Iron Harvest

About

"Iron Harvest is a dieselpunk RTS set in an alternate 1920s, where players control giant mechs in singleplayer, coop, and multiplayer modes. The game features epic battles between traditional and scientific progress, following the end of a great war and the discovery of mysterious war machines."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+34

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,504 reviews

story1.1k positive mentions

stability153 negative mentions

Engaging and immersive storyline set in a unique dieselpunk alternate history.
Visually stunning graphics with well-designed mechs and environments.
Fun gameplay mechanics that allow for unit customization and strategic combat.

Frequent bugs and crashes, particularly when loading saved games or during cutscenes.
Clunky controls and poor unit pathfinding that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Limited unit variety and shallow mechanics that can make the game feel repetitive over time.

story
3,074 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
58%
6%
The story of "Iron Harvest" is generally praised for its engaging narrative set in an alternate 1920s world, featuring well-crafted characters and a blend of personal drama and the horrors of war. While many players appreciate the depth and immersive quality of the campaign, some criticize the pacing and predictability of the plot, as well as the presence of frustrating stealth missions. Overall, the game is recognized for its strong storytelling elements, though it faces criticism for gameplay mechanics and mission design that can detract from the experience.
- “Iron Harvest is a brilliant blend of classic RTS gameplay and unique storytelling in an alternate 1920s world where massive, clanking mechs roam the battlefield.”
- “The single-player campaign is immersive and epic, with well-crafted characters and a storyline that pulls you right in.”
- “I'm a story player, so imagine my surprise to find a fleshed-out story that touches on the actual horrors and lies of war.”
- “The story was a clear focus, but the writing/story beats are sadly a bit derivative and tired/campy.”
- “The story isn’t engaging and feels lackluster.”
- “The campaign story isn't amazing, but I enjoyed it for the most part.”
gameplay
1,636 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
62%
11%
The gameplay of "Iron Harvest" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its similarities to "Company of Heroes" in terms of mechanics, such as cover systems and resource management. While some appreciate the unique setting and mech-based combat, others criticize the gameplay for being clunky, lacking depth, and suffering from AI issues. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic RTS experience with engaging visuals and a compelling story, but it struggles with execution and balance, leading to a somewhat repetitive and frustrating gameplay experience for some players.
- “Iron Harvest is a brilliant blend of classic RTS gameplay and unique storytelling in an alternate 1920s world where massive, clanking mechs roam the battlefield.”
- “The gameplay is outstanding.”
- “The gameplay is fun and is a very good play on the RTS genre, the only complaint I have is that NPCs feel like pea shooters if they aren't a hero though.”
- “Really wanted to like this game since the universe and visuals are very nice, alas the gameplay is so janky and lacking in precision I simply cannot enjoy it.”
- “The gameplay is a slog and it's too frustrating keeping the units on task.”
- “The gameplay is shallow and lacks depth, variation, and balance.”
graphics
1,036 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
4%
The graphics of "Iron Harvest" have received mixed reviews, with many players praising the stunning art style and detailed environments inspired by Jakub Różalski's artwork. While the visuals are often described as beautiful and immersive, some users report performance issues, such as low frame rates and graphical glitches, particularly when zoomed in. Overall, the aesthetic is a highlight of the game, but it is accompanied by concerns about optimization and gameplay mechanics.
- “The graphics are gorgeous.”
- “The game's art style is beautifully crafted, with detailed environments and character designs that bring the alternate 1920s to life.”
- “The graphics are stunning, capturing both the grim realities of war and the awe-inspiring spectacle of colossal war machines clashing with unyielding force.”
- “The graphics are terrible, and the movement is glitchy in cutscenes.”
- “The graphics fall just below the quality of Company of Heroes 2, which came out in 2013.”
- “The graphics are so-so even when everything is on high, tried playing around with the anti-aliasing settings to make things better, but still not very good.”
music
179 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
3%
The music in "Iron Harvest" has received widespread acclaim for its immersive and thematic quality, enhancing the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Many players appreciate the diverse soundtracks that align with the unique factions, describing the music as both powerful and evocative, though some have noted a desire for more variety and intensity during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and engagement.
- “The musical score, composed with finesse and precision, amplifies the emotions of the battlefield, whether it be the ominous thumping of heavy footsteps or the triumphant crescendos that accompany heroic triumphs.”
- “The music is absolutely stunning and the alternate history setting is delightful.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing and the story is exceptional for an RTS game, which have not had the best stories.”
- “So in my situation it was the overwhelming marching music in the menu blaring back in repeatedly that made me immediately re-uninstall it.”
- “The units don't feel impactful or fun, music isn't good, graphics feel like a 2010 game.”
