Besiege

About

"Besiege" is a physics-based medieval siege warfare simulation game. Construct and control trebuchets, ballistas, and other war machines to destroy fortresses, conquer kingdoms, and complete various objectives. With a range of materials and design options, players can build and test their engineering skills in this creative and destructive sandbox.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 21,253 reviews

gameplay422 positive mentions

stability109 negative mentions

gameplay
1,121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
57%
5%
The gameplay of "Besiege" is characterized by its engaging and intuitive building mechanics, allowing players to create a wide variety of mechanical contraptions to complete objectives. While the game offers a satisfying sandbox experience with a strong physics engine, some players find the learning curve steep due to a lack of tutorials, which can make it challenging for newcomers. Overall, it is highly praised for its creativity, fun mechanics, and the potential for endless experimentation, appealing particularly to those with a mechanical mindset.
- “The intuitive building mechanics and physics-based gameplay provide an immersive experience, where every cog and gear contributes to the symphony of destruction.”
- “At the core of Besiege is the game's building mechanics, allowing players to design and construct a wide variety of siege engines, ranging from trebuchets and catapults to flying machines and war robots.”
- “The gameplay loop is satisfying and rewards experimentation, with usually multiple solutions to each puzzle.”
- “The intricacies of constructing functional and efficient siege engines may be overwhelming for newcomers, and the lack of comprehensive in-game tutorials may lead to frustration as players navigate the mechanics.”
- “The overall gameplay is okay, but there are some bugs/glitches in the level editor that are quite annoying.”
- “The mechanics are so frustrating.”
graphics
1,043 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful, charming, and minimalist aesthetic, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Many users highlight the impressive visual quality, even on lower-end systems, and appreciate the unique art style that complements the game's physics-based mechanics. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it visually engaging while maintaining smooth performance.
- “The game is also beautifully developed with a great aesthetic ambiance.”
- “The graphics are charming and cartoon-like, with brightly colored environments and whimsical character designs that add to the game's playful tone.”
- “The graphics are amazing and very well detailed.”
- “Unfortunately, they either have 2008 Minecraft blocky graphics (*gag*) or a steep and long learning curve (*shudder*).”
- “It's not got very much in terms of music or art style as it has little music at all and has a sorta blank white blueprint aesthetic which has the side effect of making it very relaxing if you don't get frustrated easily.”
- “Good game but bad graphics.”
story
549 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
77%
6%
The game's story aspect is minimal, with most players noting a lack of a traditional narrative. Instead, the focus is on completing various missions that often involve destruction and creativity, allowing players to build unique contraptions to achieve their goals. While the missions can be entertaining and challenging, many users express a desire for more content and a deeper storyline to enhance the overall experience.
- “A wonderful sandbox and also a very good story with thought-provoking and challenging missions that you’ll have to think outside the box to complete.”
- “Moreover, the game's storyline is captivating and keeps me hooked from start to finish.”
- “I love the way the game seamlessly transitions between action-packed battles and moments of quiet exploration, allowing me to experience a diverse range of emotions as I progress through the story.”
- “The only problem for me is that the story doesn't seem to be too long; however, with the sandbox and player-made maps, I'm sure there is plenty of content.”
- “While the open-ended nature of the game allows for unlimited creativity, some players may miss the sense of progression and achievement that comes with a more defined storyline.”
- “I got this game when it was first hyped and it was a total waste of time; there were several missions and I completed it all in about an hour.”
humor
454 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the hilarity of their contraptions failing spectacularly, often leading to unexpected and comical outcomes. The combination of creative freedom, quirky physics, and cartoonish destruction results in a consistently entertaining experience, making it a joy to play alone or with friends. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke laughter through both intentional designs and chaotic mishaps, creating a lighthearted atmosphere that keeps players engaged.
- “It's about the journey – the journey of trial and error, of ridiculous experimentation, and of laughing until your sides hurt as your creations spectacularly self-destruct.”
- “The anticipation of seeing if your machine is gonna work right or go horribly wrong, and sometimes with hilarious effects, is exhilarating.”
- “My machine invariably flings itself apart and sets itself on fire but, hilariously, the bouncing chunks of wreckage sometimes manage to complete the objective anyway and even when they don't the failure is always glorious.”
replayability
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
"Besiege" is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, driven by its creative building mechanics, diverse objectives, and community-generated content. Players appreciate the freedom to approach challenges in multiple ways, making each playthrough unique and engaging. While some note that the current content may feel limited, the game's sandbox mode and ongoing updates promise nearly infinite replay value for those who enjoy experimentation and creativity.
- “Besiege is one of those games you can come back to over and over again over the years - even the campaign is pretty replayable, since every time you play you're bound to find a new way of finishing it.”
- “The level editor and multiplayer are especially what make the game very replayable and enjoyable, along with the fun you can have building better and better vehicles.”
- “The freedom to choose the type of siege engine used to fulfill the scenario goals makes the game feel deep and increases replayability significantly.”
- “However, its limited content may make it less appealing to some players looking for more replay value.”
- “The game has a ton of potential though, and replayability for the few missions is only kept low by your imagination and interest to build and try out your own contraptions.”
- “While it only took about 3 hours to beat the 10 levels in this early access game, there is still a lot of replay value.”
music
