Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,016 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter Game Cover
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"Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter" is a realistic navy simulation game that puts you in command of a World War II destroyer. Hunt down enemy submarines using historical weapons and tactics, and manage your crew and ship's systems to ensure survival in challenging sea battles. With a focus on authenticity and attention to detail, this game offers a thrilling and immersive experience for fans of naval warfare.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,016 reviews
story14 positive mentions
stability14 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique perspective on WWII naval warfare, allowing players to command a destroyer and hunt U-boats.
  • The attention to historical accuracy and detail in the game's mechanics is commendable, providing an immersive experience.
  • The gameplay is challenging yet rewarding, with a steep learning curve that enhances the sense of achievement when successfully sinking a U-boat.
  • The U-boats are often too fast and maneuverable, making them difficult to sink even after direct hits with depth charges.
  • The game currently lacks a comprehensive campaign mode, limiting replayability and depth of content.
  • The tutorial can be overwhelming, with constant radio chatter that distracts from learning the game's mechanics effectively.
  • story178 mentions

    The game's story is primarily conveyed through a series of procedurally generated missions focused on escorting convoys and engaging enemy U-boats, which some players find repetitive and lacking in depth. While there are cutscenes and a narrative framework, many reviewers feel that the missions lack variety and a sense of progression, leading to a feeling of monotony. Overall, the storytelling elements are seen as underdeveloped, with players expressing a desire for more immersive and varied campaign experiences.

    • “That is the essence of the story being told here about what it may have felt like to be escorting a World War II convoy through dangerous, U-boat infested waters.”
    • “In-game cinematics at the start of the missions further showcase the crew taking position, from the commissioned officers on the bridge to the sailors on deck bracing themselves for the inevitable confrontation.”
    • “And we now have a full career mode, with fully voiced cut-scenes telling your character's story as captain.”
    • “The campaign mode is a joke, there is no campaign, you just play the same three missions over and over again, there is no progression, no crew or ship management, no choices, no medals or promotions, absolutely nothing.”
    • “The missions and snippets of dialogue never felt compelling, no real sense of fear or urgency as the u-boats maneuver like some sort of underwater UFO taking more damage than a battleship.”
    • “This game lacks any details that make you want to continue playing once you've beaten one or two missions.”
  • gameplay172 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a balance between realism and accessibility, requiring players to master various mechanics such as sonar tracking and crew coordination. While the graphics are not groundbreaking, they do not detract significantly from the experience, which is primarily focused on action and strategy in anti-submarine warfare. However, some players find the gameplay repetitive and suggest improvements to mechanics and realism, indicating that the game may appeal more to dedicated simulation fans rather than casual players.

    • “The level of realism of some of the important mechanics strikes a decent balance between accessibility and realism, requiring you to master some aspects such as sonar tracking of the submarines, targeting your anti-submarine arsenal, and coordinating between the crew stations.”
    • “The basic gameplay loop is pretty satisfying, and the now-completed career mode is a good way to put it all together.”
    • “Overall, I can recommend the game to simulation players with a keen interest in ASW and submarine warfare who like a 'bathtub-simulation' with instant immersion into action-rich, and time-limited gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay makes no sense, there is no tutorial, and the voices sound AI-generated and robotic.”
    • “Below an at first glance good looking UI and nice stations lie terrible clunky mechanics and very simplified gameplay. Everything is condensed into the pure 'action' ASW perspective, no docking, no air defense, just instant action on the convoy.”
    • “The gameplay can get tedious, even for someone like me who appreciates slow-paced combat.”
  • graphics100 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many players describing them as acceptable to poor, often feeling dated or reminiscent of earlier console generations like the PS2. While some appreciate the decent visuals and attention to detail in simulation, others criticize graphical glitches and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite these shortcomings, many agree that the gameplay compensates for the graphics, making it an enjoyable experience overall.

    • “Great game, very realistic with excellent graphics!”
    • “Though the game was developed by a small team, the graphics in the game both internally and externally are top notch and the developers have really captured the cat and mouse feel of anti-submarine warfare brilliantly.”
    • “The graphics external and internal are good enough that nothing stands out to take you away from the moment and break the illusion.”
    • “The graphics are nothing to write home about, even somewhat dated in some areas, and the performance is really bad for the amount of graphical detail we get.”
    • “I had hopes for this game; while the gameplay might be there, the graphics are just PS2 quality, which kills the experience for me.”
    • “Unfortunately and apparently, the game doesn't support PCs with Intel Iris Xe graphics, which causes the gun, lookouts, and external views to be basically useless.”
  • atmosphere34 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Destroyer: the U-Boat Hunter" is highly praised for its immersive naval warfare experience, effectively blending tactical depth with intense tension. The game's sound design, including a compelling soundtrack and voice acting, enhances the suspenseful environment, while cinematic cutscenes contribute to the overall immersion. Players appreciate the attention to detail in creating a gripping atmosphere reminiscent of naval films like "Greyhound."

