Valiant Hearts: The Great War™ / Soldats Inconnus : Mémoires de la Grande Guerre™

Valiant Hearts: The Great War™ / Soldats Inconnus : Mémoires de la Grande Guerre™

One of the best all around adventure story games released in the last few years. A mix of a beautifully composed musical score, stellar artwork, great story, impressive puzzles, and real life historical content. This game actually made me think about the collectibles and ponder the historical facts as much as I did the story at times.

Set during World War I (The Great War), Valiant Hearts gives you a look at individuals in war and how this particular group of individuals finds themselves connected. A German man married to a French woman who is forced to go back to Germany and fight. His father-in-law forced to fight for France. An American who befriends the Frenchman. A female doctor that finds herself crossing paths with all of them. Then there is Walt, the war dog, who becomes their ally, friend, and savior at times. While they all may battle for different reasons, countries, or leaders, they all care for one another. They all find ways to help one another overcome struggles, support one another in troubles, and connect to one another as humans rather than enemies.

Real player with 26.6 hrs in game


Read More: Best World War I Historical Games.


It seems only natural that since we are in the midst of the centennial anniversary of the war that was to end all wars, a game should be released. In the gaming world, it seems that almost every war has been covered. Sadly, little to no recognition has been given to the war that launched the world into the modern age and changed how we live today. Valiant Hearts proves to be one of the first games to give a great picture of the struggles of World War I as well as a satisfying gaming experience.

In Valiant Hearts, we follow the stories of five heroes: Emile, a Frenchman; Hans, Emile’s son-in-law who is deported from France because of his German origins; Freddie, an American who volunteers and fights alongside the French in his quest for revenge; Anna, a nurse searching for her father in Belgium; and Walt, a German first aid dog that comes across the path of each of these heroes and helps any way he can. While it may seem highly coincidential how these five individuals continually come across each other’s paths, their backgrounds and motivations are very believable. The friendships that they build are genuine and felt by the players, without dialogue. Most conversations in this game are done by comic book bubbles and short distinct phrases that are spoken by the characters.

Real player with 15.1 hrs in game

Valiant Hearts: The Great War™ / Soldats Inconnus : Mémoires de la Grande Guerre™ on Steam

Tannenberg

Tannenberg

You know what bothered me about Battlefield 1? How every single player got automatic or semi-automatic weaponry, as if Europe had been magically blessed by the Glorious Murder Cube as soon as Franz got shot. Sure, there were semi-autos and submachine guns in WW1, but only in extremely limited numbers, and most were about as reliable as an alliance with Italy.

I’d hoped for a more deliberate kind of shooter, and BF1 wasn’t it. Then I found Tannenberg, a game set in the eastern front of WW1, and it was like finding the game I’d hoped BF1 would be.

Real player with 228.3 hrs in game


Read More: Best World War I Wargame Games.


So, after spending some 20 hours in Tannenberg and roughly the same amount of hrs in Verdun, I decided to write a review here. This may seem as a somewhat subjective opinion of the game, because of the fact that I am a history enthusiast, but I highly recommend this piece (and Verdun as well, of course) to anyone who’s interested in historically accurate, semi-realistic, squad based semi-tactical FPS shooter - that’s what WW1 Game Series are. The squads are well made, equipment is on point, graphics are nice, sounds believable - same goes for the maps in both games. Immersion is the biggest pro of this game, it really makes you believe you are there, bullets whizz by your ear, men are screaming for their lives same on both sides, you shoot as many foes as you can before someone on the other side of the trench/field with more luck shoots you dead. But the vicious cycle goes on and on, same as it did in the actual conflict and more men die by your side. The tactical part may seem minimal but it has a huge impact on the game results. I could go on and on listing pros of this game… The one and only thing that makes people write bad reviews is the player count. At peak hours in EU and US it’s roughly 200 players in Verdun and 70 in Tannenberg - not ideal, I know but it got as high as 600-800 when the game was on sale and during the free weekend - it needs to be advertised, put on sale (I know Tannenberg is sorta new but still, gotta make cuts when you want a stable playerbase). It doesn’t have any gamebreaking bugs or flaws, it just deserves more polishing and content. And advertisement…and ads…and sales :)

Real player with 175.9 hrs in game

Tannenberg on Steam

Battle of Empires : 1914-1918

Battle of Empires : 1914-1918

I have followed BoE since it first appeared on Greenlight, and have been eager to get my hands on a copy. Well, my eagerness has not been dulled since purchasing and playing this early access ww1 game.

The gameplay is the typical MoW style, with objectives to be completed in order to progress. The models and overall graphics are well suited to the era - and should look quite amazing with the rtm version. No performance issues running on a Windows 8.1 laptop (..mine has 4GBRAM /500GB HDD/Intel HD &Radeon 3670m 2GB (Hybrid) graphics with the settings all maxxed out).

