Rise of the White Sun

About

Rise of the White Sun is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Maestro Cinetik and was released on September 21, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Rise of the White Sun" is a real-time strategy game set in an ancient Asian-inspired world. Players must build and manage their kingdom, expanding through conquest and diplomacy while contending with supernatural threats. The game features a unique spiritual philosophy system, influencing unit abilities and empire development, and intense PvP multiplayer modes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+16

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 138 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features a unique setting during the Warlord Era of China, providing a rich historical context that is often overlooked in other strategy games.
Players appreciate the depth of gameplay, including character management, political maneuvering, and the unpredictability of alliances and betrayals, which adds to the immersive experience.
The developer is actively engaged with the community, frequently updating the game and addressing player feedback, which enhances the overall experience.

The user interface is often criticized for being clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for players to navigate menus and access important information.
Many players find the steep learning curve daunting, with unclear mechanics and a lack of comprehensive tutorials that can lead to frustration.
Bugs and technical issues have been reported, which can disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
74%
6%
The gameplay of "Rise of the White Sun" is characterized by its unique mechanics and deep strategic elements, offering players a variety of factions with distinct objectives and playstyles, from traditional warfare to guerrilla tactics and espionage. While the game presents a steep learning curve and can feel repetitive over time, many players appreciate the historical depth and immersive experience it provides, despite some frustrations with unclear mechanics and a clunky user interface. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy complex strategy games that challenge players to adapt and think politically.
- “The gameplay offers various warlords in different time periods with different objectives and playstyles, which prevents repetitiveness.”
- “From commanding massive powerful armies and dealing with logistics, supplies, and loyalty of the men, to using guerilla fighters and playing with subversive methods via sabotage, terrorism, and espionage, the game offers everything!”
- “The gameplay loop is easy to get the hang of, and the strategy itself is incredibly chaotic, making it ripe for quick sessions of interesting and teeth-clenching gameplay.”
- “The gameplay itself is deep, though demanding.”
- “Very unpolished and quite unintuitive; the lack of explanation for why or how things are happening makes it feel less like a thought-out political/war game sim, and more like a game about understanding how seemingly distant and poorly explained or understood mechanics interact with each other.”
- “The problem is the UI is abysmal, and that means 99% of the gameplay is abysmal.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's story is enriched by its diverse factions, each with unique backstories, goals, and mechanics, particularly reflecting the historical context of the Chinese warlord era. Players appreciate the scripted events in campaigns, which enhance immersion, though some desire more detailed lore and explanations about faction backgrounds and motivations. Overall, the narrative elements contribute significantly to the gameplay experience, especially for those who enjoy story-driven content.
- “There is a lot of variety between factions, unique starting positions, strengths, and goals; some have specific mechanics (horde, party), and some historically significant factions have unique story events.”
- “I've been fascinated by the warlord period ever since reading Pearl Buck's _Sons_; it's certainly a niche book, and I think it's set a bit earlier than this game, but it's wonderful to have a game set in this period!”
- “Third, while this may just be indicative of my appreciation for more story-based games, I feel like I enjoyed the first campaign the most because it had more specific scripted events.”
- “I feel I need to share a bit of story in this review in order to provide a full view of this game from my perspective.”
- “I also think it would be neat if there was some kind of optional text blurb explaining the backstory of the faction, why they split off from other people, what they believe, what their allies are, etc., as I don't believe I was ever able to find stuff like that.”
- “Starting out, you're going to sink over a few hours into some of the early missions.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game offers strong replayability due to its dynamic scenarios, diverse factions, and multiple victory conditions, particularly appealing for those interested in the historical context of the warlord era in China. Players have noted significant variety and enjoyment in replaying different scenarios, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Overall, the replay value is in there; the historical era is previously unexplored, so this is a great indie addition.”
- “Excellent replayability between all scenarios and factions.”
- “Since the more important factions play differently and there are several goals you can pursue to win, there is lots of replayability in what is already there.”
- “Overall, the replay value is there, but the historical era is previously unexplored, making it a great indie addition.”
- “I have mainly played the Shanghai Uprising and was surprised at how much replayability and variety there was to it.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The graphics in the game are considered basic, with some users expressing hope that the gameplay will compensate for this shortcoming. However, the unique art style, particularly for a Chinese chess game, has received positive remarks, indicating a refreshing visual approach. Overall, while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are appreciated for their distinctiveness.
- “The art style is so cool for a Chinese chess game.”
- “In a modern game, there should at least be some level of graphics.”
- “Graphics are as per screenshots; music and sounds are okay, but I don't care much about either.”
- “I've never seen this art style before.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and opaque, with frustrating mechanics that involve repetitive clicking and window switching. While the game offers diverse activities such as land battles, economic development, and various strategic choices, the overall experience is marred by the laborious nature of these tasks.
- “This isn't just a case of too many clicks and annoying, tedious window switching (and believe me, it's horrible in this regard).”
- “It's just opaque in its mechanisms and tedious.”
- “A suggestion from a farming party:”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly how characters can betray you, which adds a comical yet frustrating twist to gameplay. The tool-tips and pop-up boxes are also noted for their humorous explanations of mechanics, enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the blend of humor and challenge contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The fact that your own characters can, and will, backstab you and join other factions is not only historically accurate but also really funny and anger-inducing in the right way.”
- “I played through the tutorials, and must admit that the tool-tips and pop-up boxes are a great help in explaining the game's mechanics in layman's terms; the humor therein is funny.”
- “Having just finished the Shanghai scenario, which was both frustrating and humorous at times, I can say that I love the game and I can see it becoming one of my favorites!”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is meticulously crafted through detailed character portraits and interface art that evoke the historical essence of the 1920s, complemented by a collage style that enhances the gloomy and brutal ambiance of China.
- “Character portraits and interface art are rendered with care, evoking the historical atmosphere of the 1920s while remaining clear and readable.”
- “The collage style of this game creates a gloomy and brutal atmosphere of China.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music features a blend of traditional and militaristic motifs that enhance historical immersion, though some players find it unremarkable and not a focal point of their experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is effective, it may not resonate with all users.
- “The soundtrack, composed of traditional and militaristic motifs, contributes to the sense of historical immersion without overwhelming the experience.”
- “Graphics are as per screenshots; the music and sounds are okay, but I don't care much about either.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotional responses by emphasizing resilience and adaptability, encouraging players to engage with the characters' journeys in a historical context. Players find a sense of wholesomeness and humility in witnessing the characters' development before their eventual successes, fostering a deeper connection to their stories.
- “It's a game that demands resilience and adaptability more than mastery, rewarding those who can think politically and emotionally rather than mechanically.”
- “There is something so wholesome about seeing these characters in the 1920s—long before their moments of glory in the 30s and 40s—that I find humbling. (Do not worry, Chiang, your moment will come!)”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report significant stability issues, citing frequent bugs that disrupt gameplay, such as NPCs behaving unpredictably. Overall, the game is perceived as incomplete and unreliable, leading to frustration among players.
- “The last straw for me was when I paid bandits to go one direction, but due to bugs, they went the opposite direction further into my territory.”
- “This is a very buggy and incomplete game.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game enjoyable but express a desire for further optimizations to enhance performance and overall player experience.
- “I personally find this game quite fun, and I hope that more improvements can be implemented when needed to enhance player experience and game performance.”