Partisans 1941
- December 10, 2021
- Alter Games
- 20h median play time
Hamper the Nazi's plans by staging Guerilla warfare!
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games Store"Partisans 1941" is a real-time tactical strategy game set during World War II. Lead a group of Soviet partisans in their fight against the German occupation, using guerrilla warfare tactics to sabotage and ambush enemy forces. Manage your base, recruit new fighters, and make strategic decisions to ensure your group's survival and success. Experience a compelling story with diverse characters and challenging missions.
Mac OS
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Windows
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Reviews
- Engaging tactical gameplay with a mix of stealth and combat options.
- Unique setting focusing on the Soviet resistance during WWII, providing a fresh perspective.
- Well-designed characters with distinct abilities and a compelling narrative.
- Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
- Clunky controls and UI issues, making it difficult to manage characters and inventory effectively.
- Inconsistent enemy AI behavior, leading to unpredictable detection and combat outcomes.
- story1,390 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of "Partisans 1941" is set against the backdrop of World War II, focusing on Soviet partisans fighting against German occupiers. While the narrative provides a basic framework for the missions, many players find it lacking depth and complexity, often describing it as straightforward and somewhat predictable. The character development is minimal, with some reviewers expressing a desire for more engaging story arcs and interactions, though the game does succeed in creating a sense of atmosphere and urgency through its mission design and historical context.
“The story, as mentioned, doesn’t really have much of a climax, and while I guessed that the final mission was in fact the finale based on its title, it doesn’t feel like an appropriately large event to close a narrative campaign.”
“The characters themselves don’t have particularly deep characterisation or development as the story progresses, but it gives a nice sweep of the different kinds of people who would potentially get involved in a partisan unit – soldiers, aggrieved locals, ex-criminals, and so on.”
“The story is suitably dark for the setting, though I never found it to get to the point that I would warn someone who had a passing grasp of the events of World War II.”
“The story is virtually non-existent.”
“Characters are bland, the story is forgettable, and you will quickly stop caring about any of them.”
“The overall story could be somehow a little deeper and more engaging but all over it's interesting enough.”
- gameplay445 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Partisans 1941" is a mixed bag, featuring engaging tactical and stealth mechanics reminiscent of classic titles like "Commandos" and "Shadow Tactics." While many players appreciate the strategic depth and immersive environments, they also highlight significant issues such as clunky controls, unpolished mechanics, and frustrating bugs that detract from the overall experience. The base management elements feel underdeveloped and often unnecessary, leading to a gameplay experience that, despite its potential, can be repetitive and frustrating at times.
“The gameplay is truly engaging and immersive.”
“The stealth and strategic approach to the tactical gameplay is amongst the best I have ever played in the genre.”
“The gameplay gets the tactical stealth formula right; every kill is satisfying, and the combat strikes a good balance between chaotic and tactical.”
“The gameplay is simple and easy to understand, but the story is not the greatest, and the music is there; I recommend buying this game on sale.”
“The gameplay is extremely repetitive, and the mechanics are clunky, feeling slow with lots of quality of life issues that make immersion impossible.”
“The stealth mechanics are broken in this game, as enemies can see and shoot you through the bushes, making it frustrating to play.”
- graphics154 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the art style and overall aesthetic appeal, while others criticize the lack of customization options and graphical bugs. Many find the visuals charming and functional, though some note that character models can appear blurry and the optimization is lacking, leading to performance issues. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent, there is a consensus that they could be improved, especially in comparison to similar titles.
“The artistic graphics play off the brilliant lighting of the Unreal Engine, and the diverse voice acting is believable for the setting.”
“The graphics are excellent, although I'd like the zoom to be able to zoom in a little closer.”
“The overall art style of this game is wonderful, and the music was really well done!”
“The graphics need to be improved so it looks like it was drawn with crayons.”
“The graphics are very similar to a 20-year-old game, and it is slower yet.”
“The graphics settings are a bit crap, and there's no frame rate cap.”
