Command: Modern Air / Naval Operations WOTY

About

Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations - Warfighter Edition is a warfare simulation game that provides a realistic and immersive experience in modern naval and air conflicts. It offers a wide range of weapons, platforms, and systems, as well as a huge number of scenarios and campaigns. The game also features a powerful real-time combat engine, advanced command and control systems, and an extensive modding community.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Command: Modern Air / Naval Operations WOTY screenshot

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 430 reviews

story10 positive mentions

music4 negative mentions

Incredible depth and realism, making it the best modern air and naval warfare simulator available.
Extensive database of military units, weapons, and scenarios, allowing for endless replayability and customization.
Active community support and regular updates from developers enhance the overall experience.

Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for newcomers, requiring significant time investment to master.
User interface is clunky and not very intuitive, making navigation and command execution cumbersome.
High price point may deter potential players, especially given the lack of flashy graphics and sound.

story
130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
88%
4%
The game's story aspect is largely driven by its mission-based structure, where players engage in strategic military operations without a traditional narrative. While the mission editor allows for extensive customization and creativity, many users express frustration with the AI's unpredictable behavior and the lack of immersive storytelling elements. Overall, the game offers a vast array of missions and scenarios, but the experience can feel disjointed due to the absence of cohesive narratives and the reliance on scripted events.
- “Incredibly detailed mechanics to provide the utmost realism that can be had without access to classified material, extraordinary mission builder supported by a very active and passionate community.”
- “This game is one of its kind due to the sheer amount of content (at least 10,000+ units, 5000+ weapons), replayability (30+ standard missions, 60+ community missions, and an in-game mission editor) and total control from a tactical to strategic scale.”
- “Your imagination truly is the limit with this if you are a mission maker.”
- “When I bought this, it had lots of missions, then after a few months they took most of those missions and stuck them into a paid DLC - dishonest if you ask me!”
- “Be aware that the basic game comes with no campaign whatsoever, just some community-made missions, of which the lowest difficulty mission is highly prejudicial to the player.”
- “On the other hand, there are no dramatic first-person graphics, no embedded plots, no immersive storylines.”
graphics
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
72%
12%
The graphics in this game are largely considered rudimentary, with most visuals limited to 2D maps and NATO symbols, lacking any 3D representations or detailed animations. While some players appreciate the minimalist approach for its immersive simulation experience, many criticize the outdated and simplistic graphics, suggesting that those seeking high-quality visuals should look elsewhere. Overall, the focus is on gameplay and strategic depth rather than graphical fidelity, making it more suitable for serious simulation enthusiasts than casual gamers.
- “The graphics always turned me off trying this game in the past, but it's funny as I found the lack of graphics actually made the game more immersive than games with good graphics because it was like you are the real commander in the command center looking at a map with radar signals on it and giving commands.”
- “While it's definitely not worth the sticker price with the lack of modular databases and relative paucity of graphical features, sound design, and other things, Matrix/Slitherine have a rather silly habit of double or triple charging what a comparable independent studio might charge for similar work.”
- “Simply put, don't buy this game if you are more concerned about graphics than the things actually going on in the game.”
- “So if you're looking for big 4K graphics where you can see individual rivets on the hull of a ship, this game won't be for you.”
- “The graphics, if you can call it that, is a render of the earth with NATO symbols and sensor/weapon ranges drawn on it.”
- “Cmano includes no 3D graphics at all, and 95% of the time is spent staring at a geographical map of whatever combat zone your mission takes place in.”
gameplay
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
73%
5%
The gameplay is centered around a complex command and control system that allows players to manage a wide variety of military units across realistic maps, offering deep strategic and tactical planning opportunities. While the game features extensive tutorials and modding support, players have noted a steep learning curve, a cumbersome user interface, and frequent bugs that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game is praised for its detailed mechanics and rich content, appealing primarily to military simulation enthusiasts willing to invest time in mastering its intricacies.
- “The gameplay is built around a sophisticated command and control system, where players can deploy a vast array of units—including aircraft, ships, submarines, and ground forces—across detailed maps that represent real-world geographic locations.”
- “With its detailed mechanics, extensive scenario options, and commitment to realism, the game offers a rich platform for both tactical planning and strategic execution.”
- “The game mechanics include a serious sensor/weapon gameplay in which an intricate amount of calculations are made akin to an actual military grade combat simulator.”
- “A game priced in AAA ranges where you get what you pay for: frustrating gameplay!”
- “Boring, zero tension, confusing gameplay.”
- “Technically amazing, the asset list and detailing is a work of art - but the gameplay is so sterile, basically a wall of text and idiot AI.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, ghosting text, and bugs that detract from the experience. While the game is capable of handling complex simulations with detailed modeling, it struggles with performance when managing large numbers of units, requiring high-end hardware for optimal play. Despite ongoing improvements through patches, the user interface and overall performance still leave much to be desired, making it less accessible for casual players.
- “This sim is capable of all of it and anything in between, all with every aircraft, ship and submarine system, sensor and weapon modeled in exacting detail with regards to performance and capability.”
