All Quiet in the Trenches
- January 17, 2024
- Totally Not Aliens
- 3h median play time
"All Quiet in the Trenches" is a war game set in World War I, where you play as a German Unteroffizier responsible for your soldiers' survival. Manage camp life and make decisions that affect your soldiers' well-being, balancing their needs and your superiors' demands. The chaos of war and your choices create a unique story each playthrough, but they won't change the war's outcome. Visit the roadmap at for more information.
Reviews
- The game offers a unique blend of narrative-driven gameplay and strategic decision-making, allowing players to form emotional connections with their soldiers.
- The atmosphere and art style effectively capture the grim realities of World War I, enhancing the immersive experience.
- Despite being in early access, the game shows great potential with its engaging story and character development, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of historical games.
- The current content is limited, with playthroughs averaging around 3-4 hours, leading some players to feel the price is too high for the amount of gameplay available.
- Combat mechanics can feel clunky and lack clarity, with players often unsure of the impact of their actions during battles.
- There are minor bugs and performance issues that can detract from the overall experience, typical of early access titles.
- story193 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth and character development, effectively immersing players in the harsh realities of World War I through the experiences of a low-ranking officer and his soldiers. While the narrative is engaging and offers high replayability due to player choices, many reviewers note that the current content is limited and the overall experience feels short, with hopes for future expansions to enhance the storytelling and gameplay mechanics. Despite some criticisms regarding repetitive elements and gameplay issues, the storytelling is considered a standout feature that resonates with players.
“🔥 Emotional narrative depth: engage with a story that reflects the harshness of war, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll on your men.”
“Learning the story of each soldier under your command and seeing the consequences of decisions play out really hits home on the weight of command.”
“The story is superb and very well written.”
“Unfortunately, the story is very short.”
“Building is basically useless and a pure waste of time; I've got the same story five times in one run and the same event three times in one battle.”
“Currently, very repetitive actions and dialogues; the notebook got the same story three times in a single playthrough.”
- gameplay162 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is currently in early access, offering around 3-6 hours of content that combines resource management and combat mechanics, which some players find repetitive and lacking depth. While the game shows promise with its immersive storytelling and dynamic decision-making, many reviewers express concerns about the limited gameplay hours and high price point. Overall, the mechanics are seen as needing refinement, but the core concept and narrative engagement are appreciated, leaving players hopeful for future updates.
“⚙️ Dynamic gameplay: each playthrough offers different challenges and outcomes based on your decisions, making the experience unique every time.”
“The gameplay involves managing resources, maintaining morale, and navigating the complex dynamics of military life during one of history's most devastating conflicts.”
“Even the battles are super enjoyable; they feel dynamic in spite of being turn-based, and the mechanics involved are relatively deep and satisfying (yet sometimes tragic) to discover.”
“The gameplay isn't really engaging and there's only about 3-4 hours of content for one playthrough.”
“You see there are two real parts of the gameplay, combat and management, and those two parts make up about 95% of the game. Both the combat and management are awful; while the systems work fine, they just suck. The combat is mostly just comparing two values and moving around to suppress enemies, which makes it feel like the combat system doesn't really include combat.”
“Besides having only limited content for an overpriced game, the core gameplay in both phases - the preparation phase in the military camp and the battle phase in the trenches - are very boring and tedious.”
- graphics46 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics are noted for their atmospheric visuals that effectively convey the grim realities of trench warfare, although the art style is described as more functional than striking. While some users appreciate the immersive quality and unique design, others find the visuals somewhat janky and not particularly impressive, suggesting that a darker aesthetic could enhance the overall experience. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose in depicting the harsh conditions of war, but they may not stand out as exceptional.
“🎨 Grim visuals: Immerse yourself in the grim atmosphere of the trenches, with visuals that depict the harsh conditions and horrors of war.”
“👍 Atmospheric visuals: Successfully captures the grim reality of war through its visual design.”
“I was also surprised by the size of the levels and camps, both rendered in a beautiful art style.”
“The graphics can be a little janky, but it's what you'd expect from a studio of their size.”
“Now for the technical aspects, obviously it's open access and there are a few bugs, but it's not so much about the gameplay as it is about the visuals. It's definitely playable, and the sounds are wildly immersive.”
“Good game (I think?) but it is not very clear how the supply system works with ammunition, food, first aid, and such. It would maybe make the visuals a little darker, as I think it fits the theme a little better.”
- replayability32 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the dynamic events and decision-making that can lead to different outcomes, encouraging multiple playthroughs. However, many reviewers feel that the current content is too limited and short (around 3-6 hours), making it difficult to justify the price and diminishing the overall replay value. While there is potential for increased replayability with future updates and customization options, many players express disappointment with the current state of the game.
