Master of Command

About

Master of Command is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Armchair History Interactive and was released on October 27, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Master of Command is a real-time tactical strategy game set during the Seven Years' War, where you lead armies through challenging battles influenced by morale, stamina, and terrain. Manage supplies, customize regiments with historical equipment, and make strategic choices that impact your campaign. Every soldier lost and decision made shapes your path to victory.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,937 reviews

gameplay98 positive mentions

grinding28 negative mentions

Master of Command offers a unique blend of roguelike elements and tactical battles reminiscent of the Total War series, providing a fresh experience for strategy game enthusiasts.
The game features extensive unit customization, allowing players to tailor their armies with different equipment, uniforms, and flags, enhancing the personal connection to their troops.
The campaign structure is engaging, with a focus on resource management and strategic decision-making, making each playthrough feel distinct and rewarding.

The AI behavior can be predictable and simplistic, often leading to repetitive battle strategies that diminish the challenge over time.
The limited variety of battle maps can make encounters feel monotonous, as players may find themselves fighting on the same terrain repeatedly.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as unit controls and inventory management, can be clunky and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.

gameplay
309 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The gameplay of this title is characterized by a blend of simple mechanics and engaging tactical battles, reminiscent of the Total War series, yet with its own unique identity. Players appreciate the historical context and customization options, although some find the core gameplay loop repetitive and lacking depth. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience for fans of strategy and historical warfare, with potential for further development and refinement.
- “The gameplay loop is pretty standard but gives you plenty to work towards.”
- “Extremely satisfying gameplay, scratches an itch the Total War series no longer pursues.”
- “The core gameplay loop is quite simple, but very addictive.”
- “The game is incredibly linear; every campaign consists of three acts where you start on the left edge of the map and stumble your way to the right, facing a timer-activated enemy HQ army. This lack of variety in gameplay mechanics makes it feel repetitive.”
- “The core gameplay loop is very repetitive, and after conquering the first region, it became evident that the classic roguelike gameplay was too monotonous for my taste.”
- “While the setting doesn't always make sense, like being able to raid your own villages, the gameplay is solid but lacks depth, making it feel somewhat bare-bones.”
graphics
193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique hand-drawn art style that evokes a charming, cartoonish aesthetic reminiscent of the developer's YouTube channel. While some players appreciate the simplicity and nostalgic feel, others criticize the graphics for being dated and lacking the detail found in more modern titles like the Total War series. Overall, the visuals are considered functional and appealing, though they may not satisfy those seeking cutting-edge graphics.
- “The art style is distinctive, using the hand-drawn, 'armchair historian' aesthetic familiar to fans of the developer's YouTube channel.”
- “The graphics are effective, but also charming.”
- “The attention to historical details, art style, atmosphere, and sound design is nothing short of amazing.”
- “Army movement animation is poor quality and feels weird; the visuals are ugly in battle maps.”
- “The graphics are much worse than Total War.”
- “The visuals and animations are poor, the interface is janky and the generated campaigns seem lacking.”
replayability
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
56%
3%
The game boasts high replayability, driven by features such as procedural maps, extensive unit customization, and diverse army compositions. Players appreciate the roguelike elements that ensure each campaign feels unique, while the variety of factions and tactical choices further enhance replay value. However, some reviewers note that the lack of a clear narrative and repetitive gameplay can diminish the overall replayability experience.
- “Pros: incredible unit customization, high replayability due to procedural maps, and a refreshing focus on army logistics.”
- “The game's replayability is excellent too— with every new campaign generating completely new maps, new encounters, and new strategems that can aid you in the field.”
- “Easily accessible, infinitely replayable, massively enjoyable.”
- “The procedural campaigns are fun and well designed, but the fact that you don't have a clean or clear narrative hampers replay value a bit unless you really want to explore all the different factions and sub-factions.”
- “It's enjoyable but deep down lacks a sense of replayability or novelty.”
- “Replayability is very low for this game because it's fairly linear.”
story
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
80%
6%
The game's story aspect is characterized by a mix of customizable narratives and emergent storytelling, allowing players to craft their own experiences through unit customization and choices. However, many reviewers criticize the lack of variety in missions and the simplistic, linear nature of the campaign, which often feels repetitive and underdeveloped. While some enjoy the potential for personal storytelling, others find the overall narrative execution lacking depth and engagement.
- “It can lead to some pretty fun emergent storytelling, based entirely on your own experience and engagement, especially on ironman, where you have to live with the consequences of your choices.”
- “You can also delve into customizing how units dress, what flags they carry, and more if you really want to craft your own story for your army.”
- “What makes Master of Command so good is that every campaign you start ends up being a rich story.”
- “The battlefields are all 95% the same; zero effort was made to create a storyline and add some interest to each chapter. Basically, it's a lazily made game.”
- “While the story campaign is just a string of missions with story cutscenes in between, it would be nice to have more.”
- “The plot is so poorly written that it feels aimed at people with no education.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive quality and historical accuracy, enhancing the overall experience of the 18th-century setting. Players appreciate the variety of tracks, including unique compositions for different regiments, which contribute to the game's rich atmosphere. However, some reviews note that the soundtrack can feel limited over extended play, suggesting room for improvement.
- “The art assets and music are also gorgeous and help immerse one in the setting of the 7 Years War.”
