Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 186 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics Game Cover
A dungeon crawl with turn-based mechanics. Shows a lot of promise but is ultimately bogged down by repetitive combat and shallow character/skill system.
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"Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics" is a turn-based strategy game set in World War II, where players lead an elite squad of Allied forces against the nefarious Nazi Cult of the Elder Gods. The game features a unique investigative twist, where uncovering the dark secrets of the enemy can turn the tide of battle. With a variety of customizable characters, equipment, and abilities, players must outsmart and outfight their supernatural foes in this challenging and immersive tale of war and horror.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 186 reviews
story20 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • The game features a solid turn-based combat system with unique mechanics like Action Points and Momentum, making gameplay engaging.
  • The setting combines WWII with Lovecraftian elements, providing a fun premise for fans of both genres.
  • Character progression and skill trees add depth to the gameplay, allowing for some customization and strategy.
  • The game suffers from repetitive gameplay, with limited enemy types and linear mission design that can become tedious.
  • There is a lack of meaningful story development and character interaction, making it hard for players to invest in the narrative.
  • Technical issues such as crashes and bugs have been reported, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
  • story222 mentions

    The game's story has been described as generic and lacking depth, with minimal character development and repetitive mission objectives that fail to engage players. While some players appreciate the Lovecraftian elements and atmospheric writing, many feel that the narrative is poorly executed, consisting mainly of briefings and sparse dialogue, leading to a sense of absence as the game progresses. Overall, the story does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience, leaving players wanting more in terms of plot and character interaction.

    • “Nice tactical game, good controls, interesting story so far, 4 missions in.”
    • “The story is simple: during 1944 the Nazis prepare an occult counter-offensive in the Ardennes and your squad has to find out what it is and disrupt it.”
    • “By focusing more on story and the horror aspect of its lore, you get to experience intense close-quarters battles and ranged skirmishes while building on an unknown threat that could appear at any time, and in any form.”
    • “The game moves at a glacial pace, the story is almost non-existent and the enemy AI is so stupid that the enemies rarely fire upon the player characters.”
    • “Last but not least, calling the campaign 'story driven' is absurdly laughable, as the entire story of this game consists of a mission briefing worth 2 lines of dialogue in front of every mission.”
    • “The story is... very generic, the mission text is as deep as a porn movie, but the notes you find have enough tiny hooks to leave you wondering what exactly those notes are referring to, what the plans of the enemy really are, what do the eldritch creatures want... very, very Lovecraftian, letting your mind fill in the blanks with your worst fears.”
  • gameplay62 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a solid core of turn-based tactics, drawing comparisons to XCOM, with engaging combat mechanics and a unique momentum system that adds depth. However, it suffers from linearity, repetitive missions, and a lack of enemy variety, which can lead to tedium over time. While the moment-to-moment gameplay is enjoyable, the overall experience is hindered by a lack of strategic depth and a compelling narrative.

    • “Zero complaints about the gameplay.”
    • “At the end of the day, the gameplay is the main attraction, as each combat manages to present a challenge from the start and you'll need to choose upgrades with synergy in mind or your game may end sooner than expected (at least on hard).”
    • “The mostly-linear map layouts and campaign arc make this essentially an on-rails tactical turn-based combat game, but the core gameplay loop is compelling and deep enough to keep dragging me back in, one half-hour mission at a time.”
    • “Very linear, repetitive gameplay, due in part because of the lack of variety in loadouts and skills: each character (the same four throughout the game) has a variety of possible skills, but you get most of them, so there won't be much variety by the end game.”
    • “Non-existing strategic depth, repetitive missions without any shred of a captivating background story, dull mechanics, and mono-dimensional characters manage to bore even the most keen players in a few hours.”
    • “If I had to say something bad about gameplay, it's that by the point you encounter your first *real* monster, you would have already seen most of the enemies in the game, with the standard troops just getting more health and the damage they do staying the same.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    Overall, the graphics are generally well-received, especially considering the game's indie status and price point, with many players noting that they are "more than good enough" and effectively support the game's aesthetic. However, some reviewers expressed a desire for greater variety and improvement in both graphics and voice acting. While the visuals are satisfactory, there are mentions of instability and a lack of uniqueness in style.

