Triangle Strategy review – enjoyable, if slow-burn tale of a battle over salt

The first time you meet him, Triangle Strategy’s protagonist Serenoa Wolffort seems to be nothing less than a fairytale prince, riding in to save his betrothed from bandits. Frederica, the lady in question, is entering into a political marriage with Serenoa as part of a new peace treaty between the three nations of Glenbrook, Hyzante, and Aesfrost.

Triangle Strategy reviewPublisher: Square EnixDeveloper: Square Enix, ArtdinkPlatform: Played on SwitchAvailability: Out March 4th on Nintendo Switch.

Thirty years after a war over salt, a resource held entirely by Hyzante, the treaty is meant to re-establish both diplomatic relations and trade between the regions, even as salt itself is still jealously guarded. Of course it all plays out very differently. The steadfast Serenoa, loyal to his crown and the people of the Wolffort region both, soon turns out to be less than perfect – and is actually just barely equipped for the many difficult decisions he has to make.

In how it approaches war, Triangle Strategy takes some heavy inspiration from Yasumi Matsuno, the creator of both the Ogre Battle series and Final Fantasy Tactics. Just like Tactics, Triangle Strategy explores the justifications for a medieval society’s battle for resources, and the effects of it all – with all the Game of Thrones-style political scheming that comes with it, too.