- stability118 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and unresponsive UI elements that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players experienced frustrating issues such as pathfinding errors, AI inconsistencies, and game freezes, leading to a consensus that the game is poorly optimized and often unplayable. While some users noted minor glitches that did not severely impact gameplay, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game's stability issues overshadow its potential enjoyment.
“It's not buggy (too much), but what you do to stay undetected or not (sometimes a specific criteria for finishing a mission) is not very clear cut.”
“Not buggy feeling, the game looks crisp and pleasant.”
“The sheer variety and common place of glitches and bugs prevents an otherwise impressive game from shining as bright.”
“The game is very buggy and is also poorly optimized.”
“But good lord is it a buggy, unoptimized, frustrating mess.”
- music60 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and relaxing nature, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Some highlight the soundtrack as a good fit for the game's setting, though it lacks variety and memorability. Overall, the sound design is generally considered decent, contributing positively to the game's ambiance despite some criticisms of the music's repetitiveness and lack of standout tracks.
“The soundtrack and sound overall is very good and atmospheric, with good weapon sounds and nice ambience.”
“Incredibly nice atmosphere and game music; please preserve this style.”
“As someone who owns the soundtrack, I must say it is so atmospheric and immersive.”
“The soundtrack of the game is poor and not memorable.”
“The music is completely forgettable to nonexistent.”
“Well, there isn't really any gameplay soundtrack, so that's not worth mentioning....”
- optimization59 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting poor performance, frequent bugs, and significant frame rate drops even on high-end systems. Issues such as laggy inventory management, unresponsive controls, and unskippable cutscenes further detract from the experience, leading to frustration among users. Overall, the consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance gameplay and performance.
“I wish more games were this optimized!”
“The optimization is great except one minor issue I encountered in 8 hours.”
“The game runs smoothly.”
“The second reason is how the game is optimized... deplorable.”
“The game is very buggy and is also poorly optimized.”
“Unfortunately, the worst aspect of this game is its optimization.”
- atmosphere56 mentions
- 61 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its compelling and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the grim and desperate essence of the Eastern Front during World War II. Players appreciate the authentic sound design, including voice acting in Russian, which enhances the overall experience, although some find the repetitive music and certain campfire discussions detract from it. Overall, the game's atmospheric presentation, combined with its strategic gameplay, creates a memorable and engaging environment that resonates with many players.
“Partisans 1941 successfully captures the grim and desperate atmosphere of the eastern front during World War II and showcases the barbaric nature of fascism.”
“What Partisans 1941 excels in is the atmosphere of the gritty Soviet lands, as it looks quite realistic with a bit of cartoony style in characters’ appearance.”
“The atmosphere is compelling and convincingly realistic, even though your unit of defined partisans has an unbelievably good success rate.”
“No feeling of being in a real Nazi-Soviet atmosphere; you don't hear German talking, screaming, etc.”
“The grim atmosphere and bland characters undermine a decent combat system and an interesting base setup.”
“The atmosphere is well done; the landscape looks barren, scarred, desolate, and more often than not, one gets the impression of a hopeless endeavor your band of partisans is undertaking.”
- grinding37 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
Players frequently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with many noting that inventory management and mission progression often feel repetitive and slow. The need for constant quick-saving and the lack of meaningful camp mechanics contribute to a sense of monotony, making the gameplay experience less enjoyable, especially in later missions. While some appreciate the core gameplay, the overall sentiment leans towards the grinding elements being a significant drawback.
“There's a lot of grinding involved, but it feels rewarding.”
“You'll need a second life for all the grinding, but it's worth it for the progress.”
“Grinding can be time-consuming, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
“The camp setup in between missions is quite pointless and tedious.”
“This game was so close to perfection, but instead becomes tedious and boring.”
