Breach & Clear

Breach and Clear provides a strategic RPG-style look into the world of Special Operations that provides an unusual spin on both the Strategic RPG genre and the military gaming world. Breach and Clear is a solid title worth playing.

66%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

81% User Score Based on 1,559 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $9.99

Buy NowGet on Steam$9.99

About

"Breach & Clear" is a tactical strategy simulation game that allows players to build and customize their Special Operations team, plan and execute advanced missions, and engage in battle with a variety of enemies. With full customization options, players can tailor their soldiers' perks, tactics, camo, armor, and inventory, and utilize consumables like UAV Drones and Breaching Charges to gain an advantage. Every soldier and decision counts in this methodical, turn-based game. The Steam version includes all premium content from the original mobile game at no additional cost.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,561 reviews

story48 positive mentions

grinding24 negative mentions

Engaging tactical gameplay that rewards careful planning and execution.
Extensive customization options for soldiers, weapons, and gear.
Multiple game modes and varying difficulty levels provide replayability.

Graphics and animations are dated and lack polish.
Gameplay can become repetitive due to limited mission variety and objectives.
AI behavior can be inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments during missions.

story
532 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
85%
6%
The game features a series of tactical missions centered around a squad of elite soldiers, but it lacks a cohesive story or overarching narrative, making it feel disjointed. Players engage in repetitive mission types—such as bomb defusal and terrorist hunts—across various locations, with minimal context provided for each mission. While the gameplay mechanics and customization options are praised, many reviewers express disappointment over the absence of a compelling storyline, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The game has a really good set of missions.”
- “The missions are varied, fun, and the permadeath for squadmates adds a really interesting layer to the gameplay.”
- “You can do each mission in so many different ways, breach with all four of your teammates on one door or split them up on other door positions.”
- “The game is just a set of similar missions in different settings, with no overarching story or goals.”
- “There is no real story to speak of in Breach & Clear.”
- “The context for the missions is very thinly described on a mission brief but not integrated into the game very well.”
gameplay
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
9%
The gameplay of "Breach & Clear" is characterized by its turn-based tactical mechanics, which some players find engaging and easy to learn, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and repetitive. Many reviews highlight the game's potential for strategic planning and customization, but note that it lacks depth compared to similar titles like "Door Kickers" or "XCOM." Overall, while the game offers a decent amount of content and replayability, it is often described as a fun but shallow experience that may not satisfy those seeking more complex tactical gameplay.
- “The gameplay is amazing; the strategic choices you make in a single turn can mean life or death for your squad.”
- “Overall, the persistent soldier system and surprising amount of content offers a considerable amount of gameplay for such a small title.”
- “Breach & clear is an interesting marriage of frozen synapse's hybrid turn-based/real-time style of tactics gameplay with xcom: enemy unknown’s customizable class-based soldiers and carefully-constructed mission levels.”
- “The gameplay itself was just no fun for me and felt like a chore most of the time - eventually I just quit.”
- “The gameplay gets boring and repetitive quite quickly, with only new weapons, attachments, and maps to bring you back past the 1-2 hour mark.”
- “Underpar graphics, clunky interface, and gameplay mechanics that are not at all entertaining.”
graphics
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
54%
15%
The graphics of the game are generally considered mediocre, often described as dated or reminiscent of mobile ports, with many reviewers noting a lack of polish and detail. While some players appreciate the decent performance on lower-end systems, others express disappointment in the visual quality, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as acceptable for casual gameplay but fall short of modern standards, leaving room for improvement.
- “The graphics are decent for one of the nicer mobile-type games out there, and performance seems good and stable.”
- “The game offers some really nice graphics and a nice yet simplistic aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly good, gunfight scenes look great and are intense.”
- “Both the graphics and UI issues stem from this being a mobile game at its core.”
- “The graphics and animations are pretty bad and this one could have really benefited from the graphics being better as to take away from the more shallow parts of the game.”
- “The graphics are simply outdated, the variety of animations is very limited.”
replayability
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising the variety of difficulty levels, random enemy placements, and multiple mission sets that enhance replay value. However, many reviewers note that the reliance on grinding, limited content, and repetitive gameplay can diminish long-term interest. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replaying, such as different tactics and customization options, the consensus suggests that replayability may not be as robust as some players hope.
- “Good replayability with random spawns on enemies and objectives.”
- “The multiple difficulties help amp up the replayability.”
- “With a variety of gameplay modes and missions to choose from, the game has more than decent replay value.”
- “Heavily reliant on RNG (accuracy + evasion), enemies are quite dumb and won't open doors when noise is made, requires a lot of grinding to get necessary equipment. Replaying old missions is considered 'replayability' and is required for other difficulties, which gets old pretty quick.”
- “I hate the fact that this game wants to treat each level on each difficulty as a separate level just to prolong its replay value.”
- “Because of its existent but faltering replayability (and the fact that you earn everything you need for a good squad fairly quickly), it does get old quickly and doesn't feel very fleshed out.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
13%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as outstanding and fitting for the gameplay, while others find it repetitive and lacking variety, often resorting to muting it in favor of their own music. Despite the criticisms, many agree that the music enhances the overall experience, creating a sense of urgency and tension during gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, the limited number of tracks can lead to monotony.
- “It's got better music than some AAA games and it's a nice change of pace.”
- “Outstanding soundtrack and audio.”
- “The game also has a great soundtrack with very epic tracks.”
