An insurance adjuster sets out to save her company from paying claims in Ledgerbound, a hilarious fantasy tactical RPG from OmniMegaSuperCorp.
Ledgerbound. Credit: OmniMegaSuperCorp
OmniMegaSuperCorp’s Ledgerbound is a tactical RPG that mixes grid-based combat with conversations, romance, and corporate bureaucracy. The strategy is enjoyable enough to carry me through the adventure, though the funny, sharply performed dialogue is the main attraction.
Ledgerbound imagines a heroic fantasy world where adventurers are insured against disaster. You play as Rayna Ashvale, an insurance adjuster particularly good at finding reasons to deny claims. When the realm’s greatest party of heroes dies in battle, Heroes United Life Group, Rayna’s employer, faces financial ruin thanks to their coverage. Her solution is to assemble a party to complete their quest, proving the deceased were underprepared so the company can deny their claims. You’ll avoid the payout. Saving the world is a bonus. It’s a wonderful hook for a fantasy adventure that I haven’t seen before, and the satire really lands.
In battle, you move your party around a grid and choose matchups in a way that will feel familiar if you’re a Fire Emblem fan. A rock-paper-scissors battle mechanic gives certain characters an advantage over others, while elemental terrain makes the tile you attack from another consideration. You also have to manage your distance from enemies to account for what they can do on their turns. Optional objectives in each battle offer extra rewards. Finish within a turn limit, keep everyone alive, or perform specific actions, and you’ll earn vouchers for company swag that you can equip on your characters. Complete all three objectives and you’ll get a point of Shareholder Value. I won’t get into what that means here, but it’s a fantastic concept in keeping with the game’s satire. The fights are fun enough. They don’t do enough to distinguish Ledgerbound from the tactical RPGs that inspired it, though that’s okay if you’re looking for more games like this.
Ledgerbound. Credit: OmniMegaSuperCorp
Ledgerbound. Credit: OmniMegaSuperCorp
“Resterludes” occur between battles. Here you can spend time with your party members, read the news, adjust your gear, or replay a battle. Your time is limited, and each action burns down the clock. Spending that time with the cast leads to some of my favorite stuff in the game. Listening to the characters interact is a joy. They have distinct personalities, and the excellent writing and voice performances give their chatter the timing of a particularly good TV comedy. I found Ledgerbound genuinely funny and its characters endearing. Just be warned—it’s raunchy. Very raunchy.
During conversations, characters appear as large, colorful, ink-outlined portraits showing nearly their full bodies, at times subtly animated. In battle, they’re small, almost chibi-like figures. The artwork is well executed, though the overall presentation feels static, even with the animations. Clipboards, parchment panels, ledgers, quills, and wax seals extend the game’s bureaucratic themes into the interface. I loved that concept for the UI.
I wouldn’t recommend Ledgerbound primarily for its tactics. The battles are enjoyable enough. However, the real highlight is the characters and their interactions. It can get a bit horny, but if you feel comfortable with it, you’ll have a great time.
Ledgerbound
Ledgerbound’s familiar tactics are enjoyable enough, but its endearing cast and sharply performed comedy are the reasons to play.
An insurance adjuster sets out to save her company from paying claims in Ledgerbound, a hilarious fantasy tactical RPG from OmniMegaSuperCorp.