Classified: France '44
- March 7, 2024
- Absolutely Games
- 7h median play time
Classified: France '44 is an authentic and thrilling turn-based strategy where every decision can come undone with the slightest mistake.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Classified: France '44" is a first-person shooter game set in World War II France. The Overlord Edition includes the base game, Season Pass for 2024 DLCs, and additional content such as Special Ops missions, weapons, and clothing sets. The Deluxe Edition contains the base game and the Guerrilla Pack, which includes a new map, Special Ops missions, weapon variants, and a clothing set.
PC
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Engaging tactical gameplay with a unique morale system that adds depth to combat.
- Well-crafted missions with a variety of objectives and a strong historical context.
- Good character development and voice acting, making the story immersive.
- Frequent bugs and performance issues, including game freezes during enemy turns.
- Limited replayability due to fixed missions and characters, making subsequent playthroughs feel repetitive.
- Clunky user interface and controls that can hinder gameplay experience.
- story407 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its focus on the French resistance during World War II and the character interactions that provide depth, while others criticize it for being linear and lacking engaging plot elements. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of missions and the absence of character death, which diminishes emotional stakes. Overall, while the narrative has potential and is enriched by historical context, it often feels overshadowed by gameplay mechanics and mission design that can lead to frustration.
“The story delves into facets of the French resistance, and conversations between the characters between missions give you insight into their motivations.”
“It's a beautifully told WWII story/game on D-Day.”
“The story was well-crafted, and the characters were interesting and charming.”
“I personally found that it fails to live up to XCOM's charm as the missions are repetitive, the characters are bland (and don't die), and the overall campaign is linear.”
“The story is not worth mentioning.”
“The overall campaign isn't great, but the missions and classes make this a really fun 'XCOM-like'.”
- gameplay163 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, drawing comparisons to XCOM with its turn-based mechanics and morale systems, which add depth and strategy. While some players appreciate the engaging combat and unique mechanics like suppression and morale, others criticize the shallow strategic layer, frustrating stealth mechanics, and occasional bugs that detract from the experience. Overall, it offers a fun tactical experience for fans of the genre, but it suffers from inconsistencies and a lack of polish in certain areas.
“The combat, locations, map mechanics, everything works well and is very fun to play.”
“The gameplay and morale system are great.”
“It takes the XCOM tactical gameplay systems and concepts, builds on them to make more expanded and enjoyable gameplay, and puts them into an engaging WWII lead-up to D-Day historical setting.”
“Characters often are moved to the wrong box due to the game's mechanics.”
“Despite showing an over 80% chance to hit, attacks frequently miss, undermining strategic gameplay and placing players in unnecessarily difficult situations.”
“The stealth gameplay in particular is fairly garbage, with too many enemies that can't be stealth-killed hovering over objectives, which is particularly aggravating.”
- graphics41 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the impressive visuals, well-designed characters, and detailed environments, while others criticize the outdated models, awkward animations, and graphical errors. Although there are moments of aesthetic appeal, many players feel the graphics lack polish and could benefit from a significant overhaul. Overall, while the game has potential in its visual presentation, it falls short of AAA standards and is marred by inconsistencies.
“The game's graphics are highly impressive, the narrative is engrossing, and the characters are exceptionally well-designed and user-friendly.”
“Very good turn-based WWII game, sound design and voice work excellent, graphics are detailed and locations well designed and interesting.”
“The music is nice, the sound effects feel great, the visuals are nice, the whole aesthetic of the game is well done.”
“Not to mention all the graphical errors like the soldiers' right arms in the loading screen.”
“The graphics are okay, but the models are very ugly and the animations... noises/sounds, e.g. from firearms, are not particularly appealing, which is bizarre, because the developers Team17 are also the makers of Hell Let Loose, which actually has pretty acceptable sounds/noises.”
“They seem to have saved money where money should be saved, such as the cutscene conversations are not motion capture or extensively animated and the graphics are not AAA.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many users noting a lack of variety in missions and characters, leading to limited replay value. However, some players appreciate the potential for different approaches and community-created content, which can enhance replayability. While a few find it enjoyable enough for multiple playthroughs, the consensus leans towards it being a one-time experience for most.
