Radio Commander

About

Radio Commander is a single player real-time strategy game with a warfare theme. It was developed by Serious Sim and was released on October 10, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Radio Commander is a unique war strategy game set in the Vietnam War where you play as an American military commander, coordinating operations through dramatic radio statements. Your only tool is a strategic map, making for a distinctive and immersive experience, differing from traditional RTS games.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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71%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,470 reviews

story118 positive mentions

stability52 negative mentions

Unique and refreshing take on the RTS genre, immersing players in the role of a radio commander during the Vietnam War.
Engaging story and character development, with well-written dialogue that captures the emotional weight of the conflict.
Gameplay mechanics that require strategic thinking and decision-making, creating a sense of responsibility for the player's troops.

Numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including mission triggers not activating and units getting stuck.
Repetitive dialogue and voice acting that can detract from immersion, with some lines feeling robotic and unrealistic.
Limited tactical options and a heavily scripted campaign that can lead to frustration and a lack of replayability.

story
942 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
83%
4%
The game's story, set during the Vietnam War, is described as engaging yet flawed, with a mix of well-told character dialogues and predictable tropes. Players appreciate the unique storytelling approach through radio communications, but many express frustration with the heavily scripted missions that can lead to bugs and mission failures, detracting from the overall experience. While the narrative has potential, it often feels rushed and lacks the depth needed to fully immerse players in the characters and their struggles.
- “The story is well told through great dialogue between the characters, which really makes the interactions feel authentic.”
- “The story telling is pretty good and the scenarios are engaging and challenging.”
- “The storyline invests you in your units well and covers some of the grittier parts of the conflict.”
- “The story itself is a little bit sub-par in my opinion, especially in the end.”
- “Another glaring issue with the story is that for a game with so much theoretical tactical freedom, the great tragedies of the story are unceremoniously dropped on you by scripted events that you totally could have avoided if you maintained the same amount of control over your troops throughout the story.”
- “The biggest drawback for me was that most of the story missions are heavily scripted.”
gameplay
298 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
61%
5%
The gameplay has been described as immersive and unique, with a focus on troop management and decision-making that can be engaging, especially on higher difficulty levels. However, many players find the mechanics to be simplistic and poorly explained, leading to confusion and frustration, particularly with the lack of depth in troop management and repetitive mission structures. While some appreciate the innovative concept and atmosphere, others criticize the execution as lacking polish and depth, resulting in a gameplay experience that can feel monotonous and unfulfilling.
- “The gameplay is very immersive and playing on veteran difficulty makes every decision matter.”
- “Game has very straightforward mechanics and the first/tutorial mission lets you learn the game by actually playing it.”
- “The mechanics, aesthetics, and dynamics (mostly) are fun and allow for freedom in a game I have not seen much in other titles.”
- “The troop management is bare bones and does not affect the gameplay in a large way, but you can read the background story of all characters. Buy the DLC only if you want to support the developer, but not for gameplay reasons.”
- “Gameplay not very convincing and gets stale fairly fast.”
- “The gameplay can be sort of boring as all you do is really see a map and move map items around and give orders; I would have liked to see a bit more by way of cinematic content or something to look at besides a map.”
graphics
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
53%
10%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals are not high-end, they effectively serve the game's minimalist and immersive design. Some appreciate the unique art style and atmosphere, while others criticize the basic graphics and user interface, suggesting that the game could benefit from improvements in these areas. Overall, the graphics are functional but not the main draw, as the gameplay and audio elements take precedence.
- “Crisp, clean interface and graphics.”
- “The graphics are pretty good and the atmosphere of the game is quite nicely done.”
- “The art style is beautiful, the game is innovative, and the story is beyond captivating.”
- “The graphics and UI are mediocre at best, and there are several bugs that can make the game frustrating to play.”
- “This is a low budget game, the graphics aren't great, do not expect wonders.”
- “Graphics: you’ll spend 98% of the game looking at a map and moving little pieces around.”
stability
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches, significantly impacting the overall experience and causing frustration for players. While some users report occasional minor issues, many describe the game as a "broken buggy mess," with critical problems that hinder gameplay, particularly in key missions. Overall, stability remains a major concern, overshadowing the game's interesting premise.
- “This game is a broken buggy mess that was 'fully released' in something that resembles a pre-alpha stage.”
- “Mission 5 in particular is very buggy and frustrating, and I can't bring myself to play through it for the fourth or fifth time to have a mission failure due to something out of my control.”
- “Very poor voice acting, glitches everywhere you turn (many that prevent you from progressing), and a horrible UI.”
replayability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
70%
18%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the option to tackle missions with different strategies and the ability to create and share custom battles, others find the scripted nature of the campaign limits creativity and overall replay value. Achievements can enhance replayability for those motivated by them, but many feel that the short missions and lack of substantial content make repeated playthroughs less appealing. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some praising high replay value and others deeming it inflexible and simplistic.
- “Apart from the story mode, the game also provides you with the option to set up custom battles which improves quality of life and replayability.”
- “You can also create your own missions and share them, so that should add to replayability.”
- “Voice acting is great, bugs are very minor, and the replayability is very high.”
- “The campaign relied heavily on scripting and putting units in specific positions or performing specific actions for the story to continue, limiting replayability and creativity for a game with a large open map. The problem starts to surface more and more in later missions.”
- “The game is somewhat replayable if you want to hear new dialogues and read different after-action reports, but it's not really worth replaying a 40-minute mission just to hear some lines and read a few sentences after a mission.”