- “Everything, and I mean everything, is modeled in excruciating detail with extreme care and thought at every turn, from individual weapons systems to radar performance to 1970s era warships.”
- “This is as real as it gets, no frills, no arcade just pure strategy and authentic systems performance for each weapon modeled in the game, not for the casual player but deeply rewarding for the serious wargamer, absolutely recommended.”
- “Though it's not sold on Steam anymore, those who have this title probably, like me, experience significant performance issues.”
- “Ghosting of text over the map, stuttering, and artifacts all take away from a potentially engrossing title.”
- “The performance takes a nosedive when you start having thousands of units because of the sheer volume of calculations the game does, but it's still insanely impressive.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
65%
20%
The music in the game has been widely criticized for being repetitive, uninspired, and lacking variety, with many players describing it as "godawful" and reminiscent of "elevator music." Users noted that the single background track becomes grating after a short time, leading some to turn it off entirely to avoid annoyance. Overall, the sound design is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the gaming experience.
- “Also, if you want an even more awesome experience, play some radio chatter ambience and subtle tense music in the background, dim your lights and get a second monitor.”
- “Now, I like the atmosphere that some good music can provide in games.”
- “The incessant 'elevator/doctor office music' leaves me searching myself to capture the mood of combat as I watch my helicopters drop sonar buoys to it.”
- “And the music is godawful.”
- “The incessant 'elevator/doctor office music' leaves me searching for a way to capture the mood of combat as I watch my helicopters drop sonar buoys to it.”
- “Cheap sounds, boring, repetitive music track that I turn off after about ten minutes of the same music.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The reviews highlight a stark contrast in replayability, with some games criticized for their heavily scripted scenarios offering little to no replay value. In contrast, other titles are praised for their extensive mission editors and a wealth of user-generated content, leading to virtually infinite replayability. Overall, the presence of robust editing tools and community support significantly enhances replay value in certain games.
- “Awesome, just love it... the depth and realism... my kind of sim for sure... never been in the military but was always interested in the hardware... endless replay value with the powerful editor.”
- “Literally hundreds of user-made missions are available from the Steam Workshop and other online forums, so the replayability is more or less infinite.”
- “The replay value is endless; it has a very good mission editor, tons of custom missions, and the devs are very committed, constantly updating it with new features.”
- “Heavily scripted scenarios with no replay value.”
- “Most missions have very low replay value, being heavily scripted.”
- “Commands' approach to AI is to create very scripted scenarios that provide very little in the way of replayability.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with frequent freezes and glitches that disrupt gameplay and mission planning. While some users report improvements following recent updates, many still experience random lock-ups and performance issues, making the overall user experience frustrating. Despite its potential, the persistent bugs and instability hinder recommendations for the game.
- “The unit database and game mechanics are very good, but the game freezes frequently and the complete mess that is somehow allowed to call itself a UI makes mission planning and giving orders utter tedium (of the rage-inducing kind).”
- “I would totally be giving a thumbs up if it weren't for the sudden freezes and lock-ups that seem to happen randomly, doesn't matter if it's a huge game or a small game, or if it is running at max speed or if the game is paused or if I am running it on my weakish laptop or my stupidly overpowered gaming rig.”
- “A more annoying issue is that when editing the magazines of warship ammunition bunkers, the game freezes for several seconds and must reload the entire list one item at a time.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its unexpected charm, with players finding that the simplistic graphics enhance immersion rather than detract from it. While some moments, like the gunfire and ricochet effects, can be amusing, they may also become quickly tiresome. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, creating a unique experience.
- “The graphics always turned me off trying this game in the past, but it's funny as I found the lack of graphics actually made the game more immersive than games with good graphics because it was like you are the real commander in the command center looking at a map with radar signals on it and giving commands.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. The user interface adds to the frustration, making the experience feel cumbersome and slow, reminiscent of the unpredictability of real warfare.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The pilot UI is bizarre at best and tedious to work with.”
- “And, like genuine warfare, it can unfold slowly and be tedious, only to suddenly hit the player with an unmanageable number of unexpected twists and turns.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game involves frequent advertisements encouraging players to purchase additional content, reminiscent of classic advertising methods from the 1980s.
- “I was greeted with an advertisement to buy some more content.”
- “Reminds me of old Infocom ads in the 80s, how the brain is the best graphical processor around.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the creative freedom it offers players, allowing them to engage deeply with the content through customization and exploration of diverse historical and hypothetical scenarios. This flexibility fosters a sense of enjoyment and personal connection to the gameplay experience.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere in the game is heavily influenced by its repetitive soundtrack, which some players find detracts from the overall experience. While the music has the potential to enhance the atmosphere, its lack of variety may lead to a monotonous feel.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world with its stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the eerie environment, creating a sense of tension and anticipation.”
- “Every detail in the environment contributes to a rich atmosphere that makes exploration feel rewarding and engaging.”

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13h Median play time

59h Average play time

9-90h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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