Foxhole

About

Foxhole is a massively multiplayer warfare shooter game where thousands of players engage in a weeks-long persistent online war. Players contribute to the war effort through logistics, base building, combat, and more, with every bullet, weapon, and vehicle produced by players. The game features comprehensive logistics, trench networks, and a unique atmosphere, although it can be very grinding, hilarious, full of bugs, and highly emotional with wonderful replayability.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 26,314 reviews

gameplay697 positive mentions

grinding686 negative mentions

gameplay
2,582 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The gameplay of Foxhole is characterized by its deep mechanics and emphasis on teamwork, offering a unique blend of logistics, combat, and base-building elements. While many players appreciate the immersive experience and the variety of roles available, such as infantry, logistics, and engineering, the game is often criticized for its steep learning curve, clunky controls, and frustrating mechanics that can lead to tedious gameplay. Overall, the game provides a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in understanding its complexities, but it may not appeal to casual players due to its demanding nature and the potential for a toxic community.
- “Its depth is incredible, with gameplay spanning logistics, ground combat, and naval warfare.”
- “The mechanics are solid, the graphics fit the atmosphere, and the large-scale persistent war concept is unique and well-executed.”
- “Foxhole is a standout title in the war MMO genre, offering a unique blend of realism and immersive gameplay.”
- “Roles like building, facilities, and logistics are marred by very rudimentary mechanics that don't go beyond, "keep button pressed and mindlessly watch your character do thing". The driving mechanics are very simple, and the mining mechanics are very simple; the building is holding a mouse button; facilities is just taking your small train and moving resources along from point A 5 meters here to point B 5 meters over there, all while fighting the system in keeping the facilities alive.”
- “It's a system that puts player experience last, and makes the core loop of one of the largest aspects of the game feel like a tax rather than a mechanic, and I simply don't have the patience for this kind of unnecessary frustration.”
- “The gameplay can be dull at times, and playing with a buddy can really spice things up.”
grinding
722 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
4%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest hours into resource gathering and logistics with little immediate reward. Many reviews highlight that the game's mechanics feel like a second job, with players needing to continuously farm materials to support the war effort, which can lead to burnout and frustration, especially for those not part of larger clans. While some players find enjoyment in the grinding as a necessary part of the experience, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game does not respect players' time, making it a challenging experience for newcomers and casual players alike.
- “One of the most refreshing modern MMOs I've played - there's no grinding, no traditional leveling or skill unlocking, and absolutely no pay-to-win mechanics - once you've bought the game, you've got everything.”
- “No microtransactions and no grinding.”
- “Everyone is equal, there's no grinding for stats.”
- “The soul-crushing and tediousness of building and maintaining defenses, the time-consuming nature of logistics & facility work, and the frequent server instability.”
- “The game is filled to the brim with tedious time-consuming tasks that take hours and hours of your time to complete with a lack of tools to speed up the process such as building.”
- “The grind is so bad there are actually services from people getting paid for grinding for others by the hours because of how tedious and unfun it is for most.”
story
415 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
86%
5%
The game's story is largely player-driven, with no predefined narrative or quests, allowing players to create their own experiences through various missions and interactions. While some players appreciate the emergent storytelling that arises from collaborative efforts in a war setting, others find the lack of a structured storyline leaves them feeling directionless. Overall, the game serves as a "war story generator," where each player's actions contribute to a collective narrative shaped by the ongoing conflict between factions.
- “The entire foxhole experience becomes a collective story that is both strategic and emotional.”
- “This game does not make you the hero of the story, but it does present opportunities to create stories of your own within the framework of a vast war, letting players shine in their own way at different points.”
- “Every single respawn/log on is an entirely new story or experience.”
- “The game itself has almost no story at all.”
- “Instead of feeling like a crucial part of the war effort, it felt more like a never-ending series of fetch quests with little reward or recognition.”
- “There is no plot or predestined path - the 'war' is set in a large, persistent map divided up into hexagons, with each hexagon hosted on dedicated servers with their own instance.”
graphics
410 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally described as functional and fitting for its top-down perspective, with a unique art style that effectively conveys the game's wartime atmosphere. While not cutting-edge or hyper-realistic, the visuals are appreciated for their charm and clarity, allowing for immersive gameplay despite some minor graphical issues. Overall, players find the graphics satisfactory, enhancing the experience without overshadowing the gameplay mechanics.