- “I had to turn the music off during the Saxony campaign because I couldn't stand the German folk-inspired music.”
stability
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
1%
96%
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, freezes, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay. While some players find it playable with occasional glitches, many describe it as a "buggy mess" that feels unpolished and often unplayable, particularly in campaign mode. Overall, the game's stability issues detract from the experience, leading to frustration among users.
- “For me, this game runs great and is visually appealing for an RTS.”
- “Bug free, interesting setting, well balanced, and with enough single player content to keep you going even if you can't find other people to play with.”
- “Oh and no glitches or issues throughout the game.”
- “Horrible buggy mess, absolutely unplayable.”
- “The game is so full of bugs, glitches, and just hard crashes that it's become unplayable.”
- “Too unstable and buggy to recommend, seems like it should still be in early access.”
optimization
151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
58%
30%
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including significant frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end systems. While some users noted that the game runs well under certain conditions, the general consensus is that it is poorly optimized, particularly during busy scenes with multiple units. Overall, the game's performance detracts from the experience, leading many to recommend waiting for improvements before purchasing.
- “The game runs on max settings on a low-end PC and has no performance issues as well, all whilst still being an absolutely beautiful experience.”
- “Performance-wise, it's ok-ish; it's a bit heavier than you'd expect and it could use a little optimization, but the developers are honest on the technical requirements and lowering the details makes it run smoothly enough without losing too much on the overall visual quality.”
- “What a beautiful game this is, some performance issues here and there, but nothing that can't be managed.”
- “Strangely, there's polish in some areas (e.g. map design, graphics, menus) and it does bring some small innovations, e.g. melee and weapon pickup, but in terms of performance, script-writing, and voice work, it's terrible.”
- “Unfortunately, as soon as you get a couple of mechs on the field, the game starts lagging and stuttering a lot.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, especially the campaign; for no clear reason, it can't maintain any stable frame rate, even if you change the settings, that seems to do nothing.”
grinding
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
5%
92%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that missions often feel like a slog rather than an engaging challenge. Players express frustration over slow unit movement, limited variety, and poorly designed mechanics that contribute to a sense of monotony, making progression feel like a chore rather than a rewarding experience. Overall, the game suffers from a lack of engaging gameplay elements, leading to a grind that detracts from its potential enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The more you play, the more repetitive and grindy it becomes, to the point that it gets boring.”
- “Very disappointing and grindy, as it doesn't challenge your skill with the game, rather just how much time you want to put into it.”
- “The gameplay is slow and grindy - exactly how a game featuring mechs like these should feel.”
atmosphere
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
33%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of dieselpunk aesthetics and an alternate reality World War I setting, creating an immersive experience that captivates players. The graphics, sound design, and voice acting contribute significantly to this atmosphere, enhancing the overall gameplay and storytelling. While some critiques mention mechanical shortcomings, the game's rich world-building and thematic consistency are highlighted as standout features that elevate the experience.
- “The atmosphere is creative, as it's situated in an alternate reality WW1 where the Axis and Allies built mechs for combat use.”
- “The game does a great job of creating an interesting atmosphere that has a distinctive feel that's not just 'blah blah blah steampunk is so quirky.'”
- “Iron Harvest is an RTS that maintains a stunning but gritty atmosphere through its dieselpunk mechs clashing against Great War era battlefields.”
- “Saying it needs to be gritty isn't quite it, but the atmosphere his artwork holds isn't quite there on the maps.”
- “While the story is okay and cutscenes help with the atmosphere, the game itself has 'unity' written all over it.”
- “But with some weird flow - Rusviet units are out of atmosphere, like they were cut out from Red Alert, despite the fact that on original art by Jacob Rozalski Rusviet mechs and soldiers are looking adequate, as should look Soviet-alike stuff from the 1920s.”
replayability
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the new world map mode and custom content support that enhance replay value, while others criticize the limited map variety and lack of depth in multiplayer and skirmish modes. The single-player campaign offers some replayability through varied missions and challenges, but many feel it lacks long-term engagement and depth, leading to a quick sense of stagnation. Overall, while there are elements that contribute to replayability, significant improvements are needed to sustain player interest over time.
- “One of the things that makes relic games stand out is their modding and custom content support, making their games replayable and having a talented fanbase that pumps out new stuff 24/7.”
- “Fully fleshed out campaign (that you can play with friends too!!!), and endless replayability with solo skirmish/world maps and multiplayer matches.”
- “The different teams or playable characters give the game much-needed replay value.”
