Nuclear Option

About

"Nuclear Option" is a combat flight game set in a realistic near-future battlefield, where you can intercept bombers, engage in dogfights, and safely fly under radar. The game features advanced weapons, detailed aircraft physics, and cockpits with situational awareness HUDs. You can build your own missions and play solo or with friends in PVP or PVE multiplayer combat, with several flyable aircraft including the CI-22, F-20, and SU-35. Realistic flight dynamics, stalls, spins, and g-force effects are all fully implemented in this immersive game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,562 reviews

story82 positive mentions

grinding16 negative mentions

Great mix of arcade and realistic flight mechanics, making it accessible for both casual and hardcore players.
Impressive damage models and destruction physics, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
Regular updates and active developer engagement, showing commitment to improving the game and adding new content.

Limited content currently available, with only a few aircraft and missions, leading to potential repetitiveness.
Some issues with missile mechanics, where countermeasures may not work effectively against incoming threats.
User interface and control mapping can be confusing, especially for new players, requiring adjustments for optimal gameplay.

story
532 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
79%
5%
The game currently lacks a structured narrative or story mode, with players primarily engaging in a variety of sandbox missions and community-created content. While the mission editor allows for customization and creativity, many reviews highlight a need for more diverse and engaging missions, as well as improvements in AI and mission balance. Overall, the potential for a richer story experience exists, but it remains largely untapped in its current early access state.
- “Nuclear option is a fantastic strategy game that blends complex tactics with a gripping story.”
- “- **Engaging story:** The plot is compelling, with interesting characters and plenty of twists that keep you on your toes.”
- “The freedom and ranking up in a mission, the physics, the bombs.”
- “☑ no story”
- “There are no real missions, just about 4 half-baked scenarios worth playing a few times.”
- “Well there's no story mode (yet?), and only a limited amount of single missions.”
gameplay
336 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
67%
2%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its balance between arcade accessibility and realistic flight mechanics, making it easy to learn yet challenging to master. Players appreciate the dynamic campaign and variety of aircraft, though some have noted janky controls and a lack of content as drawbacks. Overall, the game is seen as a promising early access title with engaging mechanics and immersive combat, despite some inconsistencies and bugs.
- “Has the perfect mix of arcade and realism, and the sheer size of some of the missions allow for endless hours of unique gameplay even in singleplayer.”
- “The dynamic campaign (escalation gamemode) is a work of genius, and keeps gameplay fun and unpredictable and full of surprises that don't let the game become very boring and repetitive.”
- “The gameplay loop has been really fun, and the selection of aircraft is pretty decent given the time it's been in early access.”
- “I'm tired of this 'you lost a key position because you specifically weren't constantly defending an airbase from armored columns and missile strikes' nonsense, and single-track gameplay; it's far too repetitious, monotonous, unfun, and just a waste of my time.”
- “They put way too much effort into the graphics, but the gameplay is pretty bad.”
- “I still can't recommend it because from update .27 to the time of this edit, the game has one of the most idiotic radar homing missile mechanics in place.”
graphics
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
38%
6%
The graphics of the game have received high praise for their impressive visuals, particularly in lighting effects and destruction modeling, with many users noting the stunning representation of nuclear explosions and aircraft crashes. While some reviews mention that the graphics can be simplistic or reminiscent of early 2010s titles, they are generally considered excellent for a game of this size, running smoothly even on lower-end systems. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the immersive experience, making it a standout feature despite some calls for further optimization and variety.
- “The graphics are simple in some ways, but the lighting and effects are fantastic, especially when a nuke goes off and everything gets bathed in that ominous orange glow.”
- “The graphics are amazing and the amount of detail is impressive.”
- “Nothing feels better than punching through defenses to take out an airfield or carrier with a couple of nukes; the visuals are spectacular and it feels really 'Star Wars' trench run power grab moment when you do it.”
- “Graphics are mediocre at best.”
- “They put way too much effort into the graphics but the gameplay is pretty bad.”
- “The graphics are not super polished and night missions need more work so you don't get blinded selecting targets.”
music
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
4%
The game's soundtrack has received widespread acclaim for its energetic and engaging compositions, with many users praising its ability to enhance the gameplay experience. Each plane features its own theme, and the dynamic score adapts to the action, creating a captivating atmosphere. While some noted that the music can become repetitive, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout element of the game, contributing significantly to its enjoyment.
- “The game’s soundtrack deserves applause.”
- “Picture this: piloting the Darkreach (a formidable bomber) while the music swells, signaling the impending release of a colossal payload.”
- “Oh, the music is amazing too, seriously good, often kicking in just as you take off; it has no right being this awesome.”
- “Audio (6 of 10): the sounds fit well with the game, but the music becomes very repetitive.”
- “Glassed a city while my left ear was enveloped by the Beatles song 'Here Comes the Sun' and my right ear was engulfed in text-to-speech of people talking about how femboy twink would fix them.”
- “It's a difficult game but one that rewards you in the form of the soundtrack (and nuclear weapons!)”
optimization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
5%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report excellent performance with high frame rates and minimal lag, especially on lower-end PCs, there are notable issues during intense gameplay scenarios, particularly in the escalation mode. Some users have experienced occasional stutters and performance hiccups, indicating that further optimization and dedicated servers could enhance the experience. Despite these concerns, the graphics are praised for their quality relative to the performance, making the game enjoyable for most players.
