Brigador

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,652 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Brigador Game Cover
Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding them back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.
Starting at $1.45Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

Brigador is an isometric roguelite featuring tactical combat in a destructible environment. As a mercenary pilot, complete contracts, earn money, and unlock a variety of mechs, tanks, and hovercraft with different weapons. With an expanded campaign mode, freelance mode, and a deep dark science fiction universe, the game offers engaging gameplay and over 2 hours of synth music.

  • Mac OS
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,652 reviews
story175 positive mentions
grinding32 negative mentions
  • Brigador offers a unique blend of tactical gameplay and chaotic destruction, allowing players to approach missions in various ways with a wide range of vehicles and weapons.
  • The game features a stunning art style and an excellent synthwave soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The lore and world-building are surprisingly deep, with well-written descriptions for vehicles, weapons, and pilots that add richness to the gameplay.
  • The controls can be clunky and take time to get used to, especially for players expecting a traditional twin-stick shooter experience.
  • The campaign can feel repetitive, with missions often boiling down to similar objectives and limited loadouts, which may lead to player fatigue.
  • Some players may find the difficulty spikes in later missions frustrating, as they can require a significant amount of trial and error to complete.
  • story1,502 mentions

    The story in "Brigador" is minimal and primarily conveyed through mission briefings and unlockable lore, which many players find engaging despite its lack of traditional narrative structure. The campaign consists of a series of missions that feel disconnected, often revolving around similar objectives like destruction and assassination, while the freelance mode allows for greater customization and replayability. Overall, while the game offers a rich backdrop and intriguing lore, it lacks a cohesive storyline, leading some players to feel that the missions can become repetitive and the narrative underdeveloped.

    • “The sober sci-fi setting is superb, and the audiobook only augments the bleak war story of the game.”
    • “The plot remains fairly simple, but there's a surprising amount of flavor text accompanying mechs, weapons, pilots, etc. that does an excellent job at fleshing out this doomed world and its inhabitants, always ready to offer up a bit of pitch-black humor to inject some much-needed levity.”
    • “The story and lore that's in this game is unexpectedly excellent and fun to read; normally I just skim over flavor text but what's in this game adds so much grit and atmosphere to the game.”
    • “The story is simple but a bit confusing for how non-linear it is: a dictator of a space colony died, and the old military faction is hiring mercenaries (brigadors, aka, you) to seize power and end the dictator's regime.”
    • “The overall writing is good, but the campaign is really not coherent and there is no story, which is a shame because the game includes a ton of fluff and information.”
    • “The campaign isn't much of a plot; you're thrown into random missions with a bit of story text and not much more.”
  • music1,362 mentions

    The music in Brigador has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional synthwave soundtrack by Makeup and Vanity Set, which perfectly complements the game's cyberpunk aesthetic and gameplay. Players describe the soundtrack as immersive, energetic, and memorable, often noting that it enhances the overall experience and is enjoyable even outside of the game. However, some users have mentioned that the limited track selection can lead to repetition during longer missions, detracting slightly from the experience.

    • “A perfect synergy of gameplay, visuals, music, and vibes.”
    • “The soundtrack alone makes this game worthwhile.”
    • “The music complements the action and gameplay in an excellent way; I am a player who usually listens to my own music while playing other video games, but I never felt the need to do that playing Brigador.”
    • “My only gripe is that the music doesn't loop during missions, so missions that take a while to finish can become unnecessarily quiet in the later sections, sucking out the enjoyment.”
    • “The only real issue with music is that there’s a short amount of tracks available in the game, so you’ll have to listen to the same melody over and over again during battles.”
    • “The music does not seem to have any sort of playlist or loop, so what this means is that if you're taking your time in a mission you will hear one track play to the end from the start of the game and then play the rest of the level in silence, which is actually a bummer since the game has very nice music that adds to the experience.”
  • gameplay926 mentions

    The gameplay of Brigador is widely praised for its engaging mechanics, offering a mix of tactical vehicular combat and destructible environments that encourage strategic play. Players appreciate the depth and variety provided by different vehicles and weapon loadouts, although some note that the core gameplay loop can become repetitive over time. The controls may require some adjustment, but once mastered, they contribute to a satisfying and rewarding experience, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and aesthetic.