- “Combat and the campaign are left to be desired, and replayability can be a bit of a challenge.”
- “The single player experience is fine but honestly this game lacks the depth of its predecessors in the genre, giving it near zero replayability with both the multiplayer and quick game vs AI being a mix of unbalanced and, to be blunt, unfun.”
- “Really fun, but the lack of depth to the multiplayer forces me to say never pay full price for this game because the replay value is only a month or two before you get bored tired of playing the same 10 or so maps.”
humor
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
6%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying its funny storylines, quirky character interactions, and amusing gameplay moments, such as unexpected unit behaviors and humorous voice acting. Many reviewers highlight the comedic elements that arise from the game's unique setting and character dynamics, often leading to laughter during gameplay, especially in co-op modes. Overall, the blend of intentional and unintentional humor contributes to a lighthearted and entertaining gaming experience.
- “Huge mechs just walk through buildings (and destroy them) instead of around, hilarious.”
- “I was up late last night playing with a friend and I haven't had that much fun gaming for a while - we were literally laughing out loud!”
- “It's a funny little game that has steampunk mechs fighting each other, and it gets really ridiculous once it's pure mech on mech action.”
- “The game is filled with funny bugs that detract from the overall experience.”
- “While there are some funny bugs, they often feel more frustrating than humorous.”
- “The humor in the game mostly comes from the funny bugs, but they can be more annoying than entertaining.”
emotional
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
82%
18%
The emotional aspect of "Iron Harvest" is highlighted by its rich storytelling and character development, which many players found engaging and heartfelt, often leading to moments of genuine emotional investment. While some reviews criticized the overarching narrative as boring, others praised the campaign for its touching moments and dramatic stakes, making it a compelling experience despite gameplay shortcomings. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from heartbreak to excitement, particularly through its well-crafted campaign and character arcs.
- “The rich lore, combined with memorable characters and their intertwining destinies, ensures that you become emotionally invested in their journeys.”
- “A beautifully written story with heartfelt dialogue gives you more of a summer blockbuster experience than a simple single-player campaign.”
- “Story mode: I'm only 5 missions in, the story does a good job of getting you invested in the characters, with a lot of emotional moments in the story; I teared up a couple of times.”
- “This is an example of boring storytelling, gameplay, and game feel all in one!”
- “I would recommend the game to anyone who enjoys a fun but challenging campaign with quite the boring story.”
- “It sucks because the setting and universe is really interesting and something that I would have loved to explore more, if it weren't for the boring story and arguably worse gameplay compared to similar games like Company of Heroes.”
monetization
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
17%
73%
The monetization aspect of "Iron Harvest" has drawn significant criticism, with players feeling that the in-game purchases and DLC offerings are excessive and resemble cash grabs rather than genuine expansions. Many reviewers expressed frustration over misleading advertising that suggested a more complete game experience, while others noted the absence of microtransactions, which was a rare positive in an otherwise negative perception of the game's monetization strategy. Overall, players feel that the game's monetization practices detract from its potential and contribute to a sense of disappointment.
- “Don't worry, no microtransactions here.”
- “It's great to see a developer who cares about their game and doesn't shove microtransactions in your face every 5 seconds.”
- “Remember the days when you could earn cool unit skins without having to pay for them with microtransactions?”
- “When you start the game up for the first time and try to modify your persona, you're presented with an enormous list of in-game purchase content.”
- “The end product fell short, and all of the DLC they are releasing feels too much like a cash grab.”
- “The DLC seems should have been in the base game itself and not as another cash grab.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
Overall, the character development in the game is praised for its depth and quality, with many reviewers noting it as a standout feature comparable to top titles in the genre. While some players found the initial pacing slow and expressed a general disinterest in RTS character attachment, others appreciated the effort put into the storyline and character arcs, highlighting the game's strong art direction and design. However, a few critiques mention a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics, suggesting that while character design is impressive, it doesn't fully compensate for other shortcomings.
- “The game's art style is beautifully crafted, with detailed environments and character designs that bring the alternate 1920s to life.”
- “In fact, I think I could say that this is one of the best that I have played in an RTS from a character development and story point of view as well.”
- “The story and character development is excellent.”
- “The beginning was a little slow, but I understand the whole building some character development. However, I have to be honest, I have zero attachment to RTS characters and never liked the hero character aspect of RTS since Warcraft 3.”
- “Other than the lack of character development and oversimplistic gameplay, it's worth the buy.”
- “The story is somewhat lacking in character development.”