Wargroove is a charming, jam-packed little indie game that’s unfortunately being overshadowed by everyone going crazy over Apex Legends. Still, it’s a no-brainer at $20, especially on the Switch. Nintendo faithful have been waiting for an Advance Wars follow-up for years, and Wargroove is essentially that.
Perhaps you’re short on cash or too busy with Apex Legends and Kingdom Hearts III, however. Don’t worry, we got you covered. Here’s what happens in Wargroove’s campaign.
Like Twilight, It All Starts With A Vampire And A Teenage Girl
The story begins on a dark and stormy night when a vampire named Sigrid infiltrates a human castle. It turns out to be the home of the king of Cherrystone, and Sigrid is there to assassinate him. As she tears through the castle guard, the king frets over a secret he has to tell his daughter. Before he can muster the words, Sigrid finds him and demands he hand over some sort of “key.” He refuses, and she goes away empty-handed. But not before killing him.
Meanwhile, the princess of Cherrystone - Mercia - is training with her guardian mage Emeric. The two are shocked and saddened when a soldier brings them word of the king’s death.
Months later, Mercia is made queen of Cherrystone. She gets little time on the throne, however, because the neighboring nation of Felheim invades. Felheim’s ruler Valder wields the Fell Gauntlet, an item that lets him raise an undead army. Mercia clashes with the undead warrior Ragna and her skeleton troops, but is forced to retreat when Valder himself shows up. It is all Mercia can do to collect the refugees and flee from Cherrystone.
They’re Trees But Also Aliens
As they retreat, Mercia and Emeric decide to seek help from Heavensong, an old friend of Cherrystone. That requires them to go east, right through the Gloomwoods. It isn’t long before they encounter Sedge, one of Floran. He takes them for intruders and attacks, forcing them to fight back and escalate the conflict. This escalation brings Greenfinger Zawan to the battle, but afterwards Mercia is able to negotiate a peace and explain her situation. Greenfinger offers to hold the encroaching Felheim back as an apology and also offers Nuru, the best Floran hunter, as a guide for Mercia.
As a side note, the Floran are actually aliens who originally appeared in Starbound. Nuru herself is even a major character in that game. They apparently landed on Wargroove’s planet via a comet.
That Didn’t Take Long
After exiting the Gloomwoods, Ragna appears again. It seems the Floran’s efforts to hold them back didn’t do much. Mercia sends her packing again, and they proceed to the Quagmarsh.
It’s in the Quagmarsh that Emeric the mage offers up a bold suggestion. It turns out the marsh is full of magic that makes it easier to contact the dead. He proposes a spell to contact Merica’s father and ask him what the war is even about. Unfortunately, only the caster can actually talk to the dead, so Emeric must leave Mercia behind while he summons her father’s ghost.
