The Gambit Lost to Time
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About The Gambit Lost to Time
The Gambit Lost to Time is a turn-based strategy RPG with a focus on time manipulation and kingdom-building. Developed by WizDream Games, it launched on PC in 2026. You play as a time-traveling advisor tasked with guiding one of four rival kingdoms toward a utopian future. Each decision ripples across timelines, turning allies into foes and reshaping political landscapes. The game blends tactical combat with resource management, asking you to balance military gambits with diplomatic choices. Its indie roots show in its compact world and niche mechanics, but the core loop of planning, executing, and revising strategies across eras feels distinct. Ideal for players who enjoy long-term planning and moral ambiguity.
Gameplay
Each session revolves around managing a kingdom’s resources while navigating turn-based battles. You deploy units on hex-based grids, using Gambits, special ability cards that cost action points to play. Combat hinges on positioning, unit synergies, and timing Gambits to exploit enemy weaknesses. Between battles, you allocate resources, recruit units, and choose alliances, but every decision is complicated by time travel. A choice made in one era might undermine a future campaign. Sessions typically last 1, 2 hours, with later stages demanding 4+ hours for complex conflicts. Controls are responsive, with a focus on menu-based strategy over real-time action. The game’s depth comes from experimenting with timeline shifts and Gambit combos, though its learning curve can feel steep for newcomers.
What Players Think
PlayPile users rate it 92%, with critics at 85%. Average playtime is 28 hours, and 68% of players complete the main story. The community mood leans curious (78%) and strategic (65%), with 42% calling it "nostalgic." Achievements total 75, with an average of 63 earned per player. Review snippets highlight: “Time manipulation adds clever depth to turn-based combat” and “Kingdom politics feel like a hidden puzzle.” However, 15% of players cited repetitive early-game mechanics. The game’s 78% “completion rate” suggests it rewards persistence, though its niche appeal means 22% of starters quit before finishing.
PlayPile's Take
This is a niche title for strategy fans willing to invest time. At $39.99, it offers 20+ hours of mid-to-hard difficulty content, with 75 achievements that test both combat and planning skills. While the first 10 hours can feel slow, later stages deliver satisfying complexity. Skip if you dislike grinding or long-term strategy. For those who enjoy time-based puzzles and kingdom management, it’s a solid pick. The Gambit Lost to Time isn’t perfect, but its unique blend of mechanics makes it memorable.
Game Modes
Single player
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