Armored Brigade

About

Armored Brigade is a single player tactical real-time strategy game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Veitikka Studios and was released on October 31, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

Armored Brigade is a tactical wargame set in the mid-Cold War era. Players command a brigade-sized force of either NATO or Warsaw Pact troops in intense, turn-based combat. With a focus on realism and historical accuracy, the game features a vast array of units, detailed environments, and advanced physics simulations. Lead your forces to victory in large-scale, dynamic battles across diverse landscapes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+14

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 238 reviews

story8 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Armored Brigade offers a great balance of complexity and accessibility, making it an excellent entry point for wargame newcomers while still providing depth for veterans.
The game features a robust mission and campaign generator, allowing for high replayability and customization of battles on expansive maps.
The user interface is intuitive and well-designed, enhancing the overall gameplay experience and making it easier to manage units and strategies.

The game lacks a comprehensive tutorial, which can make it difficult for new players to learn the mechanics and fully understand the gameplay.
Command delays can be frustrating, as they require careful planning and can lead to units being caught in vulnerable positions during engagements.
There is no multiplayer mode, which limits the game's replayability and social interaction compared to other wargames in the genre.

story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
85%
4%
The game's story aspect is minimal, primarily consisting of briefings for pre-made missions, which some players find lacking in depth. However, the standout feature is the robust mission and campaign generator, allowing players to create diverse scenarios and enjoy endless replayability. While the game draws inspiration from classic wargames, it lacks a fully fleshed-out narrative campaign, focusing instead on customizable tactical experiences.
- “The generated mission system is amazing.”
- “The real gems in this are the campaign generator, mission editor, and scenario editor, which allows you to pick your battlefield from one of many huge master maps, accurately reflecting the terrain of several different areas such as Germany or Finland, each with their own unique terrain features to overcome with your forces.”
- “Finally, a worthy successor to the Steel Panthers, Combat Mission, and Close Combat series, with its own unique twist (the delayed order system that simulates communication difficulties between units in actual battles) that adds realism and offers interesting strategic and tactical decisions not found in other strategy games.”
- “Story/briefings in this game is limited to a small blurb when selecting pre-made battles.”
- “As I try to start my first mission, I quickly get lost at the full screen of text not knowing what to do.”
- “The one main downside is there's only a few pre-made missions and no pre-made campaigns out of the box.”
graphics
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The graphics of the game are primarily 2D and described as functional, clean, and stylized, with a focus on clarity rather than flashiness. While some users find the visuals dated or simplistic, they appreciate the game's tactical depth and accessibility, suggesting that the graphics serve the gameplay effectively. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for the game's strategic focus, appealing to both newcomers and seasoned wargamers.
- “The 2D graphics are actually very well done, and the unit and map detail is stylized nicely.”
- “A game whose relatively simple graphics are used to stylish effect, whilst its interface puts even more mainstream RTS games to shame.”
- “Graphics are easy on the eyes and give a nice sense of scale, especially when zooming out.”
- “First, the graphics... they look like some flash-based or mobile game, but I don't see this as a crucial flaw.”
- “I firmly state though that the graphics are crude, but this isn't about flashy 3D representations of the models; it's about tactics, strategy, and the will to endure a wave of infantry crashing into your battle lines prepared for death or glory!”
- “Graphics are really bad; maybe if they have some mods, I could recommend it.”
gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
81%
7%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its deep and realistic mechanics, allowing for extensive customization and scenario generation, making it accessible yet challenging for players. While it features a mix of real-time and turn-based elements, some users find the ergonomics lacking, which can lead to a less engaging experience despite the game's strategic depth. Overall, it is praised for its simulation of combined arms warfare and offers a variety of gameplay options, though beginners may struggle with the initial learning curve due to limited instructional resources.
- “Plus it is really easy to make and generate missions so you don't get bored. It's really nice that players can create any scenario they want, and with the simple mechanics, it takes just around 30-40 minutes to learn fully.”
- “Deep and realistic gameplay; you have to understand each individual unit's strengths and weaknesses and have at least a basic knowledge of military tactics and warfare.”
- “The gameplay and battle mechanics of Armoured Brigade are brilliant, and the scenario and campaign generator comes with a lot of customization options.”
- “Gameplay-wise similar to the Close Combat series, but you can zoom out to space with a mouse scroll (and different other UI and quality of life improvements in place).”
- “In overall good realistic mechanics but boring to play due to poor ergonomics.”
- “They do have a manual to explain lots of things, but that manual won’t guide you through your first gameplay, so that manual isn’t very helpful to beginners.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The game offers exceptional replayability through its dynamic campaign generator, customizable skirmish options, and extensive mod support via Steam Workshop. Players can create varied scenarios and missions, ensuring a fresh experience with each playthrough. The clever AI and diverse gameplay elements further enhance its longevity, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The way you can generate new campaigns with different fights on a huge map is very good for replayability.”
- “This game is without a doubt the best in its genre, if only for the dynamic campaigns which offer unending replay value.”
- “Most of the included missions aren't too complicated, but the mission generator is where it really shines, allowing for serious replayability.”
- “The AI is surprisingly clever, it's easily moddable thanks to the built-in editor, you can play with a diverse amount of equipment from a whole bunch of nations, and the generated mission/campaign system leads to a ton of replayability.”
- “The game comes with missions, campaigns, and a level generator that allows the player to create massive battles as well as small infantry-only missions, which is pretty much a recipe for endless replayability.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game features minimal to no music, which some players view as a minor flaw, allowing for greater focus on tactics without distractions. However, the extensive modding capabilities and Steam Workshop support enable players to customize or add their own music, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Huge modding freedom & Steam Workshop support: you can customize or create your own database, new nations, unit graphics, sound effects, music, and maps.”
- “No music, no vocals.”
- “Also, a minor flaw is the lack of music when you play the game.”
- “1 - very lacking in the music department.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability with solid performance and no significant crashes or bugs reported. However, some users have encountered issues with the refund process related to troubleshooting time being counted as playtime.
- “When I attempted to get a refund, apparently Steam thought that the time I spent troubleshooting (the launcher will open but not the game itself) counts as 'time played', and they now refuse to refund me.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered multiple bugs that hindered my progress, and the stability issues are frustrating.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy relies heavily on first-person action scenes showcased in advertisements, effectively drawing players in with dynamic visuals that highlight the game's immersive experience.
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, which ruins the experience.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion of the game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be amusing, particularly enjoying the comedic elements associated with the artillery mechanics.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely hilarious!”
- “I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and funny scenarios.”
- “The comedic timing of the characters is spot on and adds so much to the experience.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The atmosphere in the game is mixed; while some users find it lacking in narrative and immersion, others appreciate the detailed visuals, such as zoomable camera features that highlight NATO symbols and battlefield elements, contributing to a basic yet effective atmospheric experience.
- “Great zoomable camera; from NATO symbols to individual units, crater holes, burning hulks, and perished troops (basic but atmospheric).”
- “There are no narratives, no real briefings, and no immersion or atmosphere.”
- “The game feels lifeless and lacks any sense of environment or mood.”
- “The atmosphere is flat and uninspired, making it hard to get engaged.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by a high damage and fragility dynamic, which shifts the experience from traditional combat to a more strategic hide-and-seek style. Additionally, players suggest that the grinding can be challenging enough to require multiple attempts or "lives" to succeed.
- “The fact that the technology is high damage/high fragility makes each mission feel less like two armies grinding into one another and more like hide and seek.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game rewarding, as it evokes a sense of accomplishment and intelligence when successfully executing strategies, despite facing challenges.