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Gary Grigsby's War in the East

While a fun and extremely deep simulation, the price tag & learning curve will restrict this one to the hardcore fans only.
Gary Grigsby's War in the East Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
gameplay, humor
graphics, music
90% User Score Based on 381 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCWindows
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Gary Grigsby's War in the East Game Cover

About

Gary Grigsby's War in the East is a single player and multiplayer strategy game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by 2by3 Games and was released on July 9, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Gary Grigsby's War in the East" is a turn-based strategy game set on the Eastern Front of World War II, from Moscow to Berlin. It features intense battles, realistic terrain and weather, and historically accurate orders of battle. Lead divisions and brigades in massive campaigns, considering factors like supply, fatigue, and leader skills to achieve victory. The game offers 4 large campaigns and numerous scenarios with varying challenges.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Gary Grigsby's War in the East screenshot
Gary Grigsby's War in the East screenshot
Gary Grigsby's War in the East screenshot
Gary Grigsby's War in the East screenshot
Gary Grigsby's War in the East screenshot
Gary Grigsby's War in the East screenshot
Gary Grigsby's War in the East screenshot
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90%
Audience ScoreBased on 381 reviews
gameplay10 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • Incredibly detailed simulation of the Eastern Front during WWII, capturing historical accuracy and complexity.
  • Offers a vast array of scenarios and campaigns, allowing for both short and long-term gameplay experiences.
  • Challenging AI and the option for multiplayer via PBEM (Play By Email) enhance replayability and strategic depth.
  • Steep learning curve that may overwhelm new players, requiring significant time investment to master the mechanics.
  • Interface can be cumbersome, with a lack of intuitive tooltips and a complex manual that may deter casual gamers.
  • High price point for the game, which may not be justified for players who are not deeply invested in wargaming.
  • gameplay
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its depth and complexity, requiring a significant time investment to master its mechanics, which include detailed supply and logistics systems. While the tutorial and simpler scenarios help ease players into the game, the lack of comprehensive tool-tips and a steep learning curve may deter some. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience for dedicated wargamers, though it may not appeal to those seeking a more casual gaming experience.

    • “The tutorial gives you a quick means to learn the basic game mechanics.”
    • “The supply and logistics mechanics in this game are outstanding.”
    • “Combat, supply, leadership, and infrastructure are all dealt with in clear but detailed and complex ways, and if you play through the scenarios in increasing complexity, you can slowly learn the mechanics of the game.”
    • “This game doesn't hold hands, but maybe some better tool-tips would be a good idea, especially given that the manual also doesn't always provide a straightforward answer or explain what an acronym means, or what a couple of gameplay mechanics actually do.”
    • “That truly kills all immersion and gameplay, and really makes this a waiting game, a complete grind.”
    • “Despite the inherent complexity of a game that simulates every rifle on the largest front of all time, the player does not have to interact with the minutiae of these mechanics, and can only move their divisions around.”
  • graphics
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "War in the East" are generally described as simplistic and reminiscent of a board game, featuring a static map and basic unit icons. While some players find the lack of flashy visuals disappointing, others appreciate the game's focus on strategic depth and historical accuracy over aesthetics. Overall, the graphics serve the game's purpose but may not appeal to those seeking a visually dynamic experience.

    • “But this is a trap; behind the game's very simple graphics, there is an engine that takes an extreme amount of detail.”
    • “A well laid out 'board' with enough graphical detail to give information without being over the top.”
    • “Lackluster graphics, repetitive musical score and tedious movement counters make it a lame duck.”
    • “Disappointed a little in that there are not more graphical representations of things like combat, but I suppose you are meant to use your imagination.”
    • “Graphics: as this pretty much simulates a 'board game', the game is played on a static map (that is actually rather impressive to look at) with little icon 'wargame chit' counters for your troops.”
  • music
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking in variety, featuring only a short total of about 7 minutes across two tracks. While some appreciate the atmospheric quality of the soundtrack, others feel it quickly becomes tiresome, leading them to prefer listening to their own playlists instead. Overall, the music is seen as a weak point in an otherwise complex gameplay experience.

    • “The musical score is rather impressive for a war game that helps keep the tension of the conflict going.”
    • “The game has a lot of complexity but also atmosphere in spades with its intro movie and in-game music and sounds.”
    • “The soundtrack of the game isn't bad, but being really short means it gets tiresome quickly.”
    • “The game also does not remember your settings, so you get blasted by the in-game music every time you boot the game up.”
    • “Lackluster graphics, repetitive musical score, and tedious movement counters make it a lame duck.”
    • “For one, the music: you get maybe a grand total of 7 minutes of actual music, divided into 2 tracks.”
  • grinding
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by excessive complexity and tediousness, with players often feeling overwhelmed by the need to manage intricate systems like supply chains and unit capabilities. While some appreciate the depth and micromanagement opportunities, many find the experience frustratingly slow and repetitive, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game leans too heavily on tedious tasks, overshadowing its strategic elements.

