RPGs.

GAMEPLAY

Disciples: Domination operates on an extremely solid tactical foundation, centered on grid-based turn-based combat and constant decision-making. Each battle feels almost like a strategic board, where positioning, scenario awareness and initial party formation directly impact the outcome of encounters. Even before combat begins, it is possible to organize the frontline and backline, placing more resilient characters in front and fragile units behind, which already defines the rhythm of the fight from the very first turn.

Each character has resistances, weaknesses and a unique playstyle, in addition to access to skill trees and equipment that further expand strategic possibilities. The game also introduces companions throughout the journey, each with distinct roles within the party, reinforcing tactical construction and unit synergy.

The battlefield is dynamic and interactive. There are damage zones, healing fields and obstacles that can either help or hinder during encounters. It is also possible to push enemies, use the environment strategically and exploit flanks, since back attacks deal additional damage. An extremely relevant detail is the massive friendly fire. Area abilities hit both allies and enemies, forcing the player to think carefully before every action.

Battles tend to be longer, especially in the early sections, but this does not feel like artificial slowness. There is a clear focus on deliberate strategy, where rushed decisions are punished and planning is rewarded. It is not a game designed to clear encounters quickly, but to win through positioning, awareness and adaptation.

Outside of combat, exploration is very well crafted, with detailed external areas and even the use of a mount in certain segments, which improves the pacing of the journey. The progression system is also supported by multiple resources such as gold, iron, wood, arcane flux, life essence, primal essence and demonic essence, reinforcing the sense of strategic development throughout the campaign.

The choice of the initial class is one of the most important pillars of the experience.

Each class defines unique abilities and directly influences the protagonist’s playstyle, allowing paths focused on physical, primal, divine or demonic approaches. These branches also feature two distinct skill trees, greatly expanding the variety of possible builds and allowing deeper customization of the main character.

VISUALS AND SOUND

The artistic direction embraces a dark style consistent with the franchise’s universe, especially in the external areas, which are highly detailed and visually well constructed. The world constantly conveys a sense of tension and conflict aligned with the game’s narrative proposal.

The main characters have a strong visual presence, although secondary characters may occasionally show minor texture inconsistencies during recurring dialogue scenes. Even so, the overall artistic presentation remains cohesive and functional within the strategic and narrative scope.

The sound design complements the tactical pacing of the game, reinforcing the weight of battles and the dense atmosphere of exploration. The soundtrack avoids excess, which favors concentration during longer and more strategic encounters.

ACHIEVEMENTS

The achievement list closely follows the campaign’s progression, the recruitment of companions, the evolution of the protagonist and the completion of main and secondary objectives. They function as a natural reflection of the journey, rewarding chapter progression, party development, skill unlocks and system growth without requiring artificial deviations from the core experience.

Achievements related to exploiting weaknesses, smart grid positioning, unit interactions and mastery of abilities reinforce how much the game values strategy and battlefield awareness. There are also objectives tied to crafting, customization, faction reputation and crisis resolution, encouraging players to explore every layer of the system.

The more extensive requirements involve completing entire regions, resolving multiple crises in a single playthrough and witnessing all combat events, which organically extends playtime. There are no time-limit challenges or massive hidden collectible grinds, keeping the focus on true mastery of the mechanics and full content exploration.

These achievements further reinforce the narrative and symbolic focus of the game, acting as markers of progression and small parallel stories that connect to the larger theme of the protagonist’s journey. Despite not being excessive in quantity, they demand full regional exploration and involve puzzles, specific interactions and decisive battles, making them challenging and far from trivial.

TRAILER OFFICIAL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cag53zOf4b8

FINAL THOUGHTS

Disciples: Domination is a dense, strategic and deliberately methodical tactical experience. Its focus on positioning, party formation, resource management and battlefield awareness creates a gameplay loop that rewards planning above all else.

Longer battles, significant friendly fire and the constant need for strategic analysis make it clear that this is not a game built around fast action, but around calculated decisions and careful team building. Combined with its strong connection to the franchise’s legacy, it reinforces both identity and respect for the genre’s roots.

Between consistent narrative direction, strategic progression and a combat system that demands real attention from the player, the game establishes itself as a solid experience for those seeking tactical depth and a strategy RPG that truly values choices, positioning and build construction throughout the journey.

Review by Gamertag: Scoulz

SCORE: 82/100