First Strike

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"First Strike" is a mobile-friendly strategy game that simulates nuclear warfare between nations. Players must carefully manage resources and technology to achieve global dominance, while avoiding retaliation and environmental catastrophe. With a variety of customizable options and a sleek, intuitive interface, it offers a tense and thought-provoking exploration of modern military conflicts.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,000 reviews

graphics162 positive mentions

monetization354 negative mentions

The game has great graphics and engaging gameplay.
It offers a unique and strategic experience of nuclear warfare.
The multiplayer mode adds a fun and competitive element to the game.

Many features and countries are locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating for players.
The AI is overly aggressive, often targeting the player immediately without giving a chance to expand.
The game frequently crashes, especially during intense moments or when trying to watch ads for bonuses.

monetization
387 mentions
5 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, with many expressing frustration over the prevalence of unskippable ads and the introduction of paywalls for essential features and content that were previously accessible for free. While some players appreciate the need for monetization, they argue that the current model feels excessively greedy, turning the game into a "cash grab" with a heavy reliance on microtransactions and disruptive advertising. Overall, the consensus is that the monetization approach detracts from the gameplay experience, making it difficult for players to enjoy the game without constant interruptions from ads.
- “I would pay $2.50 to get the old game back with better progression and no ads.”
- “Great game, absolutely loving it and best of all there are basically no ads.”
- “This game is addicting, really good graphics, no ads except when I rush stuff, but it's fine. It's also challenging, looking forward to future updates!”
- “The game went from free to play to the most stupid in-app purchases ever.”
- “It's truly sad how such an amazing game could be ruined by greedy devs. This game used to be amazing; you could unlock all the superpowers by completing objectives, and they already had ads. I understand they need some source of income, but why pay to win the entire game?”
- “The new update prevents players from obtaining key features of the game through progression, instead requiring microtransactions by subscription or by multiple purchases.”
graphics
217 mentions
75 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise, with many users highlighting their stunning quality and attention to detail, particularly in the depiction of explosions and environments. However, some players have reported performance issues, such as lag and crashes, especially on lower-end devices, suggesting a need for adjustable graphic settings. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.
- “The graphics are stunning.”
- “Amazing graphics and complex game.”
- “This game has some of the best graphics on any game I've ever played.”
- “But, the killer is the graphics.”
- “The game crashes at random intervals, graphic glitches which makes the game unplayable and sometimes I can't load so I have to restart.”
- “Graphics need improvement.. hard to aim when everything becomes so dark after a nuke starts.”
gameplay
209 mentions
56 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its fun mechanics, engaging strategy elements, and impressive graphics, making it enjoyable for many players. However, numerous reviews highlight significant issues such as excessive ads, bugs, and a frustrating paywall that restricts access to content, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players find the gameplay challenging and rewarding, others express dissatisfaction with its repetitiveness and the need for improvements in multiplayer functionality and game balance.
- “This game was a favorite of mine, easy 5 stars, so much fun and everything was unlockable through gameplay, it was close to perfect.”
- “The gameplay is astonishing.”
- “I love this game, it's fun and easy to use; it makes you strategic and logical, and there's a lot of levels, which makes your gameplay even more fun and exciting.”
- “Really, this game used to be really good for what it was, but locking most of the content behind a paywall or requiring a tremendous amount of tedious gameplay to access other unlockables is a big letdown. I totally understand that game developers have to make money, but considering all my progress was wiped after this implementation, I have to start from scratch again or pay up. Nah, sorry, can't do that.”
- “These issues make the game unplayable; out of 2 hours of gameplay, I finished zero missions, all because of these issues.”
- “The new update ruined the game; the new UI of the gameplay completely ruined the advantages and disadvantages you get from each country. This game used to be my favorite, but every update makes it worse.”
stability
144 mentions
2 % positive mentions
-1 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezing, crashing, and various glitches that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience issues such as the game not registering wins, freezing during critical moments, and even causing device malfunctions. While the gameplay is generally enjoyable, the persistent bugs and instability detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration and lower ratings.
- “Immersive, no glitches, interactive; I enjoy it very much.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it allows me to focus on the story without interruptions.”
- “There is one problem, it freezes a lot, it also crashes pretty often and eventually, it got to the point that my entire phone froze. I was struggling to even turn it off, and when I did turn it on again I had to reset the phone and force the app to close.”
- “The game crashes at random intervals, graphic glitches which makes the game unplayable and sometimes I can't load so I have to restart.”
- “Every time I win a game, it freezes and I have to restart the whole thing over again, so the win does not count. Please fix this.”
story
27 mentions
22 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and narrative, with many players expressing a desire for a more engaging storyline or campaign mode. While some enjoy the gameplay mechanics and missions, they feel that the absence of a compelling backstory and the introduction of paywalls detract from the overall experience. Players suggest that adding more missions, diverse countries, and a richer narrative could significantly enhance the game's appeal.
- “It is a great game, and I really love it, but I wish it was more popular and I think it would be so cool if you added other planets or some sort of advanced challenge or story/campaign besides just getting all the superweapons.”