“It has a preference for streamlined gameplay and surprisingly more replayability than it should.”
“The ability to craft, share, and download custom missions ensures that the community remains vibrant and the replay value remains sky-high.”
“Not being able to recruit everyone in a single playthrough gives this game replayability and makes me interested to hear how the various characters will interact with one another.”
“Very little replayability, but a good enough game for one playthrough.”
“The replayability is somewhat low given that the missions are the same each time (more or less).”
“This game's only saving grace is the fact it's short with almost no replay value. I don't even think mods or custom content can keep this game alive with a healthy player base.”
- stability17 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs and glitches, particularly during enemy turns, leading to game freezes that often require mission restarts. While some users noted minor issues and found workarounds, others experienced significant performance problems that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while there are some players who found the game relatively stable, the consensus leans towards it being quite buggy, especially in its early stages.
“It is almost entirely bug-free and offers some pretty cool new ideas with the morale suppression/broken mechanic.”
“A well-built, almost bug-free experience, well worth my money!”
“I was so excited for this and the game is good, but on the 2nd mission every time it's the enemies' turn, my game freezes and I have to restart the mission.”
“But the game constantly freezes during the AI's turn.”
“The actual mechanics are clunky, and I have had way too many game freezes (always on enemy turns, for some reason).”
- grinding14 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 79 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often viewed as tedious and time-consuming, with players expressing frustration over the lack of meaningful gear progression and the repetitive nature of stealth mechanics. Many feel that the grinding required for upgrades and equipment management detracts from the overall enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging gameplay element.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The stealth sections are not hard, but they are very, very tedious.”
“Campaign map gameplay is super boring and all that tedious equipment switching before each mission is a major game design flaw.”
- music14 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it uninspired and lacking variety, often comparing it unfavorably to classic WWII soundtracks. While a few appreciate the aesthetic and fitting nature of the music, many feel that it fails to leave a lasting impression, with only a couple of memorable scores throughout the game. Overall, while the sound effects and voice acting are generally well-received, the music is seen as a weak point that could benefit from greater diversity and originality.
“The music is nice, the sound effects feel great, the visuals are nice, the whole aesthetic of the game is well done.”
“The music is great--in-mission music often reminds me of the old Medal of Honor WWII game soundtracks by Giacchino.”
“With great music, great sound effects, voice acting, decent gameplay, and overall a fairly well-designed game.”
“The music is not enough.”
“It's fine, it fits, but I don't think I could hum a single song from it right now, and there needed to be way more variety.”
“Probably the thing I like the least (aside from the extremely uninspired music; for god's sake we've had like 25 years of every WWII game soundtrack being a low-effort Saving Private Ryan or Band of Brothers rip-off) is how often it's just XCOM with a paper-thin WWII reskin.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users reporting a significant number of glitches and performance issues, particularly on less powerful computers. While it runs well on Linux and performs adequately on certain maps, some players have experienced lag and struggled with the demo version, raising concerns about its overall optimization for a wider range of hardware.
“Working great on Linux, with only a small performance problem on a single airfield map.”
“Graphics are sharp and good looking, and it runs smoothly except for some minor lag on certain enemy turn moves.”
“I don't know how well it's optimized for less powerful computers; my laptop struggled with the demo, and I've been using GeForce Now to play the full game, so I'm unsure if the optimization problems have been addressed since the demo.”
“Annoying amount of glitches and performance issues.”
“I am among the early reviewers, but I'm kind of ignorant as to the scope of this company. I really like a response... it's not my PC, it's a performance issue.”
“The one thing I would say against it is that I don't know how well it's optimized for less powerful computers. My laptop struggled with the demo, and I've been using GeForce Now to play the full game, so I don't know if the optimization problems have been addressed since the demo.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the unique talents and voice acting that enhance the experience, others criticize the lack of depth and creativity in character design, leading to a sense of boredom. Overall, it is seen as a highlight for some, but there are calls for more careful and engaging development.