Real player with 146.5 hrs in game


Read More: Best World War I Strategy Games.


Update: the British Empire so far is the best campaign, until the other DLC get reworked try the British Empire

This game is very interesting but, there is a lot wrong with it and it needs some of these issues fixed before it becomes fair and fun. I will say right now that you should not buy this game until it gets fixed. And I also want to add, I don’t want to get a refund for this game, I want it to be improved in the areas that it needs it; I want it to work in order to be fun and fair when you play. In this list of complaints I will not list the DLC as I personally don’t have a problem with it, and in my personal experience with the DLC it enriches and extends the single player which is something that I like, I didn’t buy this game for multiplayer … but I would like to see something for American campaign in the future …

Real player with 121.7 hrs in game

Battle of Empires : 1914-1918 on Steam

CONSCRIPT

CONSCRIPT

**CONSCRIPT is an upcoming survival horror game inspired by classics of the genre - set in 1916 during the Great War. CONSCRIPT will blend all the punishing mechanics of older horror games into a cohesive, tense, and unique experience.

In CONSCRIPT, you play as a French soldier searching for his missing-in-action brother during the Battle of Verdun. Will you be able to search twisted trenches, navigate overrun forts, and cross no-mans-land to find him, and ensure a home goes unbroken?**

  • Experience classic and methodical survival horror gameplay in a unique historical setting: the Battle of Verdun.

  • Highly re-playable with multiple difficulty settings, alternate scenarios, unlockable costumes and bonus weapons.

  • Fend off enemy soldiers and disturbing psychological manifestations with a variety of melee weapons and firearms.

  • Survive in an intense, harrowing atmosphere boosted by a unique pixel art aesthetic and oppressive sound design.

  • Navigate intricate level design that promotes item management and route planning, whilst solving complex environmental puzzles.

  • Distinct WW1 themed areas that intertwine and overlap.

CONSCRIPT on Steam

Battlefield 1 ™

Battlefield 1 ™

-Feels like WW1!

-You can blow a whistle and charge, how cool is that!

-No cringe customizations or character lines

-10/10 atmosphere

-10/10 Sound Design

-Great maps

-AMAZING gun play for ALL CLASSES

-Makes you feel like the enemy is formidable

-Elite classes and Behemoths are badass

Real player with 258.8 hrs in game

Best battlefield game up to date. Immersion is top of the roof with some decent campaigns.

If you want to play multiplayer, make sure you dont use “quick match” and try server browser instead. In there, don’t use official DICE servers as they’re often filled with hackers. Try out community servers where admins are active and players are good and u get close, fun games.

Real player with 210.3 hrs in game

Battlefield 1 ™ on Steam

Steam Squad

Steam Squad

I decided to write a review (though usually do not do), I liked the game, and here’s why:

Passing the game is not easy, missions of the first company are not very hard, but further became much more difficult. You can’t save during a mission, so you have to play carefully and cleverly (I’ve gone only 12 levels). Before the start of the mission you just in general terms imagine what awaits you, and already it is necessary to choose the squad on a mission (cool that the game offers total freedom in terms of units equipment), it is very exciting.

Real player with 39.1 hrs in game

Steam Squad is a “Steampunk” Turn Based Strategy game, currently available as early access (in Beta - currently v0.371b)

Whilst the game is based on “The Great War”, it’s historical content does not include the Entente and Central Powers forces per se, but the British and “Exotic Asian” (Han) forces instead, this dynamic is interesting - and refreshing and sets a very plausible scene.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=330512716

The main character in the story is a British Captain - Ken Whitehall, and his troop of “Gentlemen”, whom are battling the “Han”. The storyline follows Ken and his men, through different missions as they undertake the battle and stop the march of the Han.

Real player with 19.8 hrs in game

Steam Squad on Steam

11-11 Memories Retold

11-11 Memories Retold

achievements

overall, it is not a bad pick for achievement-hunters: no bugged or glitched achievements, no grind, everything is tight and simple (and achievements themselves are vary in goals), but the whole hunting is tedious. without a thoughtful detailed guide you will replay the same stages again-and-again with unskippable cutscenes. also various collectibles are hard to see because of artsy graphics. so, in a nutshell, good hunting overall, but it will be more irritating than fun

Real player with 25.2 hrs in game

For some reason, I decided to play both “11-11 Memories Retold” and “Call of Duty: WWII” simultaneously. Now, these games might be drastically different: one is a poetic tribute to the fallen of WWI, and the other is more of a straightforward, gritty representation of WWII. But in my playthroughs, I actually found out some odd similarities between them:

  • They make you control different characters interchangeably;

  • They both have rather unnecessary flying sections;

  • They both try to educate gamers about the wars with collectables;

Real player with 24.4 hrs in game

11-11 Memories Retold on Steam

Isonzo

Isonzo

World War One has arrived in the mountains of the Italian Front - beautiful but deadly in equal measure. Inspired by the two year struggle for control of the Isonzo river valley and Alps during World War One, Isonzo elevates the WW1 Games Series, figuratively and literally.

