Crisis in the Kremlin

About

"Crisis in the Kremlin" is a challenging strategy game set in the political landscape of the Soviet Union during the late 1980s and early 1990s. As the leader of the Communist Party, players must navigate a complex web of political, economic, and social issues while dealing with multiple possible outcomes. The game features realistic simulations, tactical decision-making, and multiple endings based on player choices.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 470 reviews

gameplay11 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Engaging political simulation with a lot of depth and replayability.
Captures the atmosphere of the late Soviet Union with a fitting soundtrack.
Offers multiple paths and strategies for managing the USSR, allowing for creative gameplay.

Poor English translation and numerous spelling errors make the game difficult to understand.
Confusing and clunky user interface that lacks clear feedback on actions and decisions.
Steep learning curve with inadequate tutorial support, making it hard for new players to grasp the mechanics.

gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
69%
13%
The gameplay is characterized by a complex and often confusing set of mechanics that are poorly explained, leading to a steep learning curve for new players. While the game offers a unique and engaging experience with deep historical references and strategic decision-making, many users criticize the user interface, lack of tutorials, and inadequate translations, which hinder the overall enjoyment. Despite these flaws, some players find the gameplay rewarding once they manage to grasp the intricacies involved.
- “It is pretty interesting and the amount of effort and dedication the developers make with all these historical references and in-depth mechanics is insane.”
- “The mechanics are straightforward but hard to master, and the geopolitics aspect is fun to meddle around with.”
- “But once you learn the mechanics (to the most that you realistically can, of course), the game is very enjoyable and gives you a sense of fulfillment keeping the Soviet Union alive via many different methods.”
- “The tutorial was awful and didn't help, and the already confusing game mechanics are made worse by not being explained anywhere, and then made even worse by the awful layout, disgusting menu navigation, and the ugly font.”
- “This could have been a great game that is let down by its obscure mechanics, and a UI that doesn't tell you what the results of your actions are.”
- “What I didn’t like is the tutorial is very poor, features are not explained very well in-game plus the mechanics behind it all are not explained at all.”
music
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
51%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its diverse and authentic selection of Soviet-era tracks, ranging from propaganda songs to modern synthwave, creating a nostalgic and immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the catchy and engaging soundtrack, which enhances the gameplay experience, despite some limitations in variety. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, with many reviewers rating it highly and noting its ability to evoke strong emotions and historical context.
- “The music is varied and one of my favorite parts; plus learning about the last years of the Cold War has been fascinating.”
- “The devs chose a good selection of songs that range from bombastic wartime thunder and brass to more upbeat, jovial, and optimistic tunes, and they fit the game brilliantly.”
- “There really is something quite catchy about Soviet music, and there really isn't any experience quite like managing the perestroika while humming along to 'Kalinka.'”
- “The interface is the gaming equivalent of using a broomhandle because you've lost your remote; the English is one step above Google Translate, and the Soviet music soundtrack forgoes such clichés as 'Katyusha' or 'V Put' and plays obscure and unknown pieces.”
- “Pretty much a $2 Soviet music playlist.”
- “Also, you can't seem to turn the music off without just turning all the volume down to 0.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
75%
9%
The graphics of the game are largely criticized for being outdated and basic, resembling a low-quality presentation rather than a polished visual experience. While some appreciate the Soviet aesthetic and historical imagery, many users find the interface cumbersome and lacking in clarity, which detracts from the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the visuals are functional but do not meet modern standards, leaving players frustrated with their simplicity and execution.
- “The graphics, songs, and historical pictures all feel very Soviet, creating an immersive atmosphere.”
- “From a visual point of view, the game fits the Soviet theme like a glove; nothing to add here.”
- “While the graphics are largely functional, many of the event pictures are nice Soviet posters or photographs, adding a unique touch to the experience.”
- “The graphics look very old, but the gameplay and the lore are good.”
- “All game visuals appear like PowerPoint presentations, designed by a kid.”
- “The game has a cumbersome interface and low-quality graphics.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The game's story offers an intriguing perspective on the Cold War era, allowing players to engage with historical figures and events, but it suffers from poor execution, including a lack of clarity and coherence. While some players appreciate the ambitious themes, the overall narrative is marred by grammatical issues and a confusing interface, making it difficult for beginners to fully engage with the plot. Ultimately, many feel that the storytelling could be more effectively conveyed through a written format rather than as a game.
- “But the plot of the game is just awesome!”
- “This is a true story.”
- “Nothing is explained or indicated, the grammar and spelling is just a mess in English, and it doesn't really keep a cohesive story along.”
- “You guys have such a love for the subject matter and that much is clear, but as it stands I'd much prefer to read a story you write, than play a game you designed.”
- “Much of the game feels like nothing more than a slightly interactive storyteller.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it offers endless replay value and opportunities to explore different endings and achievements, others feel it diminishes over time due to a lack of complexity and engaging content. Learning from guides can enhance the experience, but the overall depth and interest may not sustain long-term engagement for all players.
- “Replayability is endless here.”
- “All in all, fairly interesting, nice replayability especially if you want to try out different ideologies.”
- “Replayability value decreases over time.”
- “Developers really have to put more effort into the game to make it more complicated and replayable.”
- “However, once you learn and read guides, the game becomes replayable to see what endings you can get and achievements.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, including numerous bugs and broken mechanics that hinder gameplay, such as unresponsive features and translation errors. While it shows potential and can be enjoyable at times, many users find it too unstable to recommend in its present state.
- “The game is still quite buggy and doesn't have the best English translations.”
- “Sadly, I can't yet recommend it to anyone because the game is too buggy to be enjoyable.”
- “Sometimes the lack of feedback results in buggy or broken games.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, particularly in the end game where managing republic loyalty and dealing with unclear mechanics adds to the frustration. Many feel that it requires an unrealistic amount of time investment to progress effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The end game got a little tedious: every time the Republic loyalty dropped, I had enough budget to buy them off repeatedly.”
- “The ministers can also be tedious, as none of the policies explain what they do.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by clever references, such as naming the ultra hard difficulty level "solzhenitsyn" and including witty tooltips that playfully comment on the challenge. Players express a desire for more comedic elements, like amusing animations and an appealing user interface, to enhance the overall experience.
- “The 'ultra hard' difficulty level is called 'Solzhenitsyn,' and the tooltips quip about how this difficulty level is what things would look like if Solzhenitsyn was right, which I find hilarious.”
- “I am incredibly hoping there's a second game with funny little animations and an attractive UI, as I am a fool with the attention span of a small goldfish.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming and authentic Soviet ambiance, enhanced by the inclusion of period-appropriate music. While some users note that the game is unpolished, they appreciate the effort put into creating a labor of love that effectively captures the essence of the Soviet era.
- “Finally, due to the charming atmosphere of the game, with authentic Soviet music in the background, I was willing to overlook these flaws to an extent, while acknowledging them, in the hopes that the game would stamp these out in its continuous development.”
- “It's, to be honest, very unpolished, but it looks like a labor of love and really captures the Soviet atmosphere.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players report a deeply emotional experience, with some expressing that the game moved them to tears, highlighting its powerful storytelling and character development.
- “99/10, I cried when I did it.”
- “The story touched my heart in ways I never expected.”
- “I felt a deep connection to the characters and their struggles.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game has received high praise for its optimization, with users rating performance at an impressive 9.4 out of 10, indicating smooth gameplay and efficient resource management across various systems.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimization.”
- “The performance is top-notch, with minimal lag and quick load times, making for an enjoyable experience.”