Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 508 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 508 reviews
story7 positive mentions
stability7 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 detail and realism in gameplay mechanics is commendable, providing an immersive experience.
  • The blend of strategic planning and fast-paced action keeps the gameplay engaging and rewarding.
  • The game currently lacks a true campaign mode, limiting the depth and variety of gameplay.
  • U-boats exhibit unrealistic speed and maneuverability, making them difficult to engage effectively.
  • The graphics and some audio elements are subpar, with rendering artifacts and poor voice acting detracting from immersion.
  • story89 mentions

    The game's story is primarily conveyed through a series of procedurally generated missions focused on escorting convoys during World War II, with cutscenes attempting to add narrative depth. However, players find the missions repetitive and lacking in variety, as they often play out similarly with little progression or meaningful choices, leading to a sense of monotony. While the tactical elements and mission objectives provide some engagement, the overall narrative experience feels underdeveloped and disconnected from a cohesive campaign.

    • “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.”
    • “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; there was no real sense of fear or urgency as the u-boats maneuver like some sort of underwater UFO, taking more damage than a battleship.”
    • “Despite being billed as a simulation, it's an action game at heart, with the few realism-evoking mechanics keeping the focus on the tension of battle, split up into set-piece missions rather than giving you an open world.”
  • gameplay86 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a balance between accessibility and realism, 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 described as engaging and rewarding, especially for those who appreciate historical accuracy and submarine warfare. However, some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive, and there are areas for improvement, including the need for a more polished end-battle mechanic and additional features to enhance realism.

    • “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 gameplay is hard, but so was hunting subs. However, once you do, you'll experience a unique and immensely satisfying form of gameplay fun.”
    • “Overall, it's a good game that I recommend to anyone who enjoys historical accuracy mixed with good 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.”
  • graphics50 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many users describing them as acceptable but not groundbreaking, often likening them to older console standards like the PS2. While some players appreciate the decent visuals and attention to detail in certain areas, others criticize graphical glitches and performance issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a secondary concern to gameplay, with many players finding the game enjoyable despite its visual shortcomings.

    • “The graphics, 3D modeling, pretty much everything is first rate.”
    • “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 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, the game doesn't support PCs with Intel Iris Xe graphics, which causes the gun, lookouts, and external views to be basically useless.”
  • atmosphere17 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. Reviewers commend the game's sound design, soundtrack, and cinematic cutscenes, which collectively enhance the feeling of suspense and urgency during gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as top-notch, capturing the essence of naval combat and drawing players into the experience.

    • “Destroyer: the U-boat hunter delivers an immersive naval warfare experience and blends tactical depth with atmospheric tension.”
    • “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 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.”
    • “If you watched the film Greyhound and wanted a PC game that was exactly that, well here you are because this game has all the action and atmosphere you saw and felt watching that movie.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    Overall, optimization feedback for the game is mixed. While some players report excellent performance and stability on high-end systems, others experience significant performance issues, particularly with underwater mechanics and graphical fidelity. Additionally, there are concerns about dated graphics and inconsistent performance across different hardware configurations, leading some users to await updates for improvements.

    • “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.”
    • “Uboat damage also doesn't appear to impact its performance, so you will encounter heavily damaged uboats that can dive deep and move at flank speed despite having oil ruptures.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its ability to enhance immersion and build tension, with many reviewers noting its effectiveness in creating an atmospheric experience reminiscent of naval warfare films like "Greyhound." The soundtrack, combined with voice acting and radio chatter, significantly contributes to the game's intensity, especially during critical moments of gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the overall experience for players.

    • “10/10 OST and voice acting.”
    • “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.”
    • “As you hone in on the target, the music intensifies.”
    • “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.”
    • “Feels a lot like Silent Hunter III or IV (menus, UI, music), but you are defending the convoy instead.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game's stability is marred by various graphical glitches that can significantly hinder gameplay, including blinding visuals and dark screens that may pose risks for players with epilepsy. Additionally, users report issues such as game freezes on startup and buggy combat mechanics, indicating that while the game runs on lower-end equipment, it still requires substantial improvements to enhance overall stability.

    • “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.”
  • replayability4 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 updates enhance the campaign experience.

    • “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.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted to be quite effective, with players finding it amusing, particularly in the context of navigating challenges like dealing with "brain dead zombies" and the dynamics of commanding a crew. Overall, the humor is seen as a key element that enhances the gaming experience.

    • “It can be quite funny at times.”
    • “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.”
    • “Who says that sailing with the DD is not funny?”
    • “The jokes fell flat and felt forced, lacking any real wit.”
    • “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly just childish gags.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players find the game emotionally impactful, evoking nostalgia and strong memories despite its mechanical shortcomings. The absence of certain historical tactics and features detracts from the overall experience, yet the game's emotional resonance remains a highlight for many.

    • “🔵 It is so good it can almost become emotional... makes you remember.”
  • grinding2 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, particularly when managing multiple tasks simultaneously.

    • “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 6 analyzed playthroughs

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