Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm Player’s Edition
This is an excellent game that combines playability with a design philosophy that rewards authentic gameplay. You give your subordinates broad directives and waypoints, which they will carry out to the best of their abilities. The game abstracts the busywork and assumes that your subordinates are handling their own responsibilities. Fire support can be automated in case plotting artillery targets becomes tedious. Battle command becomes the player’s main concern over micromanagement. It’s very easy to plot out a battalion or brigade-size action and coordinate timings between the component units.
– Real player with 1271.8 hrs in game
Read More: Best Tactical Wargame Games.
A very strange beast of a game, aiming to tackle myriad of unique aspects that are rarely represented in games of similar nature. Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm is not only a treat for fans of turn based strategy games, but also a must have for ‘Cold War-turned hot’ scenario fans, meaning those who liked Tom Clancy’s most famous book about same topic will feel ultimately at home with this game.
FC:RS gives us a plethora of operations and separate missions, which we can play against the AI, from any angle, or in multiplayer with hotseat mode as an option. Be warned though, it’s a hefty game, meaning battles may last hours of real time, and despite it being a sort of old school tile/hex based strategy, it very much aims to simulate the outcomes rather then entertain you as a ‘game’ in it’s strict sense. That said the simulation itself sets of to tackle so many aspects of modern warfare it still amazes me to no end how many features are being calculated over span of a turn.
– Real player with 295.6 hrs in game
Armored Brigade
Armored Brigade is one of the little games on the current market that tackle the idea of ‘Cold War going hot’. Not only that, but its actually good unlike some other titles I shall not name.
Personally, being almost a stan of the Cold War setting, ever more so of the concept of the entire situation going south and sparking into a full-blown conflict, I must say I came into AB biased.
In short to not write a novel– AB is a land-centric, more accessible spin on CMANO and CMO in the sense of giving orders to your troops, making objectives and such, all while set units fulfil them. Where this game differs from the CMANO/CMO apart from the focus on land forces, are 3 areas– setting, communications and maps.
– Real player with 127.4 hrs in game
Read More: Best Tactical Simulation Games.
Back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s I played to death Close Combat the Russian Front. I played the Single player campaign countless times and also dabbled in the MP scene at the time through my 56k modem. By todays standards that game is now obsolete but it inspired in me a fascination with military history and tactical and strategic games. Since those days I’ve been searching for a game that could be a worthy successor. This game is it. Its realistic but not to the point where its boring. Its extremely easy to learn but requires sound military judgment to play successfully, which is testament to its realism. Its customizable in terms of you creating missions and content for it (I used some of my own sound effects for example). There is a great Chechnya mod on steam workshop, although there isn’t much more than that ATM which was a little disappointing.
– Real player with 95.5 hrs in game
Beyond Enemy Lines
I’m a fan of Project I.G.I. and already liked this game very much when it just came out, because of the similarities in the core gameplay, and I missed this feeling a lot. BEL fullfilled my expectations and is still getting better with every update.
Going completely stealth is hard to master. In case of failing to stay undetected - which you should try as long as you can - you really need to aim precisely, otherwise you’re a dead man if you have no cover nearby. This should be a tough walkthrough challenge for Centerstrain01, who knows his videos ;)
– Real player with 30.4 hrs in game
Read More: Best Tactical Indie Games.
Word Tactical is recently thrown around a lot and it usually refers to games like Operation Flashpoint, Armed Assault, Ghost Recon, Swat etc. Despite their history, many tactical shooters have being changed over the years and they are going further and further from their origins with each new entry.
Among the good old games there was a small first person shooter developed by Innerloop studios called Project IGI.
IGI series was not very popular and was killed after the release of a second game, IGI 2 Covert Strike. Despite that the series is unfairly underrated, both games are very enjoyable to play even today.
