Blood of Steel

About

Blood of Steel is a multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by YC Games and was released on October 20, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

BOS is an Online Multiplayer PvP MOBA game featuring iconic heroes from world history. As a warlord, you can lead various legions and heroes, commanding them to slay your enemies in bloody battlefields. Let’s take to the rankings, seize territories or partake in strategic battles.

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,866 reviews

gameplay62 positive mentions

monetization26 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of strategy and action, allowing players to command historical heroes and their armies in tactical battles.
It's free to play and not pay-to-win, with all heroes obtainable through gameplay, making it accessible for all players.
The combat mechanics are engaging, with directional attacks and unit management adding depth to the gameplay.

The game suffers from a low player base, leading to matches often being filled with bots instead of real players.
The user interface is cluttered and can be confusing, with multiple currencies and menus that overwhelm new players.
There are significant balance issues with certain heroes being overpowered, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

gameplay
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
46%
13%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its strategic depth, unique mechanics, and fun combat, particularly in multiplayer modes. However, criticisms arise regarding repetitive elements, clunky controls, and a lack of depth in certain aspects, alongside concerns about monetization and the presence of bots. Overall, while some find the gameplay enjoyable and addictive, others feel it falls short compared to similar titles in the genre.
- “Nice gameplay, some really neat players left online in 2025, and the fun of using 3 eras of troops & leaders (Roman Empire, Crusade Era, and China) works very well.”
- “The gameplay is fun, a match lasts <10 minutes and if you know basic tactics you can win.”
- “Blood of Steel offers an epic battle atmosphere, and its gameplay mechanics are highly enjoyable.”
- “If you want a time waster that isn't visually appealing and lacking gameplay, this is your game!”
- “Boring, repetitive, gacha mechanics, no custom way to control your troops. If I want a line formation, too bad; if I want only part of my squad to move, too bad... this game is crap.”
- “The gameplay is lackluster and pretty boring.”
graphics
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
37%
20%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that they are dated and reminiscent of older titles, particularly for a game released in 2016. While some players appreciate the visuals and find them enjoyable, others criticize the performance issues, clunky animations, and a user interface that feels more suited to mobile games. Overall, the graphics are considered decent but not groundbreaking, with calls for improvements in both aesthetic consistency and optimization.
- “At first you will be pulled in by its wonderfully beautiful graphics, although simplistic but incredibly detailed and of high quality where it matters most such as sunlight, rain, and weather effects that have an effect on the battlefield.”
- “Great graphics and gameplay!”
- “The graphics are good, the gameplay is great, and progression isn't hidden behind a paywall.”
- “The UI is horrible, the graphics are dated, and they throw out any kind of artistic consistency with modern skins for troops and generals.”
- “The graphics make it feel like it's a mobile game.”
- “The combat is clunky, the graphics are poor, and the movement is awkward.”
monetization
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
33%
60%
The monetization in the game is heavily criticized for being predatory and cash grab-like, with players noting excessive advertisements and overpriced microtransactions for cosmetic items and heroes. While the game is free-to-play and not pay-to-win, many feel that the focus on monetization detracts from gameplay quality, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the community expresses skepticism about the developers' intentions, suggesting that the monetization model overshadows the game's potential.
- “This is a free-to-play title offering optional in-game purchases.”
- “The microtransactions aren't pay-to-win, but they are definitely something I think is worth it if you want that particular character.”
- “Try this out, it's free-to-play and all microtransactions are simple cosmetics.”
- “The monetization is a bit crazy as skins are a lot of money and some heroes take so long to get the coins for it you almost need to pay for the hero or wait till you have an unlock token.”
- “From pay-to-win item rentals to insanely priced cosmetics, the developers spent far more time creating the microtransactions and loot box gimmicks than they did on the actual game mechanics.”
- “I want to recommend the game because it's got a ton of content and is fun, but the little to no communication from the developers and the constant shoving of new heroes and monetization down our throats has me skeptical this game is anything more than a cash grab for them.”
grinding
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
Overall, player feedback on grinding in the game is mixed. While some find it tedious and reminiscent of cash-grab mechanics, others appreciate that the grind is less intense compared to similar titles, offering a balance between enjoyment and dedication. Many players note that while some grinding is necessary to unlock heroes and cosmetics, it can be rewarding and is not as overwhelming as in other games like Conqueror's Blade.
- “It isn't too grindy but just enough to make you feel good when you get new characters.”
- “I initially gave it a thumbs up because for a Chinese-made free-to-play game, it was not grindy, the balance was good, and the graphics and combat system were decent to get me hooked for a thousand initial hours.”
- “No grinding needed like other games.”
- “The games get dragged out and become tedious, there are no real rewards for winning, and there are several meaningless gacha money schemes for cosmetics.”
- “If you don't, you'll probably see this as just another grindy cash grab game (which it is).”
- “The player base is adequate; however, it has an annoying grinding system since its Asian developers and Asian games always have some form of daily reward grinds that feel more like a job than fun.”