- “The mechanics are solid, the graphics fit the atmosphere, and the large-scale persistent war concept is unique and well-executed.”
- “The game's art style is charming and fits the wartime theme perfectly.”
- “While not cutting-edge, the graphics effectively convey the game's thematic depth and intensity.”
- “The graphics are subpar, the gameplay can feel repetitive at times, and the game's learning curve can be steep.”
- “The graphics are something from my childhood, but for me it never was a barrier; it rather enables one to enjoy the content to the fullest and not get dazzled by magically overpowered players overpowering others.”
- “Once in the server, I found the graphics to be pretty bad.”
humor
291 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the chaotic and hilarious interactions that arise during gameplay. From absurd moments in combat to the entertaining banter in proximity chat, the community fosters a lighthearted atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some players take the game seriously, the majority find joy in the funny mishaps and camaraderie that emerge, making it a memorable and engaging multiplayer experience.
- “In this bleak simulation of how apocalyptic scale warfare would be in the 20s and early 30s, this game manages to be darkly hilarious simply because of how silly the player interactions can be.”
- “We couldn't stop laughing for 10 minutes, proving that Foxhole isn't about winning the war, but it's about the memories made along the way.”
- “The voice chat is just so funny all the time.”
- “It's not funny for the kills, but it is funny for the spirit.”
- “So it's not funny or challenging to play anymore.”
stability
175 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game's stability is a significant concern among players, with numerous reports of frequent glitches, bugs, and server issues that can severely impact gameplay. While some users find the game enjoyable despite these problems, many express frustration over unaddressed issues, lag, and the prevalence of exploits that disrupt the experience. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with calls for developers to prioritize fixing existing problems over adding new content.
- “The game is clean, runs well, and is seemingly bug-free, at least in the general gameplay.”
- “Foxhole runs great on my 8-year-old i5-750 and newer GTX 1050ti.”
- “For the most part, it is relatively bug-free as of now, which for an alpha/early access game is excellent.”
- “My guild spent the better part of the start of the war painstakingly grinding resources for weeks to build our battleship, which had major steering glitches and we were unable to bring it to the frontline with a full crew due to join queues. In the end, it was destroyed before even dealing any damage from misfiring at an artillery position at an enemy bunker base.”
- “The game is often buggy, laggy, and crashes.”
- “This game is a buggy mess and the devs would rather add more things than fix the issues.”
music
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
79%
10%
The music aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with players enjoying the ability to listen to their own playlists or in-game music while engaging in various activities, from logistics to frontline combat. However, the community's tendency to blast loud or inappropriate music through voice chat can be disruptive and annoying for many. Overall, while some players appreciate the musical backdrop as a way to enhance their experience, others find it detracts from the gameplay due to the inconsiderate behavior of certain individuals.
- “For those wanting just to create and transport supplies to those frontlines whilst listening to the Death Stranding soundtrack, this game also has you covered.”
- “Being told to hop in a tank to crew as a gunner, dodging incoming artillery shelling, digging trenches and singing a merry song with your fellow soldiers, it's all here in Foxhole.”
- “The game feels like a music festival that lasts a month; where each front is a stage; and everyone is just partying on their own campground while trying to find the bathrooms by the gas trucks.”
- “Never in my life have I seen such a bizarre, backwards community where people try to justify racism itself, excuse the use of the n-word, justify Nazi references like playing their music and using their names, casually call others 'Nazi sympathizers' of all things (how ironic) during a temper tantrum, joke about r*ping women, very openly use bots and alts, grief groups then gaslight them and others and get full support on all of these things.”
- “Just not really fun, my dudes... people just playing awful music constantly like it's Holdfast... not really funny at all.”
- “Overall I'd give it an 8/10 due to some of the mechanics being a bit tedious along with a lack of notable music.”
optimization
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
52%
22%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to run smoothly on various systems, while others report significant performance issues, including lag, stuttering, and server instability, particularly during large-scale battles. Many users express frustration over the game's lack of optimization for higher resolutions and the impact of frequent updates that seem to exacerbate existing problems. Overall, while some players find the game well-optimized for their setups, a substantial number highlight ongoing performance challenges that detract from the experience.
- “The game is very well optimized, so yes it can run on lower-end computers, but the game is locked at 60 frames per second.”
- “Considering this game bills itself as an alpha, I am very impressed with the performance; it runs at a very solid 60 fps for me and never seems to dip at all no matter how many crazy explosions are going on at once.”
- “It's well optimized, it's easy to get into, and the player base is helpful.”