– Real player with 16.1 hrs in game
Beyond Enemy Lines: Operation Arctic Hawk
This lone-wolf based tactical procedurally generated open map based fps is one that pays its dues to past military classics such as Project IGI which first springs to mind. From hindsight its an admirable attempt a true to form action esquire albeit with a few quirks that need a little refinement, ( a few ammo creates would be nice) since ammo is in very short supply for the some of the ARs, SMGs and tactical pistol. Aiming down sights could also do with a little touch-up since its bit sluggish to steady on distance enemies. But aside from these minor indiscretions Polygon Art have a first good impression & I’m tingling with anticipation for the next episode of BELOARW.
– Real player with 3.4 hrs in game
So far the game has been very fun, although there are some features and fixes that would be great to see in the next game.
List of features and fixes (to be added):
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attachments
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optimizations
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fixing the key rebind since space to jump doesn’t work so when I try to rebind it I cant move in game and I have to restart
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leaning mechanic
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lowering the price of the game or releasing free dlc since the first game is quite expensive for the amount of content you get (In my opinion)
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level editor
– Real player with 2.9 hrs in game
Phantom Doctrine
As a big fan of Jagged Alliance and X-Com style games, I am enjoying this game so far. If you are a fan of the genre, I’d suggest you give it a go. Even if only to convince developers and publishers that there is a demand for this kind of game.
That being said, Phantom Doctrine feels kind of half-baked and uneven. I’ve played approx 30 hours so far. It seems generally stable and well coded. It locked up during one of the shooting animations once. No other crashes etc. The game is pretty obscure about how it works under the covers so I can’t really point to anything else I’d describe as a bug. Most of my problems with the game stem from what I’d consider to be bad design choices.
– Real player with 237.9 hrs in game
Phantom Doctrine is a cold war era spy game that lives up to the premise, pitting your Cabal (a global intelligence agency) against the enemy Beholder Initiative.
There’s a real atmosphere to the game, with everything from the music to the character designs and clothing choices, to the way you use a cork board and string to piece together connections between the different pieces of intelligence you gather, all coming together to give a real feel of the 80s Cold War setting.
The gameplay itself is roughly divided between turn based tactical infiltration missions, and a pause time global map/management system campaign. The combination will be familiar for fans of games like XCOM, but Phantom Doctrine has some of it’s own elements and ideas which makes the game distinct.
– Real player with 212.1 hrs in game
Regiments
THE RED HORSE OF WAR IS RIDING THROUGH THE EUROPE ONCE AGAIN
It’s 1989 and the flames of a New War are flaring up. Thousands of square miles of German landscape will become a stage for sweeping battles between the best NATO and Warsaw Pact has to offer.
Lead your Regiment through the inferno of a wide-scale Cold War conflict in this new Real-Time Tactics game. Break through the lines, call in artillery and air support, maneuver, feign retreats, and stage mobile defenses. Do not relent.
The Platoon Command system lets you orchestrate battles with unprecedented precision and ease. No need to micromanage every infantryman - you’re a Commanding Officer, not a sergeant.
Form your force on the fly. Selecting the main Regiment is just a start. You can expand your army during the game by calling in unique Task Forces, each bringing its own equipment and off-map support options.
Main features
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A strategic dynamic campaign, encompassing warfare around the Inner German border
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Three distinct skirmish modes with varied, dynamic objectives
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Aggressive, competent AI that can challenge experienced RTS players
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On-the-fly force customization, rewarding adaptability, and creativity
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Deep game mechanics, simulating the Cold War era mechanized fight with great detail
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Four key Cold War Factions: Soviet Union, USA, West Germany, and East Germany
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Visceral visual effects, bringing the WWIII to your screen in all its terrifying glory
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Over 60 authentic vehicles modeled, combined into a multitude of different formations. Deploy such iconic vehicles as Leopard 2, T-72M or M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
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Smooth learning curve and high accessibility even to novice RTS players
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Refined controls that make commanding hundreds of soldiers a breeze
Wargame: Airland Battle
This game has gotten some raw reviews lately by people whome have put very little time into this game. Others have voiced legitimate points over the games campiagn mode. This mode is very lacking but shows just a glimpse of what a campaign can really be if they move in a different direction (i.e. Total War). The maps are set up pretty good with great detail in vegetation and the size of the air space your planes fly in is amazing. Model detail for the vehicles and air power are great while the infrantry is mediocre whitch leaves alot to be desired. The difference between models of air craft is neglegable with no difference in aero-nautical and external hardware. They swap out the skins and say it is a different vehicle despite the fact they look the same.
