RUNNING WITH RIFLES

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 9,750 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
RUNNING WITH RIFLES Game Cover
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"Running with Rifles" is a top-down tactical shooter with open-world RPG elements, where you start as a soldier and can rise in rank and command. Explore vast landscapes from trenches to snowy valleys, engage in combat with realistic cover system, and use various weapons, support items, and vehicles. Complete side objectives and experience emergent AI as you navigate through the campaign.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 9,750 reviews
gameplay418 positive mentions
story54 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,070 mentions

    The gameplay of "Running with Rifles" is characterized by its dynamic and chaotic nature, offering a mix of tactical depth and simple mechanics that cater to various playstyles. Players enjoy the freedom of sandbox-like environments, engaging in intense battles with a focus on teamwork and strategy, while also benefiting from extensive mod support that enhances replayability. However, some users note issues with AI behavior and repetitive gameplay loops, suggesting that while the core mechanics are solid, they can become stale over time.

    • “This game is a masterpiece, got it on sale and got addicted because of the gameplay.”
    • “In a nutshell, this game offers loads of freedom, fantastic gameplay, and a standout co-op mode, elevating it beyond the typical top-down shooter.”
    • “The gameplay loop is a simple and satisfying tug-of-war for map control and it just feels great to hop onto a server and start shooting little guys.”
    • “Slow, shallow gameplay.”
    • “The mechanics are just absolute garbage, the gameplay feels lame, AI is just literally running with rifles and all in all it's just very very 'meh'.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive, the single player is the same as the multiplayer with bots.”
  • story502 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of a coherent narrative, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of objectives rather than a traditional campaign. While some enjoy the emergent storytelling that arises from gameplay mechanics and player choices, the absence of cutscenes, character development, or a structured plot leaves many feeling unsatisfied. The final missions, in particular, are often described as frustrating and poorly designed, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The main objective of the campaign is to capture all of the areas on the local island the game takes place, but how you go about doing that is completely up to you, there is no set method for you to follow and you're given the creative freedom of how to overcome your current mission, this is what makes the game stand out for me.”
    • “Except that none of this was scripted - the way I chose to handle the situation, and how it panned out when I was spotted, were all unintentional, but by adapting as I went along, a story emerged from the gameplay that would probably have fit in a modern military shooter's campaign.”
    • “The RPG elements are there for those like me that want to make a story for themselves, and the sandbox element is forefront.”
    • “Almost no story and everything quickly begins to repeat itself.”
    • “The single player story mode is a chaos. Actually there are no missions to complete, no story to follow, you just have to conquer the whole map.”
    • “The campaign has no story, it's just you, a load of troops, versus another load of troops, fighting for a single map.”
  • graphics500 mentions

    The graphics of "Running with Rifles" are characterized by a simplistic, cartoonish art style that evokes nostalgia for classic games like "Army Men." While some players find the visuals charming and well-suited to the game's tactical gameplay, others note that they lack detail and polish. Overall, the graphics are generally considered serviceable and not demanding on hardware, allowing for smooth gameplay despite their minimalist design.

    • “The style is very cool and the physics and visuals are actually quite impressive and fun to look at.”
    • “The minimalist graphical style, though unassuming, radiates a distinctive charm that harmonizes exquisitely with the game's aesthetic ethos.”
    • “The graphics in this game are very beautiful and seem stylized to a more simplistic nature, which works wonders for a top-down shooter, and allows the game to run much smoother on low-end computers.”
    • “The graphics are poor and it doesn't have much of a story.”
    • “The graphics leave something to be desired but the style suits the game and is polished nicely.”
    • “Anyways, it's not without its flaws as a game, the graphics are basic and leave a lot to be desired, but overall, I have enjoyed this title far more than many other higher priced games that I've played this year.”
  • humor170 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its absurdity, funny AI dialogue, and hilarious multiplayer moments that enhance the overall experience. Many reviews mention the light-hearted and cartoonish tone, which contributes to chaotic yet enjoyable gameplay, making it particularly fun when played with friends. While some players note that the humor can occasionally border on annoying, the general consensus is that it adds a delightful layer to the game's chaotic action.

