50 Years

About

"50 Years" is a single-player, turn-based strategy game with fast-paced mechanics, allowing you to win or lose in an evening. Despite its quick matches, the game offers high replayability through tough decisions, random elements, and a focus on early-game strategy. Available for wishlisting on Steam, it aims to capture the excitement and depth of traditional strategy games in a more time-efficient package.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 468 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game offers a good variety of civilizations, units, buildings, religions, and game modes, providing a lot of replay value.
It's a simple yet addictive strategy game that can be played in short sessions, making it great for casual gaming.
The minimalist art style and relaxing music enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable to play.

The game can feel repetitive quickly, and some players may find the lack of depth in strategy limiting.
There are balance issues with certain nations and difficulty levels, making some playthroughs feel unfair.
The absence of a save feature can be frustrating, as players must complete the game in one sitting.

gameplay
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
67%
8%
The gameplay is generally described as simple and accessible, making it suitable for casual play without overwhelming new players with complex mechanics. While it offers strategic depth and replay value, some players find the achievement system and the need for multiple play sessions to unlock content frustrating. Overall, the game balances fun and engagement with straightforward mechanics, though it may become repetitive over time.
- “The gameplay of 50 years revolves around making choices that have far-reaching consequences.”
- “The gameplay is tight and every decision matters to a certain extent.”
- “It has a ton of replay value and gameplay is quick for shorter play sessions, especially if you're tight on time but need something fun to play for a while.”
- “After a while, gameplay is pretty routine.”
- “Very quick games which is nice, but for a $5 price tag and nothing really left to do but play it over and over (not really entertaining), 30 minutes of gameplay is really all I got out of this.”
- “All mechanics are rather shallow, but this was not meant to be a complicated game.”
replayability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The game boasts high replayability due to its variety of civilizations, factions, and game modes, allowing players to explore different strategies and challenges in relatively short play sessions of around 20-30 minutes. While some players note that the limited pool of units and strategies may lead to a sense of repetition after several hours, the numerous customization options and achievement goals keep many returning for more. Overall, it is considered a fun and engaging experience for those seeking quick, strategic gameplay.
- “There's a good variety of civilizations, units, buildings, religions, and game modes to choose from, so despite the short length of a game (you can win or lose in less than 20 minutes), there's a lot of replay value.”
- “It has a ton of replay value and gameplay is quick for shorter play sessions, especially if you're tight on time but need something fun to play for a while.”
- “It does not have a lot of replayability as it has a limited pool of units and strategies; you would have seen it all by the 3rd or 4th hour.”
- “It's fun for a little bit, and has a bunch of different factions to offer replayability, but the buildings and units are the same across all factions, and the faction differences are generally minor changes in terms of bonuses the buildings provide you.”
- “While each playthrough is relatively short, there is replay value in choosing different nations as they each have variations in their bonuses and play styles, and there are a few alternate versions that can be played outside the main campaign as well as higher difficulty settings for a more intense challenge.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The game's graphics are characterized by a minimalist art style that evokes nostalgia for old-school flash games, with many players appreciating its cute and charming visuals despite their simplicity. While some reviews note that the graphics are basic and not particularly stunning, others highlight the pleasant aesthetic and relaxing atmosphere they create, contributing positively to the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as adequate for the game's purpose, though opinions vary on their value relative to the game's price.
- “The first thing that catches your eye in 50 years is its striking minimalist art style.”
- “The graphics are a really nice upgrade and the art style is quite charming, which helps calm the player down and prevents them from throwing their computer through the window.”
- “I'm so glad to see this fun little game made with such beautiful graphics.”
- “Graphics 2/10”
- “Basic visuals that are not very stunning.”
- “Unfortunately, the graphical version at its current state does not justify the price.”
music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
9%
The music in the game is generally praised for its haunting beauty and relaxing qualities, enhancing the emotional depth of the experience. While some reviewers noted a simplistic or dated feel to the overall presentation, many found the soft instrumental soundtrack to be pleasing and well-suited for the game's minimalist design. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, making it enjoyable even when not actively playing.
