Isonzo

I feel like you know if you want to give a World War 1 shooter a try. This is a niche thing and you know if you’re in it. Also hi, haven’t seen you at the niche meetings.

80%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

stability, grinding

86% User Score Based on 11,904 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

Isonzo is a single player and multiplayer tactical shooter game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by BlackMill Games and was released on September 13, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

The Isonzo First Wave Edition includes a huge array of visual customization options: 140 items from four DLCs: ‘Elite Units', ‘Veteran Units', ‘Reserve Units', and ‘Alpine Units'.

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 11,904 reviews

gameplay590 positive mentions

stability152 negative mentions

gameplay
1,654 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
58%
6%
The gameplay of "Isonzo" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging mechanics, historical accuracy, and immersive environments, while others criticize its clunky controls, repetitive gameplay, and connectivity issues. The game features a blend of strategic, team-based combat with a focus on bolt-action rifles, which can lead to intense firefights but may also frustrate players due to its slower pace and reliance on tactical positioning. Overall, while the game offers a unique WWI experience with beautiful maps and solid mechanics, it suffers from bugs and balance issues that detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “Gameplay is fun, exciting, and addictive.”
- “The structured, attack/defense gameplay and area variety within each map makes this a fun game to hop into for a few hours, especially with friends.”
- “The gameplay is immersive, requiring strategic thinking and teamwork to navigate the deadly trenches and engage in intense firefights.”
- “Overall this game has great content and topics, but the tedious gameplay, lack of activity, and some annoying glitches, made it lose marginal utility pretty quick (as you can see from my 52 hour time with all the weapons unlocked and maps played) which I wouldn't recommend.”
- “The gameplay loop of running for half a minute like a schizo then dying from someone somewhere you can't see faster than the speed of light isn't really fun to me.”
- “The gameplay is as shallow as it gets, the progression system is utterly convoluted and extremely boring, and the playerbase is on life support.”
graphics
950 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics in the game have received widespread praise for their beauty and attention to detail, with many reviewers noting significant improvements over previous titles in the series. However, some players have reported issues with optimization, visibility, and texture quality when viewed up close, leading to a mixed experience depending on hardware capabilities. Overall, while the visuals are often described as stunning and immersive, there are concerns about performance and graphical glitches that detract from the experience.
- “Fantastic graphics, attention to detail and historical realism.”
- “The graphics are great, the scenery is beautiful.”
- “The graphics are nothing short of superb, capturing the grim beauty of the alpine front with breathtaking detail.”
- “I straight up had to stop myself from playing because of how buggy and janky the controls and combat mechanics are, also a mention is the 'ultra' graphics having the most blurry visibility on 1440p, making the lowest graphics a better option.”
- “The graphics are so bad the running is disgusting and weird and it's not worth buying.”
- “Graphics look dated and combined with screenshake, smoke and barbed wire everywhere it's very difficult to discern what you are looking at.”
stability
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
2%
87%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, such as issues with prone mechanics, collision detection, and server stability. While some users noted minor glitches that did not detract from their overall enjoyment, many expressed frustration over more severe problems, including crashes and unresponsive controls. Overall, the game is seen as needing substantial polish to address these ongoing technical issues.
- “Honestly, this is a decent game. Check it out if you haven't yet; it runs great on Linux, looks fantastic, and gameplay is very consistent.”
- “Other than that, the game runs great and I have had virtually zero problems with latency, lag, graphical issues, or anything else.”
- “This is without a doubt the best of the three, and I have greatly enjoyed this game, especially with a practically bug-free launch due to the alpha testers!”
- “Too many buggy features to recommend.”
- “This 'game' is a constant hot mess of bugs and glitches.”
- “Unfortunately it is still a very buggy and unfinished game.”
grinding
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
12%
86%
The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players finding the progression system overly tedious and time-consuming. Unlocking weapons and abilities often requires completing specific challenges that can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a gameplay experience that feels more like a chore than fun. While some players appreciate the challenge and the need to familiarize themselves with their classes, the consensus is that the grind is excessive and could benefit from adjustments to make it more accessible and enjoyable.
