Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa

About

Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa is a turn-based strategy war game set in World War II. Players command the German forces invading the Soviet Union, managing military operations, diplomacy, and logistics. The game features a detailed combat system, historical events and leaders, and dynamic campaign scenarios. It also offers a challenging and immersive experience for strategy enthusiasts.

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Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa screenshot

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 181 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

graphics4 negative mentions

Innovative blend of wargaming and role-playing elements, allowing players to navigate complex relationships and political decisions while managing military operations.
Challenging AI that provides a realistic and engaging experience, requiring players to think strategically about logistics, supply lines, and troop movements.
Rich historical context and immersive gameplay that captures the intricacies of the Eastern Front during WWII, making it appealing for both history enthusiasts and strategy gamers.

Steep learning curve that may deter casual players, as mastering the game's mechanics and understanding the various systems can be time-consuming.
Some players may find the interface clunky and outdated, with limited graphics and a lack of modern conveniences found in other strategy games.
The game can feel overwhelming due to the sheer number of decisions and units to manage, which may lead to frustration for those not accustomed to complex wargames.

gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of role-playing elements and strategic card mechanics, offering a unique experience that simulates the complexities of WWII command. While the German side features engaging mechanics and decision-making that impact long-term outcomes, players have noted that the Soviet gameplay can feel shallow and unpolished. Overall, the game provides a deep and rewarding experience for those interested in grand strategy, with a reasonable learning curve and significant replayability, though it may not appeal to all players due to its specific focus and mechanics.
- “The role-playing aspect and the card playing mechanic for front/army group operations is very clever.”
- “The gameplay is very deep and has excellent representation of controlling the high command of either the German or Soviet armies with high fidelity in almost all historical aspects of Operation Barbarossa.”
- “What really sets it apart from anything else I know is the sheer boldness of its premises: integrate roleplaying and historical reality in the gameplay to give it a unique feeling.”
- “No, your main opponent will be unclear results of your decisions made in the true heart of the game: the unholy union of oddly CYOA-like choices repeated ad nauseam and enigmatic rules governing the war-game gameplay.”
- “I don't doubt the Soviets have some very good options later in the game, but the first 4 hours of gameplay has left me feeling disappointed in my overpriced purchase.”
- “Soviet gameplay feels really shallow and unpolished; you will hope and think your situation is about to get rolling until it's December and the game is over.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
46%
31%
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being outdated and poorly executed, with many reviewers noting that they resemble visuals from the 1990s. The minimalistic design and pixilation detract from gameplay, making it difficult to interact with units effectively. While some appreciate the clean and informative charts, the overall aesthetic is considered weak and lacking in detail, impacting the game's enjoyment.
- “Although a lot of screenshots show NATO symbols, you can play with a more graphical interface (which I do) to instantly see if a regiment is infantry or panzer.”
- “The graphics and charts are clean and neat, not cluttered at all.”
- “My counters now have lovely artwork on them; this game really is a little gem.”
- “Terrible graphics even for a game of this type – a counter-pushing, hex-based game does not need fancy animations, but the graphics are right out of 1990.”
- “The most zoomed-out graphics, strategic map, and mini map are pixilated so badly as to be comical.”
- “The poor graphics are not just an aesthetics issue – it impacts how hard it is to interact with your units.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
22%
33%
The game offers significant replayability due to its depth in political and military decisions, allowing players to experience varied gameplay with different nations and settings. Users appreciate the balance between historical accuracy and flexible gameplay options, which contribute to a unique experience in each playthrough. Overall, the game is designed to keep players engaged for many hours, with the potential for expansions to further enhance replay value.
- “I can already tell based on the depth of available political and military decisions that I will be interested in this game for many, many hours due to the replayability alone.”
- “Perfect balance between replayability and historical feel.”
- “Insane amounts of replayability and as much or as little depth as you want.”
- “This game in its default state is designed to offer you more replayability, but there is a setting 'historical on/off'.”
- “Another thing I was concerned with was replay value; this value is different for each person, but to me, it does that job in two ways.”
- “Another way they make it replayable is by having some very important option buttons for your game; you can choose to play historical or a more fluid game with more possibilities.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's optimization is severely lacking, with an outdated interface reminiscent of the 1990s, poor graphics, and sluggish performance even on high-end systems. Players also note that the clunky card system and role-playing elements detract from the overall experience, making it frustrating rather than enjoyable. Despite these issues, the game emphasizes tactical decision-making and performance evaluation, which can impact gameplay outcomes.
