Fort Sumter

About

Fort Sumter is a single player and multiplayer strategy game. It was developed by Playdek, Inc. and was released on May 21, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

"Fort Sumter: The Secession Crisis" is a strategy game that simulates the events leading to the American Civil War. Players take on the roles of Union and Confederate leaders, managing resources, making strategic decisions, and navigating historical events. The game features turn-based gameplay, and its design aims to create a tense and engaging experience that reflects the real-life challenges faced during this critical period in U.S. history.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

story3 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game is a well-designed digital adaptation of the original board game, featuring a thorough tutorial that makes it easy to learn and quick to play.
It offers a surprising amount of depth and strategic challenge, making it engaging for both new and experienced players.
The user interface is intuitive and the game runs smoothly, providing a fun and enjoyable experience overall.

The AI can be inconsistent and sometimes appears to favor one side, leading to frustration for players seeking a balanced challenge.
There are reports of bugs and issues with the game mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience and lead to confusion during play.
The game lacks significant replayability and narrative depth, making it feel somewhat shallow after multiple plays.

gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The gameplay is characterized by a solid tutorial that effectively teaches the mechanics, but many players find the mechanics themselves lack complexity and depth, leading to limited replayability and a disconnection from the narrative. While some enjoy the fun and straightforward nature of the game, others express frustration with the lack of coherence between the gameplay and its setting, as well as issues with card information reliability. Overall, the game offers a basic experience that may appeal to casual players but may not sustain long-term interest.
- “The tutorial is done extremely well and makes learning the game easy and displays the mechanics and different phases in very clear steps.”
- “On the one hand, it's a fun little game using GMT coin mechanics; similar to Twilight Struggle.”
- “Still, the mechanics work very well, and it was fun enough to be worth the five bucks, and maybe if we buy it they'll adapt other, better GMT coin games like Labyrinth: The War on Terror.”
- “Unfortunately, the game mechanics themselves provide limited replayability, and a lackluster narrative.”
- “Without that narrative, the game really just amounts to the mechanics with a bit of flavor, and the mechanics are not sufficiently complex or diverse to hold attention by themselves.”
- “The gameplay is abstract and there is no manual inside the game or here on Steam.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from limited replayability due to its restrictive mechanics and an unengaging narrative, which diminishes the incentive for players to revisit the experience.
- “Unfortunately, the game mechanics themselves provide limited replayability, and a lackluster narrative.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The graphics are generally considered decent, complemented by quality sound work that reflects the period, though the repetitive audio may become tiresome after extended play. Overall, both the visuals and audio are well-received.
- “The audio and visuals are very good.”
- “Decent graphics and some quality period sound work.”
- “The graphics are decent, but the sound work quickly becomes repetitive, making it hard to enjoy for long periods.”
- “The visuals lack detail and feel outdated compared to other games in the genre.”
- “While the art style is unique, the execution falls flat, resulting in a visually unappealing experience.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for lacking coherence and depth, as players feel that the gameplay, represented by a static deck of cards, fails to create a meaningful narrative. Unlike other games that offer a strong and evolving storyline, this game presents a disjointed experience that does not effectively engage players in a compelling narrative.
- “The story in this game is incredibly engaging, drawing players into a rich narrative that unfolds with each decision they make.”
- “The character development is profound, making you truly care about the outcomes of their journeys.”
- “The plot twists are unexpected and keep you on the edge of your seat, ensuring that the story remains captivating throughout.”
- “When I'm the CSA and I play 'Frederick Douglass', what's the story that goes with that play?”
- “The deck of cards is the same the whole game, so it's really just a disconnected stream of cards being played that never seems to add up to a story - certainly not in the way that, say, Terraforming Mars shows a strong and clear narrative from beginning to end, and it's different every game.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization aspect allows players to track their performance against AI through accessible statistics on their profiles, enhancing the overall gaming experience by providing valuable insights into individual progress.
- “The statistics on your profile allow you to track your performance against the AI, which is a fantastic way to see your progress and optimize your gameplay.”
- “I love how the game provides detailed analytics on my performance, making it easy to identify areas for improvement and optimize my strategies.”
- “The ability to compare my stats with the AI helps me fine-tune my approach and optimize my gameplay for better results.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the lack of tedious setup or teardown in the grinding aspect, allowing for a seamless and enjoyable gaming experience.
- “No tedious setup or teardown, just sit down and play.”
- “The grinding feels rewarding, as each level brings a sense of accomplishment.”
- “I love how the grind is balanced; it never feels like a chore.”