The new Offensive game mode puts you right in the middle of key historical offensives on the Italian Front - lead the charge across stunning Italian landscapes on the attack, or prepare your defense on dynamic battlefields.

Everything is recreated based on research and field trips, from the uniforms to the huge arsenal of weapons. Blow your enemies away at range with mortars, artillery and air support, or finish the job at close quarters with a bayonet. Watch out for the dreaded poison gas…

You’ve never experienced WW1 action quite like this!

Isonzo is scheduled for release in Early 2022.

Isonzo key features include:

  • Mountain warfare: assaulting mountain fortifications, battling through ruined towns, and fording rivers are just a few of the challenges you’ll face as you fight your way through numerous enemy positions

  • Tactical multiplayer FPS: choose your role and loadout carefully to survive this high altitude combat - play a sniper to pick off the enemy engineers before they can cut your wire, use rifle grenades to clear enemy machine guns, and much more

  • World War One gameplay: new historical Offensive game mode focused on the tactical challenges of Alpine warfare, including WW1 weaponry, poisonous gas attacks, and intense artillery barrages

  • Authentic WW1 atmosphere: accuracy in everything from maps and weaponry to music and the uniforms you choose from – fight for the Kingdom of Italy or the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy

    More coming soon!

    We’re only scratching the surface of what’s new in Isonzo - there’s more yet to be revealed, including details on the new features and beautiful Italian battlefields are on the way: wishlist now and follow our Steam hub to get the latest updates!

    Authentic WW1 Game Series

    The WW1 Game Series currently includes Tannenberg and Verdun (set on the Eastern and Western Fronts). These authentic WW1 shooters let players choose from a range of squads from across the war, as they fight for control of the ever-changing frontlines.

    While you wait for Italian Front to heat up, you can already join trench warfare in Verdun , or maneuver for control of key sectors in Tannenberg .

Isonzo on Steam

To Burn in Memory (Anniversary Edition)

To Burn in Memory (Anniversary Edition)

Concise and very engaging. Great aesthetic, uses some beautiful flourishes to add to the atmosphere. Played it and finished it twice and I still wanna go back to make sure I have seen everything. Definitely give it a try!

Real player with 10.1 hrs in game

This one is good for those moments when you’re torn between reading a book or playing a game. This game is somehow simultaneously text-based and atmospheric, interrupted only by a couple of UI flaws and the constant feeling of disorientation. Maybe the latter was intentional due to the story’s content, but still, it would be nice to have “go back” as an option all of the time. Overall, I liked it.

Real player with 4.9 hrs in game

To Burn in Memory (Anniversary Edition) on Steam

The Last Express Gold Edition

The Last Express Gold Edition

I think this may well be the greatest game ever made. Yes, the controls are clunky as all get out. Yes, for people used to today’s games the ultra-high-tech-for-1997-digital-rotoscoping technique looks extremely antiquated. Yes, you’re dropped into the game with no idea what to do, and you’re going to fail. A lot. But at the same time “The Last Express” includes:

  • Probably the best-developed characters in any adventure game I’ve yet played (the weakest is arguably Robert Cath, who the player controls, but even he has an intriguing and irritatingly-largely-unrevealed-due-to-lack-of-a-sequel backstory). By the end of the game you know what they want and what makes most of them tick, and since certain bad things are more or less guaranteed to happen to a number of them the result is the equivalent of an emotional shovel to the face.

Real player with 16.0 hrs in game

Ahead of its time but stuck in the past

First read about this game way back when it came out, in a magazine I still have, where the reviewer was left in complete awe because of unique design for an adventure game. Ever since it occupied a small cluster of neurons in the back of my head, waiting for me to play it and its moment to shine. I should say I never played the original so my review will only address this 2013 port, with some inferior exceptions others have noticed.

It plays like Myst, from 1st person perspective with static scenes as you move around, but is set in realistic environment of an vintage luxury passenger train called Orient Express. The whole game takes place in the same 4-5 vagon carts with beautifully rendered backgrounds. You move by clicking edges of screen with mouse cursor that contextually changes functions to forward, backward and left or right turn, with interaction prompts for opening doors and object/NPC interaction.

Real player with 9.8 hrs in game

The Last Express Gold Edition on Steam