Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall, a Turn-Based Strategy Game for Families?
Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall is a new turn-based strategy game from Wild River Games and toy maker Schleich. The turn-based strategy game is available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Retail versions are on their way in mid-April.
In Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall, the Lava World creatures embark on a journey to team up with creatures from the Ice, Stone, and Jungle World to save Eldrador from the threat of the Shadow Dragon and the encroaching dark Shadow World. There are more than 20 playable creatures, each with its own unique abilities and special attacks that require tactical and skillful deployment in battles through more than 100 levels.
The creatures of this family-friendly turn-based strategy game are based on 3D models of the Eldrador Creatures toy line from Schleich. The worlds of Eldrador are brought to life by a fully voiced story and an energy-filled soundtrack. Shadowfall, the second game in the series from the Wild River Games, is easy for children and newcomers to the genre to pick up while remaining challenging for experienced gamers through an adjustable difficulty level.
Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall. How does it start?
Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall starts with a Lava Smasher hanging out around its lava bath with a ducky (that is presumably made of something sturdier than rubber). It realizes that Snow Wolf is encroaching on its territory and decides to teach it what for. From there, we’re taken into a lengthy tutorial mode that spans about five battles, and then players get to meet the Shadow Dragon, who, at level 25, promptly whoops the Lava World team’s butt.
The tutorial section feels a little long, at more than half an hour, but it does a thorough job of teaching the game’s core mechanics. By the end, players of all ages understand that their team members have different ranges of movement, moves that require specific placement of units, and what things they should avoid because their unit(s) will take a lot of damage.
Players can wander between the four worlds after surviving the Shadow Dragon battle. They’re still hindered in movement by their current overall team level, but they can explore as far as their current level will allow them to. The linear nature of tutorial mode no longer holds them back. They’ll know they’ve gone too far if they start losing battles. When that happens, they can always turn around and wander to one of the other worlds for battles that better match their level.
How the game looks
The game looks great and very polished. The previous entry in the Eldrador Creatures line of video games was also a turn-based strategy game, but Will River Games really bumped up the quality of the graphics and animation from the 2020 foray.
Aesthetically, the game feels like Skylanders, which isn’t a bad thing, and the comparisons end with actual gameplay. One of the changes from the last game is that the developers have instituted a more visually defined grid system. Eldrador Creatures used a larger playing field and opted only to show the grid while the player was choosing how to move their unit. The grid in Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall is always there and is actually part of the terrain. This is definitely more visually appealing.
The creature models in the game are well-textured and fun to look at in closeup. All the models seen thus far during gameplay have been largely different from one another. The overworld of Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall is painterly in style. Its pre-rendered backgrounds (with light animation) are reminiscent of some of the Square-Enix RPGs from the 90’s.
How’s the story of Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall?
The story is the weakest part of Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall. It’s basic and serviceable. Players are aware that the Shadow Dragon is a powerful opponent, and they need to visit the different worlds to gather crystals and team up with creatures from the other worlds in order to take down the Shadow Dragon’s mighty army.
The game is much stronger in its dialogue. The narrator keeps players aware of the goings-on and sometimes interacts with the creatures in the game without being a creature himself.
The characters sometimes have some legitimately witty conversation with each other, and players will miss it if they’re not paying attention or skip ahead. Also, pay attention to the lower-third messages on the loading screens. Sometimes they’re helpful, and sometimes they’re just silly.
How are the music and voice acting?
The music and voice acting in Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall is polished and services the gameplay and story elements. The inclusion of distorted guitars into the sweeping scores distinguishes its musical themes from other games that are shooting for that Danny Elfman vibe. There’s nothing that’s inherently memorable or a bop, and the more fun and silly musical moments are found during the quieter conversational moments between characters.
The voice acting is strong and varied, and it is also what you’d expect from creatures that could be seen bantering back and forth in a cartoon series. There isn’t a standout performance, but the performances are consistent throughout, and when players see the model and hear the voice, they’ll likely think that’s what that character should sound like.
How does Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall Play?
The controls and UI in the game are solid throughout. There was some fumbling through the non-battle menus, but that was largely user error. In-game, everything is clearly well thought out. It’s easy to tell where your characters can move and how far. The line of fire and impact zones are clearly distinguished.
Terrain effects are easy to differentiate from normal terrain. It’s even easy to tell when a unit is going to be pushed back a square by the impact of an attack, and when a new wave of units is on its way without being told that’s what that thing on the screen means.
Who is Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall for?
This is 100% a game that’s friendly to both adults and kids. The game is for children six and up, but my five-year-old was able to jump in and get rolling with only a little help from Mom. He’s a little impatient with dialogue and story scenes in general, but he dug the gameplay once he was able to get past the idea of playing something other than a platformer.
Should I play it?
Do you like turned-based strategy games? Then, yes. This game is a solid entry into the series and a noticeable step up in production from the last game. Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall makes you want to get in one more battle.
Overall, Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall is a solid, enjoyable entry into the family-friendly, turn-based strategy genre. While its story is straightforward and won’t surprise veteran gamers, the excellent gameplay, charming graphics, and engaging dialogue make up for it. Wild River Games and Schleich have successfully created a game that is accessible enough for young players to easily grasp yet tactical and polished enough to keep adults entertained.
Fans of strategy games—especially those looking for something that kids and parents can genuinely enjoy together—will find Shadowfall an appealing addition to their library. It’s a noticeable upgrade from its predecessor, offering fun battles and vibrant worlds that encourage players to keep coming back for “just one more round.”
Want more Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall?
The turn-based strategy game is available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Retail versions of Eldrador Creatures: Shadowfall are on their way in mid-April. Visit the official website or follow Wild River Games on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
