BATTLETECH

Bombastic battles, deep campaign with management, and a strong AI. A brilliant must-have game.

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BattleTech is a turn-based tactical 'Mech combat set in the classic 3025 era of the BattleTech Universe. From the creators of the Shadowrun Series!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 16,365 reviews

story1,927 positive mentions

optimization237 negative mentions

story
9,887 mentions
19 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in Battletech is generally described as engaging and well-written, with a classic narrative of political intrigue and personal betrayal set in the expansive Battletech universe. While many players appreciate the depth of the lore and character development, some criticize the predictability and repetitiveness of the plot, particularly in the context of mission design, which often leads to a grindy experience. Overall, the campaign offers a solid introduction to the game's mechanics and provides a satisfying backdrop for the tactical gameplay, though some players feel it could benefit from more variety and meaningful choices.
- “They've tried some new things, wrote some new story, and I like the results.”
- “The story is well executed and keeps the player engaged and immersed.”
- “The campaign tells a compelling story and the career puts you solidly in the seat of a mercenary commander on the periphery.”
- “The story feels a bit cookie cutter and not really anything stellar.”
- “The story/writing of the campaign are laughably terrible (even worse than most of the novels from the 80's/90's) and the characters in the story are extremely unlikable.”
- “The campaign story is bland and although it might get better in the second half, really isn't exciting.”
gameplay
2,786 mentions
33 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Battletech is characterized by its deep tactical mechanics and turn-based combat, reminiscent of classic tabletop gameplay, but it suffers from a steep learning curve and a lack of comprehensive tutorials. Players appreciate the customization options for mechs and the strategic depth involved in managing a mercenary company, though many find the gameplay can become repetitive and grindy over time. Technical issues, such as long loading times and occasional bugs, detract from the overall experience, but the core mechanics and engaging combat keep many players invested.
- “The gameplay is great, and the mods are phenomenal.”
- “Battletech delivers thrilling tactical mech combat and deep strategic gameplay, immersing players in a richly detailed universe filled with intricate customization options.”
- “The gameplay is fun and engaging, and endlessly replayable for at least a 30-40 hour sitting with little influence from outside things, grinding for better mechs and leveling up your men is the best part of this game.”
- “Very grindy, lots of unexplained mechanics you need to research out of game.”
- “Gameplay loop gets a little stale towards the end of the campaign.”
- “Extremely steep learning curves and unfair mechanics make the game feel like a slog.”
graphics
1,495 mentions
41 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the detailed mech designs and vibrant environments, while others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking polish, often comparing them to games from previous generations. Some users report performance issues, including long loading times and graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end systems, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the art style and aesthetic elements, such as cutscenes and environmental details, are generally well-received, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that resonates with fans of the Battletech universe.
- “The graphics are fantastic and the explosions and effects all look great.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and the mechanics are a bit overwhelming at first, but you pick up quickly.”
- “The visuals in Battletech are also top-notch, with detailed mechs and environments that bring the world of Battletech to life.”
- “The graphics are absolutely terrible.”
- “The graphics look really bad and especially notable is the terrain detail, or lack thereof, which looks very low-res and jarring every time the camera zooms in, and I have all graphic settings on max. It looks like a game from the mid-2000s and should cost half of what they are asking you to pay.”
- “The graphics are sad as well, I'm a simple man, I don't care about graphics that much but come on, the amount of hype this game got the graphics should have been better... it's like getting handed a turd with pyrite flakes on top.”
optimization
905 mentions
9 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
26 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as long loading times, stuttering, and frame rate drops, even on high-end systems. While some users have found ways to improve performance through mods or specific settings, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, particularly for a title released in recent years. Despite these technical shortcomings, many players still enjoy the gameplay and depth of customization available.
- “I enjoy thinking about how I should customize my mechs tonight to maximize their performance and how I should play in the battlefield.”
- “The game runs smoothly on my mid-range gaming computer and has only crashed once since I've started playing.”
- “Despite the issues with sluggish loading times, slow combat resolving, and somewhat poor optimization, the game is enjoyable and the strategy is stellar.”