    • “This is needlessly complex to allow the player to squad out generals, set the various plane squadrons to either bombing or air defense; you must maintain a chain of supply to headquarters units, which gets tedious real fast.”
    • “You spend a lot of time on tedious tasks to very little effect.”
    • “This game is highly overrated - computers are supposed to exile all the tedious details to the background and let gamers focus on strategy and tactics.”
  • story
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is described as an epic portrayal of the harsh realities of war, focusing on the experiences of soldiers and the complexities of military strategy rather than a traditional narrative. Players appreciate the realistic elements, such as supply lines, unit cohesion, and historical accuracy, which contribute to an immersive experience of the Great Patriotic War. While some may find the lack of a conventional plot detracting, the depth of the operational gameplay is seen as a compelling backstory in itself.

    • “This is the story of that war, and boy oh boy, is it ever epic.”
    • “Check out Grey Hunters' let's play for a truly epic story.”
    • “This is quite frankly a game of the poor bloody soldiers, tanks, and artillery, so no there are no super soldiers or special missions; this is war plain and simple.”
    • “So with that being said, I can't really detract from a lack of plot for a strategic war game.”
    • “All of which is only backstory to my purchase of War in the East - technology has granted us the ability to actually play the beast that is the Great Patriotic War at the operational level without renting a hall and losing our minds.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the reviews reflects a blend of absurdity and irony, with users finding amusement in the juxtaposition of serious gaming scenarios and lighthearted commentary. One reviewer humorously critiques their own gameplay decisions while another playfully responds to a hypothetical question about gaming on a deserted island, showcasing a witty take on the gaming experience. Overall, the humor is characterized by a self-aware and sarcastic tone, often highlighting the absurdities of both gaming and real-life situations.

    • “What was funny to me is I sent mail to a different publisher after the fact, telling them I had a budget now of $116 since Slith turned me down on my offer of 2x for the price of 1 on one of the titles. This other publisher made a great offer and now a pal and I are trying to decide what titles we want to play with.”
    • “Well this is hilarious as they really want to sell their game... in normal difficulty on my first campaign vs Axis AI, I trapped so many units in October '41 that Axis is so far from many historical objectives.”
    • “I don't know if this was supposed to reflect funny moustache man's avoidance of Moscow and prioritization of the Ukrainian fields or simply because Moscow would not lead to Soviet capitulation even if it was surrounded and captured in real life, but oh well.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacking in incentive to replay scenarios, others appreciate its depth and challenging AI, which enhance the experience. Overall, it offers a balance of complexity and replay value, making it worthwhile for hardcore strategy enthusiasts.

    • “This certainly is one of the best hardcore strategy games - not easy to learn and truly hard to master, but with unrivaled depth, historical accuracy, replayability value, and a decent AI when you have no human opponent at hand.”
    • “The game's replayability is questionable; a lot of the scenarios, while no doubt they are long, don’t really seem to give any reason to play them again; play it once and that’s it.”
    • “I did buy this full price 110+ AUD at Matrix Games site; this is a bargain for replayability and challenging AI plus PBEMs.”
    • “It's a quick fix, shows you the basics, but also is complex enough to offer a lot of replayability.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its strong optimization, with users noting that the complex world operates smoothly and without bugs. Players appreciate the effective management of numerous characters, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

    • “No bugs: all this complex world works and is rather well optimized now!”
    • “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even in the most demanding scenarios.”
    • “I appreciate how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making the experience seamless and enjoyable.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is heavily influenced by environmental conditions, with prolonged battles leading to muddy terrain that hampers equipment movement and durability. As the ground freezes, players experience temporary relief, but harsh cold and blizzards eventually hinder troop mobility, creating a dynamic and challenging gameplay experience.

    • “The longer you fight, the thaw comes where the entire USSR turns into a swamp. The mud slows down the equipment and causes it to break down, and then you watch as your tanks move slowly and they run out of fuel, equipment, and supplies. Over time, the ground freezes and it becomes easier to advance for a couple of weeks, but then severe cold and blizzards force troops to almost stand still and prepare for containment and survival.”
    • “The game is plagued by constant crashes and freezes, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience. Stability is a major issue that needs to be addressed.”
    • “I often find myself getting booted from matches due to server instability. It's frustrating to lose progress and have to restart because the game can't handle the load.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game excels in creating a rich atmosphere, enhanced by its engaging intro movie and immersive in-game music and sound effects, complementing its complex gameplay.

    • “The game has a lot of complexity but also atmosphere in spades with its intro movie and in-game music and sounds.”
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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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307h Median play time
216h Average play time
40-369h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Gary Grigsby's War in the East is a strategy game with warfare and historical themes.

Gary Grigsby's War in the East is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 216 hours playing Gary Grigsby's War in the East.

Gary Grigsby's War in the East was released on July 9, 2015.

Gary Grigsby's War in the East was developed by 2by3 Games.

Gary Grigsby's War in the East has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its graphics.

Gary Grigsby's War in the East is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Gary Grigsby's War in the East 2, Strategic Command WWII: World at War, Gary Grigsby's War in the West, Panzer Corps, Civil War II and others.