    • “Graphics are pretty good for an indie game, sounds are okay.”
    • “The music is nice, it fits, and even on low graphic settings it still looks nice enough.”
    • “[*] [b]graphics[/b]: more than good enough and serve the purpose well.”
    • “Love the premise, graphics and voice acting could be better.”
    • “Not in-game graphics.”
    • “Maybe a bit more variety, lore, graphics?”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its rich, era-appropriate sound that enhances the atmosphere, particularly during planning phases with nostalgic radio hits. However, some players find the battle music bland and repetitive, leading to a lack of memorability. Overall, while the soundtrack fits the game's theme well, it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.

    • “The music is rich for the era, with that classy radio old-timey hits playing while at the planning board deciding to do a side quest or a main mission.”
    • “The soundtrack is appropriate for this game's theme as well as the sound effects.”
    • “The music is nice, it fits, and even on low graphic settings it still looks nice enough.”
    • “Bland music in battle.”
    • “Music repetition and lack of plot or story depth.”
    • “Repetitive sounds, voice acting, and music.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The stability of the game is highly inconsistent, with many players reporting frequent crashes and bugs, while others have experienced a surprisingly smooth experience with no noticeable issues. Overall, the game appears to have significant stability problems, including freezing and blue screen crashes for some users.

    • “An internet search shows that this game is very buggy, and players are experiencing all kinds of crashing issues.”
    • “Game freezes then gives a bluescreen crash.”
    • “Game freezes then gives a bluescreen crash.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game has low replayability due to its barebones story and limited content, with players likely experiencing most of what it offers by the halfway point. However, the engaging combat and moderate price point provide some value, making the experience worthwhile despite its shortcomings in replayability.

    • “Sadly, the game greatly lacks replayability. The story aspect is there, but it's quite barebones. There are also some cool enemies, but by halfway through the game, you will probably see most, if not all, it has to offer in that department.”
    • “The combat is fun and engaging, but the story is somewhat lacking and the game lacks replayability. However, the moment-to-moment gameplay does enough to make it work.”
    • “Replayability is low, but the moderate price tag gives you great value; I got it on sale.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere is generally described as pleasant and well-crafted, with good writing that enhances the experience; however, many users feel it lacks sufficient darkness and horror elements. While the music complements the atmosphere effectively, it is noted to be somewhat forgettable. Overall, there is a desire for a deeper narrative to enrich the atmospheric experience.

    • “The atmosphere is nice and the writing is good and authentic, but there could be more story.”
    • “The atmosphere is not dark enough; there's virtually no horror.”
    • “The atmosphere is not dark enough; there's virtually no horror.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding in Cthulhu Tactics to be tedious and monotonous, with early missions feeling particularly slow and unengaging. The initial excitement quickly fades, leading to a repetitive experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “Cthulhu Tactics is a boring and tedious slog to go through.”
    • “Once the sheen of new gameplay has passed, it becomes as tedious as the rest of the game.”
    • “The first missions are a little tedious, and the story takes a while to get going.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    Overall, players report that the game is well-optimized, running smoothly without crashes or bugs, even on mid-range hardware like HP Pavilion laptops. Users have not encountered any performance issues within the first few hours of gameplay.

    • “For me, it ran smoothly with no crashes or bugs.”
    • “With less than two hours into the game, I have not had any issues at all with performance. I'm playing on an HP Pavilion laptop.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is generally lacking, particularly noted in the last mission, which players found to be unfunny and disappointing.

    • “The last mission is quite unfunny to play, though.”
    • “The humor in the game falls flat during the final mission.”
    • “I found the jokes in the last mission to be lacking and unoriginal.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for lacking depth, with reviewers noting that while the design and mechanics may draw inspiration from familiar titles, the plot and interactions between characters fail to engage or evolve meaningfully.

    • “You can find a lot of familiar recipes mixed in, obviously 'X-Com' GUI, 'Hard West' luck system revamped, and a lot in common with 'The Wasted Land' character design and general feel. Sadly, they don't share the same interesting plot or story development between characters.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The game features no microtransactions, providing a straightforward experience without additional costs.

    • “The game has no microtransactions, which is a refreshing change in today's gaming landscape.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no pay-to-win mechanics; everything can be earned through gameplay.”
    • “The absence of monetization pressure allows players to fully enjoy the game without distractions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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Play time

25hMedian play time
25hAverage play time
25-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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