- “Unlocking new guns and perks isn't too grindy, but you definitely feel like it is something you earned.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You just slapped a slightly different name on the same two bolt-action rifles and progress-gated anything remotely interesting behind hours of grinding.”
- “It locks all your weapons, items, etc. and forces you to complete stupid, unfun, and grindy challenges to unlock them.”
- “The leveling system is extremely grindy; some people have lives, kids, or school and work like me for example; I cannot sit there for hours grinding all day just to gain 2 levels.”
music
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
32%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its majestic and immersive soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. The orchestral pieces, particularly the main theme "Rinasceremo Insieme," are highlighted for their emotional depth and suitability to the game's historical context. While some players noted that repetitive tracks can become tiresome, the adaptive music during gameplay, especially in intense moments, adds a significant layer of excitement and engagement.
- “The game welcomes you with a majestic main menu soundtrack mixed with distant WW1 battle noises and gorgeous mountain views in the background.”
- “The soundtrack is astonishing as well.”
- “Soundtrack- the main theme of Isonzo is 'Rinasceremo Insieme', which is an orchestral masterpiece that is so emotional that it made me shed a tear the first time I heard it.”
- “I also didn't really like the music that plays in-game.”
- “The same music playing all the time gets really old.”
- “I have not been seeing anyone mentioning it so I will, as a side note: the soundtrack, especially as combat increases, is over the top.”
optimization
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
10%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as framerate drops and crashes, particularly on certain maps and hardware configurations. While many appreciate the graphics and overall gameplay, they note that optimization varies widely, with some users reporting smooth performance while others struggle with lag and stuttering. Overall, there is a consensus that the game requires further optimization to enhance the experience for a broader range of systems.
- “I love this game, it has been very fun, and not boring despite its repetitive nature, and I truly appreciate the developers for porting this to macOS. They have never left us out, and we get to experience this beautiful game with good graphics and superb performance. Thank you!”
- “The game is also well optimized, meaning that you don't have to have a really good computer to enjoy this game.”
- “Game is really well optimized.”
- “Unfortunately, some performance issues spoil the experience, including framerate issues and sometimes even complete crashes in the middle of gameplay.”
- “Game is fun, but graphics are poorly optimized and visibility is almost none.”
- “The game feels unoptimized; I'm running an RTX 3060, it's not my hardware.”
atmosphere
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
20%
2%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its authenticity and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the historical context of World War I through detailed graphics, sound design, and map design. Players appreciate the intense and oppressive ambiance, which enhances gameplay and teamwork, while the historical accuracy of elements like weaponry and uniforms further enriches the experience. Overall, the game is considered a standout in its genre for its atmospheric depth and engaging environments.
- “The atmosphere is perfect.”
- “Beautiful graphics, some excellent map design and some very atmospheric battle scenes and satisfying gunplay.”
- “The atmosphere of this game pulls you in, and I strongly recommend you experience it for yourself.”
- “It makes sense in the 'tactical' atmosphere the devs are trying to achieve here, but it makes no sense from a realism standpoint.”
- “There's literally no positives in this game, maybe other than the atmosphere.”
- “The sound design is a tiny bit lacking and has some clipping issues at least on my end, but it only slightly undermines the game's atmosphere.”
story
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
73%
18%
The game lacks a traditional story mode, with players noting that it primarily focuses on multiplayer gameplay and historical representations rather than a narrative-driven experience. While there are quests and missions to unlock weapons, these are often seen as grindy and lacking depth, leading to a perception that the game does not offer a compelling story. Overall, the consensus is that the game is more about gameplay mechanics and map design than storytelling.
- “The devs did a great job doing something many games seem to rather neglect: making the art style and graphics align with the story, the worldbuilding, and the experience they want to give to the player.”
- “But the thing that is the best is the maps; the maps are amazing! I can't tell you how alive the maps feel; it's a story in the making, every map has different terrains and cool tricks!”
