Capes review

What is it? A turn-based strategy game about superheroes rebelling against a dystopian regime.
Release date May 29, 2024
Expect to pay TBA
Developer Spitfire Interactive
Publisher Daedalic Entertainment
Reviewed on Nvidia Geforce RTX 3080, AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, 32GB RAM
Steam Deck Verified
Link Official site 

All the best superhero teams have one thing in common: everyone has their role. While Wolverine's charging in, claws flashing, Cyclops is up on a ridge shooting down lasers, Iceman is zipping around freezing foes, Jean Grey is delving into a supervillain's mind, and Colossus is body-blocking energy blasts. 

That's what your squad of superheroes feels like in Capes as you're directing them in turn-based battles. From teleporter Rebound to psychic Mindfire to speedster Mercurial, each character is wonderfully distinct, and securing victory means combining their unique powers to enhance their strengths and cover their weaknesses 

The «Capes» are not quite your typical superheroes, however. They're based in King City, a near-future metropolis that's been ruled by a team of supervillains for decades. Under their oppressive regime powers are outlawed, with any civilian showing signs of having them quickly rounded up for a grisly fate. Your crew is less like a classic crime-fighting team, and more like a resistance cell—young supers who've managed to escape capture and now fight back against the dystopian government to try and free their home.

The path to revolution consists of a series of story-driven turn-based strategy missions—always a punch-up of some kind, but often with a twist, such as stealth elements, a race against time, or civilians in need of protection. They're not easy—it's the kind of game where when you first load up a mission and see an absolute horde of enemies arrayed against you, it's natural to think «How is this even possible?». Half an hour later, after several attempts, you finally stand surrounded by defeated thugs thinking «How did I pull that off?».