
What players like:
Common complaints:
Gameplay feedback:
Performance notes:
Recommendations:
Other player notes:
Review evidence
Diverse and well-designed units: The game offers a rich variety of units, each with unique designs and characteristics. Players appreciate the diversity and the strategic depth it adds to the gameplay.
Authentic medieval strategy: The game is praised for its authentic medieval setting and tactical warfare. It is recommended for fans of medieval strategy games and is considered one of the best in this genre.
Deep tactical and strategic gameplay: The game offers deep tactical and strategic gameplay with historical authenticity. It is described as a rich tactical simulator with challenging battles.
Praised graphics and visuals: Players consistently highlight the game's graphics, describing them as beautiful, realistic, and well-designed. The visual effects, models, and overall presentation are frequently mentioned as standout features.
Engaging and complex gameplay: The gameplay is described as engaging, complex, and enjoyable. Players find the strategic and management aspects of the game particularly interesting.
Tutorial needs improvement: The tutorial system is widely criticized for being insufficient, chaotic, and ineffective. Many players find it lacks clear explanations and assumes prior knowledge.
Clunky and outdated UI: The user interface is described as clunky, non-intuitive, and outdated. Players find it less informative and heavily reliant on tooltips.
Excessive paid DLCs: Players are frustrated with the high number of paid DLCs, which are seen as expensive and necessary to access most campaigns and full content.
Poor combat and gameplay mechanics: The combat system and overall gameplay mechanics are criticized for being confusing, clunky, and poorly designed.
Multiplayer functionality issues: Multiplayer mode is reported as not working properly, with some players unable to start it at all.
Turn-based tactical medieval combat: The game features a turn-based combat system set in the High Middle Ages, emphasizing tactical gameplay similar to tabletop battle systems.
Historically accurate battles and units: The game includes historically accurate battles and units, offering custom battles and historical scenarios like Hastings or Lake Peipus.
Terrain affects combat effectiveness: Terrain plays a crucial role in combat, affecting the effectiveness of units and requiring strategic positioning.
Multiplayer modes available: The game includes various multiplayer modes, such as online multiplayer and PBEM++ (Play by Email) mode.
Medieval theme and setting: The game is set in the medieval era, with a UI featuring medieval art and themes, including Knights and the Varangian Guard.
Performance issues and crashes: The game experiences frequent freezes and crashes during gameplay. Some players reported that the game caused their computers to crash.
Outdated graphics and animations: Several players noted that the graphics and animations are functional but outdated, with terrain effects also being criticized for looking old.
Long loading times: Players have reported that the loading times between scenarios are unnecessarily long, affecting the overall gaming experience.
Poor netcode: The game's netcode has been criticized as being of poor quality, affecting the online gaming experience.
Text prompts too small: Players have complained that the text prompts are too small to read, and there are no settings to scale the text size.
Ideal for medieval history enthusiasts: This game is highly recommended for players who have a keen interest in medieval history and warfare. It offers detailed and engaging content that caters specifically to this niche.
Great for tactical combat fans: The game is tailored for those who enjoy deep tactical combat. It is particularly suited for enthusiasts of tactical games and turn-based strategy.
Educational resources recommended: Players are advised to watch tutorial videos or read the manual to fully understand and enjoy the game mechanics. This suggests a complex game that benefits from additional learning resources.
Fans of the series will enjoy: Fans of the predecessor and the series in general are likely to enjoy this game, suggesting it stays true to the elements that made the previous games popular.
Future DLCs and sequels desired: Players have expressed interest in future DLCs and sequels, indicating a desire for continued development and expansion of the game world.
Community fair range: $0.00 - $10.00.
Story completion: 5.0h.
Session length: 2.0h.
The game has a steep learning curve that requires external resources to overcome, but once mastered, the multiplayer mode offers a highly engaging and enjoyable experience.
Reported time to anchor: 3h.
Friction: Steep learning curve; Poor in-game tutorial; Complex game mechanics.
Unlock drivers: External tutorials and guides; Practice and experience with game mechanics.
Tactical Purist: Patient, methodical, and focused on long-term strategic goals. Motivation: Mastering tactical depth and strategic planning. Stance: buy.
Multiplayer Strategist: Competitive, patient, and enjoys long-term strategic planning. Motivation: Engaging in deep, strategic multiplayer battles. Stance: buy.
Guidance Seeker: Cautious, methodical, and relies on external resources for guidance. Motivation: Learning and understanding the game mechanics thoroughly. Stance: sale.
Monetization: The game has received significant criticism for its DLC policy, with many users feeling that essential content is locked behind expensive DLCs. This has led to a perception of the game being overpriced and has negatively impacted the overall user experience. Additionally, gameplay issues compounded with the DLC policy have further frustrated users.
Game acquired for free: Many players mentioned acquiring the game for free, either through a giveaway or during the Slitherine anniversary.