    • “The gameplay is fun and varied once you figure out the different ways to play.”
    • “The gameplay is deep and sandboxy.”
    • “The gameplay is both tactically and strategically deep, and extremely fun.”
    • “However, it feels like there's no variety to the gameplay.”
    • “The main loop of the gameplay is quite boring; there is a lot of walking around and stomping on barriers which is both slow and unsatisfying, each level is very similar to the others mainly being just a large square.”
    • “The gameplay loop is too repetitive.”
  • graphics709 mentions

    The graphics of Brigador are widely praised for their stunning retro aesthetic, combining detailed sprite work with a vibrant cyberpunk style reminiscent of classic 90s games. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful lighting effects, destructible environments, and a cohesive visual presentation that enhances the overall gameplay experience. The accompanying synthwave soundtrack further complements the visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “The visuals showcase an obvious admiration for PC gaming of the mid to late 90s, completely bypassing tiresome polygons in favor of highly detailed spritework, which combined with the pumping synthwave soundtrack and abundance of stark colored lighting, brings the cyberpunk-inspired world alive beautifully.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, highly detailed little environments that are satisfying to level.”
    • “The art style is absolutely gorgeous to look at, nailing that 80s cyberpunk look with spritework that is just downright beautiful.”
    • “The graphics are nothing to write home about, but the design and look are interesting enough to make you forget that.”
    • “The graphics feel both retro and modern; like if someone remade C&C-era graphics and spiked the saturation.”
    • “The graphics are tiny, detailed, well-animated sprites that are punched up by surprisingly excellent lighting effects.”
  • replayability155 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, driven by a wealth of customization options, diverse loadouts, and modes like freelance that offer nearly endless gameplay possibilities. Players appreciate the variety of vehicles, weapons, and missions, which encourage experimentation and replaying with different strategies. While some reviewers note limitations in replay value due to a lack of multiplayer or progression systems, the overall consensus is that the game provides significant replayability and engaging content for players.

    • “The freelance mode provides almost endless replayability, allowing you to tinker with so many vehicles, weapons, and scenarios.”
    • “With infinite combinations of pilots, vehicles, and weapons to pick from, this game has endless replay value!”
    • “The campaign gets very challenging, and freelance mode gives you almost endless replayability as you challenge yourself with new loadouts.”
    • “This is such a goddamn cool game, but sadly not a lot of replayability I've found.”
    • “While the current system is good in the sense that you can literally play anything you like right from the get-go, provided you have enough credits - I feel as though that completely guts out the replayability factor which is sad for a game that is otherwise so excellent.”
    • “If you can't find ways to challenge yourself, this game will probably have rather limited replayability for you.”
  • atmosphere143 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, combining stunning graphics, a captivating synthwave soundtrack, and rich lore that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a gritty, cyberpunk aesthetic reminiscent of classic sci-fi, with many noting how the atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the enjoyment of gameplay. Despite some critiques regarding story depth, the game's atmosphere stands out as a compelling reason to engage with it.

    • “The atmosphere, music, gameplay loop, creative design aesthetic, and pace is fantastic.”
    • “The music by Makeup and Vanity Set really does wonders for the atmosphere of blasting your way across Solo Nobre.”
    • “The atmosphere is all-consuming, the lore and writing is compelling, and I can't help but get lost in the world of Solo Nobre and its struggle.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game feels very much like a gritty pulp novel.”
    • “The difficult, player-relative controls are a successful part of what makes this game's atmosphere both tense and deliberate; I'm piloting a mobile weapons platform, not playing a game of Robotron.”
  • humor40 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark, satirical, and self-deprecating elements, often juxtaposed with the grim realities of its mechanized warfare setting. Players appreciate the rich lore and character backstories that infuse the gameplay with pitch-black humor, making the destruction of civilians and urban environments both amusing and absurd. While some mission briefings may feel dry, the overall comedic tone, especially through weapon and vehicle interactions, adds a unique levity to the otherwise serious themes of the game.

    • “The plot remains fairly simple, but there's a surprising amount of flavor text accompanying mechs, weapons, pilots, etc. that does an excellent job at fleshing out this doomed world and its inhabitants, always ready to offer up a bit of pitch-black humor to inject some much-needed levity.”
    • “This love letter to the 80's not only has a bombastic synthwave soundtrack, it lives and breathes it: dark humor sci-fi that laughs at the absolute carnage that a mechanized war machine can wreak upon densely populated urban areas.”
    • “Brigador’s story and world building is perhaps the aspect I love the most about this game, every piece of equipment, vehicle, and pilot has backstory detailed in various logs that take on different perspectives, some of which bring a bit of humor to what would otherwise be a bland lore document.”
  • grinding37 mentions

    Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" in the game are mixed; while some players find the grinding tedious and feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, others appreciate the balance and quick unlocks that minimize grind. Many highlight that the game avoids excessive grindiness, allowing for a more enjoyable experience, though some still note that certain missions and mechanics can become repetitive or frustrating. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there are elements of grinding, they are often offset by engaging gameplay and generous rewards.

