Broken Lines

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 335 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Broken Lines Game Cover
Throwing the notion of good intentions with potential bad outcomes into the mix of a war game results in a compelling game that is well worth the replay.
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"Broken Lines" is a tactical combat game set in a war-torn alternate reality during World War II. Lead a squad of soldiers, each with their own unique personalities and abilities, through a series of missions in an attempt to return home. Make strategic decisions in real-time combat and manage your squad's resources and morale to ensure their survival.

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Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 335 reviews
story71 positive mentions
stability8 negative mentions
  • Unique gameplay mechanics with the 8-second planning phase that adds a fresh twist to turn-based strategy.
  • Engaging story with multiple endings and meaningful choices that impact character relationships and morale.
  • Solid tactical combat that rewards strategic thinking and planning, making each encounter feel rewarding.
  • The game is relatively short, with a campaign that can be completed in around 6-10 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • Some players experience bugs and issues with AI behavior, leading to frustrating moments during combat.
  • Limited variety in enemy types and weapons, which can make gameplay feel repetitive over time.
  • story286 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and mysterious, while others criticize it for being predictable or poorly executed. Many reviews highlight the importance of mission choices and character interactions, which can lead to different outcomes and replayability, but some feel the narrative lacks depth and coherence. Overall, while the story has its moments and potential, it often falls short of delivering a compelling experience.

    • “The story is captivating and interesting.. it is to a certain degree mysterious even.”
    • “Great story with some very conflicted choices to make as you progress through the campaign.”
    • “The story is well-written and entertaining.”
    • “The campaign storyline is dumb and doesn’t make sense.”
    • “The story sadly is not only... I don't want to say pretentious, but I want to say ominous while at the same time leading to absolutely nothing, but it's also quite short.”
    • “The story is irrelevant as the 'random story' system implemented seems to be too random to create any value.”
  • gameplay141 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a unique blend of real-time and turn-based mechanics, particularly the innovative 8-second planning phase that allows players to issue commands before actions unfold simultaneously. While many players appreciate the tactical depth and novel ideas, some criticize the lack of polish, depth, and balance, with issues such as bugs, unclear mechanics, and repetitive gameplay detracting from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers engaging strategic elements and a compelling narrative, making it a mixed but intriguing option for fans of the genre.

    • “The gameplay is a solid compromise between real-time and turn-based.”
    • “Fantastic gameplay full of novel ideas and challenges.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent with a ton of different weapon and utility options, as well as perks and traits your characters develop via choices during events.”
    • “Combined with the fact that players cannot pause gameplay during the 'pause' version of each turn, this made even attempting to use stealth or to set up finally coordinated attacks more trouble than it's worth.”
    • “The gameplay holds your attention at first (if only for how different it is), but rapidly reveals a distinct lack of depth, variety, and challenge.”
    • “The whole gameplay just feels off.”
  • graphics39 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the art style and overall aesthetic as "fabulous" and "great," while others find them merely acceptable or even disappointing. Players appreciate the vibrant and clean visuals, particularly in combat and curated maps, but note issues like minor glitches and clunky design choices that detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are often seen as fitting for an indie title, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.

    • “The comic book style graphics are fabulous!”
    • “Phenomenal art direction both in engine and artwork with an inspiring setting.”
    • “Great atmosphere and the graphics are very easy on the eye for an indie game of this type, great stuff.”
    • “There are minor annoying graphical glitches.”
    • “It's a Unity-based game, which tells you everything about the graphics, gameplay, etc.”
    • “Graphics is disturbing (can't rotate view, zoom in/out is also limited etc.) to the point where it degrades the whole experience that otherwise could have been solid.”
  • replayability32 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its multiple decision trees, alternate endings, and varied mission choices, encouraging players to explore different strategies and character interactions. While some players find the campaign short, the ability to tackle different missions and customize difficulty settings enhances the replay value. However, a few reviewers noted that the lack of substantial differences in gameplay across playthroughs may limit the incentive for repeated runs.

    • “On sale, it's a great price-point, and it's got replay value if you're interested in developing the various character interactions and storylines.”
    • “Although the campaign is short, it is very replayable.”
    • “There are multiple story branches and endings which will provide some replay value if you like that sort of thing.”
    • “The game seems to be designed around replayability, but really it's just not fun enough to warrant multiple playthroughs in my opinion.”
    • “The game offers replayability; on second and third playthroughs, you can choose different missions to tackle, and there are a few different endings, but since most missions play the same and there is very little character customization, there is not much incentive to do so, aside from the achievements.”
    • “Ending is pretty weak; they claim replayability because of the four other endings, but I watched them on YouTube and they are all equally short, boring, and meaningless.”
  • atmosphere10 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, characterized by immersive storytelling, striking comic art cutscenes, and a dark, tense ambiance that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful graphics and the way the atmosphere complements the engaging plot, making for a compelling and cohesive gameplay experience. The combination of these elements creates a captivating environment that resonates well with fans of atmospheric indie games.

