Beyond The Wire

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,800 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • optimization
Beyond The Wire Game Cover
Starting at $1.77Buy now
Get on Steam

Beyond the Wire is a large-scale multiplayer first-person shooter set in the Western Front of the Great War. With up to 100 players in a battle, coordination and communication are key as you fight alongside your squad in intense, tactical combat. Utilize period-appropriate firearms and close-quarters melee combat to overcome the enemy and survive the brutality of the front lines.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,800 reviews
gameplay147 positive mentions
optimization74 negative mentions
  • Incredibly immersive gameplay that captures the chaos of WW1 trench warfare.
  • Great graphics and sound design, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Unique melee combat system that adds depth to close-quarters engagements.
  • Extremely low player base, making it difficult to find populated servers.
  • Frequent crashes and performance issues, especially on lower-end PCs.
  • Lack of bots or single-player options, limiting gameplay when servers are empty.
  • gameplay384 mentions

    The gameplay of "Beyond the Wire" is characterized by its intense 50v50 multiplayer setup, which offers a mix of strategic and visceral World War I combat. While many players appreciate the immersive atmosphere, solid mechanics, and historical accuracy, they also highlight significant issues such as a lack of player base, server problems, and various bugs that detract from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, the game is praised for its unique melee system and engaging squad-based gameplay, making it a worthwhile exploration for fans of the genre, provided they can navigate its current limitations.

    • “The 50v50 multiplayer FPS setup adds intensity and strategy to the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is intense and atmospheric with satisfying bolt action gunplay and a surprisingly fun and robust melee system.”
    • “Beyond the Wire features a lot of gameplay and mechanics that keep the player on its toes, all with incredible graphics in mind.”
    • “The game has a lot of problems, such as FPS issues, graphic design flaws, poor gameplay, a terrible management menu, and a lack of good servers (mostly bots or empty). It suffers from high ping, lagging, crashing at launch and after every match, and a long loading period.”
    • “I think perhaps the gameplay was so far removed from what was shown in the trailer, which depicted epic line charges and trench warfare. In reality, there are only about 10 players sneaking around the whole map.”
    • “Rather than immersing players in the chaos and brutality of the Great War, Beyond the Wire delivers a hollow experience filled with bugs, glitches, and uninspired gameplay mechanics.”
  • graphics260 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive a mixed reception, with many praising their beauty, realism, and attention to detail, particularly in lighting and sound effects. However, numerous players report significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and optimization problems, which detract from the overall experience. While some find the visuals comparable to popular titles like Battlefield 1, others criticize them for being inconsistent or underwhelming, especially on lower-end systems.

    • “The graphics are incredible; the game is amazing, so I think it is worth it.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and enticing atmosphere thanks to the same engine used as in Squad, the crisp and clamorous sounds of artillery fire and night flares illuminating the sky.”
    • “Graphics are absolutely breathtaking, seeing enemies move around several yards away weaving between the wire, the trenches, and whatever else might be part of the landscape is pretty exciting as well as alarming at times.”
    • “I put all graphics on high for absolutely terrible graphics, polygon-type issues.”
    • “Framerate issues are abundant, looks dated even on high graphics settings (despite what the trailers show) and officers exploiting framerate drops for instakills is pretty agonizing.”
    • “The graphics have somehow gotten really bad and the performance hasn't improved to justify that.”
  • optimization230 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting severe frame rate drops, stuttering, and overall poor performance, even on high-end systems. Many believe that the game feels unplayable due to these issues, which detracts significantly from the experience. While some users express hope for future improvements, the current state of optimization is seen as a major barrier to enjoyment and player retention.

    • “If OWI were to take over for this game and iron out the bugs and optimization like PS/Squad 44, I feel like this game would have the reputation and population it deserves.”
    • “Hopefully, the game studio will do their best to improve the game optimization, even if there is no new content, just optimize the game, and I think this will bring the game to life again.”
    • “This game is definitely pretty good; all I think it needs is to be optimized and add more content before giving it the $35 price tag.”
    • “When I launched the game, the amount of stuttering and lag it showed made me realize that it's literally unplayable.”
    • “This game is an unoptimized, buggy mess.”
    • “The optimization is poor.”
  • stability82 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting a wide range of bugs and glitches, including issues with hit detection, graphical problems, and server instability. While some users acknowledge that the game is in early access and express hope for future improvements, many find the current state to be unoptimized and frustrating, leading to a less enjoyable experience overall. Overall, the consensus is that the game is quite buggy and clunky, making it difficult to recommend until substantial fixes are implemented.

    • “It runs great, graphics are pleasing, and the combat really immerses you.”
    • “The game is also surprisingly bug-free, though there is some jank.”
    • “Few bugs, but nothing for me has been major, and the game runs great.”
    • “The game suffers from some bad glitches, including bots not registering hits (yet killing you in one hit perfectly fine). Third, there's just not enough players to make it worthwhile.”
    • “They introduced more bugs than they fixed and drove players away by releasing a buggy unfinished mess as a final product.”
    • “As of right now, it's a buggy mess, with infinite load times and constant program hangups.”
  • atmosphere62 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its authenticity and immersive qualities, effectively transporting players to the brutal realities of World War I through detailed graphics, sound design, and realistic combat mechanics. Reviewers highlight the intense and engaging environment created by meticulously designed maps and atmospheric elements, making it a standout title in the genre. However, some players note that technical issues and a small player base can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The atmosphere of the perfect trench to urban to forest ratio is not only great for gameplay but also realistic.”
    • “From the meticulously recreated landscapes and weaponry to the attention to detail in the overall atmosphere, the game succeeds in transporting players back in time, allowing them to witness and participate in the challenging and often terrifying battles of the era.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is amazing, the graphics are great, it has the best gun sounds I've ever heard in a game (and easily the best explosions!), and runs buttery smooth on my RTX 2080, paired with a Ryzen 5 3600 and 16GB RAM.”
    • “The atmosphere is there, the technical aspects of a smooth running game are not.”
    • “Probably the biggest thing holding the game back is the atmosphere.”
    • “Too much effort was put into the atmosphere of this game to have it ruined by players randomly deciding to try and go full rambo.”
  • monetization41 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant concern regarding the game's monetization strategy, primarily pointing to a lack of effective advertising and marketing efforts. Many users feel that the developers should invest more in promoting the game, including hosting free weekends and utilizing discounts to attract new players, as the current low player count is largely attributed to insufficient exposure. Overall, while the game shows promise, its success is hindered by poor visibility and communication from the developers.