– Real player with 195.8 hrs in game
Before reeding, please accepte that i have bad Englsih :)
90 hourse online and 300 offline game time.
Short: This game are taking the RTS in a new lvl and twist. Cause the game have made it massive and “smal” in the same time. I feel the developer have made it realistic and smoth. And I feel like i have the countroll over whats happening while playing.
Long: I go after 6 thing i going to rank. GIGS-CO
Gameplay:
I find it realy great. It is many thing that bring it easy to play, but in same time funny to countrol. One eks: can give many comands; move fast, move, attack, spread, regroup, split. This is very importan when it comes to winning or losing. (You can say witch direction thay gonne stay at if you are holding in left mouse butten).
– Real player with 133.3 hrs in game
All Walls Must Fall - A Tech-Noir Tactics Game
A great game that just needs a bit more polish. If you liked xcom or syndicate (old school) youll probably love this game.
This game has a few levels to it.
The first level is a great shooter/ and minimal rogue or semi-RPG with time travel mechanics. Some of the firefights can be intense and complex strategizing your twisting of time between hailstorms of bullets allowing one man to wipe out an army.
Its not terribly deep on the surface likly because they didnt get the funds to make the game its full intended length (west germany as well as east germany). I do not regret any time spent, or not spent in this game. (yes its a bad joke since at the time of writing this I have the world record of completing the entire game in 1 minute 29 seconds… time travel accounted for=).
– Real player with 22.1 hrs in game
A masterpiece ruined by retard downvoters, small minded casual homophobic cry babies.
I got this game during early access, did a first run but messed the first 3 tutorial missions,
earning low money and getting stuck on harder missions because with low money you can’t upgrade much.
Now that the game is published I did a serious run, nailed the tutorial missions and also unticking the ‘decision timer’ option,
which allows you to think about each move without losing time (time = money).
After those 3 missions you get access to the map, where you can select your next mission.
– Real player with 14.4 hrs in game
I.G.I. Origins
Go deep into the origins of the Institute for Global Intelligence, re-imagining a pioneer of the tactical first-person shooter genre, the prequel to 2000’s Project I.G.I.
You are Michael King, codenamed Regent, an ex-SAS soldier, recruited by MI6 for covert, global missions to target an enemy with a world war in their sights. Armed with a sophisticated arsenal to divert, outsmart or wipe-out your adversaries, decide your approach; ghost-like espionage or heavy firefights. Twisted actions raise questions over the true enemy and harden your resolve against a shifting, hostile world.
The Cold War Era
If you have an itch for a Cold War themed game, this might scratch the surface. And by that I mean it’s not a complex, grand-scale type of game, but a rather simple, yet fun and engaging little battle of world dominance which can be played in a single session. In fact it doesn’t even have a save feature, so if you want to go all the way make sure you have an hour or two to spare. It plays sort of like a board game, you start with an equal score in January 1950 as either side (US or USSR) and you have to manage and juggle your resources and instruments (like spies) to influence and obtain new countries which add to your score. The game ends in 2000 when the side with the higher score wins.
– Real player with 18.2 hrs in game
Pretty basic gameplay, but its a captivating time sink none the less. Definitely worth a fiver.
Read the manual before playing, it’s simple to pick up if you’ve done that.
– Real player with 16.9 hrs in game