Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive

About

"Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive" is an operational-level wargame that simulates the Battle of the Bulge in World War II, with a focus on realistic details and unit maneuvers at the battalion scale. The game offers a large campaign scenario spanning 16 days, as well as shorter scenarios centered around specific locations such as St. Vith and Bastogne. It features a 1km/hex map and turn-based gameplay with four turns per day, including a night turn. The game is part of the Decisive Campaigns series and includes various additions, changes, and improvements.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive screenshot

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 110 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features innovative mechanics such as detailed line of sight, reconnaissance, and a smaller scale that enhances tactical gameplay.
It offers a rich historical context with numerous scenarios, making it an engaging experience for both new and veteran wargamers.
The graphics and UI are well-designed, providing a clear and immersive experience that helps players manage complex strategies effectively.

The AI is poorly designed, often leading to predictable victories and frustrating gameplay due to its inability to hold key positions or make strategic decisions.
The manual is incomplete and lacks clarity, making it difficult for players to fully understand the game's mechanics and features.
Some players find the game tedious and scale-confused, with issues like inconsistent combat odds and a lack of depth in unit differentiation.

gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
The gameplay of "Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive" is praised for its innovative infantry mechanics and the balance it strikes between large-scale strategic and smaller tactical gameplay. While the game introduces a wealth of new features and requires some time to master, it remains accessible for those familiar with hex and counter games. The incorporation of time-of-day mechanics adds a unique layer to strategy, enhancing the overall experience for fans of the series.
- “Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive delivers the perfect balance between large-scale strategic gameplay of classic wargames and the smaller tactical layer.”
- “In short, if you are a fan of the series, you will most likely like this game: it has many improvements over the previous games while introducing new concepts and features that make it fresh and unique, while retaining the same core gameplay you have come to know and love.”
- “Another great installment in the Decisive Campaigns series, with a unique twist this time (replacing the political RPG layer of Barbarossa) being the smaller scale, between operational and tactical levels, which leads to a host of new features and mechanics that you'll rarely find in operational war games.”
- “Takes some getting used to the mechanics.”
- “If you've played hex and counter games before you can quickly pick up the rules and gameplay, but it's not easy to master.”
- “Having not played Grigsby's games, it seems that here you lose much of the air war, command, and supply mechanics.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and informative nature, particularly the detailed map and unit designs that evolve with gameplay. However, some users note a lack of contrast, which detracts from the overall visual experience. The artwork and music complement the graphics well, enhancing the game's atmosphere.
- “The map and unit graphics are gorgeous for an operational game, and I like the way that the unit graphics change as casualties are taken.”
- “Graphics are clearly informative, and the unit descriptions are historically correct.”
- “Really nice music and artwork.”
- “Another problem is the graphics, or more accurately, a lack of contrast.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality and mood, with many users describing the soundtrack as amazing and well-suited to the game's atmosphere. The "soft and threatening" music loop has particularly resonated with fans, leading some to express a desire for it to be available for purchase as DLC. Overall, the combination of music and artwork enhances the immersive experience of the game.
- “The soundtrack is amazing!”
- “Theme music is well moody, love it.”
- “I am a big fan of this series - if you've read my previous reviews, you know this is right up my alley. The 'soft and threatening' music loop is fantastic - I wish they would sell it on Steam as DLC!”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of dc:ao is highly praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by a captivating historical context that enriches the operational wargame experience. Players find the combination of features and setting creates a compelling and engaging environment.
- “With all these features - and given the fascinating historical context of this scenario - DC:AO is simply a very atmospheric operational wargame.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, often feeling confused about the scale of progression and deeming it unrealistic.
- “Tedious, scale-confused, and unrealistic.”
- “Tedious, scale-confused, and unrealistic.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is accessible and engaging, making it approachable even for players unfamiliar with hex strategy games. The clear manual and training missions help ease players into the narrative, preventing feelings of overwhelm.