- “The optimization is shockingly bad for a turn-based game.”
- “Great game, but impossible to recommend it due to the terrible optimization.”
- “The game is a performance disaster in its current state.”
music
510 mentions
55 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its orchestral score and emotional depth that enhances the storytelling and atmosphere. While some players find the soundtrack captivating and fitting for the game's themes, others note that it can become repetitive over time, leading to suggestions of using personal playlists. Overall, the music is often highlighted as a strong point, contributing significantly to the immersive experience, despite some criticisms regarding its variety and intensity during gameplay.
- “The music is stunning and for someone who wasn't coming into the game as a fan of the franchise, it was able with almost no words to communicate a huge amount of history and lore to me, while humanizing an enemy that could otherwise be easily construed as drones on a field.”
- “The music is one of the high points of the experience - the orchestral score really underscores the size and scope of these massive machines.”
- “The soundtrack is absolutely sublime, and the story is more compelling than I expected it to be, given its rather cliché introduction.”
- “The music is background noise.”
- “The battle music in particular really seems a bit 'tame' for a game about giant mechas punching each other in the face.”
- “The music was terrible.”
stability
374 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Many players express frustration over long loading times and unresponsive mechanics, making the game feel unplayable at times. While some users have noted improvements over time, the overall consensus remains that the game is still plagued by stability issues, rendering it a frustrating experience for many.
- “No glitches, so worth the buy!”
- “The game looks great, plays smoothly, and has been largely bug free.”
- “No crashes, no glitches, no bugs (so far), just a ton of fun.”
- “Having reinstalled Steam and the game several times and sought help elsewhere, the game freezes on the intro movie and won't respond to input.”
- “However, the game is too unstable - it frequently freezes - to the point of being unplayable.”
- “This game is so buggy.”
grinding
334 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as tedious and repetitive. While some enjoy the extensive customization and the satisfaction of optimizing their mechs, others find the necessity to repeatedly farm missions for resources and upgrades frustrating, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the game appeals to those who appreciate grinding and tactical gameplay, but it may deter casual players or those seeking a more streamlined experience.
- “Fun to play, not too grindy.”
- “The threat is real but it's not tedious.”
- “Your mechwarrior's skill progressions weren't tedious grind fests and each point bought felt worth it and always made notable differences in combat.”
- “The battles are slow and boring, the grinding is slow and confusing, and the story missions are just dumb.”
- “The game becomes incredibly tedious and nonsensical once you really get the feeling of a massive dropship holding 12+ battlemechs and you can never field more than four.”
- “Just the right amount of complicated to have precise control of what you want to do without it feeling more like tedious work than a game.”
replayability
327 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, particularly enhanced by a robust modding community that introduces extensive content and customization options. While the base game offers a solid campaign and career mode, some players note that it can become repetitive after multiple playthroughs without mods. Overall, the combination of diverse mech configurations, procedural missions, and engaging gameplay ensures that players can enjoy countless hours of replayability.
- “It's a really well-made complete experience, with high replayability and a great example of player-first design in the modern era.”
- “The customization and replayability are through the roof.”
- “The campaign has a well-written story and the career mode allows for endless replayability.”
- “However, know what you are getting into: a grind fest with low replayability.”
- “Eventually it gets pretty same-y with very few mission types, and only so many maps, so it doesn't have much replay value beyond one campaign or two, but it's quite enjoyable for that.”
- “Sadly I didn't find any replay value, which is the only thing I can say against that game: after you get to understand the mechanics there is no reason not to use the heaviest of mechs and once you get them you wouldn't find a reason to 'go back' and catch up with them again.”
atmosphere
107 mentions
61 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the Battletech universe through detailed sound design, compelling music, and engaging storytelling. Players appreciate the atmospheric elements that enhance the gameplay experience, from the environmental sounds to the strategic depth of combat, making each mission feel unique and enjoyable. Overall, the game successfully evokes a sense of nostalgia for long-time fans while providing a rich, atmospheric backdrop for new players.
- “The audio has also been impeccably designed in all its formats here, from voice acting to the overall atmosphere and even the soundtrack, which is compelling and somber when required.”
