# Vactics — Tactics Mech Builder

> Mech builder and tactical combat game with randomized challenges. (iPhone/iPad app by Gerard Delaney.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vactics/id1561887778 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Gerard Delaney](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476170004)
- Category: Games, Puzzle, Strategy
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.06/5 from 54 App Store ratings · 55 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 9+
- Requires: iOS 11.0 · 309 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2023-11-22
- Data updated: 2026-08-12
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vactics/id1561887778/reviews.md

## What is Vactics?

Build the mech to fight against robotic Vactics in tactical chess-like combat.

The war is already over and the heroes of the city have fallen.
Take on a new randomly generated challenge every time you play and join with the citizens to fight for a better future.

Vactics is designed to let you play as much as you like and upgrade to the full version at any time.

Unlocking the pro version of the game provides:
• Access to all 18 mech types and dozens of additional tech modifiers.
• Access to the full 24 colour palettes to choose from with custom app icons each.
• An extended campaign with additional enemy types and areas to fight through.
• An additional phase to the campaign with the true ending and all the co-pilots.
• The daily district challenge where you can compete with others on the leaderboards.
• Much more to discover....

--

Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- Mech building
- Tactical chess-like combat
- Randomly generated challenges
- Mech and tech upgrades
- Extended campaign
- Leaderboard competition

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscribe to Vactics Pro | $2.99 | per 3 months |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vactics Pro | $8.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Vactics?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 💡 Innovative gameplay mechanics
- 👍 Deep tactical gameplay
- 🎨 Gorgeous art style
- 🎶 Excellent synthwave score
- ✨ Well-balanced gameplay
- 💯 Feels like a full game
- 🚀 Fast-paced combat
- 🤩 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Attention to detail
- 👍 High replayability
- 🕹️ Good controls
- 👍 Great value for money (for some)
- 💡 Unique health recovery system
- 👍 Engaging tutorial (for some)
- 👍 Post-apocalyptic cyber theme
- 👍 Portrait screen design
- 👍 Generous free experience

**Cons**

- 💰 High price for pro version
- 💸 Expensive subscription options
- 😩 Frustrating paywall
- ❓ Lacking tutorial explanations
- 🐌 Slow restart function
- 😠 Over-reliance on paid version
- 🚫 Content locked behind paywall
- 😵 Confusing UI elements
- 👎 Inconsistent combat feel
- 😵 Pixelated text hard to read
- 😥 Accidental taps cause frustration
- 🤔 Lack of explanation for progression
- 💸 Monetization system needs rework
- 😩 Pay to win perception
- 💸 Expensive for a mobile game
- 👎 Weaker than Hoplite (for some)
- 😵 Painful color palette (for some)
- 😔 Not enough free content
- 😠 Constant push for paid version

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Combo attack bonus cancelled by heavy landing
- "Restore purchases" not working after update
- Cannot equip more than one ability
- Inconsistent combat: adjacent Vactic not hitting
- Cannot mount one tech in Chassis and one in Engine
- Line-of-sight for ranged enemies unclear

**Most requested features**

- Add more upgrades
- Add more game modes
- Add online co-op
- Add infinite wave competition
- Add diverging paths on map like FTL
- Add small story elements at decisions
- Add new enemies and technologies
- Add a big boss
- Add Russian language support
- Improve tutorial clarity
- Faster restart function
- Option to confirm selection before moving
- More customization options for mechs
- Unlock more mechs for free
- Add wallpapers in the art style
- Support for lowercase game text
- Option to change palettes easily
- Save progress on runs
- Adjustable difficulty settings
- Add more content

## Recent user reviews (10 of 55)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vactics/id1561887778/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Excellent game but not the correct price

*2026-03-17, version 1.200.5483*

I know the game price is decide by the Dev but subscription and lifetime ? One price should be only and $9 is not it, excellent game bad execution on price

### 5/5 — Nice game! I like it! Can you add more upgrades?

*2026-03-03, version 1.200.5483*

If you like to have more.

### 5/5 — Innovative

*2025-08-20, version 1.200.5483*

This game should be a no-brainer for fans of Hoplite or Guncho. What sets Vactics apart from other games is the simple but innovative health recovery system: combo or die. A simple mechanic that flips gameplay in unexpected ways. Just be prepared to repeatedly fail. Learning from mistakes seems to be an intentional ingredient of gameplay.

