Ironclads: American Civil War

About

Ironclads: American Civil War is a turn-based strategy game set during the American Civil War. Players can choose to command the naval forces of the Union or Confederacy, with the goal of controlling key ports and rivers. The game features historical ships, accurate ballistics, and a range of tactical options for players to explore.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Ironclads: American Civil War screenshot

24%

Audience ScoreBased on 21 reviews

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic wargames like Ironclads from the 80s.
It features turn-based combat that allows for more strategic control over ship movements and attacks.
The game is heavily moddable, allowing players to customize ships and weapons easily.

The game suffers from poor execution, with outdated graphics and a lack of depth in gameplay.
Players frequently encounter bugs and issues, such as crashes and unresponsive controls, making it frustrating to play.
There is no tutorial or options menu, leading to a confusing experience for new players.

story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The game features two distinct campaigns with a series of missions for both northern and southern factions, each offering varied gameplay experiences. The narrative takes a bizarre turn, involving a time-traveling Hitler and his space troopers, as players engage in battles to defend freedom, adding a unique and humorous twist to the overall story.
- “The real-time combat was replaced with turn-based mechanics, which, ironically, makes the game much faster, even though it's still slow. There are two proper campaigns with a series of missions for both the North and South, with seven missions for each side. Every mission is somewhat different.”
- “The story gets deeper with the Americans defending their freedom from Hitler, who has a secret plan involving a time machine to destroy America. The narrative is engaging and filled with unexpected twists.”
- “The game features a unique storyline that combines historical elements with science fiction, creating an intriguing experience that keeps players invested in the outcome.”
- “The real-time combat was replaced with turn-based mechanics, which ironically makes the game feel much faster, even though it's still quite slow. There are two main campaigns with a series of missions for both the North and South, with seven missions for each side. However, the missions feel repetitive and lack depth.”
- “The story is convoluted and confusing, with elements that don't seem to fit together. The narrative jumps around in a way that makes it hard to follow, leaving players feeling lost and disengaged.”
- “The plot is filled with absurdities, such as time travel and bizarre character choices, which detract from any potential immersion. It feels more like a collection of random ideas rather than a cohesive story.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with some users feeling it resembles a simplistic turn-based system that is ill-suited for naval combat. Comparisons to the Yaquinto board game "Ironclads" highlight its shortcomings, suggesting that improvements in mechanics and additional strategic elements, such as buildings or forts, could enhance the experience. Overall, players express disappointment in the gameplay's design and execution.
- “It very much reminds me of the Yaquinto board game Ironclads, with some similar elements of gameplay.”
- “Just because the gameplay itself feels like nobody ever expected you to actually play the game for more than five minutes.”
- “I go, you go type turn-based gameplay isn't suitable for naval combat.”
- “The gameplay was even worse.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game has received negative feedback, with users finding it overly loud and unenjoyable, leading to a desire for options to mute or adjust the soundtrack. Despite these issues, players still find the game enjoyable overall.
- “This game is a lot of fun despite the bad soundtrack and waiting for all the other ships to move.”
- “Without the ability to adjust sound, resolution, and other normal options, this game is a pain as the music is way too loud.”
- “Also, muting the soundtrack would be nice.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics of the game are widely criticized as outdated and poorly executed, making it difficult for players to understand the gameplay. Many reviewers note that the visual presentation lacks depth and clarity, contributing to an overall negative experience.
- “Just a bad game with completely outdated graphics, no depth, and no fun to play at all.”
- “Beyond bad, the graphics are so poor it's hard to tell what is even going on. There is no tutorial, minimal instructions, and the UI is nonsensical.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players find the game's historical inaccuracies enhance its replayability by making it more engaging and accessible, while also effectively demonstrating the strategic line tactics used by ships of the era.
- “The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and character builds, I find myself coming back to explore different strategies every time.”
- “The dynamic events and random elements ensure that no two games are ever the same, keeping the experience fresh.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The limited variety in missions and outcomes means I don't feel motivated to replay.”