- “Additionally, the game’s large-scale battles can sometimes suffer from performance issues, such as lag or server instability, which can detract from the experience.”
- “Three updates ago, developers made modifications to the server-side code which have unfortunately resulted in excessive latency to the tune of 400 to 600ms performance delays.”
- “The game is not even optimized, causing many lost frames and freezes when using binoculars and when environmental effects like rain come into play.”
emotional
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with players experiencing a wide range of feelings from heartwarming camaraderie and intense emotional investment to frustration and mental exhaustion. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke genuine emotions, such as joy, sadness, and a sense of belonging, while others caution against becoming too attached due to the chaotic and sometimes toxic environment. Overall, the game fosters a unique emotional connection among players, making it a memorable experience despite its challenges.
- “You'll experience heartwarming camaraderie and absolute chaos in equal measure.”
- “What I remember were the incredible offensive operations I saw or took part in, the desperate defenses, funny moments shooting the breeze with other players hunkered down in trenches while artillery fell all around us, the emotionally charged moments I've witnessed... there really isn't anything like it and I do not regret a single hour I spent in this game.”
- “This game made me feel like a real soldier, and the interactions between players are amazing.”
atmosphere
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
4%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive and gritty portrayal of war, enhanced by realistic sound design and visuals that evoke a sense of vulnerability and teamwork among players. Many reviewers highlight the game's unique cooperative experience, where large-scale battles and community interactions contribute to a dynamic and engaging environment. However, some mention that player toxicity and developer neglect can detract from the overall atmosphere, though the majority still find it to be a compelling and enjoyable aspect of the game.
- “The atmosphere is amazing, it gives back the vulnerability of a person in war.”
- “Nothing beats this game's phenomenal atmosphere; holding a bridge with your friends in a trench as bullets crack on a snowy night is a truly phenomenal experience.”
- “Foxhole draws you into a dangerously immersive atmosphere that captures your attention and makes it irresistible to join the war effort: you cannot lose this, it's personal now!”
- “Adding the lack of controls or customizability, and the general feeling that I was there to subsidize someone else's enjoyment with my time and money was fairly thick in the atmosphere.”
- “Completely ruined by much of the player base, ruining all atmosphere, deliberately taking the piss out of the aesthetic of the game, spamming, you name it, and ignored by greedy and cowardly developers.”
- “To put it simply, the toxic atmosphere here stands out because the developers are the enablers of the toxicity.”
monetization
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
57%
37%
The game has a strong commitment to a no microtransaction policy, with players praising the absence of in-game purchases, DLCs, or pay-to-win elements. While this approach is appreciated for its integrity, some reviewers express concerns about the long-term sustainability and support for the game without ongoing revenue. Overall, the monetization model is seen as refreshing in a market often plagued by predatory practices.
- “There are no microtransactions, no money made in the actual game besides the original sale.”
- “The developers are not sellouts and have gone on the record that there will be no microtransactions.”
- “It's good to see a game still keeping to this old way of doing things, that quite honestly, was way better than DLCs, expansion packs, or microtransactions.”
- “I wouldn't go as far as that, but I would call it a cash grab.”
- “The devs and moderation seemingly have no ambition to support it - it's essentially an EA cash grab, that despite being an MMO type game, they have no intention to support it in a meaningful way post patch 1.0.”
- “The developers are lying to you in their advertisement.”
replayability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with players noting the vast variety of gameplay mechanics, roles, and environments that keep the experience fresh and engaging. Many reviews highlight the unique challenges presented in each session, as well as the supportive community that enhances the overall experience. Overall, players feel that the game's design and persistent world contribute to a high replay value, making it a compelling choice for those seeking long-term engagement.
- “The game also provides plenty of replayability as every time you fall asleep, you will find that your team has lost significant ground and now you're fighting in a cold tundra where the chances you'll get shot are less than the chances you'll freeze to death.”
- “The persistent taking over an enemy base then building your own on top of it with the risk of losing it all after a long drawn-out fight is very rewarding with lots of replayability.”
- “This game has a high replayability factor as each war is a bit different and you can do something different every time you log in to play.”
- “There are always bugs and imbalances (which will hopefully be amended in the future), but it's a game I have never seen so much potential and replayability due to its unique game mechanics and careful design.”
- “When games don't start out easy and get harder with the more advanced things you try to do, that lets you know there is no replay value.”
- “A lot of people don't see replayability, can't find much to do or think that there is no way to get people to work together.”