Chroma Squad (v2018.03.29 & ALL DLC)

Five underpaid stunt performers walk away from a soulless superhero production and gamble everything on making their own tokusatsu series. Chroma Squad turns that wonderfully silly premise into a smart tactical RPG, balancing colorful monster fights with the day-to-day scramble of running a tiny TV studio. Its world lovingly spoofs the costumed-team-show formula, complete with rubber-suit villains, melodramatic poses, cardboard scenery, and giant robot battles. The tone stays playful, but the business side gives every triumph a little extra weight.

Episodes play out as turn-based tactical missions where the five-person cast uses positioning, team attacks, special moves, and environmental interactions to defeat monsters before the filming budget runs dry. Combat rewards planning rather than brute force: characters build momentum through coordinated strikes, gain bonuses for performing near allies, and can use props or terrain to set up stronger plays. Between shoots, players recruit performers, manage contracts, improve the studio, buy cameras and effects gear, create costumes and weapons, and decide how to spend limited cash. Audience expectations and episode objectives add pressure, while choices about publicity, production values, and staff shape the show’s growing reputation.

What makes Chroma Squad memorable is how thoroughly its management systems support the fantasy of producing bargain-bin television rather than merely decorating a standard RPG. Battles often feel like staged action scenes, and the handmade visual style makes every foam monster and improvised mech look intentionally charming. Branching story decisions, different employees, gear builds, and difficulty options give repeat runs room to vary, even if the campaign’s humor is the main attraction. Fans of Final Fantasy Tactics-style grid combat, sentai shows, or management games with personality find plenty to enjoy, while tactical newcomers get an approachable and inventive entry point.