Company of Heroes

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"Company of Heroes" is a real-time strategy game set in WWII, with a focus on cinematic intensity and historical accuracy. Players lead Allied squads through key battles, using advanced AI and dynamic battlefields to complete objectives and defeat enemies. The single player campaign offers a captivating and immersive experience of WWII's turmoil.

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Play Modes

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,030 reviews

gameplay217 positive mentions

stability29 negative mentions

gameplay
532 mentions
41 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Company of Heroes" is widely praised for its depth, strategic mechanics, and engaging tactical elements, making it a standout title in the RTS genre. Players appreciate the innovative cover system, destructible environments, and the emphasis on resource control through territory capture, which encourages dynamic combat and strategic planning. While some critiques mention pacing issues and occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rich, immersive experience that has aged well and remains enjoyable even years after its release.
- “The gameplay is action-packed as resource generation comes from the objectives that you capture on the field, incentivizing players to constantly move forward with their units and fight for every patch of land.”
- “Company of Heroes is an RTS based in the European theatre during WWII, its gameplay and nuance have made it one of the greatest games of its genre.”
- “The gameplay is deep and one unit can often make a difference, with mechanics that reward positioning and strategy over actions per minute.”
- “This game feels like an in-between of a civilization game and an Age of Empires game if it was set in World War II, but the gameplay is the combined worst of both series.”
- “If the units immediately responded to my commands and the gameplay was at least 50% faster, I could see myself enjoying it, but that's not the case.”
- “It's a realistic RTS in some ways, but it doesn't matter how real it portrays WWII when the gameplay is pure garbage.”
story
461 mentions
31 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in "Company of Heroes" is generally praised for its well-crafted campaigns that immerse players in the historical context of World War II, particularly through engaging missions and character-driven narratives. While some players find the storytelling compelling and reminiscent of classic war films like "Saving Private Ryan," others note that the narrative can sometimes feel secondary to gameplay, with certain missions being overly scripted or frustratingly difficult. Overall, the game is recognized for its strong campaign structure and variety of missions, making it a standout in the RTS genre despite some technical issues and a few forgettable story elements.
- “The story mode is very accurate, and is based on the real events during the war.”
- “The campaigns are excellent, with brilliant missions and storylines, and AI that not only makes things challenging but also quite atmospheric.”
- “The story draws you in and online mods are loads of fun!”
- “However, the story sometimes takes a backseat to gameplay, serving more as a context for the battles than a deeply explored narrative.”
- “In the campaign, the game follows a squad of soldiers but instead of telling a story or making an attempt to make them feel relatable, all that happens before each mission is a small cutscene of guys talking about some random things, nothing of relevance to anything.”
- “If I have to actually mention a drawback it would be that the singleplayer story is very forgettable; the campaign itself features some pretty great missions for sure, but the story surrounding it is pretty meh.”
graphics
412 mentions
52 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Company of Heroes," released in 2006, are widely praised for their impressive detail and realism, especially considering the game's age. Many players note that the visuals still hold up well today, with detailed environments and animations that enhance the immersive World War II experience. While some aspects, particularly the cutscenes, show their age, the overall graphical presentation remains a strong point of the game, often described as beautiful and engaging.
- “The graphics still hold up remarkably well considering its age!”
- “For its time, 'Company of Heroes' boasted impressive graphics, with highly detailed units, destructible environments, and realistic physics.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly not bad despite the game's initial release date and I did not encounter any bugs or game-altering annoyances.”
- “The game and graphics are decent when operating properly, which compounds the frustration when it acts up during the middle of the action.”
- “The graphics are a bit outdated, especially up close (the game is from 2006, so no worries).”
- “While the graphics are not top-notch nowadays, they are still very enjoyable.”
replayability
70 mentions
41 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players praising its well-crafted campaigns, diverse multiplayer modes, and the ability to approach scenarios with different strategies. The inclusion of mods further enhances the experience, offering new content and variations that keep players engaged. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most replayable RTS games available, providing countless hours of enjoyment.
- “The campaigns are well thought out, enjoyable, compelling, and have good replay value.”
- “The multiplayer component of 'Company of Heroes' extends the game's replayability, offering intense battles against other players with a focus on strategy and tactical execution.”
- “The multiple single-player campaigns offer hours of entertainment each, have decent replayability with the various tactics and strategies you can take in each mission, and do an amazing job of drawing you into their individual stories.”
- “Limited replayability, no major differences (same game, different day)”
- “Not much replay value past the first couple of hours.”
- “The main campaigns themselves only take around 10 hours to complete; however, there is a lot of replay value with Company of Heroes.”
music
69 mentions
48 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its excellent orchestral composition, immersive sound design, and effective voice acting, which together enhance the overall gameplay experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the game's atmosphere, with memorable themes that evoke a cinematic feel reminiscent of World War II films. While some mention that the soundtrack may not be groundbreaking, it is generally regarded as solid and fitting for the game's context, contributing significantly to its status as a classic in the RTS genre.
- “The audio design is equally compelling, featuring authentic sound effects, an atmospheric soundtrack, and voice acting that adds personality to units and urgency to the combat.”
- “You can tell the theme of cinema was important to the original team that made this game, with the epic full orchestra music, to an excellent campaign with a great artwork style in its storytelling.”
- “The music is great, the voice acting is fantastic.”
- “I missed the music and voice acting so much.”
- “- mediocre soundtrack that gets a considerable upgrade with great music in the expansions.”
- “[*] The music is just what you need for ambiance in this game: while they could've featured some slower military music, it wouldn't have fitted well with the overall ambiance of the game.”
optimization
41 mentions
27 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