- “A rich historical background, great period music (for Kubrick lovers who know what I mean...) and really great presentation.”
- “It is an absolute dream to see such a lovingly made synthesis of story, history, and music - I recommend this game because it has already, after playing the demo, got me hankering for more!”
- “The only weak point is the soundtrack.”
- “Oh, and yeah — the soundtrack really needs to be better.”
- “A final note is that the soundtrack is very limited; it's not a massive issue, but it is something you take notice of when you're staring at the same battlefields and maps for hours.”
optimization
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
60%
14%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing stuttering during large battles and performance issues on older hardware, while others report smooth gameplay and high frame rates on more powerful systems. Post-launch patches have improved performance, but many users still desire more optimization options and have noted that certain animations appear unfinished. Overall, while some players enjoy solid performance, others recommend waiting for further updates to address ongoing issues.
- “Very fun, well optimized, and beautifully illustrated.”
- “You'll need to form up, build, customize, and optimize every unit in your army to maximize their role and performance.”
- “The graphics of the game are also amazing, and the performance is well polished, allowing even low-end machines to run the game smoothly.”
- “My only critique is that the game struggles with performance optimization.”
- “Good game from what I heard, though due to me playing this on an old laptop I was unable to get past the loading screen to enter the campaign, and it would also freeze at the loading screen whenever I fought and defeated an enemy army. I think the game, although relatively light in storage, is not optimized for my device.”
- “It’s a fun and well-designed strategy game, but the performance issues really hold it back from being great.”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, particularly in terms of inventory management and army customization. Many find that the battles, while initially engaging, quickly become monotonous due to the sheer number of encounters and the lack of meaningful tactical depth. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable mechanics, the grind can detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like busywork than rewarding gameplay.
- “The army customization I find tedious in this.”
- “The simplicity of the tactics you need to win make every battle tedious after the first 20 battles.”
- “It becomes tedious busywork rather than a rewarding part of the experience.”
stability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
84%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting a generally smooth experience and minimal bugs, while others encounter significant issues such as erratic unit behavior, freezing during battles, and glitches affecting gameplay. While it runs well on various systems, including lower-end PCs, many users still experience frustrating bugs that can disrupt the overall experience. Overall, the game shows potential but may require further updates to address these stability concerns.
- “It's bug-free (in my experience) and runs really well both on my PC and the Steam Deck.”
- “At the time of writing, based on full game and demo experience of 34 hours, the game is thoroughly solid, bug-free, and has balanced mechanics.”
- “The game runs great; the customization is the best in any game in this genre.”
- “Clicks often send regiments into erratic formations halfway across the battlefield and orders are oftentimes just ignored by the buggy unit AI.”
- “Broke my first campaign... engaging enemy HQ freezes on battle loading screen; can't fix it, had to start all over.”
- “When I put the troop formation in a battle, the game glitches by putting huge gaps in my frontline even though I selected many regiments and spread them across.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its compelling art style, immersive design, and attention to historical detail, creating a cinematic experience during battles. Reviewers highlight the addictive gameplay and the effective use of sound design, contributing to a rich and engaging environment that enhances the overall tactical experience.
- “This is a fantastic indie title with a compelling atmosphere, addictive gameplay loop, meaningfully different factions and units, and plenty of customization options.”
- “The attention to historical details, art style, atmosphere, and sound design is nothing short of amazing.”
- “The battles look fantastic, with a proper Central European baroque atmosphere.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by absurd and unexpected moments, such as retreating cannons and quirky AI behavior, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere. Players appreciate the clever integration of memes and amusing events, reflecting the developers' playful approach and attention to comedic detail. Overall, the humor enhances the gaming experience, making it both entertaining and memorable.
- “Not only that, but a hilarious thing happens where after the artillery unit breaks and all operators are dead, the cannons start retreating and running by themselves.”
- “Funny seeing cannons in line formation retreating by themselves.”
- “I like the sense of humor that was put into the game (events are interesting and funny, I love the different memes placed all over the game) which shows that the developers were making it with love.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be surprisingly impactful for a strategy title, fostering a deep connection to their regiments that makes losses feel heartbreaking. The meaningful sacrifices within the gameplay enhance this emotional investment, making it a recommended experience for those seeking a more profound and engaging strategy game.
- “It's heartbreaking when it happens, but usually that sacrifice has meaning, which makes it even more impactful (preventing people like me from save scumming).”
- “You genuinely feel deeply connected to your regiments, which makes losing them and their officers heartbreaking.”
- “I am emotionally invested in my regiments.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express concerns that the monetization strategy feels excessive and leads to a lack of originality, comparing it to cash grab tactics seen in franchises like Marvel and Paradox. This has resulted in a perception that the game's offerings are repetitive and uninspired.
- “Something always felt off, and maybe there were just too many options, or the whole catalog started to look the same and cash grabby, like Marvel or Paradox.”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While the character design in Total War is appreciated for its artistic quality, the gameplay does not allow for close examination of the details, limiting the impact of character development on the overall experience.
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs are predictable, which detracts from the overall experience.”