Command T-dolls in the 3D Strategy RPG

Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium is a 3D strategy RPG from MICA Team. The game was officially launched for Mobile and PC in China last year and recently launched globally. Experience 3D immersive combat with multidimensional strategy, a realistic weapon system with free-form weapon customization, and immersive animations with 360° character interactions. In this Girls Frontline 2 Exilium review, I will share my impressions of the game and provide an honest rating.

For this review, I played Girls Frontline 2 Exilium on two different devices, a Xiaomi Redmi Note 13 Pro, a low-end device, and my Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop to experience the game with better graphics. Overall I clocked in 30 hours of gameplay time, min-maxing and grinding through the game to level up and pull for limited characters. As I have experienced all the game’s features, I will provide a solid foundation for a thorough review.

If you are just starting with the game, we have also covered several guides such as a Beginner’s Guide, Reroll guide, and the latest Tier List. Additionally, do check our Redeem codes article to grab some freebies along the way.

Turn-based gameplay but comes with certain Accessibility issues

The tactical gameplay in Girls’ Frontline 2 borrows heavily from the typical strategic turn-based formula, with its own set of mechanics. You’ll maneuver units across a grid-based map, using cover to reduce damage and carefully positioning characters to outflank enemies. Each unit comes with passive abilities, active skills, and ultimates, which add layers of strategy.

Environmental interactions, like activating terminals or using conveyor belts to sneak into enemy lines, provide unique challenges that spice up battles. For someone new to this gameplay genre, the game does make some commendable efforts to ease players into its mechanics. Tutorials provide a solid foundation of how to play.

The enemy AI, while occasionally inconsistent, often gives beginners a manageable challenge, and even the Auto mode, despite its quirks like sending melee units toward explosive barrels, can offer moments of surprising competence. These elements create an experience that encourages trial and discovery without overwhelming the player. Grinding is another hurdle.

To progress through tougher stages, you’ll need to level up your units, acquire better gear, and upgrade skills, all of which require extensive resources. The grind feels particularly tedious, especially when you hit progression walls. Resource acquisition is slow, and while gacha games often involve grinding, this one leans heavily into it, making the experience feel more like a chore than a game. As a beginner, the constant need to backtrack and farm earlier levels dampened my enthusiasm.

Step into a grim world of chaos and Characters filled with depth

The story is a direct sequel to the original Girls’ Frontline, set ten years after its events. It’s packed with drama, tragedy, and the intricate dynamics between T-Dolls and their Commander. While veterans of the series might find the narrative gripping, newcomers like me will likely feel lost. The game throws you straight into the chaos with little effort to onboard new players.

A decent grasp of the original game’s lore is almost a prerequisite to fully appreciate the plot. That said, once you get past the initial confusion, the narrative does have its moments. The Commander’s relationship with the T-Dolls, especially Groza, adds emotional depth, transforming what could’ve been a cold, mechanical story into something heartfelt. Themes of trauma, loyalty, and the psychological toll of war are explored in ways that make the grim world feel alive.

Yet, the dialogue often drags, making it hard to stay invested in the plot. The character roster is relatively small but rich in personality. Each T-Doll has a unique backstory, quirks, and struggles that make them feel human despite their android nature. For example, Groza’s relationship with the Commander is laced with history and trust, while Nemesis’ poetic tendencies add a refreshing touch to the grim setting.

However, as a new player, it’s hard to fully appreciate these dynamics without prior knowledge of the series. Characters from the original game, make appearances in new roles, which veterans might find exciting but left me feeling disconnected. The lack of proper introductions for these characters creates a barrier for newcomers.

Girls Frontline 2: Exilium delivers a visually stunning spectacle

One area where Girls’ Frontline 2 truly excels is its visuals. The game is easily one of the most polished mobile titles I’ve seen. The character models are beautifully detailed, battle animations are fluid, and the 2D artwork is stunning. Each character’s design is distinct, avoiding the uncanny vibe that some high-res mobile games struggle with.

The attention to detail extends to the battlefields, which are immersive and well-crafted. Cutscenes are cinematic, bordering on over-the-top, but they do a great job of drawing you into the game’s world. If there’s one thing Girls’ Frontline 2 gets right, it’s the visual presentation. One aspect of Girls’ Frontline 2 that left me disappointed is its reliance on fanservice.

While the character designs are undeniably appealing, the game often feels like it’s pandering to a specific audience. This focus on aesthetic appeal sometimes comes at the expense of depth, making it harder to take the story and characters seriously. As a newcomer, the overt fanservice felt out of place in what’s supposed to be a grim, war-torn world.

It’s particularly noticeable in the dormitory system, which feels more like a showcase for pandering than a meaningful gameplay feature. While decorating spaces and watching T-Dolls up close can be fun, it clashes with the game’s darker tone. Veterans of the series might be accustomed to this balance, but for someone like me who was looking for a more cohesive and grounded experience, it was a tough pill to swallow.

The game offers an immersive UI but imperfect Audio

The game’s audio design complements its visuals beautifully. Gunfire, explosions, and character voice lines are sharp and satisfying, creating an immersive soundscape. The background music sets the mood effectively, whether it’s a tense battle or a quiet moment between missions.

However, there’s room for improvement. For instance, voice lines during ultimate skill activations often lag behind the animations, disrupting the flow. While this is a minor gripe, it’s noticeable enough to detract from the overall experience. The user interface tries to strike a balance between functionality and aesthetics.

Your favorite T-Doll takes center stage on the main screen, with game modes neatly organized to the side. There’s also a directory-style pop-up for navigating different modes, which is a nice touch. Unfortunately, the minimalist approach has its downsides. Fonts are often too small, making text hard to read, and the sheer amount of menus can feel overwhelming. For a beginner, navigating the UI is an exercise in patience.

Sadly, Gacha isn’t a Girl’s best friend

While the game does allow players to progress without spending money, the grind-heavy nature of resources and progression as well as the rate of limited characters being released hinders the free-to-play players. While the game does provide plenty of ways to obtain Collapse Pieces (In-Currency Gems that can be converted to Wishes), the rate at which to obtain these gems cannot compete with the rate of limited characters being released.

Since the global release is trying to catch up with the Chinese version of the game, they have succumbed to releasing double banners each phase which entails four limited banners for each update. This fast pacing to catch up may affect F2P players as they cannot obtain enough gems to obtain such an array of new limited Characters despite the launch providing an abundance of gems. Additionally, the game’s META system does change very fast, and hence to keep up, players must obtain the best characters to clear up Boss Battles and PvP runs.

Final Verdict

Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium is a visually stunning game with a lot of potential, but it struggles to balance accessibility and depth. For veterans, it’s likely a welcome continuation of a beloved series. For newcomers like me, it’s a mixed experience that oscillates between engaging and frustrating.

The grind-heavy progression, reliance on fanservice, and lack of onboarding for new players are significant drawbacks. However, the immersive world, deep character dynamics, and polished visuals make it worth trying, especially if you’re a fan of tactical turn-based games or the Girls’ Frontline franchise. Just be prepared to put in the effort to fully enjoy what it has to offer.

From my point of view, as someone who’s never played the original Girls’ Frontline and isn’t particularly drawn to tactical turn-based games outside of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Girls’ Frontline 2: Exilium was an intriguing game. While I came into it with minimal expectations, it turned out to be a mixed bag of experiences that left me with a lot to unpack.

That’s all from us for the Girls Frontline 2 Exilium review! Did you find my Girls Frontline 2 Exilium review helpful? Do let us know in the comments!

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