- “The only two things I didn't like were that the music is only one song for each world and can get quite repetitive, and that the game is too short!”
- “It's a fun semi-difficult game with okay graphics and an eh soundtrack.”
- “I play this muted because the sounds and music are atrocious.”
grinding
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often requiring them to replay missions multiple times to acquire better gear and level up characters. While some enjoy the casual entertainment it offers, many feel that the grind for achievements and equipment can detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of monotony after several hours of play. The navigation and management of equipment also contribute to the grindy feel, making it a significant aspect of gameplay that may frustrate some players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “As a game itself, it gets tedious quickly.”
- “Eventually I got to the point where the game started to feel too grindy and I couldn't proceed without repeating old missions multiple times in order to get better gear that would give me a fighting chance.”
- “There are some achievements that are ridiculously grindy, requiring hundreds of hours of gameplay from a game with like 20 hours max.”
optimization
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with smooth performance and swift loading times even on older hardware, making it accessible for a wide range of devices. However, some users reported issues on the Android version, describing it as slow and poorly optimized. While the graphics and controls are well-received, there are concerns about the clarity of gear stats and occasional bugs affecting gameplay.
- “After completing each mission, you receive a star rating, adding a level of challenge to beat your best performance.”
- “On the plus side, the optimization seems to be decent, so loading times are swift and the performance is very good, even on older machines.”
- “Each completed mission is given a rating of 1 to 4 stars and you earn cash and XP based on your performance.”
- “I enjoyed the game because it has replayability value and comes with some challenge, but the weapons could be more optimized and there were some lame bugs that interfered with the gameplay.”
- “When it finally came out for Android, I bought it (a second time) only to find it was slow, poorly optimized, choppy, and hard to play.”
- “The terrain and enemies certainly reward thinking your moves out, but the gear stats are lacking in two fundamental ways: the stats and their relationship to performance aren't super clear other than some blurb on the topic.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
88%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and a generally unpolished experience. While some players find the issues manageable, others express frustration over persistent problems, such as freezing and graphical anomalies, which detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game feels unfinished and in need of significant technical improvements.
- “Runs great.”
- “The game maintains a solid performance without any major issues.”
- “I appreciate how the developers prioritize fixing stability issues before adding new content.”
- “The main reason I dislike this game is because it has many unfixed glitches and bugs, and it just feels unfinished.”
- “The game still freezes after the first mission is completed and tells me I failed.”
- “First and foremost, in my 20+ hours I've found so many glitches, little things that aren't necessarily game-ruining, but are very annoying; especially if you're a perfectionist like me (I have to get 4 stars on every mission).”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players finding it both funny and relaxing, often highlighting the comedic elements in the intro and gameplay. While some aspects, like repetitive voice lines, can wear thin, the overall playful tone and amusing cosmetic options contribute to a lighthearted experience. Players appreciate the blend of serious simulation with humorous undertones, making it an enjoyable, albeit flawed, game.
- “The intro alone is hilarious enough to soothe some of the regret of me spending money on this 'simulation game'.”
- “I find the game quite funny and relaxing; you might even spend a lot of hours in a row, especially when you will be hunting for the 'perfect game' (no injury, as fewest rounds as possible) and so on.”
- “This game tries to come across serious, but when you play it, it tries to be playful and funny.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The monetization strategy of the game is somewhat misleading, as it initially presents itself as a straightforward experience but involves a marketplace primarily for squad upgrades rather than just advertising for add-ons. While the mobile version relied on microtransactions, these elements have been awkwardly removed in this version, leading to a lack of clarity regarding the game's true nature and monetization approach.
- “The mobile version was designed with microtransactions, but they were clumsily removed for this version.”
- “Since the mobile version is free, it is tied down by in-app purchases.”
- “I am aware that this is on mobile, and there are no microtransactions; if there were in the mobile version, they have been stripped out.”
- “The mobile version was designed with microtransactions, and they were ripped out for this version clumsily.”
- “Well, since the mobile one is free, it is tied down by in-app purchases.”
- “It is not obvious in the beginning that the marketplace is not just advertising for Breach & Clear addons, but to upgrade your squads.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development in the game is seen as lacking depth and immersion, with users noting a need for a more engaging campaign story and background context for missions. While customization options for characters and weapons are available, the overall execution feels limited and unpolished, detracting from the potential for richer character growth.
- “The menus all look fine, the character design is acceptable and allows for customization, and the weapons themselves are customizable with special functions and color choices.”
- “I would love to see a manual first-person camera available, though, and some more immersive character development and a polished campaign story.”
- “There is no background story around the various missions, the user interface isn't very polished, the movement system is limited, the character development is not too interesting, the graphics are just okay, and the maps are quite small.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the emotional impact of losing a well-developed character, especially after investing significant time and effort into their skills, is profound. This loss not only evokes strong feelings but also alters the dynamics of the squad, as the absence of an experienced soldier affects both gameplay and emotional engagement.
- “The experience points were significantly higher for playing in this mode, and losing a character that you had almost played through the entire campaign with, who had nearly maxed out skills, was quite emotional at first.”
- “The act of losing a character in battle can not only affect players emotionally but also impact the squad's dynamics, as you lose the benefits that that experienced soldier provided.”