Tic Tactic

I want to like this game, I like the concept and it is challenging enough to play it on the side. But sadly the game suffers from what a lot of rougelikes suffer from, uninteresting maps, unimpactful events, unbalanced objects. And it also is a buggy mess, things can break your run forcing you to restart just because of a bug. There are also visual bugs that aren't game breaking, but make the experience worse. These things can be polished with time, but right now I can't recommend this game.

You already know how to play tic-tac-toe, but this goes a step beyond. The rules are the same (get 3 Xs or Os in a row), but thanks to all of the X and O tiles having variants with different abilities, all of the strategies you probably know get thrown out the window. The game welcomes you with familiarity but challenges you by making you assess not just the board, but the effects of tiles and the tiles that you or your opponent can play. The roguelike structure keeps things fun and challenging while keeping it easy to pick up and play. It's cool that Ducky gets different weapons and costumes that have various effects too. Overall, it's a well executed spin on an old game that I wouldn't have expected to enjoy as much as I do. Well done!

Usually I am supportive of indie games. Even though this game used cliche aspects (rogue-like, ducks) of 99% indie games, I don't think tic-tac-toe is the best idea to make a rogue-like game, however I admit the idea of making skills based on tic-tac-toe tiles is good and something I would personally make, too. But again, the game has some optimization issues, such as flashing / randomly showing for a split second the battle scene, and then showing map or inventory, that split second showing is really annoying for eyes, because battles last max 1 min., and you see it a lot, considering you move 5 zones, and in each zone you fight 5-10 times, that is like 25-50 fights. Lastly and most importantly the game bugged when I dealt final blow to the final boss, and guess what? The game stopped there, nothing, I can't pick tiles, the enemy doesn't pick tiles, the battle in fact ended, but the game didn't trigger it and just stood there. If I return back to the main menu, then press "Continue", I will start from the very beginning without getting the Achievement for finishing the game.

Tic Tactic, developed by unbreaded and published by indie.io, is an inventive and surprisingly strategic reimagining of the age-old game of tic-tac-toe. At first glance, it may appear to be a lighthearted take on a simple classic, but underneath the surface lies a cleverly constructed roguelike deckbuilder with puzzle elements and a good deal of tactical nuance. Taking place in a world where a lone duck wages war against an increasingly bizarre and aggressive population of chickens, the game’s absurd setting only adds to its quirky charm. What begins as familiar territory soon evolves into a unique blend of grid-based combat, turn-based planning, and light narrative flair. At the core of the experience is the modified tic-tac-toe board — a 3x3 grid that never resets. That decision alone fundamentally alters the way players interact with the game. Every move carries weight, and every misplaced tile becomes a lingering obstacle. Unlike the traditional game where everything resets after each match, here the state of the board evolves throughout each run, becoming a persistent battlefield. Players must consider not only how to build a successful three-in-a-row combo but also how to avoid blocking themselves in or opening opportunities for enemies. The result is a layered decision-making process that goes far beyond what the familiar format might initially suggest. Combat revolves around tile placement, with players building a customizable deck of tiles that each have their own properties and effects. Some deal damage, others buff or debuff, and many introduce interesting wrinkles like manipulating the board state or triggering conditional combos. This deckbuilding component allows for experimentation and encourages players to find synergies that suit their playstyle. The enemy design plays into this as well — different chickens present different strategic challenges, and battles often require thinking several turns ahead to maintain control over the limited space. As in any roguelike, resource management and adaptive strategy are key, and each run introduces enough randomness to keep things from feeling repetitive too quickly. The game unfolds across a series of procedurally generated regions, with each new area introducing fresh enemies, unique environmental effects, and opportunities for character growth. There are gear and outfits to collect that add passive bonuses, quirky NPCs to encounter who sometimes offer blessings or strange events, and bosses that test your understanding of the mechanics in new ways. Progression feels steady, with the game slowly layering on complexity through tile unlocks, new challenges, and increasing enemy variety. The visual style matches the tone well: clean, colorful, and simple, but with a distinct personality. Characters are cartoonish and expressive, and the environments strike a balance between functional clarity and lighthearted aesthetic. Where Tic Tactic really shines is in its ability to take something so universally understood and transform it into something meaningfully strategic. Because the board never resets, placement decisions have lasting impact, and the variety of tile effects ensures that even similar-looking setups can behave very differently depending on the deck you've built. It invites players to plan, adapt, and sometimes recover from their own mistakes in satisfying ways. It also does a good job of teaching these concepts naturally — early levels ease you in, while later ones increase the pressure without ever becoming unfair. It’s a game that rewards thoughtful play and experimentation, which gives it strong replay value even within the confines of the 3x3 grid. That said, the limited board size and simple base structure can begin to feel restrictive after many hours of play, especially if the tile variety or enemy behavior doesn’t evolve fast enough to compensate. While the addition of powerful and strange tiles does a lot to keep the gameplay fresh, some players might find that the novelty begins to wear thin if later regions fail to offer significantly different challenges. A few areas of the UI could also benefit from refinement, particularly when it comes to visualizing passive bonuses or quickly comparing tile stats mid-combat. Nonetheless, these issues don’t significantly detract from the overall experience and are the kinds of things that could easily be addressed with post-launch updates or patches. Tic Tactic is a creative, polished, and surprisingly deep indie title that proves how much can be done with a simple idea when approached from the right angle. Its blend of puzzle mechanics, roguelike progression, and deckbuilding strategy offers a satisfying challenge for players who enjoy tactical thinking and calculated risk. While its aesthetic and premise may seem silly on the surface, the underlying systems are robust, rewarding, and intelligently designed. Whether you're a fan of small-scale strategy games, looking for a fresh twist on a classic mechanic, or just want to experience something a bit different, Tic Tactic is well worth your time and attention. Rating: 7/10

What a unique take on the classic tic tac toe! It is highly addictive, complex, and really challenging- I could play this for hours! It requires a lot of strategy which makes it really fun! The tiles and their powers are a great touch as well! And the characters are SO adorable! Would highly recommend downloading this!

Super fun and engaging, a fresh take on tic tac toe that combines rogue-like gameplay and a simple classic game. I recommend giving it a try!

I really wanted to like this game, but it seems like it still needs some polish. You get maybe 2 fights to scale yourself, and if you don't then the enemies are just insanely powerful. I'll try it again if there's some updates.

Basic tic tac toe is so boring so I wasn't expecting much from this. To my surprise though it's actually really fun and the special tiles really create skill you need to have in order to see ahead a step or two. Don't let the boring base game fool you, if you like roguelike deckbuilders then you should be able to enjoy this and know what you're getting into. Definitely worth the price. Almost forgot to mention since there's no Steam Deck verification yet, it works well on Steam Deck. I've ran into a buggy little element or two but it's overall very playable.

Tic-tac-toe with violence and ducks. Way smarter than it looks. And the devs and community around the game is really great. Would recommend getting the game and joining the discord! (It’s in my new video about weirdly creative roguelites.) 8 Roguelites That Actually Feel Fresh https://youtu.be/vkHgsTDfCP8

game + roguelike = better game this is a fun Tic Tac Toe inspired indie game with an active community, lots of areas and really challenging achievements. pretty worth the money.