story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
80%
12%
The story aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lack of depth and development, with many players noting that it feels like an afterthought compared to the gameplay mechanics. There is no substantial single-player campaign or narrative progression, leading to a repetitive experience that lacks a clear end goal. Overall, while the game offers a variety of missions, the storytelling is minimal and fails to engage players meaningfully.
- “Even silly fighting games like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter manage a broader story component, even if you do just keep replaying the fight portions; the narrative includes an end goal, something for you to win and then you replay some more.”
- “Story mode could be better.”
- “The story of the characters is too big and the writing is too small.”
- “The story makes no progress at all; yes, it explained why the universe exists this way, but it's basically just eternal limbo.”
- “Also note that there's no real single-player or campaign story of any kind.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
45%
23%
The optimization of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and low ping, while others report lag, poor graphics, and various connection issues. Although some improvements have been noted, particularly in addressing FPS drops, many users still find the overall optimization lacking, especially in terms of graphics quality and physics. Overall, while the game runs adequately for some, significant optimization challenges remain for others.
- “Excellent performance and overall thoughtfulness of the game.”
- “But that means it doesn't take too much of a toll on your computer's overall performance - so you can keep your fps decently high, even when you're multitasking.”
- “Game runs smoothly, no fps drops or such things which are common in such games.”
- “Another Chinese game with countless useless menus; this one at least has slightly better combat, but still unoptimized and laggy.”
- “Extremely janky and unoptimized.”
- “Cheaply made game with horrible graphics, cartoon-looking characters, and poor optimization.”
humor
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players finding the absurdity of medieval warfare and exaggerated character abilities to be genuinely hilarious, especially when enjoyed with friends. Many reviews note the game's comedic elements, including sarcastic commentary and amusing voice lines, contributing to an entertaining experience despite its flaws. Overall, the humor is a key aspect that enhances the enjoyment of the game, making it memorable for players.
- “Who knew medieval warfare could be this hilarious?”
- “Lol first of all the 'form testudo' voice line had me dying laughing.”
- “Really funny game, played 20 hours of beta.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive or absent, leading to an empty soundscape. However, others appreciate the immersive and diverse soundtrack, noting its nostalgic value and overall quality. There are also complaints about the main menu music being intrusive and the inability to adjust settings effectively.
- “I think this game has a good soundtrack because it brings back old good times, and I believe it might take the first position.”
- “The game itself is nice enough to look at, and the music is immersive and diverse, so it doesn't become annoying.”
- “Extremely repetitive music or no music at all, making the game sound empty.”
- “I can't hear any sound nor music in this game.”
- “This game also has decent music, although I am unsure if it was original or not.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, freezing, and lag, which detract from the overall experience. Players report that these technical problems hinder gameplay, making it difficult to enjoy the fun concept behind the game. Additionally, the low player base exacerbates the stability challenges.
- “Very buggy, but otherwise it's better than Conqueror's Blade with the Spartans vs. Ninjas.”
- “Freezes up all the time though.”
- “Fun concept but bad execution, quite buggy/clunky and very low player base.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its immersive medieval setting, appealing to fans of ancient history and large-scale battles. Players appreciate the epic battle ambiance and engaging gameplay mechanics, which enhance the overall experience.
- “A tactical game in a medieval atmosphere with interesting game mechanics.”
- “For those who like the atmosphere of ancient times and history, and for those who enjoy great field battles or siege battles, the game is awesome!”
- “Blood of Steel offers an epic battle atmosphere, and its gameplay mechanics are highly enjoyable.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is criticized for its lack of originality and depth, with users noting that the character design feels repetitive and uninspired. Comparisons to other games highlight a perceived deficiency in quality, suggesting that even less acclaimed titles offer better character aesthetics. Overall, the feedback indicates a significant disappointment in the game's character development and design.
- “It is a very fun game with beautiful character design.”
- “Even Raid: Shadow Legends has better character design than this trash, and that's saying something.”
- “Combat and movement feel terrible, the UI resembles that of a mass-produced Chinese game, and they just copy-pasted a single character design multiple times to create a troop.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game's new open-world feature and expanded access to previously exclusive content enhance its replayability, offering players more opportunities for engagement. However, the introduction of additional playable characters has received mixed feedback, with some players feeling it detracts from the overall experience.
- “The new release of the open world is a nice touch for this game, adding even more playtime to the core experience. The old version was only available to clan members, but now it's open to everyone. The three-kingdom strategy-like mode may not be my favorite, but I welcome its arrival and look forward to a few more matches in this 'new mode'.”
- “The new release of the open world is a nice touch for this game, adding even more playtime to the core game. The old version was only available to clan members, but now it's open to everyone. However, I personally didn't like it and only welcome a few more matches of this 'new mode.'”
- “Another big fail for me was the constant inclusion of more playable characters.”