Making History: The First World War

About

"Making History: The First World War" is a turn-based strategy game that simulates the events of WWI. Players manage their chosen nation's economy and military, with the goal of achieving global conquest. The game uses historic events to guide the gameplay along a WWI timeline, but ultimately allows players to shape history through their own decisions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Making History: The First World War screenshot

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 134 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

music8 negative mentions

The game offers a comprehensive mix of diplomatic, economic, and military strategy, making it engaging for players who enjoy complex gameplay.
Many players appreciate the improvements in AI and the expanded event list compared to its predecessor, making for a more dynamic experience.
The game is fun and accessible, with a good balance of challenge and enjoyment, especially for fans of the Making History series.

The game suffers from persistent bugs, including frequent crashes and 'out of memory' errors, which significantly hinder gameplay.
Many players find the user interface unintuitive and the tutorial lacking, making it difficult to understand game mechanics.
There are complaints about the game's similarity to its predecessor, with some feeling it is a repackage with minimal improvements and a worse soundtrack.

music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
33%
44%
The music in the game has been overwhelmingly criticized, with users describing it as painful, poorly composed, and lacking coherence. Many reviewers express their frustration, stating that the soundtrack is not only a significant downgrade from previous titles but also unbearable enough to drive them to quit playing. Overall, the consensus is that the music is a major flaw that detracts from the gaming experience.
- “That guy is the one the developers have performing on this soundtrack.”
- “It's a re-skin of their previous making history: the great war with a much worse soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is torture, and I don't mean poorly chosen music.”
- “Music remains total crap and painful to hear.”
- “I couldn't take the soundtrack anymore, so I quit to write this.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
The graphics in the game are generally described as colorful but not particularly impressive, with some users noting only slight improvements over previous versions. While some players appreciate the upgrades and new content, others find the graphics to be subpar or even awful, suggesting that they may not justify the price for those who already own earlier iterations. Overall, the visuals are seen as adequate but not a standout feature of the game.
- “New units, graphics, events, make it worth the price.”
- “For those that loved the Second World War, this is a great upgrade, with better graphics.”
- “A wonderful upgrade to the previous 'The Great War', better graphics and new stuff like mines, techs, and events, so if you like any of the other in the Making History series, this one is a very nice catch already.”
- “Graphics - awful”
- “If you have the old version, you don't need this one unless slightly (and I mean slightly) better graphics are worth $25 to you.”
- “The graphics are okay, the AI is significantly better, the mechanics are also on level with games like HOI4, Civ.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
Gameplay has received mixed feedback, with players appreciating the engaging mechanics and new events that enhance replayability, leading to addictive "one more turn" scenarios. However, some users noted issues with stability, a stiff combat system, and an unintuitive GUI, drawing comparisons to previous titles in the franchise. Overall, while there is potential for improvement, the gameplay experience is currently marred by bugs and design shortcomings.
- “Longtime fan of the franchise, and I think this has been my favorite game yet. They've done a good job with all the new events, which makes it more interesting to play as there's a lot more random chance with how things play out. The mechanics work pretty well, and I find it way too easy to get sucked in; 'one more turn' turns into about 20, especially during battles.”
- “The graphics are okay, the AI is significantly better, and the mechanics are on par with games like HOI4 and Civ.”
- “There is potential, but so far it's unstable. The combat and war mechanics feel too stiff and are not much more than Paradox-style meters going back and forth.”
- “There is potential but so far it's unstable and the combat/war mechanics feel too stiff and not anything more than Paradox-style meters going back and forth.”
- “The GUI is not very intuitive, but I did find that looking up the same questions asked about their previous iteration 'Making History: The Great War' answered the questions, as both games share the same GUI mechanics.”
- “Same basic mechanics of gameplay.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers strong replayability due to its historical accuracy and the option to play various factions, including historically neutral countries. However, players feel it could benefit from additional developer support to enhance the experience further.
- “Having the ability to play many sides, or even historically neutral countries, makes this a far-reaching and ultimately replayable game.”
- “Needs a bit more developer support, but it has replayability and historical accuracy down pretty solid.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The reviews indicate that the game lacks a story, with multiple users noting the absence of any narrative elements.
- “No story.”
- “No story.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to be extremely unstable, with multiple users describing it as "unplayably buggy." This significant issue severely impacts the overall gameplay experience.
- “Unplayably buggy.”
- “Unplayably buggy.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in the Making History series is praised for its unique blend of niche and grand strategy elements, creating a compelling and immersive experience that enhances the overall gameplay. The combination of strategic depth and distinctive cosmetic effects contributes to a rich and engaging environment.
- “These games are an excellent mix of niche strategy and grand strategy, put together well in a way that complements each other while providing a unique cosmetic and atmospheric effect that is distinctive to the Making History series.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic commitment akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”