- “You really do feel immersed in the times and the game, but outside making the game feel right, playing the game is a somewhat different story.”
- “I bought this game as it's stated as 'single player', but it seems to be a multiplayer game only with no single player story mode.”
- “There is no story as in a story mode, but rather a fairly accurate representation of the historical places during this time. Other than that, there are some minor explanations and references to the real 'story' behind the battles, but that's it.”
- “The game doesn’t really have a story, it’s not a story campaign or anything, it’s just the same multiplayer maps.”
monetization
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
18%
78%
The monetization model of the game has received mixed feedback, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and season passes, which are common in many modern titles. However, there is criticism regarding the introduction of paid cosmetic items and DLCs, perceived as a cash grab, especially given the game's $40 price tag. Additionally, players express frustration over the long ad times and the lack of effective advertising to attract new players, contributing to a dwindling community.
- “This game has no microtransactions, no loot boxes, and no season passes, or any other form of excessive monetization.”
- “Oh and hallelujah, no loot boxes or microtransactions.”
- “They are blocked behind a paywall and I understand that, cosmetics monetization these days is the only viable option to support the development of further content, but every dollar spent on those uniforms will be well spent.”
- “Feels like a cash grab compared to Verdun and Tannenberg, which did a great job of splitting the player base.”
- “They've added things like microtransactions for cosmetic items and uniforms when in previous games you'd get them for free (keep in mind the $40 price tag). It's ridiculous and it's obviously gonna piss off long-time players who have been supporting them for nearly 9 or 10 years.”
- “Changing the review to be 'don't recommend'... look, it's getting more monetization every time I look at it while the player base dwindles.”
humor
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying a mix of absurdity and sarcasm, often highlighted by the community's interactions and voiceovers. Many find the gameplay mechanics, such as the lack of grenades for the assault class amidst chaos, to be comically frustrating, while the chat environment is described as reminiscent of classic gaming lobbies filled with humorous banter. Overall, the game's humor is characterized by a lighthearted approach to its competitive nature, fostering a fun and engaging atmosphere among players.
- “The chat community is hilarious, tactile, and reminiscent of MW2 lobbies back in the day, but with a slight Italian twist.”
- “The funny thing is that grenades are not available to the assault class from the start; you have to unlock them while it’s raining enemy grenades, cluster bombs, mortars, and God knows what else on your head.”
- “Even the community isn't extremely toxic and chat has a lot of humorous moments.”
replayability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
72%
9%
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the immersive gunplay and varied strategies that enhance replay value, others criticize the limited game modes and map selection, which hinder long-term engagement. The introduction of new game modes in the future may address these concerns, but currently, the experience varies significantly between PC and console platforms. Overall, while there is potential for replayability, it is contingent on future updates and improvements.
- “Nevertheless, the gunplay feels great, the progression makes it a lot of fun and gives the game a ton of replayability.”
- “It’s a multiplayer game with basically infinite replayability value.”
- “Every time you get into a match you have a different strategy, which makes the gameplay very immersive and replayable.”
- “The biggest one is the lack of replayability; there’s only one game mode, and just a modest selection of maps and factions.”
- “There are 6 gorgeous maps and the game looks good, but I really feel like Tannenberg had more replay value and more to offer.”
- “I hope to see the game polished soon; maybe I'll re-download once I can feel that it is more playable for me.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players reporting tears and a deep connection to the WW1 experience. The orchestral soundtrack, particularly the main theme "rinasceremo insieme," is noted as a powerful emotional trigger. Overall, the community is described as wholesome, enhancing the heartfelt atmosphere of the game.
- “It made me cry.”
- “The soundtrack - the main theme of Isonzo is 'Rinasceremo Insieme,' which is an orchestral masterpiece that is so emotional that it made me shed a tear the first time I heard it.”
- “Besides Verdun, no other game has made me feel more like actually reliving the battles of WW1.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews highlight that the character design is vibrant and appealing, contributing positively to the overall enjoyment of the game. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth, suggesting that this aspect may not be a focal point in the game.