    • “The AI sucks, but the game even acknowledges this by making the characters make hilarious remarks about how the tank is broken or whatever excuses.”
    • “It's just good fun with light-hearted action and even some funny moments (like when one of your AI teammates runs you over with a jeep).”
    • “This game is hilariously good and really fun to play with friends.”
  • grinding124 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding elements, often leading to feelings of tedium and repetition, especially in later stages. While some players appreciate the grind as part of the experience, others find it excessively lengthy and frustrating, with many noting that it can detract from overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is polarizing, appealing to some while alienating others who seek a more dynamic gameplay experience.

    • “It plays like Foxhole, although there's no grinding to get things done, or at least it's not as grindy as Foxhole, which is a thumbs up from me.”
    • “The art style is amazing, there is no worthless tacked-on DLC (and the DLC that will be coming is going to basically add a whole new era to the game), no microtransactions, no grinding, nothing is brokenly overpowered, tons of mods that work offline and on servers, it's wonderful and some of the most fun I've had with friends.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Yet I still don't feel like a pro at the game as the difficulty sliders always add a new challenge to replay with. Sometimes this game starts to feel tedious and repetitive, but then you start to forget that as you spend what feels like half a decade fighting for the objective.”
    • “What a mind-numbingly boring and tedious game.”
    • “Overall, while the game is interesting and has a unique feel, the player has to tear moments of fun from waves of tedious frustration and repetition.”
  • replayability122 mentions

    The game is praised for its high replayability, with players noting that each match or campaign offers a unique experience, enhanced by a strong modding community that provides additional content and variety. Many reviews highlight the game's depth, diverse gameplay options, and the ability to unlock new features, making it suitable for both casual and dedicated players seeking extensive replay value. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile investment for those looking for a game that can be enjoyed repeatedly.

    • “The dedicated and passionate community, with unwavering fervor, regularly organizes events and creates an array of mods, ensuring a continuous influx of innovative content, thereby perpetuating the game's replayability.”
    • “The vanilla game itself has a very high replay value, and on top of that you've got workshop content giving you a complete rework of the game with custom campaigns, maps, vehicles, skins, and whatnot.”
    • “If you want a game that offers almost infinite replayability, this is the game for you.”
    • “Even though this game is great, it feels as though it is an early access title as it lacks depth in several aspects, especially multiplayer, which makes the game much less replayable.”
    • “The grind is pretty terrible, but with the length that each level can take (or the campaign), you're sure to have a lot of replay value.”
    • “The game supposedly touts replayability by way of being a sandbox and declares it has RPG elements.”
  • music86 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its catchy and upbeat nature that fits the game's setting, while others find it repetitive or overly cheerful given the game's violent themes. Many appreciate the menu music, but some criticize it as bland or annoying, leading to a preference for muting it during gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack has its fans, it also has detractors who feel it detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The music is amazing, it fits so well with a world war type of victory/marching music, and I honestly love hearing it whenever I launch the game.”
    • “With only a single soundtrack to be heard, it’s a bloody great one at that and you can definitely tell a lot of love went into creating it.”
    • “This game is amazing, this soundtrack is amazing and this style is amazing; buy this game now and if you are unsure if you like it, download the demo!”
    • “There is no real music in the game as I suppose it serves as a distraction.”
    • “The theme music is such 1930's, Sousa-marching-band garbage—so bland and so bad that I muted it throughout the whole game.”
    • “The main thing that kills me is that damn music.”
  • stability56 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including freezing and unresponsive menus. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these problems, others highlight significant design flaws and server lag that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is seen as having potential but is currently hampered by its instability.

