After spending quite a bit of time with Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium, I can honestly say it exceeded my expectations. I originally came after playing the first game, but what kept me playing was the tactical combat and surprisingly engaging story.
The gameplay is where the game really shines. Every battle feels like a puzzle, and I found myself thinking carefully about positioning, using cover, and timing my characters’ abilities instead of simply relying on stronger units. Winning tougher battles feels rewarding because strategy matters just as much as having powerful characters.
Visually, I think the game looks fantastic. The character models are incredibly detailed, the animations are smooth, and the special skill cinematics never get old. Combined with excellent music and voice acting, the game feels much more polished than I expected from a free-to-play title.
I also enjoyed the story more than I anticipated. The darker tone and character interactions kept me interested, and I found myself wanting to learn more about each Tactical Doll. While I’m sure longtime fans of the original Girls’ Frontline will appreciate the callbacks, I never felt completely lost as someone focusing mainly on this game.
Of course, it isn’t perfect. Like most gacha games, pulling for specific characters can be frustrating if luck isn’t on your side. Progression also slows down later in the game, and farming resources can become repetitive. Those aspects occasionally interrupted the fun, but they weren’t enough to make me stop playing.
Overall, Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium has become one of my favorite tactical RPGs on both PC and mobile. It combines strategic gameplay, beautiful visuals, and memorable characters into a game that’s easy to recommend. If you enjoy turn-based combat and anime-style RPGs, I think this is definitely worth trying.
I would give this game a 9.
