Squids (video game)

{{Short description|2011 video game}}

{{About|the video game|the Korean children's game|Squid (game)}}

{{Infobox video game

|title = Squids

|image = Squids cover.jpg

|developer = The Game Bakers

|publisher =

|director =

|designer =

|composer = Romain Gauthier

|engine =

|released = October 2011

|genre = Tactical role-playing

|modes = Single-player

|platforms = iOS

}}

Squids is a tactical role-playing game by the French studio The Game Bakers, released in October 2011 for iOS devices. A sequel was released entitled Squids Wild West, and a spin-off called Squids Odyssey was also released.

The object of the game is to defeat a range of aquatic enemies with a party of up to four anthropomorphic squids, which belong to one of four character classes: stomper (melee fighter), shooter (ranged fighter), scout, or healer. Combat is turn-based, but not grid-bound: squids are flicked across the playing field by a motion of the player's finger, bumping like billiard balls into enemies to attack them. In between the linear (but repeatable) levels, which are interconnected by cutscenes that develop the game's story, players can level up their squids or enhance them with items that can be bought with pearls, which in turn are found in-game or available to purchase for real currency.

The game was well received upon its release, obtaining a 76% aggregated score on Metacritic by the start of November 2011.{{cite web|title=Squids|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/squids-2011/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=5 November 2011|archive-date=16 February 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250216153510/https://www.metacritic.com/game/squids-2011/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad|url-status=live}} Gamezebo praised the game's "pitch-perfect" gameplay, graphics, and sound.{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=Mike|title=Squids Review|url=http://www.gamezebo.com/games/squids/review|accessdate=5 November 2011|newspaper=Gamezebo|date=5 November 2011|archive-date=3 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103181320/http://www.gamezebo.com/games/squids/review|url-status=live}} TouchArcade appreciated the game's "inventive, grid-less, and active" combat mechanic, but criticized the ability to purchase pearls as unbalancing.{{cite news|last=Nicholson|first=Brad|title='Squids' Review - A Strategy RPG with Legs, but Hampered by IAP Balance Issues|url=http://toucharcade.com/2011/10/10/squids-review/|accessdate=5 November 2011|newspaper=TouchArcade|date=10 October 2011|archive-date=13 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113045933/http://toucharcade.com/2011/10/10/squids-review/|url-status=live}} Edge{{cite news|title=Squids review|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/squids-review|accessdate=5 November 2011|newspaper=Edge|date=24 October 2011|archive-date=26 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026175850/http://www.next-gen.biz/reviews/squids-review|url-status=live}} and PocketGamer{{cite news|last=Yusuf|first=Bulent|title=Squids|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Squids/review.asp?c=34314|accessdate=5 November 2011|newspaper=PocketGamer|archive-date=16 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116105546/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Squids/review.asp?c=34314|url-status=live}} likewise approved of the game's gameplay and production values but criticized the inclusion of in-game purchases.