“The character development in the game is another highlight.”
“While I really enjoy the voice acting and character development, I think it fed into this problem.”
“Careful character development is recommended too - overall quite a nice game.”
“I'm already tired of complaining, but the last thing is character development. They, as usual, have classes, and each character has one unique talent; the rest you select.”
“This style of gameplay alongside WWII goes hand-in-hand, but the laziness in the character design and UI makes it a boring game.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing character interactions and unexpected moments, such as a support character loudly announcing their actions, which adds a comedic touch to the gameplay. The balance between humor and seriousness is well-executed, enhancing the overall enjoyment, while the enemies' obliviousness during stealth phases provides additional comedic relief. However, some UI bugs contribute to the humor in unintended ways, creating funny scenarios during gameplay.
“Especially funny when my support would silently lay down an explosive and then yell their confirmation so loud that the whole map could hear them.”
“Characters are entertaining, and the tone is in a perfect sweet spot between humorous and serious, never leaning too far in either direction to lose enjoyment.”
“The enemies are hilariously unaware during the stealth phase of the combat.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express mixed feelings about the emotional aspect of the game; while some appreciate the attempt to create emotional connections with characters, others feel it falls short. The inability to heal multiple injured squad members simultaneously adds a layer of emotional weight, but overall, the depth of character engagement varies among players.
“I enjoyed the first playthrough mainly because of my interest in D-Day and the fact that my recent XCOM campaign ended so heartbreakingly catastrophically I couldn't face taking on Advent again...at least not for a while.”
“Engaging with these characters adds an emotional depth to the gameplay experience, forging a bond that transcends mere pixels on the screen.”
“So you can't heal 2 of your injured (emotionally or physically) squad members at the same time.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive sound effects and engaging environment, which enhance the overall experience during missions. Reviewers appreciate the intelligent AI that adds depth to gameplay, contributing to a captivating and thought-provoking atmosphere.
“I love the very atmospheric sound effects; they create great immersion when playing missions, and the intelligent AI really makes you think.”
“It’s very atmospheric and engaging.”
“Nicely atmospheric.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
“Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere is disappointingly flat and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The overall ambiance is dull and forgettable, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
Critic Reviews
Classified: France ’44 Review – Vive la résistance!
Classified: France ’44 is rather good as both a turn-based combat experience and an exploration of one of history’s darkest periods. Whether you are sneaking around taking down Nazis from the shadows or heading in guns blazing, the game is fun and decently complex, with enough variety in terms of units to recruit and factions to side with to encourage multiple playthroughs. While the missions themselves start to blend together after a while, and the soundtrack could have stood to throw in one or two new battle themes for the sake of variety, I think any fan of history or turn-based combat is going to have a rather good time with Classified: France ’44, and I look forward to Absolutely Games hopefully building on this foundation with future games exploring different periods and settings.
75%Classified: France ’44 Review – Clandestine Operations Done Right
Classified: France '44 is a turn-based tactics game that manages to convey what it feels like to perform clandestine operations perfectly. Its diverse cast of characters, paired with its ample weapon and enemy variety makes it a thrilling experience that's sure to keep you entertained for days on end.
80%Classified: France '44 Review - Vive La Resistance
As a relatively modest strategy title, Classified: France '44 accomplishes much more than you might think considering its rather low-key pre-release reception. Anybody who is up for a good lean tactical strategy game is in for quite a treat here, as Classified delivers an experience that gives you a good hearty taste of what a simple and effective strategy game should be, while adding new and forward-thinking features that address some of the qualms of the genre. The new Morale system is a novel new mechanic that adds a layer of depth to strategy, the missions are good and place emphasis on smart strategic play, and although the story and personalities fall short, the illustrated cutscenes are an admirable embellishment that gives Classified its own distinctive panache. Classified might seem rather plain and ordinary to many, and yes it does represent itself in that fashion, but underneath there is a compelling and satisfying strategy title here that's worth a look for anybody who is intrigued and wants to get rid of hordes of virulent Nazi scum in L'Hexagone.
70%