24 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it performs well on older hardware, many players report significant performance issues on modern systems, including crashes and stuttering. Despite its solid gameplay and graphics, the lack of updates to optimize for contemporary technology has left it struggling to run smoothly, leading to frustration among users. Some players suggest that mods may help improve performance, but the game's optimization remains a notable drawback.
- “This game took optimization and AI to a new level; back in the day, you could play this game on a potato.”
- “Classic RTS with good graphics, stable solid performance, and good multiplayer.”
- “Nice and challenging campaign, amazing performance and graphics.”
- “This game used to be my favorite RTS of all time. It is way better than COH2 and definitely better than COH3 in my opinion, and it would still be up there only if I could play it. For some reason, I can only play it once after installation, and after that, it just won't start again, which is frustrating. I don't know what it is, but I guess this game is poorly optimized for newer computers. It seems the devs have forgotten about it, and that is a big shame because this is a great game if it were to work.”
- “The downside is that, like many other long-lived classics, the program was not optimized (and still has not been remastered) to exploit the more powerful contemporary computer architectures.”
- “One of the most unoptimized PC games out there, and it wasn't even on console, so there’s no bad port excuse.”
humor
39 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, particularly for its entertaining voice lines and character interactions that provide comedic relief during intense gameplay. Players find the banter among troops and the absurdity of certain game mechanics, like the effectiveness of artillery and the quirky behavior of units, to be genuinely funny. While some repetitive dialogue can wear thin over time, the overall comedic tone adds a lighthearted element to the strategic experience, making it enjoyable, especially when played with friends.
- “Still the best realistic war sim RTS period, old but gold, with amazing voice track and funny dialogue how troops are teasing each other in combat. Graphics and sound effects are top notch... try using artillery or tanks with your home cinema system, your subwoofer will break your eardrums!”
- “Voice lines of characters are so numerous and entertaining you'll catch yourself laughing at something a rank-and-file soldier says that you've never heard before, even after hundreds of hours in the game.”
- “The voice acting is hilarious; the characters will even break the fourth wall to make fun of you.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
- “The humor is outdated and doesn't resonate with today's audience.”
atmosphere
36 mentions
53 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and intense depiction of war, enhanced by stunning graphics, realistic sound design, and dynamic environments. Players appreciate the authentic audio effects and atmospheric soundtrack that contribute to a gripping experience, making it feel both chaotic and engaging. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its standout features, creating a compelling and memorable experience that resonates with players.
- “The audio design is equally compelling, featuring authentic sound effects, an atmospheric soundtrack, and voice acting that adds personality to units and urgency to the combat.”
- “One of the standout features of Company of Heroes is its stunning graphics and immersive sound design, which creates a convincing and atmospheric depiction of war-torn Europe.”
- “However, the setting and atmosphere is well-done and I really liked how the developer Viva La Mobile stuck close to missions from the PC game.”
- “The atmosphere and the immersion this brings to the table is unsurpassed; the cries of your dead soldiers will affect you, you will shout with them as they scream at the top of their lungs when, against all odds, a few lonely infantrymen manage to blow up a tank.”
- “Somehow Relic managed to create a wargame with arcadey gameplay and an intense atmosphere.”
stability
33 mentions
12 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and freezing issues, particularly during save commands and mission restarts. While it runs well on modern machines and offers enjoyable gameplay, the persistent technical problems, especially in unit pathfinding and multiplayer, detract significantly from the overall experience. Players recommend frequent saving to mitigate the impact of these issues.
- “Runs great on any modern machine, easy to mod, and also comes with access to the many fun mini campaigns.”
- “It still looks and runs great.”
- “Mostly bug free and seems to hold up over the years.”
- “It freezes when one attempts to issue a save command.”
- “One thing I had trouble with is that with its age, it has famous and noticeable bugs, glitches, and a complex quest system and saving structure where it is annoying to replay missions from the start if you fail a mission, leave, or have to restart.”
- “The game is nice to play; the missions are awesome, but it just freezes up the screen and does not work properly. Why is that?”
grinding
27 mentions
4 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
56 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious, often requiring significant time investment that some players find overwhelming, likening it to needing "a second life." While some missions provide a sense of accomplishment, many players express frustration with repetitive tasks and resource farming, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It gets tedious in later levels.”
- “Some repetitive/tedious missions.”
monetization
22 mentions
14 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many users expressing frustration over the prevalence of microtransactions and DLC practices that they perceive as greedy or exploitative. While some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions in certain versions, others fear that future installments may succumb to aggressive monetization strategies, leading to a "pay-to-win" environment. Overall, there is a strong desire for games that respect players by avoiding intrusive monetization tactics.
- “🔳 None, completely free from microtransactions (no wallets harmed here!)”
- “▢ Cosmetic-only microtransactions (style without the pay-to-win)”
- “☑️ No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “Why do we have to suffer through rubbish games filled to the brim with cosmetics and microtransactions!”
- “I have a feeling COH3 will be ruined by dumb decisions and microtransactions like COH2 was.”
- “The game was turned into a cash grab DLC simulator when it was released because of the deadly alliance between the amateur developers who learned to be greedy from COH Online and Sega, which is known for spamming DLC one after another.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke feelings of sadness and attachment to soldiers, particularly through its portrayal of the brutality of war and the sacrifices made by individuals on both sides. The game's narrative and mechanics, such as the cover and morale systems, enhance this emotional experience, making it a memorable and impactful strategy game.
- “One awesome game I've played many times, probably one of the first strategy games on WWII that shows the brutality of war. The first time you play it, it hits you emotionally and shows you what people sacrificed in that war (on both sides), as well as presenting the war from a German perspective too.”
- “This is one of the rare RTS games that made me feel connected with my soldiers and sad when they died.”
- “Great RTS, with magnificent gameplay and a touching story mode.”