    • “Incredible, not very grindy and very easy to pick up and play, good balance. The only issue I have with it is I wish the different pilots were more unique.”
    • “Mech game with crispy graphics, baller soundtrack, and varied weapons, mechs/tanks/hovercraft, pilots, maps... despite all the unlockable content, the game is not grindy and pretty fun with the basic stuff.”
    • “Unlocks also come really fast, so there is pretty much no grinding involved in getting to try out new stuff.”
    • “Core gameplay is great, but the lack of a story mode and the excessive grinding to unlock content made the fun wear off quickly for me.”
    • “Your game doesn't magically become fun by making it extremely tedious.”
    • “The campaign forces you to start with several very tedious training missions, only to limit you to a measly 4 vehicles with pre-set loadouts when you finally get through the tutorial.”
  • optimization21 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players noting it runs smoothly even on low-end hardware, such as older laptops. However, some users report occasional performance issues, particularly related to the destructible terrain and certain levels, suggesting that while the game is well-optimized, there are still areas that could benefit from further refinement. The visuals and sound design are highlighted as strong points, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience despite minor performance hiccups.

    • “The game's great, runs smoothly even on a potato laptop with beautiful graphics and, above all else, is fun to play.”
    • “The game runs silky smooth and is optimized very well.”
    • “It's not an unoptimized mess, and it still manages to have a lot of pretty features for those who want the most to look at out of their game (the aiming path is rendered to make the 2D look 3D, and there is a lot of dynamic lighting to do the same).”
    • “The destructive terrain seems like a big selling point, but all it does is add to performance issues.”
    • “I really like this game, but I've never not had performance problems.”
    • “My only major complaint is that the performance is a bit spotty.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting feelings of nostalgia and excitement reminiscent of their youth, as well as empathy for the developers' struggles. The game evokes a sense of joy and satisfaction through its engaging mechanics and cultural references, despite some technical frustrations. Overall, it resonates deeply with players, making them feel invested in both the gameplay and the developers' journey.

    • “Genuinely heartbreaking to see what this poor team went through, but I'm glad it's getting love now.”
    • “It made me feel like a high school kid again, excited to come back home to try to tackle those late game missions in commandos.”
    • “I haven't played a game that made me feel like that in a long time.”
  • stability8 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on various systems, including lower-end hardware, with users reporting no significant glitches or performance issues. While some minor graphical glitches were noted, they did not detract from the overall immersive experience, and the gameplay remains largely bug-free with responsive controls.

    • “I've encountered no glitches, and even though it's 2D isometric, I've quickly found myself immersed in this universe.”
    • “The game runs great even on my old laptop; the soundtrack is fantastic, and the combat is so satisfying.”
    • “144 FPS nonstop, snappy controls, and bug-free gameplay.”
    • “Ask yourself this question: do you love mech games but have been disappointed by the amateur, buggy mess that is MechWarrior 5 and the lackluster gameplay of Battletech?”
    • “The game offers some pleasant graphics and really vibrant colors, although there are some ugly glitches here and there. It is pleasant all the same, but the game suffers from some really confusing and awkward gameplay mechanics.”
    • “Buggy mess.”
  • monetization7 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the lack of intrusive microtransactions and the focus on earning in-game currency through gameplay, others criticize the presence of excessive advertising and promotional content in the game menu. Overall, the developers seem to prioritize creating a quality experience over a cash grab, offering a well-crafted game at a reasonable price without overwhelming players with additional purchases.

    • “For a small team to place this much effort, polish, and obvious enthusiasm into a $20 package, rather than a watered down $40-$60 game with in-game purchases and DLC level packs galore.”
    • “Don't worry, this isn't full of microtransactions; you spend the cash you earn doing missions to get access to more pilots, chassis, weaponry, special abilities, and background lore if you feel like reading it.”
    • “On the game menu, it's frustrating to see constant advertisements like 'please buy my official soundtrack!!!' and 'please go to my websites to buy posters, shirts, figures, etc!!!' along with promoting his Discord community.”
    • “Do you really think people who enjoy this game want to see a bunch of advertisements on the game menu?”
    • “I can exploit two missions for maximum payout to unlock both in-game purchases and achievements.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development in the game is minimal, with no significant story or character arcs to engage players, leading to a lack of emotional investment. While character designs are solid and accompanied by well-written backstories in the lore section, these elements do not translate into meaningful gameplay experiences, particularly in action-focused modes.

    • “The solid character designs, along with well-written backstories in the 'lore' section, expand your imagination while playing in 'freelance mode'.”
    • “The character development is rich and engaging, making each interaction feel meaningful and impactful.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their personal stories intertwining beautifully with the main plot.”
    • “But no story or character development is there to get in the way of your action.”
    • “The tank controls and cursor aiming system don't feel good; the cursor is tiny and feels off (you have to aim at the tile the enemy is situated on specifically rather than the enemy). Menus, mission selection, and briefing screens are bad, and with no voice acting or character development, nothing feels at stake.”
    • “However, the solid character designs with well-written backstories in the 'lores' section will only expand your imagination while playing in 'freelance mode'.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

Buy Brigador

Play time

4hMedian play time
11hAverage play time
2-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games