Otherwar – A Bold Hybrid That Burns Bright, Then Fizzles

XPN Network
Sep 27
3 min read

Release Date: 11/09/2025 - Xbox Play Anywhere

Otherwar doesn’t play it safe. It throws you into a cosmic conflict where you embody an angel defending the Gate of Heaven against relentless demonic forces. But instead of sticking to one genre, it fuses two: the strategic planning of tower defence and the twitchy chaos of bullet hell shooters.

On paper, this sounds thrilling. You’re not just placing turrets, you’re diving into the fray, dodging enemy fire, and unleashing divine wrath. The concept is fresh, and the setting is evocative, with pixel art that leans into gothic horror and celestial mysticism. But while the premise is ambitious, the execution struggles to keep pace.

Each mission begins with a familiar tower defence setup: place turrets, upgrade them, and prepare for waves of enemies. But unlike traditional tower defence games, you also control a character in real time, weaving through projectiles and firing back. It’s a hybrid that demands both tactical foresight and reflexive skill.

Unfortunately, the balance between these two modes is uneven. The tower defence mechanics feel undercooked as turret placement is limited, upgrades are linear, and enemy paths are predictable. Meanwhile, the bullet hell combat starts strong but quickly devolves into repetition. Once you’ve unlocked a few upgrades, you can often clear waves by simply holding down the fire button and sweeping across the screen.

The early missions offer a genuine challenge, especially for players new to bullet hell mechanics. But by mid-game, the difficulty curve collapses. Enemies become less threatening, and your angel becomes overpowered. It’s a strange inversion: the more you progress, the less you need to engage.

Otherwar offers a star-based rating system across multiple difficulty tiers, encouraging players to replay missions for better scores. Completionists might appreciate the incentive to perfect their runs, but the lack of meaningful unlocks or variation between difficulties makes it feel more like padding than progression.

There are over 25 missions in total, which sounds generous, but many feel like slight variations on the same theme. Without new enemy types, environmental hazards, or evolving mechanics, the replay loop loses momentum quickly. Visually, the pixel art is moody and textured, with a palette that evokes decay and divine fury. The UI is stylized to resemble ancient scripture or cursed relics, and the soundtrack leans into eerie synths and ambient dread.

It’s a cohesive aesthetic that suits the game’s apocalyptic tone. But while the art direction is strong, the visual clarity during combat can suffer. Bullet patterns sometimes blend into the background, and enemy designs while creepy do lack distinct silhouettes, making it harder to prioritize threats in the heat of battle.

Otherwar is strictly single-player. There’s no co-op, no online leaderboard, and no community challenges. While the game’s structure doesn’t demand multiplayer, the absence of any social or competitive features limits its longevity. A co-op mode where one player manages turrets and the other handles combat could’ve elevated the experience dramatically.

Pros

Genre Fusion with Flair
Combines tower defence and bullet hell mechanics in a unique celestial setting, offering a fresh twist on both genres.
Striking Pixel Art & Atmosphere
Gothic visuals and eerie sound design create a moody, immersive world that stands out among indie titles.
Responsive Controls on Xbox
Movement and aiming feel smooth and intuitive, making combat accessible for most players.
Short, Focused Missions
Levels are bite-sized and easy to digest, ideal for players who prefer quick sessions over long campaigns.
Completionist-Friendly Structure
Star ratings and difficulty tiers offer replay value for those who enjoy perfecting their runs.

Cons

Unbalanced Difficulty Curve
Early missions are challenging, but progression leads to overpowering upgrades that reduce engagement.
Shallow Tower Defence Mechanics
Limited turret variety and predictable enemy paths make strategic planning feel secondary.
Repetitive Combat Loop
Bullet hell sections lose intensity over time, often devolving into “hold fire and sweep” tactics.
Lack of Multiplayer or Community Features
No co-op, online leaderboards, or social elements to extend the game’s lifespan or encourage replay.
Visual Clarity Issues During Combat
Bullet patterns and enemy designs can blend into the background, making it hard to track threats.
Otherwar deserves credit for trying something different. Its blend of tower defence and bullet hell is rare, and its grim celestial setting is refreshingly unique. But the gameplay loop lacks depth, the difficulty curve is inconsistent, and this makes it harder to recommend broadly.

For casual players or genre newcomers, the early missions offer a fun, chaotic introduction. But for veterans of either genre, Otherwar may feel like a missed opportunity of an intriguing concept that never fully realizes its potential.