- “How you develop those interactions is key to your battlefield performance.”
- “Also, the game comes with an extensive report system that evaluates your performance, and you might even face consequences after the war.”
- “Tactics are hugely important in this game; you really do want to make sure you attack at the right time with the right units, else poor planning will be punished harshly.”
- “Other significant problems include an outdated interface, a clunky card system for decision making, absurdly slow performance, terrible graphics, and no fun.”
- “Interface straight out of 1990 – the interface appears to be optimized for a 1024 x 768 screen resolution.”
- “Game performance right out of 1990 – I have a high-spec gaming rig.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
The game's story is praised for its innovative design and the ability to create unique narratives with each playthrough, including engaging side plots involving character dynamics. Players appreciate the freedom to diverge from historical events, allowing for both authentic and imaginative gameplay experiences, enhanced by extensive mission customization.
- “I love the design innovations and the way it tells a story each playthrough.”
- “There are even small storylines, like your chief of staff being a jerk and pissing off all the theater commanders, but he's von Brauchitsch's (your co) nephew and you have to figure out what to do with him.”
- “Of great importance, of course, is just how much the game allows you the freedom to divert from the historical facts and play missions on a 'what if' basis for those who desire and do complete the game as authentically as possible.”
- “Little story on the side that I had when I lost my internet for about a week; this game was the best thing I had on my PC that kept me through without going crazy :) that's when I realized thank God I bought this game lol :D hope this comment will help you all.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric quality, making it one of the standout features, despite being short. Many users recommend the game specifically for its soundtrack, particularly appealing to fans of the OST front.
- “I would recommend this game flat out; if you like the OST front, get this game.”
- “Artillery and air attacks are often useless except for the soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is short but is among the most atmospheric music I've heard in a wargame.”
- “I would recommend this game flat out if you like the OST front; get this game.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The atmosphere of the game is highly immersive, effectively re-connecting players to the realities of warfare through a compelling soundtrack and a narrative that captures the chaotic decline of a military campaign. Players feel a strong sense of high command, as the game convincingly portrays the challenges and turmoil faced during the conflict.
- “The soundtrack is short but belongs to the most atmospheric music I've heard in a wargame.”
- “Convincingly immerses the player in the atmosphere of high command, and from the German perspective, captures the nature of a campaign that begins as unstoppable, frays at the edges, and gradually descends into chaos due to logistical disasters, weather issues, political infighting, and the Nazis just being total jerks.”
- “As a great side effect, this creates a huge immersion and atmosphere by 're-attaching' you to the reality of warfare.”
- “Convincingly immerses the player in the atmosphere of high command, and from the German perspective, captures the nature of a campaign that begins as unstoppable, begins fraying at the edges, and gradually goes to hell from logistical disasters, weather snafus, political infighting, and the Nazis just being total jerks.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of turn-based operational wargames, particularly in large-scale scenarios like Barbarossa, to be tedious and time-consuming due to the manual management of cards and counters. While some appreciate the realism, many feel that the micromanagement involved detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a desire for more engaging gameplay beyond just repetitive tasks.
- “I tend to lose interest in turn-based counter-shuffling operational wargames as it often becomes too tedious and time-consuming to manually shuffle everything round for round over the map, especially when talking about grand operations like Barbarossa.”
- “While this represents a realistic aspect, I found the card menu cumbersome, the cards uninformative, and the management of them often tedious micromanagement.”
- “Do you believe wargames should consist of more than just grinding chits against each other?”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The game is praised for its exceptional stability, with users reporting no bugs or glitches even after extensive playtime. Overall, it is considered incredibly bug-free, contributing to a smooth gaming experience.
- “Great game, incredibly bug-free too.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or freezes.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game deeply impactful, as they face heart-wrenching decisions that often lead to difficult choices and moral dilemmas. The tension of balancing personal values with strategic needs creates a poignant experience that resonates with the players.
- “You perform a heart-breaking triage on the decisions you have to make, repeatedly making bad choices so as not to upset the apple cart because you need to keep your political powder dry for the big fight over that one thing you think you absolutely need.”
- “The emotional weight of each decision lingers long after the game ends, making you reflect on the choices you made and their impact on the characters.”
- “Every character's story is woven with such depth that you can't help but feel their struggles and triumphs as if they were your own.”