- “The soundtrack of 50 years is a hauntingly beautiful composition that enhances the emotional impact of the game.”
- “With its minimalist visuals, profound narrative, and emotionally evocative soundtrack, the game leaves a lasting impression.”
- “The music is pleasing to listen to even when not playing the game actively.”
- “The art and music is nothing to write home about, it's an old game with a Newgrounds/Kongregate flash feel. Still, I've always liked my games more for gameplay and mechanics than graphics, so it's a pass from me on that front.”
- “Sound & music 5/10”
- “You are only able to toggle the music.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game lacks a traditional storyline, focusing instead on the simple premise of defending your city against barbarians in a charming fantasy setting. Players engage in automatic battles with a primary goal of building their kingdom and raising an army over a limited span of 50 turns, offering minimal side quests and narrative depth. While the graphics are appealing, the overall experience is driven more by gameplay mechanics than by a compelling story.
- “The game itself is missing a story, but it is easy to figure out that you are defending your city against the barbarians. The setting is a fantasy world with a cute atmosphere that can really drag you in. The graphics are cute and really well drawn, but they are not over the top.”
- “In the span of 50 turns, you're tasked with a simple mission - build up your kingdom and raise an army to tackle various enemies.”
- “Limited opportunities for side quests and a maximum of 50 turns per game.”
- “Since there are no moves in the game, the battles take place automatically; there is no plot either.”
- “No storyline, just the satisfaction of winning with the nation you are using.”
- “The game itself is missing a story, but it is easy to figure out that you are defending your city against the barbarians.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, as it allows players to achieve all accomplishments with a bit of effort and strategy. While some grinding is necessary, it is described as mindless rather than tedious, making it suitable for casual play. Overall, players find the balance of quality gameplay and grinding to be worth the investment, especially at a low price point.
- “If 10-20 hours of quality playtime (and a bit more mindless grinding afterwards for achievements) sounds like it's worth five bucks or so to you, you could do a lot worse.”
- “All achievements attainable; just need a little grinding and proper strategy.”
- “50 years is one of those casual and fun strategy games without the boring and tedious elements of micromanagement and drawn-out battles.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with no reported game freezes or unexpected crashes. However, players have encountered frustrating bugs related to achievement tracking, particularly concerning a secret year that can lead to confusion and annoyance.
- “There is a secret year that you can get, but if you don't finish that year and you didn't have the very hard achievement for the nation you have been playing, it won't grant you the achievement even though you did technically pass the 50th year, which is buggy and annoying.”
- “Compared to his idle clicker games, this has similarities, but this is buggy and sort of strange to play, not really all that fun.”
- “This game is buggy and has stability issues that detract from the overall experience.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is significantly heightened by its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, which, combined with minimalist visuals and a profound narrative, creates a lasting impression on players.
- “The soundtrack of 50 years is a hauntingly beautiful composition that enhances the emotional impact of the game.”
- “With its minimalist visuals, profound narrative, and emotionally evocative soundtrack, the game leaves a lasting impression.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by melancholic melodies and immersive soundscapes that enhance its contemplative feel. Set in a charming fantasy world, the cute graphics and overall aesthetic effectively draw players into the experience, despite the absence of a detailed story.
- “The melancholic melodies and atmospheric soundscapes create an immersive audio experience, further immersing you in the game's contemplative atmosphere.”
- “The game itself is missing a story, but it is easy to figure out that you are defending your city against the barbarians. The setting is a fantasy world with a cute atmosphere that can really draw you in. The graphics are cute and well-drawn, but they are not over the top.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly even on low to lower mid-range PCs, making it accessible to a wide range of players.
- “Runs smoothly, and I can't imagine you would need anything more than a low to lower mid-range PC to run this game.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization aspect of the game heavily relies on microtransactions, which have drawn mixed reactions from users. While some appreciate the optional nature of these purchases, others feel they detract from the overall experience.
- “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
- “I can't enjoy the game without being constantly bombarded by offers to spend more money.”
- “The monetization model is frustrating and takes away from the overall experience.”