    • “The atmosphere really shines through.”
    • “To sum up the experience, you will find here an interesting plot that goes 'in crescendo', with a dark atmosphere, a tense ambient, all put together with an awesome OST that makes you feel the troubles your soldiers are facing.”
    • “This game has enough atmosphere in a tightly bound package with beautiful graphics that a 10-hour playthrough feels sufficient.”
    • “To sum up the experience, you will find here an interesting plot that goes 'in crescendo', with a dark atmosphere, a tense ambiance, all put together with an awesome OST that makes you feel the troubles your soldiers are facing.”
    • “I also like the feel of the unknown atmosphere that broken lines portrays.”
  • music10 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it mediocre or out of place, while others praise it as immersive and well-composed, enhancing the overall atmosphere. The soundtrack is noted for its ability to evoke emotions and complement the game's dark themes, although it may not reach AAA quality. Overall, while opinions vary, many agree that the music contributes positively to the gaming experience.

    • “The music is so good.”
    • “To sum up the experience, you will find here an interesting plot that goes 'in crescendo', with a dark atmosphere, a tense ambient, all put together with an awesome OST that makes you feel the troubles your soldiers are facing.”
    • “The sounds and music are really good and help the immersion.”
    • “The same oddness goes for a lot of the graphical design choices which feel clunky or the choice of level music which feels incredibly out of place for the setting.”
    • “- monotonous music”
    • “Good game, interesting story, music is kinda mediocre, pretty hard on veteran mode.”
  • stability8 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with users reporting frequent crashes, random freezes, and various graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some acknowledge that the developers are addressing these issues, many find the bugs too pervasive to enjoy the game fully. Overall, the stability issues are seen as a major drawback, especially for a newly released title.

    • “Unfortunately, it's too buggy to be enjoyable.”
    • “Game crashes and randomly freezes during the first mission.”
    • “This game is so boring and buggy.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    Players express a mix of emotions regarding the game's narrative, highlighting a desire for deeper content and storytelling, particularly in the context of war. While some appreciate the emotional weight of squad development and the impact of long-term attrition, others feel that the game falls short compared to more impactful titles like "This War of Mine." Overall, the emotional experience is noted but often seen as lacking in depth and breadth.

    • “It seeks to tell the story of a group of soldiers in an alternate-history version of WWII, as well as impart a portion of the emotional journey of the soldiers under the player's command.”
    • “The squad development is great and the long-term attrition really gets to you emotionally as you progress through the game.”
    • “I loved this; it's been a while since a game made me feel.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    While the game offers a smooth and immersive experience, it suffers from significant optimization issues, consuming excessive system resources compared to other titles. Many users recommend waiting for a major overhaul to improve performance before considering a purchase, especially given the limited enjoyment it provides.

    • “Runs smoothly, has an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The worst point of it all is optimization: this game uses more power when it's running than any other game on my machine.”
    • “In short, for the amount of actual fun it has, I'd only buy this game if it were at $4 and even then, only after it has received a massive overhaul to address its performance optimization and resource management.”
  • character development4 mentions

    Character development in the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the effective storytelling and character arcs, others find it lacking depth and investment, describing it as somewhat random and limited. Overall, the game offers a decent level of character development, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more profound connection with the characters.

    • “This is story and character development done right, and they deserve every cent they ask for.”
    • “There's a bit of character development, but not enough to be truly invested in anyone.”
    • “It's not XCOM with scenarios limiting freedom of movement, but a great little turn-based shooter with some limited character development.”
    • “A bit too random character development.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and clunky, leading some to abandon the campaign due to the repetitive nature of missions. While there are enjoyable story choices, they are often overshadowed by the extensive grinding required, although the gameplay mechanics themselves are praised for their fluidity and strategic depth.

    • “I didn't finish the campaign, and don't really feel up to it, as the missions are now too tedious.”
    • “There are some fun story choices, but they are buried in hours and hours of grinding out missions eight seconds at a time.”
    • “Too tedious, too clunky.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by interesting and occasionally funny dialogues, though the lack of voice acting detracts from the overall experience. While the developers aimed for a blend of sentimentality and humor, many players feel they fell short, resulting in a mix that doesn't fully resonate.

    • “The dialogues are interesting, sometimes funny, and they definitely are not dull.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

14hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
9-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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