    • “It does a great job of capturing the nail-biting tension of tough, in-the-moment decision making, with special props to the soundtrack for really creating the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is where it thrives.”
    • “The battle starts in cinematic cut scenes all done in 3D with relevant real-time information pertaining to your current detected submarine contact, adding much to the immersion and atmosphere.”
    • “Ironwolf captures the atmosphere incredibly well, as the alarm bell rings out, crew hurry to battle stations and you're updated by the radar or sonar stations of unknown contacts closing in around the convoy.”
    • “I hope when the campaign does arrive you get enough downtime/quiet moments to drink in the atmosphere and just savor the environment, because it's that good; all you'd need is a spray bottle with some salt water in and jobs sorted.”
  • optimization24 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues and dated graphics, while others report smooth gameplay with no bugs or stuttering on high-end systems. Notably, underwater performance for uboats is criticized for being inconsistent, as damage does not seem to affect their capabilities. Overall, while some users are satisfied with stability and performance, others are awaiting updates to address optimization concerns.

    • “I haven't experienced any bugs, and the performance is excellent.”
    • “The game looks pretty, plays pretty decently with little to no performance issues (running a Ryzen 5 2600, 32GB of DDR4 RAM, a GTX 970, and it was installed on a pretty new SSD on Windows 10).”
    • “The game runs faultless so far with no adjustment needed (i9, RTX 2080 Ti, 32GB) no stuttering, frame drops, or glitching to report.”
    • “The graphics are nothing to write home about, even somewhat dated in some areas, and the performance is really bad for the amount of graphical detail we get.”
    • “The biggest drawback in the game so far is the uboat's cracked performance underwater.”
    • “In regards to acceleration and turn rate, the uboats appear to have the exact same performance underwater as they do while surfaced, which is what's causing a lot of issues during the final moments before dropping the depth charges.”
  • music22 mentions

    The music and voice acting in the game receive high praise, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack's ability to enhance tension and immersion during gameplay. The combination of atmospheric music and radio chatter effectively captures the urgency of naval combat, reminiscent of films like "Greyhound." Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's engaging experience.

    • “The pace and music of the game pair well, and there are hours of gameplay here for novice and seasoned ship captains alike.”
    • “It does a great job of capturing the nail-biting tension of tough, in-the-moment decision making, with special props to the soundtrack for really creating the atmosphere.”
    • “Reminds me of the movie 'Greyhound', and the radio chatter/voice overlays, plus the music, really adds to the tension and urgency when your sonar locks onto a contact.”
    • “The soundtrack made me long for my u-boat gramophone though.”
    • “It is good, it's intense when chasing a U-boat you can't see with the music and the atmosphere it creates.”
    • “Reminds me of the movie 'Greyhound', and the radio chatter/voice overlays, plus the music, really adds to tension and the urgency when your sonar locks onto a contact.”
  • stability14 mentions

    The game's stability is marred by significant graphical glitches that can render it unplayable for some users, particularly those with epilepsy due to flashing visuals. Additionally, players report issues such as game freezes on startup and buggy combat mechanics, though these do not universally detract from the overall experience. While minor glitches are acknowledged, they indicate a need for further improvements and fixes.

    • “The visual glitches in this game are either so bright it's blinding or so dark you can't see the game, making it literally unplayable. God forbid you have epilepsy because if you do, there's no warning and the visual glitches do flash from time to time.”
    • “Game freezes on startup.”
    • “There's a lot of glitches that need to be fixed and mechanics that need to be improved.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game offers decent replayability through procedurally generated missions and customizable elements like unit sizes and weather conditions. However, some players feel it lacks depth, comparing it to mobile games, and suggest that replay value may diminish until further campaign content is introduced.

    • “Procedurally generated missions and battles grant a good level of replayability.”
    • “But it's just missing a certain replayability... it feels almost like a mobile game.”
    • “The ability to customize the single missions from unit sizes to weather conditions will offer replay value until a certain point at which the campaign must reveal itself through a subsequent update.”
    • “+ replay value through customization.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted to be quite effective, with players finding moments of levity amidst the gameplay, particularly in interactions like using sonar and navigating a crewless boat surrounded by zombies. Many reviewers emphasize that the humor enhances the overall experience, making the game enjoyable and engaging.

    • “Oh, and sonar is funny too; it doesn't feel like a boat with a crew. You are all alone, surrounded by brain-dead zombies.”
    • “I really like the main idea, the way you can give orders to others, the air support, and battle stations which you really need to spend time to learn to use. The game is funny, which, in my opinion, is the main goal for every game.”
    • “It can be quite funny at times.”
    • “Who says that sailing with the DD is not funny?”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game capable of evoking strong emotions, with some experiences being memorable and impactful. However, the lack of certain historical mechanics and features detracts from the overall emotional depth, preventing it from fully realizing its potential.

    • “🔵 It is so good it can almost become emotional... makes you remember.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with slow-paced combat and cumbersome menu navigation contributing to a frustrating experience. The need to frequently switch between multiple stations adds to the annoyance, making the overall gameplay feel repetitive.

    • “The gameplay can get tedious, even for someone like me who appreciates slow-paced combat.”
    • “The menuing can get kind of tedious or annoying, especially when you're having to jump between several stations at once to keep track of things.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

7hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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