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The Lamplighters League

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The Lamplighters League
Developer(s)Harebrained Schemes
Publisher(s)Paradox Interactive
Director(s)Christopher Rogers
Composer(s)Jon Everist
EngineUnity[1]
Platform(s)
ReleaseOctober 3, 2023
Genre(s)Turn-based tactics
Mode(s)Single-player

The Lamplighters League[a] is a turn-based tactics video game developed by Harebrained Schemes and published by Paradox Interactive. The game was released for Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in October 2023. It received mixed reviews from critics and was a commercial disappointment.

Story

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Set in an alternate version of the 1930s, the player must assemble a team of misfits to stop an ancient cult named the Banished Court, which aims to achieve world domination.

Gameplay

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While players only have access to three agents at the beginning of the game, the game will feature 10 characters at launch.[2] Different characters have different weapons and abilities. For instance, Ana Sofia can heal her allies, while Celestine can hypnotize enemies.[3] Other skills and perks can also be unlocked at the player's headquarters in the form of equippable cards. While these card can improve the player's combat efficiency, they may also hinder them by introducing negative traits. Characters may be stressed when they went on multiple consecutive missions. Their combat performance would be significantly impaired. Players are advised to regularly rotate their agents, allowing some to rest and rejuvenate at the league's headquarters.[4]

In each mission, players can first freely explore the level in real time. In this infiltration phase, players can collect items and eliminate enemies undetected. This also allows players to place traps and place their agents in the perfect position before engaging enemies in combat. Combat in the game is turn-based, similar to games such as XCOM and Gears Tactics.[5] Once the player defeats all enemies in an area, they will return to infiltration mode and continue to progress. While the map of each mission is handcrafted by the team, enemies and interactables are procedurally generated.[6]

The game also features a world map. Members of the Lamplighters League must try to disrupt the progress of the game's three hostile factions as they wreak havoc around the world. Agents resting in the base can also be sent on side expeditions.[6]

Development

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The Lamplighters League was developed by Harebrained Schemes, the developer behind the Shadowrun trilogy and the BattleTech video games. The game was heavily inspired by pulp magazines published in the 1930s.[7] Announced in March 2023,[8] the game was released for Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on October 3, 2023.[9]

Reception

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The Lamplighters League received mixed reviews for Windows and Xbox Series X according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[10]

Sales

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In October 2023, Paradox Interactive announced that the commercial reception for The Lamplighters League was "too weak", leading to $22.7 million reduction in pre-tax profit. They also confirmed reports that significant layoffs had taken place at Harebrained Schemes, prior to the completion of the game.[11]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ Also titled as The Lamplighters League and the Tower at the End of the World
References
  1. ^ Saver, Michael; Pung, Julia; Stanton, Devon (2024-01-04). "Made with Unity: 2023 in review". Unity Technologies. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  2. ^ Castle, Katherine (March 28, 2023). "The Lamplighters League pilfers from the finest strategy games around, and it's utterly thrilling". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  3. ^ Nelson, Will (May 11, 2023). "XCOM rival with '30s setting reveals all its BioWare-style characters". PCGamesN. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  4. ^ Tan, Nick (March 28, 2023). "The Lamplighters League assembles the best of the worst to save the world". Shacknews. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  5. ^ Northup, Travis (May 11, 2023). "The Lamplighters League Blends Stealth, XCOM Combat, and a Ritzy 1930's Aesthetic". IGN. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Nelson, Will (March 28, 2023). "Lamplighters League is a Game Pass marvel coming for XCOM's crown". PCGamesN. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  7. ^ Takahashi, Dean (March 28, 2023). "The Lamplighters League takes turn-based strategy to the 1930s". VentureBeat. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  8. ^ Brown, Andy (March 6, 2023). "'The Lamplighters League' is the latest strategy from the developer of 'Battletech'". NME. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  9. ^ Wales, Matt (June 13, 2023). "Battletech dev's pulpy strategy The Lamplighters League out in October". Eurogamer. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  10. ^ "The Lamplighters League". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved 2024-01-13.
  11. ^ "Paradox calls The Lamplighters League sales 'a big disappointment'". VGC. 2023-10-11. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
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