Cossacks: Back to War

About

"Cossacks: Back to War" is a stand-alone real-time strategy game set in 16th-18th century Europe, featuring 3D landscapes and 20 nations to command. This add-on includes 100 single missions and introduces Switzerland and Hungary as new playable nations, with no requirement for owning other Cossacks games. Experience thrilling gameplay and influence the development of European military strategies.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,297 reviews

story10 positive mentions

stability16 negative mentions

Cossacks: Back to War offers massive battles with thousands of units, providing an epic and immersive experience.
The game features a rich historical context with a variety of nations, each with unique units and buildings, enhancing strategic depth.
It has a nostalgic charm and remains engaging for both new players and veterans of the RTS genre.

The game has compatibility issues with modern systems, particularly Windows 10 and 11, leading to crashes and display errors.
Multiplayer functionality is often unstable or non-existent, making it difficult to play with friends online.
The AI can be simplistic and predictable, which may lead to a lack of challenge in single-player modes.

story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
82%
5%
The game's story aspect is primarily delivered through over 100 single missions and historical scenarios, providing significant replay value and variety. However, many players note the lack of unique dialogue or mission objectives, as the missions often feel like predetermined skirmishes rather than engaging narratives. While the inclusion of additional nations and the ability to create custom missions are appreciated, the absence of exclusive campaigns and the need for paid DLC for full access to content have drawn criticism.
- “The single-player campaigns in Back to War provide additional historical scenarios, offering a mix of missions that challenge players both strategically and tactically.”
- “There are no campaigns besides the tutorial; if you only buy 'Cossacks: Back to War', however, there are 100 'single missions' with stories which you can enjoy and of course custom battles to repeat forever.”
- “Some campaign missions are insanely hard, even on normal difficulty, unlike most 'modern' strategy games in which you can usually beat the entire campaign without real effort (which is rather boring, I like having hard missions!).”
- “The armies you can make are massive, but there are no unique dialogue or mission objectives as it is basically a predetermined skirmish simulator.”
- “Great game, and tugs at the old nostalgia strings, but considering it advertises 100 single-player missions, it should be a little clearer that you only get those missions after you pay the extra money for them.”
- “Single missions are the only way to play against AI and have fun, but on high difficulties, you have to well-calculatedly exploit AI's stupidity to beat some missions, which nullifies the fun.”
gameplay
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
62%
4%
The gameplay of Cossacks: Back to War is characterized by its deep strategic elements and large-scale battles set in 16th to 18th-century Europe, offering a rewarding experience for players who invest time in mastering its mechanics. While some features show their age, the game remains addictive and engaging, with a focus on resource management, base building, and tactical combat. The addition of new factions and campaigns enhances the overall experience, making it appealing to both veterans and newcomers, despite some minor drawbacks in balance and structure.
- “The game retains the deep strategic gameplay that Cossacks is known for, set in the turbulent times of 16th to 18th-century Europe.”
- “Despite these minor drawbacks, the depth and complexity of the gameplay make it a rewarding experience for those willing to invest the time.”
- “The gameplay of Cossacks is unique from other RTS games since it is centered around building your base then fielding large armies (a single officer can lead 192 men) of 17th-18th century infantry, cavalry, and artillery against many different nations with their own unique buildings, soldiers, and playstyles.”
- “The game has a mechanic where seemingly random units can capture buildings, but you can only randomly capture them back.”
- “Happens like 3 crashes per 24 hours of gameplay.”
- “The game launches into a small windowed version unable to be fullscreened, leaving only 90% of the screen from the top left, and tinkering with the settings limits gameplay entirely.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The graphics of "Cossacks: Back to War" are generally considered charming and well-suited to its historical setting, despite being dated by modern standards. While the visuals may not impress contemporary gamers, they maintain a classic isometric perspective and detailed animations that enhance the overall immersion and gameplay experience. Many players appreciate the artistic presentation and nostalgic feel, making it a beloved title among fans of the genre.
- “The detailed graphics and sound design enhance this immersion, making each battle feel grand and intense.”
- “The graphics in Back to War maintain the classic isometric perspective and detailed unit animations of the original game.”
- “Graphics are not the best (you can play on weak computers), but come on, the game was made in 2002.”
- “One of the best strategy games today, graphics are not the best but the game was made in 2002.”
- “While not cutting-edge by contemporary standards, the visuals remain charming and contribute to the overall historical atmosphere.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs and crashes that hinder gameplay, including freezing issues and difficulties with multiplayer functionality. While some players express a fondness for the game despite its flaws, many others find it unplayable, leading to requests for refunds. Overall, the consensus indicates that the game suffers from serious stability problems.
- “This game starts then freezes and won't turn off unless I restart my computer.”
- “I click to play multiplayer and sign in with my email, and it freezes.”
- “This game is so buggy I can't even play for more than 5 minutes before it crashes.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
40%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and ability to evoke positive memories, with many players finding it so captivating that they often listen to it before starting gameplay. However, a notable drawback is the inability to adjust the music volume, which some users found limiting. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Entering the game, I couldn't start playing and just listened to the background music, thinking about the happy moments I had playing this game.”
- “Pretty good soundtracks.”
- “Cannot adjust music volume.”
- “The soundtrack is also charming.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance on low-end systems and Windows 10 without compatibility issues, many others criticize it for poor optimization on modern screens and resolutions, leading to crashes. This discrepancy suggests that while some users have a positive experience, there are significant concerns regarding compatibility and stability for others.
- “The game runs smoothly even on low-end systems running on Windows 10; I don't even have to use compatibility mode.”
- “The common cry among the negative reviews is that it is not optimized for modern computers, and that is true. It was not the case for me, but a common warning nevertheless.”
- “It is not optimized for new screens and resolutions; it crashes. Give me my money back!”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky bugs, which can lead to amusing situations, such as characters behaving unexpectedly or experiencing extreme lag. While some bugs can be frustrating and cause crashes, players find joy in the absurdity of these moments, often sharing laughs with friends about their experiences. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor, enhancing the social aspect of gameplay.
- “Met my friend for breakfast (he skipped work as well), spent two hours chatting and laughing about the mad things we had just gone through.”
- “It also has its share of bugs - but they are quite rare and kinda funny (like footmen crossing the sea because you played for too long or extreme lag because of the same reason).”
- “Also, a funny giant ship at the late game is included and everyone is happy.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game boasts high replayability due to the addition of over 100 new missions and two new nations, Switzerland and Hungary, which enhance variety. Engaging in multiplayer battles against human opponents further elevates replay value, as the unpredictability of player strategies keeps the experience fresh and dynamic. Many players report investing extensive hours into the game, highlighting its enduring appeal.
- “I probably put over 1,000 hours into this game back in the day; that's how much replayability it has.”
- “The ability to engage in epic battles with human opponents adds significant replayability, with the unpredictability of human strategies keeping the multiplayer experience dynamic and engaging.”
- “The inclusion of over 100 new missions and two additional nations, Switzerland and Hungary, adds significant replay value and variety.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by charming visuals that evoke a historical setting, despite not being cutting-edge. Additionally, the high-quality sound effects, including cannon fire and nature sounds, effectively immerse players in the battlefield experience.
- “While not cutting-edge by contemporary standards, the visuals remain charming and contribute to the overall historical atmosphere.”
- “Sound effects are top-notch in this game, ranging from atmospheric distant and close cannon fire, to nature sounds, to soldiers dying on a battlefield.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have expressed that the game evokes strong feelings of nostalgia, with some even reporting that it brought them to tears upon seeing it on Steam.
- “This game made me cry of nostalgia when I saw it on Steam. GG.”