- “The optimization is excellent, ensuring a steady framerate at all times.”
- “For 1GB, the graphics are really just amazing, and the optimization allows me to get 90-130 FPS on high, which is very unexpected for me.”
- “Optimized well and runs like butter.”
- “Performance issues: there are some occasional bugs and performance hiccups.”
- “Game needs dedicated servers and could use some optimization.”
- “Simple quality of life things like a restart button and undo/redo buttons on the editor are not present. The air AI has strokes of aggressive competency and of buttery smooth brained-ness, while the ground AI is outright a migraine source (especially as an editor or host) for how simple and single-minded it is. It needs more optimization and graphics options, as many missions on the workshop and on Discord will bring your computer to its knees.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
44%
44%
Overall, players appreciate the lack of tedious grinding in this game compared to others like DCS and War Thunder, highlighting its accessibility and quick gameplay. Many find it a refreshing alternative for those who want engaging aerial combat without the extensive time investment typically required for unlocking content. The game is praised for its balance of realism and fun, making it suitable for both casual and dedicated players.
- “Yet it's not that tedious to get going in each match like in DCS.”
- “Cheap, not hardware or resource expensive, no grinding necessary, no in-game purchases, and with a pretty close-knit community!”
- “This is an incredibly fun, non-bloated, not grindy, lite-flight-sim that combines some of the quick action of something like War Thunder, with somewhat more realistic flight modeling, and very advanced damage modeling.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I highly recommend this to anyone looking for combat flying but isn't really up for DCS learning or is tired of War Thunder's grinding monotony.”
- “Nuclear option is the perfect game for someone like me, who does not have enough time to learn all the intricate systems of an aircraft in games like DCS, who wants to have a great modern aerial combat experience without grinding unlocks like in War Thunder.”
stability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
69%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and minimal crashes. However, some players have experienced occasional freezes, graphical glitches, and specific issues with peripherals like TrackIR and joysticks. While the game runs well on lower-end systems, certain bugs and inconsistencies remain, particularly in the settings menu.
- “It reminds me of all those sim-lite games of the late '90s and early '00s in the best way, runs on potatoes, is playable with mouse and keyboard, has tons of customization options, and is relatively bug free.”
- “Game runs great, loads almost instantly and is straightforward, meaning it doesn't lose you in 20 different menus with PowerPoint transitions.”
- “It also runs really well and seems very much bug free.”
- “Very buggy in that regard.”
- “It supports TrackIR but it's kind of buggy; it stops working mid-game.”
- “Only issue so far is that a crash can occur when clicking the key binds button (I think) in settings, but it happens after the first load-in of any particular mission (load-in mission -> pause and go into settings -> press the key binds button -> game freezes).”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its chaotic physics and explosive gameplay, leading to amusing scenarios such as aircraft malfunctions and nuclear detonations. Players find joy in the absurdity of the situations, particularly in multiplayer modes where unexpected events often result in laughter. Overall, the game is celebrated for its entertaining and lighthearted approach to flight simulation.
- “Incredible game with semi-accurate physics that make for a fun and very funny game!”
- “This is an amazing must-have game for any fan of 'funny plane games'.”
- “My aircraft was damaged and I went into a spin, stalled, and it was hilarious to be whirling about with pieces having flown off.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability; while some users claim there is "no replay value," many others highlight the game's branching paths, multiple outcomes, and mission editor as key features that enhance replayability. The depth of gameplay and the potential for dynamic campaigns contribute to a strong sense of enjoyment and replayability, making it appealing for players seeking varied experiences. Overall, the game is seen as highly replayable despite some concerns about content quantity.
- “With its branching paths and multiple outcomes, no two playthroughs are the same.”
- “The mission editor and included missions are also very cool and allow for a lot of replayability due to how sandbox the game is.”
- “Awesome! I can't wait to see more. I wish more flight sims would prioritize gameplay over fidelity. The AI in the game is leagues better than in DCS, offering quick and easy action with a lot of replayability.”
- “No replay value.”
- “No replay value.”
- “Awesome can't wait to see more, I wish more flight sims would prioritize gameplay over fidelity. The AI in the game is leagues better than in DCS, quick and easy action with a lot of replayability, would love to see a dynamic campaign or even a sort of random mission/dynamic campaign generator.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive post-apocalyptic setting, enhanced by impressive visuals and sound design. Users appreciate the blend of elements reminiscent of games like Arma 3 and Ghost Recon Breakpoint, though some express a desire for a more dynamic battlefield experience. Overall, the atmosphere effectively captures a compelling and engaging environment.
- “The post-apocalyptic setting is immersive, thanks to the solid visuals and sound design.”
- “The atmosphere and vehicles/aircraft remind me of Arma 3's 2035 setting mixed with Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and I'm loving it.”
- “- **atmosphere:** the post-apocalyptic setting is immersive, thanks to the solid visuals and sound design.”
- “The atmosphere/setting and vehicles/aircraft kind remind me of Arma 3's 2035 setting mixed with Ghost Recon Breakpoint, and I'm loving it.”
- “Love the atmosphere of Ace Combat but wish there was a dynamic battlefield without arbitrary time/score limits.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization model of the game is highly praised, as it is affordable, free from microtransactions, and does not require grinding, making it accessible and enjoyable for players. Users appreciate the lack of in-game purchases and the low hardware requirements, contributing to a positive community experience. Overall, the game is considered a great value for its fun and engaging multiplayer features.
- “Cheap, not hardware or resource expensive, no grinding necessary, no in-game purchases, and with a pretty close-knit community!”
- “Cheap, fun, can play with friends, like DCS but easier to learn, like Ace Combat but harder, like War Thunder but without grind or microtransactions, 10/10”