    • “It is still in early access, so the publishers are not advertising it because the game does not have enough content to justify the price.”
    • “There were no advertisements for it anywhere, no big events were held for it, it didn't appear at any conventions or press conferences. The only sort of outreach this game got was through 'big' YouTubers doing videos on the game, either showcasing it for the first time or doing state of the game updates on it.”
    • “Early access cash grab scam!”
    • “They've practically killed this game because they refused to put anything into marketing and advertising.”
    • “Unless the devs work on advertising and marketing, this is not a game worth the penny, especially with its player count currently.”
  • music33 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising the phenomenal soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and fits the WW1 theme perfectly. While the main menu music is particularly noted for its impact, some players find other music elements less memorable. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere despite concerns about player population and gameplay issues.

    • “Y'all, the music is another level of amazing.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful.”
    • “Playing this game while listening to the soundtrack (which is absolutely amazing) puts me into a war-movie player mindset that I have yet to experience anywhere else.”
    • “The main menu music in particular is particularly loud and jarring at the moment.”
    • “The menu music is noteworthy, but everything else is questionable... at peak time of day, during summer, while the game is on sale, there were 5 servers shown, with only one of them decently populated.”
    • “Sucks, no bots, no music, spent 15 min running around before realizing I was the only one in the server, so many of the buildings clearly had second floors and stuff but almost none of them had ladders or stairs or anything.”
  • humor25 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its engaging and often chaotic interactions among players, with many finding the ragdoll physics and absurd situations—like reviving teammates in ridiculous ways—particularly amusing. Players appreciate the lively community and the comedic moments that arise during intense gameplay, although some technical issues detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game fosters a fun and humorous atmosphere, especially when played with friends.

    • “The community is also hilarious and helpful, and when you get a squad leader who yells 'fix bayonets' and 'charge,' you'll never forget that experience.”
    • “This game is fun as hell and I think there should never get rid of the funny ragdolls when you bayonet someone.”
    • “Intense fighting, wild & hilarious community.”
    • “It is not funny when your player keeps grabbing ammunition every five seconds out of thin air.”
  • story15 mentions

    The reviews reflect a mixed perception of the game's story aspect. While some users note a lack of a traditional narrative, others appreciate the atmospheric storytelling that evokes the horrors of World War I, suggesting that the game's maps and chaotic gameplay contribute to a broader historical context. Overall, the story is seen as minimal but effective in enhancing the immersive experience.

    • “If it takes a gamer in some corner of the internet to the story of the First World War, it is a wholly good thing.”
    • “Each map tells its own story and brings you through the horrors of World War One by pure atmosphere alone.”
    • “Fan of milsims and WW1/2 sims, and this is so realistic. Hell Let Loose is more realistic, I feel, but this version is so chaotic; this is your normal match summed up into a story.”
    • “☑ no story”
    • “☑ story?”
    • “And a small BFV war story does not change this trend.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be excessively time-consuming, with some players feeling it requires a significant investment of time, likening it to needing a "second life." While the game offers a unique atmosphere reminiscent of WW1, the grinding mechanics can lead to tedious gameplay, particularly during close-range combat. Overall, the experience is described as a mix of enjoyable elements and frustrating grindiness.

    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A single fire bolt action rifle that you have to manually bolt is tedious to play with.”
    • “On the one hand, the reliance on grinding bodies into the frontlines and winning through sheer volume does recreate the atmosphere of WW1, but on the other hand, faithful recreation does not equate to satisfying gameplay.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Players find the replayability of the game to be high, largely due to its engaging communication mechanics and enjoyable gameplay. While some express a desire for additional content like vehicles and weapons, the overall experience remains fun and encourages repeated play. However, there are concerns about the game's longevity, particularly regarding potential server shutdowns.

    • “Fun game, its replay value is pretty high... love to see more vehicles and weapons; even some basic building would be amazing... overall it's a fun game and has accuracy that's important for those long shots.”
    • “The gameplay felt nicer and the game was much more playable.”
    • “Of the few WW1 FPS games that exist, the mechanics aren't quite as butchered as Verdun, but Battlefield 1 was more playable and populated (ignoring the fact that like Battlefield 2 it'll probably get shut down).”
    • “However, for me it is the communication which makes this game so replayable.”
    • “But I think in maybe a few months it can get fixed and get better and become more playable.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, with some feeling heartbroken over its limited player base and others experiencing intense feelings of sadness and reflection during gameplay. The game evokes a mix of empathy and moral conflict, particularly in its portrayal of war, leading to a complex emotional experience that resonates with players on multiple levels.

    • “The first hour made me want to cry and go home before Christmas.”
    • “This game made me feel like a guidance counselor.”
    • “Slicing through three doughboys with an infantry sabre made me feel both terrible and incredible.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Beyond The Wire

Play time

7hMedian play time
68hAverage play time
4-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News