“Constantly quick saving to not be sent back 20 minutes is tedious and annoying as hell.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability, with some players finding it highly replayable due to character and loadout variations, while others criticize the campaign missions for lacking meaningful replay value once completed. Although certain mechanics and character combinations offer potential for replay, many users feel that the game ultimately falls short in providing a compelling reason to replay after the initial experience. Overall, while there are elements that enhance replayability, significant portions of the player base express disappointment in its longevity.
“It is highly addictive, and very replayable.”
“As it is impossible to fill the whole ability tree, the game gains replayability by letting the player try new things.”
“There are 8 characters which give you different play styles to use, and the game offers a wide range of weapon loadouts, both of which contribute to its replayability.”
“A couple of things I didn't like was the lack of replayability for the campaign missions.”
“Overall a great game though and worth a play, though lacking on any meaningful replayability once you've completed each mission or gained each achievement.”
“A really good amount of fun, but really has no replayability - and for the price, that's really not enough.”
- humor15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding moments of hilarity, particularly in character interactions and dialogue, while others note a lack of charm compared to similar titles. Bugs and glitches contribute to comedic situations, but the overall humor is often overshadowed by a dull and humorless narrative. While there are funny moments, particularly in stealth mechanics and character quirks, the game's humor does not consistently engage players.
“This gets ridiculously hilarious when I meet the doctor chick in a civilian rescue mission.”
“The one thing partisans lack compared to commandos is that humorous charm that made the latter game so irresistible even during its most frustrating moments.”
“Some funny dialogue here and there.”
- character development13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally well-received, featuring a mix of unique characters with engaging stories and skill trees that allow for RPG-style progression. While some players appreciate the depth of character interactions and development, others find the overall narrative and character arcs to be somewhat generic or lacking in depth. The campaign offers a balance of character growth and gameplay mechanics, though it may not satisfy those seeking a deeply immersive story.
“Campaign is a bit short, maybe 20-25 hours total but lots of stealth tactics, a good resource management, and 8 unique characters with good character development and a good story.”
“RPG character development: you choose and unlock certain abilities and improve as your characters level up.”
“Character development is narrowed by the character-specific skill tree.”
“The campaign has established main characters with some level of character development as opposed to generic characters with permadeath like you'll find in other RTS games.”
“The story is pretty generic, with no love given towards character development or similar.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is generally perceived as lacking, with many reviewers noting a failure to create meaningful character conflicts or a compelling narrative that resonates with players. While some appreciate the immersive experience of being a partisan in WWII, the overall storytelling is described as uninspiring and flat, leading to a disconnect with the game's more serious themes. Despite moments of potential emotional depth, the execution leaves players feeling unfulfilled and detached from the characters and their struggles.
“This game made me feel like a real partisan in WWII, great story and some cool missions.”
“The Polish one, alone, has so many heartbreaking ups and downs.”
“It's not a dealbreaker, but a strong score would have given the latter missions, particularly the finale, a bigger emotional punch.”
“However, in practice, the game feels much less satisfying than similar titles, with an uninspiring and boring story.”
“Boring story, always someone gets caught and rescued, and it just repeats. At the end of the day, you have another mouth to feed and a guy who picks up eggs. I'd rather they weren't here to share the food. Most of the game, I feel like two people are enough; the third is just a scavenger for more slots.”
Critic Reviews
Partisans 1941 Review
Taking the role of a small, under-equipped squad is a novel angle for a real time strategy game like this. Some aspects of Partisans 1941 were interesting, but the core of the game has too many small complaints to recommend it in a high regard. Combat being far too random is the largest problem as it is causing constant saves and reloads with how deadly it is. Strategy games are in a dearth right now, so this is not a bad game in the slightest if there is a need to play something new, but it simply does not stack up against some of the heavy weights of the genre.
50%Partisans 1941 Review
A satisfying take on the Commandos genre. Partisans 1941 allows players to walk through the brutality of the Second World War, searching for a beacon of hope on the other side.
75%Partisans 1941 Review
A capable and interesting stealth game let down by a few too many noticeable issues.
65%