156 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with its soothing ambient tracks. While many players appreciate the calming effect of the soundtrack, some find it repetitive or lacking in variety, wishing for more engaging or dynamic music to accompany gameplay. Overall, the music complements the game's aesthetic and mechanics, contributing to a creative and enjoyable environment.
- “The music is also fantastic.”
- “The ambient music and level design fit perfectly together.”
- “The music sets a great, relaxing atmosphere.”
- “However, the music is a little boring and is quiet.”
- “Fairly absent of any noticeable music, not entirely a downside but it would help break up the silence and occasional animal/soldier sound effects.”
- “The music in Besiege is incredibly quiet at times and just there to provide a little background to the death, destruction, and sheep maiming that’s going on.”
optimization
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
51%
11%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to run smoothly on lower-end machines, while others report significant performance issues, especially when building larger contraptions. Many users note that the game struggles with frame rates when complex creations exceed a certain number of parts, indicating a need for further optimization. Overall, while there are instances of good performance, particularly on capable systems, the consensus is that the game requires improvements to handle more demanding builds effectively.
- “The performance is great because of this, and the advanced building letting you scale parts makes everything even better.”
- “This game is optimized horribly, you can't actually play with anything over 100-200 parts without FPS drops, no matter how good your PC is this game will run like trash.”
- “It is really well optimized too, and almost every computer can run it.”
- “Terrible performance, even on my actually decent computer.”
- “This game is optimized horribly; you can't actually play with anything over 100-200 parts without FPS drops, no matter how good your PC is. This game will run like trash.”
- “The only downside is the physics haven't been optimized.”
stability
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
84%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent bugs and glitches, particularly in multiplayer and physics interactions. While some players find the glitches amusing and part of the charm, others express frustration with the game's performance, especially when handling complex builds. Overall, despite being in early access, many reviews highlight that the game runs well on various systems, with only minor issues that do not significantly detract from the experience.
- “The game is incredibly stable and runs great.”
- “Very polished, nearly bug-free experience and beautiful style.”
- “All in all, the game looks great, runs great, has hardly any bugs (nothing game-breaking that I have encountered yet)... so what are you waiting for?”
- “The overall gameplay is okay, but there are some bugs/glitches in the level editor that are quite annoying.”
- “However, my main gripe with this game is that it's still too buggy in the multiplayer to be actually worth playing.”
- “The physics engine is extremely buggy and provides an unrealistic experience.”
grinding
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
72%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, with many players feeling that the building mechanics and level designs contribute to a repetitive experience. While some find enjoyment in the creative elements, the overall sentiment suggests that the game requires a significant time investment that can quickly become tiresome. Players often express a desire for improved quality of life features to alleviate the monotony of the grinding process.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This is tedious and frustrating rather than challenging and rewarding.”
- “The building system itself is logical, but the process of making machines feels tedious and needlessly repetitive.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its well-developed characters and engaging narratives that evoke laughter and nostalgia. The creative building mechanics inspire feelings of accomplishment and frustration, while the whimsical destruction adds a layer of wholesome fun, making players feel both clever and childlike. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from joy and pride to humor and nostalgia, resulting in memorable experiences that resonate deeply with its community.
- “The well-developed characters and their emotional journeys add depth to the narrative, making me feel deeply connected to the game's universe.”
- “10/10 would cry again.”
- “I laughed until I cried.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
9%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beauty and creativity, featuring relaxing music and immersive graphics that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the unique and original environments, particularly in specific levels, which contribute to a calming and engaging atmosphere. Despite some minor critiques, the game's atmospheric design is considered a standout element, making it a favorite among users.
- “Otherwise this game is amazing, wicked idea, great atmosphere.”
- “Amazing atmosphere and excellent controls.”
- “For as silly of a game as it is, it has some of the most beautiful atmospheres I have seen in any game, specifically in the frost level and in the barren level sandbox.”
- “It has too much buoyancy and carries me out of the atmosphere into space where the balloon freezes and shatters, dropping my creation to the cold, heartless ground where its payload explodes, killing a random farmer, destroying his house, and scattering the remains to the farthest corners of the world.”
- “The graphical styling, the atmosphere.”
- “A winning mix of gameplay, UI, atmosphere, graphics, and art direction.”
monetization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
15%
62%
The monetization aspect of the game is generally viewed positively, as it features no in-app purchases or microtransactions, which many players appreciate. However, some users express concerns about the game's marketing, suggesting it misrepresents its development status and may be perceived as a cash grab despite its competent gameplay. Overall, players value the absence of monetization pitfalls common in many indie and early access titles.
- “Besiege scratches an engineering itch that no other game does, all without in-app purchases and extra fluff.”
- “This game also doesn't have microtransactions yet.”
- “Appreciate the devs for keeping it real with no BS and no microtransactions.”
- “This is no longer early release, it is a cash grab.”
- “I knew that early access games are usually cash grabs and I thus lost faith in indie devs.”
- “Steam appears to have an overload of indie and early access for want of a better word, cash grabs these days.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the game's graphics are praised for their charming and whimsical design, there is no specific mention of character development in the provided text. Therefore, it appears that character development may not be a focal point in this game.