- “Inflexible, overly simplistic, limited replayability; more useful as a simple training or teaching tool than a game.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
37%
13%
The game successfully immerses players in the atmosphere of the Vietnam War, effectively capturing both its complexities and emotional weight, particularly from the perspective of a desk-bound commander. The audio quality and graphics contribute to this immersive experience, although some players noted minor drawbacks, such as the absence of 60s-era music. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its authenticity and depth, making it a compelling experience for those interested in the subject.
- “The game appears to effectively create an atmosphere of war, highlighting the positives and negatives of the Vietnam War, especially from the eyes of a desk-bound commander.”
- “Admittedly, I'm only short into the game and have a lot to learn yet, but being a bit of a Vietnam nerd after reading many books on the subject, this really nailed the atmosphere.”
- “Having been in the situation where you sit in a tent and move people around in real life with only a radio, a map, and poor lighting, I can say this game brilliantly captures the atmosphere.”
- “Admittedly, I'm only short into the game and a lot to learn yet, but being a bit of a Vietnam nerd after reading many books on the subject, this really nailed the atmosphere.”
- “There are some drawbacks, but I recommend playing to gain experience in squad leadership and feel the atmosphere of the Vietnam War.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, with players expressing frustration over the repetitive nature of unit management and movement. While some acknowledge that the story and occasional fun moments can offset the monotony, the overall sentiment leans towards the gameplay being overly laborious and lacking intensity.
- “I spent forever tediously moving my units one by one from checkpoint to checkpoint until near the end the convoy refused to move because it was 'pinned down'.”
- “The logistics are tedious, as they are in real life, but games are meant to be fun, not tedious.”
- “It's tedious and not at all fun.”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for misleading advertising that does not align with the actual gameplay experience, leading to frustration among players. Many feel that the game lacks sufficient content and documentation, and the requirement to restart the campaign upon purchasing DLC diminishes the overall value. Overall, the monetization approach appears to prioritize profit over player satisfaction, resulting in a negative reception.
- “The developers are advertising this game as being something which it currently is not.”
- “It attempts to create a feeling of choice and strategy, which ruins the game because it's nothing but an illusion. It's also short; I completed the campaign 1.5 times because buying the DLC halfway makes you restart the game.”
- “There is a severe lack of documentation or any information that is not an advertisement for the game available online.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively conveys the emotional weight of war, immersing players in the tension and uncertainty faced by soldiers, which can lead to a powerful emotional experience. However, some players find it challenging to form a deep emotional connection with the characters due to a lack of visual representation, which can detract from the overall impact of the narrative. Overall, the game offers a compelling emotional journey, reminiscent of war films, but may struggle to fully engage players on a personal level.
- “It’s interesting how the game allows you to feel the tension and uncertainty of war, as well as the emotional toll it takes on the soldiers.”
- “Your creative fiction really brings out the emotional depth and complexity of the game.”
- “When Radio Commander works as intended, it gave me an emotional rollercoaster and had me playing with goosebumps and smiles, or had me swearing and feeling sad.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
The game features a unique storytelling approach that enhances character development, particularly through radio messages, allowing players to form strong attachments to the characters. While many players appreciate the depth and engagement of the character arcs, some find the excessive information from subordinate leaders during critical moments to be distracting and frustrating. Overall, the character development is generally well-received, though it may not appeal to everyone.
- “The game’s unique approach to storytelling and character development through radio messages seems to have made a strong impression on you.”
- “You also really get attached to your characters as there is some surprisingly good character development.”
- “Just completed the 3rd mission, and so far I really like the character development and the videos at the start of the round. The gameplay is good, just as advertised. I wouldn't say it's a game for everyone; I can see how some people wouldn't like this kind of gameplay, but I like it.”
- “Con: character development/story gets annoying when subordinate leaders fill the net with needless information while trying to make time-sensitive tactical decisions.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its humor, delivering laughs through offensive jokes and witty dialogue, particularly in radio conversations. Players appreciate the unique storytelling in the campaign missions, which blend humor with strategic gameplay, making for an entertaining experience. Overall, the comedic elements significantly enhance the game's appeal.
- “Already made me laugh more than a few times.”
- “Some conversations over the radio are just hilarious.”
- “And one funny feature that I use is the microphone.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The music in the game is praised for creating a relaxing atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. However, some users expressed disappointment over the absence of 60s era music, which they compensated for by using YouTube. Voice acting received mixed reviews, being described as merely okay.
- “I love this; it's great to just put on some music and chill.”
- “Love the atmosphere; the voice acting is okay. It's a pity there's no 60's era music, but I solved that with YouTube.”
- “I love this; it's great to just put on some music and chill.”
- “I love the atmosphere, and the voice acting is okay, but it's a pity there is no 60's era music. I solved that with YouTube.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's optimization is praised for delivering impressive performance even on low graphics settings, allowing players with less powerful systems to enjoy a visually appealing experience. However, there are suggestions for further enhancements, such as incorporating dynamic weather effects that impact gameplay mechanics, like radio signal reliability.
- “Wow, it's very fun! The performance is also epic. I am playing on low graphics, but it looks like ultra graphics, and I still get around 40 FPS on my potato! :D”
- “Weather conditions should change between fog, thunderstorms, etc., and these conditions should influence unit performance. For example, radio signals tend to break up during a storm, and sometimes you get missing numbers in the coordinates. Then you lose radio contact, and you'll have to make estimations on the location of the unit or try other means to locate it.”