- “More depth and story would be cool, and more variety in weapons.”
- “This app is not the app it used to be; instead of being able to upgrade, most of the upgrades that you used to get are blocked behind a paywall. You can make every sob story you want about 'it being a hard choice to monetize,' but that just sounds like a petty excuse. Some people prefer not to play multiplayer.”
- “I think the game would be better if we, the players, had a backstory for the war so we have a 'reason' we are playing for.”
- “No storyline, so whatever, and there's absolutely no options for you to choose from unless you buy the in-app purchases.”
optimization
18 mentions
44 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
Overall, players appreciate the game's fun and engaging mechanics but frequently report performance issues, particularly on lower-end devices. Many suggest that optimization improvements, such as adjustable graphics settings and better resource management, are needed to enhance gameplay and reduce lag. While some users experience smooth performance, others face significant drops during intense moments, indicating a need for further optimization across various devices.
- “I suggest adding new graphics options for better performance and battery saving, like reducing the running background resolution tasks and visual effects for the sky and planets.”
- “With such a good new game, the battles will be short in some aspects, and players will love this game as it can run smoothly on mostly low-end devices.”
- “Love the game! The only issue I have is that when you perform a large first strike, performance drops considerably to the extent that the game can crash; other than that, it's great!”
- “My phone is an S10e, so it probably needs optimization for this device.”
- “FPS is getting almost unbearable, and overall performance needs improvement for lower-end devices.”
- “Love the game, but the only issue for me is that when you perform a large first strike, performance drops considerably to the extent that the game can crash. Other than that, it's great!”
humor
16 mentions
94 % positive mentions
-12 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in its chaotic scenarios, such as launching missiles and witnessing absurd outcomes. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of gameplay, including glitches and the exaggerated AI behavior, which contribute to an entertaining experience. However, some users feel that the humor can be hit or miss, with a few finding it lacking or not funny at all.
- “Too lazy to make a long review, but the game is very funny. You know it's a good game when you end 23 million lives and are overcome with joy moments before Florida and North Korea send a salvo of 27 ICBMs, 6 dirty bombs, and Tsar Bomba to wipe out South Africa.”
- “Great game and the chaos makes it funny too.”
- “Really good! I got the max research then won. It's really funny when you send tons of missiles at them. Good game!”
- “Not funny.”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I expected more laughs, but the humor was stale.”
music
13 mentions
77 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its excellent quality and fitting accompaniment to the action, with many users highlighting it as one of the best soundtracks they've experienced. However, some players expressed a desire for more options to customize audio settings and suggested the addition of immersive music during specific gameplay moments. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's fun and engaging atmosphere, despite a few minor criticisms.
- “But other than that, the graphics, music, voiceover, and the choice of weapons are wonderful.”
- “Excellent music and graphics.”
- “Has one of the best soundtracks ever; love it to pieces.”
- “I hate the music.”
- “I would like to suggest the developer add some immersive music when there is no 'first strike' by nations.”
replayability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players enjoy the variety of countries and weapons available, others feel limited by the small number of playable nations and issues with matchmaking. Suggestions for improvement include enhancing customizable matchmaking and adding more playable countries to increase replay value. Additionally, concerns about alliances breaking down quickly may detract from the overall experience.
- “I think that the game is really good for all of its replayable action but should have online multiplayer.”
- “Amazing game! Hours of entertainment and lots of replay value; you can choose from many countries and weapons.”
- “However, the small number of playable countries means it has little replay value after the first few games.”
- “I wish the game had more customizable matchmaking, which would allow for more replayability.”
- “You know this game would be more playable if your alliance wouldn't fall apart immediately and begin attacking you.”
grinding
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that much of the content is locked behind paywalls or requires excessive gameplay to unlock. While the game starts off enjoyable, it quickly becomes tedious and repetitive, leading to disappointment, especially after losing progress due to changes in the game's structure. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the game's initial appeal.
- “Really, this game used to be really good for what it was. As many have said, locking most of the content behind a paywall or requiring a tremendous amount of tedious gameplay to access other unlockables is a big letdown. I totally understand that game developers have to make money, but considering all my progress was wiped after this implementation, and I have to start from scratch again or pay up, nah sorry, can't do that. I do hope, however, the game gets better later on.”
- “I paid for the premium club in the early stages of this game years ago and was given zero benefits, just for all my benefits to be taken away after my year or two of grinding it to 100%.”
- “Fun at first, then it gets tedious.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express strong emotional responses to the game, primarily frustration and disappointment due to technical issues like freezing and perceived unfairness in gameplay mechanics. The lack of satisfying closure, such as an ending screen, further exacerbates feelings of wasted time and dissatisfaction, leading some to consider abandoning the game altogether.
- “Actually made me feel frustrated.”
- “😳 made me feel stupid.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its strong sound design and impressive graphics, contributing to an immersive experience. However, players suggest enhancing the multiplayer interaction through features like messaging and floating emojis to foster a more lively environment, while also addressing performance issues during intense moments.
- “Love the sound atmosphere, the graphics are also very good.”