### 5/5 — Best game ever!!!

*2025-02-08, version 1.200.5483*

It’s so fun

### 5/5 — "hoplite" & "into the breach" ...with...... lots more content

*2025-01-29, version 1.200.5483*

ive updated this review 3 times. 

few mintues into tutorial i knew this game was going to be hard to put down. 

after playing a few stages it feels distinctly like a combination of "hoplite" (one of my favorites) and "into the breach' (from makers of ftl)

20m i bought the full version for $10.

it is good. not as fun as hoplite or into the breach (9/10 instead of 10/10)...but has more content

improvement needed:

1. its more immersive if we have a map w diverging paths kind of like FTL, w a few small story elements at each decision that can have a similar affect

update 5:

this developer gets it. this is the game i was waiting for for so long after FTL, or "executive", or gunman taco truck, or hoplite, lol. unfortunately beat it. (maybe 14hours) it's very fun. artwork could be slightly jazzier (like ftl), but gameplay is 10/10

update 6:

apparently i only beat the 1st stage phase (i'm not sure how many phases there are) when i thought i beat the game... a pleasant surprise to discover there's more phases with new enemies!!!

couldnt get into the lost pilots. "breach" seemed to implement this better.

1. the game can addictive to the point that when there is delay between load screens between stages or restarts it can be frustrating. i noticed another review had the same sentiment and i get that lol

2. this game is awesome though, so please keep upgrading and add new enemies and technologies.

3. adding a big boss would make it very cool too!

4. they dont collect your data

### 5/5 — What will happened to Humanity in future?

*2024-09-27, version 1.200.5483*

I want a new Vactics 2 game. It was sooo good!

### 5/5 — Different

*2024-08-23, version 1.200.5483*

A good break from modern games, a really cool concept with a post-apocalyptic cyber theme. If there was an online co-op or infinite wave competition, that would be a cherry on top. But still it’s preem

### 5/5 — Much loved with one single caveat…

*2024-08-22, version 1.200.5483*

I love almost everything about this game! It’s a game that gives me the excitement that I got from Into The Breach. So far it’s very well balanced, looks gorgeous and has an excellent synthwave score! The only gripe I have with this game (and I’m looking for some way to change this but can’t find it in options) is that I never know when I’m in line-of-sight of the ranged enemies. I move and sometimes they still attack me. I wish there was a way to see their cone of attack so I could see whether to make the decision to move or to teleport. This has caused me to lose many times. But other than that I love it. It doesn’t feel predatory, it feels like a proper, full game, made with passion for games, not for money. UPDATE! Changed to 5 stars. Click on the enemy to see where they may fire on their next turn!

### 5/5 — Game hay

*2024-07-09, version 1.200.5483*

Game rất hay đề cao chiến thuật và khả nâng sử lý của người chơi hy vọng có nhiều chế độ chơi hơn

### 4/5 — Fun, but expensive

*2024-06-22, version 1.200.5483*

The game is great, and I would happily pay a few dollars to support the developers and get the rest of the features, but the options are $3.99 to subscribe for 3 months, or $9.99 to purchase it outright. The game is not that complex or valuable. Bummer because I would otherwise buy Pro to keep playing and support!

## Frequently asked questions about Vactics

### What is Vactics?

Vactics is a game where you build mechs to engage in tactical, chess-like combat against robotic enemies. It offers randomly generated challenges and a strategic warfare experience.

### What are the key features of Vactics?

Key features include building and customizing mechs with various types and tech modifiers, engaging in tactical combat, facing randomized challenges, and competing on leaderboards. The pro version unlocks more mech types, color palettes, an extended campaign, and additional content.

### How much does Vactics cost?

The base game is free to play. Players can choose to upgrade to a full version at any time to unlock additional content and features, such as all mech types, color palettes, and an extended campaign.

### What kind of challenges can I expect in Vactics?

You can expect randomly generated challenges every time you play, ensuring a unique experience. The game also features an extended campaign with additional enemy types and areas, as well as a daily district challenge for competitive play.

### Is Vactics available on multiple platforms?

The provided information does not specify compatibility with multiple platforms. It is presented as a mobile application.

## Version history (last 3 releases)

### 1.200.5483 — 2023-12-04

Thanks all for downloading Vactics and providing your feedback. I'll keep working to improve the game with updates such as this one. This update fixes some bugs I've noticed in the game and introduces a few balance changes to ease the difficulty of the game a bit as well.

Gameplay Changes:
• Reduced the cooldown for the following mech types so that they can be used more often: Battery Drone, Defender, Flame Thrower, Grenade, Laser Wall, Rapid Move & Sweeper.

Bugfixes:
• Fixed bug in the final battle where additional waves of Vactics spawn before the player has entered the level
• Fixed case where drones with range increase modifiers would prevent movement based attacks from triggering.
• Fix bug that would cause game to soft lock if the player was killed on a turn when a decoy was active.
• Fixed melee enemy logic so that they correctly attack tiles with decoy's on them.

Thanks!

Gerard / The Lemur Conspiracy

### 1.100.5469 — 2023-11-22

iCloud support: keep your progress across all your Apple devices.

### 1.100.5437 — 2023-10-28

No release notes.

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## More apps by Gerard Delaney

- [An Infinite Calm](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/an-infinite-calm/id1476170005)
- [The Wall That Follows](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-wall-that-follows/id1603018844)

All apps by Gerard Delaney: https://appshunter.io/developer/1476170004

## Related topics

[hoplite](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/hoplite)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-12.*