- “The world building and the atmosphere established is beautifully done, mostly through the colorful characters you interact with, and the gorgeous soundtrack.”
- “They hit the nail on the head for atmosphere, from the random planets, missions, to the story missions, and cutscenes; it's all perfect.”
- “The game lacks any atmosphere that feels 'Battletech'.”
- “The atmosphere just isn't there.”
- “Dont get me wrong the cinematics of docking and entering an atmosphere is thrilling and captivating the first time you see it, but after repeating the same thing 10 times in a row I found myself annoyed.”
emotional
64 mentions
80 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players expressing deep attachment to characters and nostalgic feelings tied to the gameplay, while others criticize the story as boring and the characters as unlikable. Many appreciate the music and certain emotional moments, but feel that the overall narrative lacks depth and fails to create a strong emotional connection. Overall, while some players find the game to be an emotionally engaging experience, others feel let down by its storytelling and character development.
- “Great music and emotional story, actually.”
- “The campaign took me through an emotional journey, while I had so much nostalgia choosing and using the mechs.”
- “I waited my whole life for this game and the first time the cutscene played, I cried.”
- “Boring story and gameplay, forced to help incredibly unlikable characters that should've been villains; the game is more concerned with gender pronouns than gameplay for some reason.”
- “A boring story with 'current year' politics shoved in for good measure.”
- “Besides the ham-fisted leftist political narrative of corporations bad, hierarchy bad, love/compassion good, what amounts to an emotionless boring storyline that I cared not what happened.”
humor
62 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players appreciating the comedic elements found in character interactions, voice-overs, and absurd situations, such as armless mechs still wanting to fight. While some find the humor to be hit-or-miss, with certain repetitive scenarios becoming stale, many enjoy the lighthearted moments and clever writing that add charm to the gameplay experience. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor, making it an enjoyable experience for those who appreciate its quirky style.
- “He's hilarious when he's wrecking opponents.”
- “The missions where you have to keep a bunch of newbies alive had me laughing out loud.”
- “Some of the pilots have funny comments (and some not...)”
- “All the while, time is ticking away on loans, contracts, salaries, and you start to feel the unfunny part of being a fair play mercenary boss.”
- “It is not annoying on its own, but when you need to overcome it again and again, then it becomes not funny.”
monetization
32 mentions
9 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
78 % negative mentions
The monetization model for the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling the DLC pricing as excessive and akin to a cash grab, particularly given the perceived lack of substantial content in the expansions. While the base game is generally well-received and free from microtransactions, the high cost of DLC and the season pass has left players feeling that they are being charged for features that should have been included in the base game. Overall, the sentiment is that the monetization practices detract from the game's value and integrity.
- “With design unhindered by microtransactions or online balancing and security measures.”
- “I know this is kind of silly to add as a plus, but when the opportunity to have cosmetic microtransactions included in the game is ignored by a dev, they have my respect.”
- “No microtransactions - this developer wants to see the game succeed so that they can give us fully fleshed out expansion campaigns.”
- “The DLC price is nothing more than a blood-sucking cash grab after years of the game being out.”
- “My purchasing recommendation is only for the base game - the DLC and its pricing policy from the devs and the publisher are questionable at best, ridiculously cash grabbing when looking at it objectively.”
- “Although the game is a thumbs up regarding the base game, the DLC appears to be a massive cash grab.”
character development
30 mentions
23 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth and the emotional engagement it fosters through strong narratives and character arcs, while others criticize it for being sparse or lacking creativity. Many appreciate the customization options and the ability to shape team dynamics, but some feel that the character development does not reach the potential seen in other titles. Overall, the game offers a blend of character development and story that enhances immersion, though it may not satisfy all players seeking a more robust experience.
- “Tons of great character development and seemingly unlimited customization options.”
- “The things I loved about Dragonfall and HK was they had a strong emphasis on story, character development, and worldbuilding.”
- “Overall, a great game for those interested in combining story and character development with tactical, turn-based space combat.”
- “Horribly uncreative mech, map, weapon, and character designs.”
- “There is little to no character development for my own team of mechwarriors.”
- “HBS clearly overestimated its prowess on designing game systems and this inability clearly stopped them from bringing their strong narrative and character designs to bear.”