“Replay value: each decision you make changes the way the soldiers you command develop and the way the higher-ups view you and your unit.”
“And even though it's on the shorter side right now, it's still fun and replayable; and this is only like a third of what will be the final content when the game releases properly.”
“Highly replayable & engaging & highly recommend!”
“It's not as 're-playable' as it pretends to be. I played for 6 hours and I'm done with it. Finished it too quickly; it's too easy. Really annoyed I can't refund this as 25 euros is a joke for the amount of content in this.”
“Currently not worth the money and not replayable.”
“The content is extremely limited (~3-3.5 hours playtime). I can't really say it's worth the price even with replayability.”
- emotional28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "All Quiet in the Trenches" is profoundly impactful, offering a narrative that deeply explores the psychological and emotional toll of war on soldiers. Players form strong bonds with uniquely developed characters, experiencing heart-wrenching moments that highlight the human cost of conflict. The game successfully combines strategic gameplay with a poignant storytelling approach, making it a must-play for those seeking an emotionally resonant war simulation.
“Set against the backdrop of World War I, 'All Quiet in the Trenches' offers a deeply personal and emotional narrative.”
“Similar to games like 'This War of Mine', you quickly build an emotional bond with the individually designed soldiers, who all have their own background story, character traits, and storylines.”
“What a ride this game is; if you have even a semblance of a heart and a powerful enough imagination, you'll shed a tear or two once you go through the minds of your troops and realize that this has happened time and time again, is happening, and will happen further.”
- atmosphere23 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere effectively immerses players in the grim realities of World War I trench warfare, with detailed visuals that capture the harsh conditions and horrors of war. While the art style is described as functional rather than striking, it contributes to a generally atmospheric experience that enhances gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its depth and immersion, making it a compelling aspect of the game.
“🎨 Grim visuals: immerse yourself in the grim atmosphere of the trenches, with visuals that depict the harsh conditions and horrors of war.”
“The game is already in very good condition, and the atmosphere of life in the trenches of WW1 is well captured.”
“The atmosphere is detailed and immersive, and the core gameplay is fun and satisfying.”
“The shooting that the NPCs do between turns does nothing to add to the atmosphere as I know they're not actually shooting anything.”
“Chaos and confusion do add a certain atmosphere to be sure, and the point of the battles is not to win the war right there, but it would be nice if in the tutorial screens it better clarified concepts like suppression, firing at will, and how you can actually counter/effect enemy movements.”
“The grim visuals immerse you in the harsh atmosphere of the trenches, depicting the conditions and horrors of war.”
- optimization13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally stable, with some players experiencing minor bugs and performance issues typical of early access titles. While some users report clunky combat and performance detracting from the experience, others found it well-optimized with no significant issues. Overall, the optimization appears to be a mixed bag, with varying experiences among players.
“I encountered no performance issues or bugs.”
“Overall well optimized as well.”
“The key: keep balance between keeping your men alive and well and keeping your superiors content with your performance.”
“Technical bugs: minor bugs and performance issues can detract from the experience.”
“It also has the worst performance compared to the rest of the game.”
“Combat is a little clunky; it's there to make stories not be optimized.”
- grinding10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic commitment akin to having a "second life." The repetitive nature of the core gameplay, particularly during the preparation and battle phases, is described as boring and tedious, further exacerbating the grind.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Besides having only limited content for an overpriced game, the core gameplay in both phases - the preparation phase in the military camp and the battle phase in the trenches - is very boring and tedious.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous glitches and bugs reported by users. While these technical problems are somewhat expected for an indie early access title, they detract from the overall experience despite the engaging story and troop dynamics.
“This game is a buggy disaster.”
“This is just a buggy mess now.”
“Fun but there are a lot of glitches at the moment.”
- music4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack is generally well-received, with players appreciating its art style and story; however, there are criticisms regarding the need for more intense music during combat sequences to enhance the overall experience.
“I really enjoy this game's soundtrack, art style, and story.”
“The music adds a great atmosphere to the game.”
“The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay experience.”
“The music should be more intense during combat.”
“The music should be more intense during combat.”
“The soundtrack lacks the energy needed to enhance the gameplay experience.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find humor in the irony of anti-war games, noting that if they excel at the gameplay, the intended anti-war message can become overshadowed, leading to unexpected laughter. This juxtaposition highlights the complexity of engaging with serious themes through a comedic lens.
“It has made me laugh.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted as a strong point in the game, with users praising the deeply engaging narrative that effectively enhances emotional storytelling.
“The narrative is deeply engaging, with strong character development.”
“The narrative is deeply engaging, with strong character development.”