    • “The game itself runs great (native).”
    • “Runs great in Ubuntu 14.10 64-bit on a HD5770 and fglrx-updates.”
    • “The game is good in theory, but the controls are a bit rough; the real killer is that it freezes my entire computer when I try to run the game.”
    • “Sadly, RWR suffers from too frequent glitches (e.g. menu not responding, textures failing to load leaving you to fight in pure whiteness, etc.) and a number of what I'd argue are design flaws (no stalemate prevention, no loadout selection - have fun fighting a tank with your bare fists unless you fancy spending a couple of minutes running to the nearest armory - and no fast travel, i.e. you have to physically walk across the now peaceful maps).”
    • “The game would be amazing if it weren't so buggy, and I hope the developers can fix it.”
  • optimization42 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on various systems, including older hardware, while others criticize it for being poorly optimized with frame rate limitations and inconsistent performance. Although the developers are actively working on improvements, many users feel that the game has great potential that is currently hindered by optimization issues. Overall, while some players report stable and well-optimized experiences, others encounter significant performance drops and stuttering.

    • “The devs seem to be on top of the game, always looking to make optimizations.”
    • “- stable, well-optimized game.”
    • “The performance is great and well optimized, at least for my PC.”
    • “The game is badly optimized and the frame rate is capped at 60.”
    • “Such great potential limited by poor optimization and crappy game mechanics.”
    • “I was surprised by the performance of this game, and unfortunately not in a good way.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is described as a unique blend of lightheartedness and seriousness, with stylized graphics and engaging music that create a toybox-like and cold war-esque feel. Players appreciate the immersive battlefield environment, though some note a toxic online community. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the gameplay experience, making it memorable despite varying opinions on the gameplay itself.

    • “If you like war-games, this offers up a nice battlefield-like game with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour and a completely unique atmosphere.”
    • “The music, the atmosphere and gameplay are all great.”
    • “[*]an awesome open world atmosphere which will leave you feeling tiny & insignificant.”
    • “The game's graphics and bits of dialogue give it a light atmosphere, but really it is about fighting a war as just another fragile soldier, so you need to think a bit before you act.”
    • “It gives the game a sort of toybox-like atmosphere.”
    • “Toxic in-game mods with a clique-type atmosphere in the small online lobby that's available for play.”
  • emotional20 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience while engaging with the game, often feeling a mix of nostalgia, frustration, and camaraderie reminiscent of childhood play with toy soldiers. The emotional highs and lows, particularly in cooperative modes, evoke strong feelings, although some players find the single-player experience lacking in attachment due to gameplay mechanics that discourage investment in individual characters. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to elicit genuine emotional responses through its narrative and gameplay dynamics.

    • “It's a mental and emotional recreation of playing with toy (or what were imagined to be) soldiers when we were kids.”
    • “It made me feel many things: good and bad, but all of it positive.”
    • “I really like games with a compelling narrative/story, something that makes you feel and get all emotional.”
  • monetization18 mentions

    The game features no in-game purchases or microtransactions, which many players appreciate, highlighting its focus on gameplay rather than monetization. However, some critics argue that the game's advertising is misleading, suggesting it should be free-to-play with microtransactions to better reflect its value. Overall, the absence of typical monetization practices is seen as a positive aspect, contributing to a more enjoyable gaming experience.

    • “The art style is amazing, there is no worthless tacked on DLC (and the DLC that will be coming is going to basically add a whole new era to the game), no microtransactions, no grinding, nothing is brokenly overpowered, tons of mods that work offline and on servers, it's wonderful and some of the most fun I've had with friends.”
    • “Unique idea of a game not like other 100 survival games, copy-paste shooting games with a bunch of cosmetics, DLCs, and microtransactions.”
    • “No microtransactions of any kind.”
    • “The problem with RWR is essentially misleading advertising.”
    • “This game should be free to play with microtransactions so everyone knows even before they download it that it is not worth their time.”
    • “Problem is: the game is an advertising fraud.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its subtlety, primarily focusing on ranks and role-playing elements, which users find appealing.

    • “The character development is minimal, primarily focused on ranks and reputation points, which feels lacking.”
    • “The character development is quite shallow, offering little depth beyond basic ranks and reputation.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

8hMedian play time
15hAverage play time
4-25hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 60 analyzed playthroughs

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