Arms Trade Tycoon: Tanks
- February 6, 2024
- FunGi
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Arms Trade Tycoon: Tanks" is a single-player strategy game that puts you in charge of a tank manufacturing company, spanning around 8 hours of playtime. You'll research, design, produce, and sell tanks, impacting global history with each business decision. The game aims to recreate famous tank models, with a roadmap for future updates based on player feedback.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a solid foundation with engaging mechanics and potential for future content.
- The tank design system allows for a variety of customization options, making it enjoyable for players who love tanks.
- The developers are active and responsive, showing commitment to improving the game based on player feedback.
- Currently, the game is limited in content, only allowing play as Britain in the WW1 era, which can lead to repetitive gameplay.
- The user interface is clunky, with excessive loading screens that disrupt the flow of gameplay.
- The tutorial is inadequate, leaving new players confused about how to progress and manage their resources effectively.
- gameplay93 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as having a solid core concept with fun mechanics, particularly appealing to tank enthusiasts, but it suffers from a lack of content and balance issues. Players recommend starting on easier difficulties to grasp the mechanics, as the game currently offers limited fresh content and can become repetitive. While there is potential for improvement with upcoming updates, many feel that the foundational gameplay needs significant refinement to enhance the overall experience.
“The game mechanics are well thought out, providing a perfect balance between challenge and fun.”
“Very fun and unique gameplay.”
“While still in early stages of content, the core concept of the gameplay loop is fun.”
“The system of selling tanks and core gameplay foundation is completely broken at the moment.”
“It doesn't come off as presented; there's almost no design choices in the beginning, and it takes hours of trying over and over to work out the mechanics to just land the first contract.”
“Very little progress since the last beta over a year ago; not worth the money - gameplay is clunky, the financial system works poorly, and there's still only WWI vehicles available.”
- graphics30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the visuals as "astonishing" and well-optimized, while others criticize the desaturated colors and washed-out lighting. Many users express a desire for improved user interface design and more engaging environments, noting that the current visuals can feel monotonous and limiting. Overall, while there is potential for high-quality graphics, significant improvements are needed in playability and visual appeal.
“The new visuals are great compared to the demo and the increased amount of things to do, the game is way more engaging and I have been having a blast in my 5 hours of playing.”
“This game has potential to be great, the graphics are astonishing, test drive feels a little bit off but overall will do very good.”
“The graphics are top-notch, with a user interface that is intuitive and easy to navigate.”
“The graphics are bad. I mean, I'm not expecting super amazing from a tycoon game, but all the colors are desaturated and grey, and the lighting is very washed out.”
“Visuals: right now you're constantly looking at a boring red brick factory complex.”
“Fair enough if it had next-gen graphics and/or massive locations, but it doesn't.”
- optimization25 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report satisfactory frame rates around 120-150 fps, others highlight significant performance issues, particularly on lower-end rigs and the Mac version, which is described as "abysmal." Frequent loading screens and a lack of intuitive performance metrics further detract from the experience, indicating that while there is potential for improvement, the game currently requires better optimization to enhance overall gameplay.
“As long as you go into the game with those things in mind and enjoy number crunching and optimization, you will have a lot of fun with this early access.”
“Now that some of the performance issues are fixed, I would recommend this game.”
“For me, at the very least, the FPS wasn't dropping badly, staying around 120-150 FPS, which makes me think that the game is pretty well optimized (but it will use your graphics card at its maximum).”
“I know that the game will likely be optimized, but they really need to cut down on the loading screens as there just does not seem to be a reason to have them so often.”
“Avoid the Mac version: the performance is abysmal.”
“It's simply not intuitive what the research item = performance metric.”
- stability20 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game is currently experiencing significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and frustrating UI problems reported by users. While some players acknowledge that the core gameplay is enjoyable and that patches are being released quickly, the overall consensus is that the game is too buggy for a smooth experience at this time. Users recommend caution, especially for those seeking a polished product.
“Most aspects aren't fully fleshed out (it is in early access ultimately), but they aren't buggy or tacky, and you can tell the core gameplay loop is largely there.”
“Buggy, full of really basic but really annoying UI issues.”
“The tutorial is buggy as hell.”
“It's also buggy on a basic level - 3 or 4 times now I've had to exit the game completely because the game lost the ability to place/change modules in the tank design.”
- story8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with users noting that it feels non-existent and merely presents wars as a backdrop without meaningful narrative engagement. There is a strong desire for a more compelling storyline that enhances the tank development experience and provides context for players' creations beyond mere testing.
“Oh, and wars are now 'just a thing happening in time'... I hope there will be a better and more convincing storyline during the development of your tanks.”
“---{ story }---”
“☑ no story”
- replayability7 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game currently offers limited replayability, with players noting that runs feel repetitive and lack significant variation, despite having good content and potential. Many suggest that additional features, such as a workshop, are necessary to enhance long-term replay value and keep the experience fresh. While the developers are actively working on new content, the existing gameplay loop can become stale after a single playthrough.
“The game has good content and amazing potential, but the amount of it is just very, very scarce; the loop gets stale as you do one run, there will be minor differences like tank preferences and requests but nothing that gives the game replayability as for now.”
“The game has good content and amazing potential, but the amount of it is just very, very scarce. The loop gets stale as you do one run; there will be minor differences like tank preferences and requests, but nothing that gives the game replayability as for now.”
“For long-term (Crusader Kings type) replayability, a workshop is a necessity to keep it fresh.”
“The replay value is a little limited while it's in early access, but the team posts regularly about upcoming content being added.”
- grinding6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unenjoyable, often requiring a significant time investment that feels disproportionate to the rewards. While the initial systems may seem interesting, they quickly become repetitive and lack meaningful engagement.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The researching/engineering/designing system seems cool at first, but it becomes tedious and inconsequential.”
“So much so that not only is it barely understandable, but tedious and not fun.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for its mobile game-like user interface and frequent loading screens that resemble mandatory ads, detracting from the overall experience. Additionally, players feel that the limited historical settings and nations available for play are a poor choice for a game that promotes itself as encompassing a broader range of time periods.
“The UI reminds me of a mobile game, and the loading screens are like the mandatory ads.”
“The monetization of the killing machine is frustrating.”
“Not having at least another time period or nation to play is a bad start for a game advertising it as such.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game's numerous bugs and amusing oversights, which add a lighthearted charm to the experience. The quirky mechanics, such as the contradictory prestige system for tank designs, also contribute to the game's comedic appeal, making it a source of entertainment both in gameplay and through related content on platforms like YouTube.
“This game is in early access, and it's obviously got a lot of bugs and hilarious oversights, and I love it.”
“Oh, I also like that if your tank design goes against your own tank design (both the same ones), you lose -2 prestige and win 2 prestige... very... funny?”
“There are some good and funny YouTube videos showing gameplay, so give them a watch.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music and sound design are described as chill and immersive, enhancing the atmosphere of the game and allowing players to easily lose track of time while enjoying their own music or podcasts.
“The sound design and music add to the overall atmosphere, immersing you in the world of international arms dealing.”
“It's very chill; listen to music or a podcast and time will just fly by.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is significantly enhanced by the sound design and music, which effectively immerse players in the gritty world of international arms dealing.
“The sound design and music add to the overall atmosphere, immersing you in the world of international arms dealing.”
