RUNNING WITH RIFLES

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,875 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 4,875 reviews
gameplay209 positive mentions
story27 negative mentions
  • gameplay535 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by its dynamic and chaotic nature, offering a mix of sandbox elements and structured tactical combat. Players appreciate the depth of mechanics, including stealth and squad management, alongside a satisfying progression system that rewards skill and strategy. While some find the gameplay repetitive over time, the extensive mod support and engaging multiplayer experience contribute to its overall replayability and enjoyment.

    • “This game is a masterpiece, got it on sale and got addicted because of the gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “The extensive content provided through a robust campaign mode, a plethora of diverse maps, and multiple distinct factions offers a rich tapestry of gameplay experiences.”
    • “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.”
    • “The game is so full of potential, but the tactical side is just stripped out of the game due to the poor AI and gameplay mechanics that boil down to mowing down a constant stream of respawning enemies.”
  • story251 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 the gameplay offers a sandbox experience where players can create their own stories through emergent gameplay, the absence of cutscenes, character development, and a structured plot leaves many feeling unfulfilled. The final missions, in particular, are highlighted 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.”
    • “This isn't like any other shooter I have played; you are not the star of the story but you are like everyone else, a normal soldier given orders to attack a position.”
    • “The combat is instantly fun and intuitive, the levels are beautifully made, the scale is appropriately epic with hundreds of little army men scurrying about, and the whole experience is thoroughly immersive - it almost feels like being in the middle of a well-made, large scale, top-down Arma mission.”
    • “Almost no story and everything quickly begins to repeat itself.”
    • “The campaign has no story, it's just you, a load of troops, versus another load of troops, fighting for a single map.”
    • “There really isn't a story mode, though there is a campaign mode.”
  • graphics250 mentions

    The graphics of "Running with Rifles" are characterized by a simplistic, cartoonish art style that evokes nostalgia for classic games, while effectively complementing the game's tactical gameplay. While some players appreciate the clean and charming visuals, others note that the graphics are not particularly demanding, allowing for smooth performance on lower-end systems. Overall, the minimalist design is seen as a refreshing departure from hyper-realistic graphics, enhancing the game's unique atmosphere and accessibility.

    • “The graphics are gorgeous, the sounds are amazing, the combat is insanely fun.”
    • “The minimalist graphical style, though unassuming, radiates a distinctive charm that harmonizes exquisitely with the game's aesthetic ethos.”
    • “The art style is fantastic, the gameplay is solid, and it is just downright fun!”
    • “The graphics are poor and it doesn't have much of a story.”
    • “The graphics aren't mind-blowing as it's top down and somewhat cartoonish.”
    • “The graphics leave something to be desired but the style suits the game and is polished nicely.”
  • humor85 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its absurdity, funny AI dialogues, and amusing in-game scenarios that lead to hilarious moments, especially in multiplayer settings. Many reviews note that the light-hearted tone and comedic elements, such as quirky character names and unexpected situations, enhance the overall enjoyment, making it a fun experience to share with friends. While some players mention that the humor can occasionally border on annoying, the consensus is that it adds a delightful layer to the gameplay.

    • “The AI sucks, but the game even acknowledges this by making the characters make hilarious remarks about how the tanks are 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).”
    • “The little bits of humor are awesome, especially the funny dialogues and interactions between characters.”
  • grinding62 mentions

    The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding elements, often leading to a tedious and repetitive experience for players. While some enjoy the grind as part of the gameplay, many find it excessive and frustrating, particularly in later stages or during specific missions. Overall, the grinding aspect is a divisive feature, with opinions ranging from it being a fun challenge to a monotonous chore.

    • “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.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “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.”
    • “For my taste, it got a bit too grindy and lengthy towards the end.”
    • “You'll find the game grindy, repetitive, and unfair in multiple ways.”
    • “However, after you play for a few hours, you have seen it all and the game just becomes repetitive and tedious.”
  • replayability61 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its diverse gameplay, extensive modding community, and the variety of content available, including custom campaigns and maps. Players appreciate that no two matches are the same, enhancing the overall experience whether playing solo or with others. The combination of unlockable content and community-driven events further contributes to its enduring appeal.

    • “I bought this game for a couple of hours of top-down chaos, but it turned out this game has quite a bit of depth and replayability.”
    • “The dedicated and passionate community 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 more.”
    • “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.”
  • music43 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 nostalgic and thematic quality of the soundtrack, likening it to 90s cartoons, but some players express frustration with its limited variety and find it distracting or annoying. Overall, while the music enhances the atmosphere for some, it detracts from the experience for others.

    • “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.”
    • “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!”
    • “The sound work is fantastic - I'd like to see, in the future, maybe some music during the actual gameplay?”
    • “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 music is too happy for the amount of killing and death that goes on in this top-down TPS game.”
  • stability28 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and even freeze their systems. While some players find the game runs well on certain platforms, others experience significant issues, such as unresponsive menus and erratic vehicle AI. Overall, the game shows potential but is hampered by its instability and design flaws.

    • “The game runs great natively on Linux.”
    • “It performs excellently on Ubuntu 14.10 64-bit with an 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.”
    • “Cool concept but plagued with immense buggy errors.”
    • “Sadly, the game 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 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).”
  • optimization21 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance and stability, particularly on lower-end systems, while others criticize it for poor optimization and frame rate limitations. Although there are reports of mild stuttering and performance drops on certain hardware, many users note that the developers are actively working on improvements. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further optimization to fully realize its capabilities.

    • “This game is like Foxhole if it was done well, optimized well, and has cohesive mechanics.”
    • “The devs seem to be on top of the game, always looking to make optimizations.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere11 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a blend of lightheartedness and the gravity of war, creating a unique toybox-like environment that contrasts with its combat themes. Players appreciate the stylized graphics and immersive sound design, which contribute to a cold war-esque feel and an expansive open world that evokes feelings of insignificance. However, some note that the online community can have a toxic atmosphere, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “If you like war games, this offers up a nice battlefield-like game with a bit of tongue-in-cheek humor and a completely unique atmosphere.”
    • “A really atmospheric cold war-esque feel to the game, even though there's actual fighting.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience while engaging with the game, often feeling a mix of nostalgia, frustration, and joy. The emotional highs and lows, particularly in cooperative play and narrative moments, create a strong connection to the game, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and emotional attachment to characters. Overall, the game elicits a powerful emotional response, making it memorable and impactful for many players.

    • “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.”
  • monetization9 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is praised for its absence of in-game purchases and microtransactions, allowing for a pure gaming experience without the pressure of additional costs. However, some users feel that the game's marketing is misleading, suggesting it should have been free-to-play with optional microtransactions to better reflect its value. Overall, the game is appreciated for its integrity in monetization compared to many other titles in the genre.

    • “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, tonnes of mods that work offline and on servers, it's wonderful and some of the most fun I've had with friends.”
    • “No in-game purchases.”
    • “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 development1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the character development in the game is minimal, primarily focusing on ranks and reputation points, which some players find appealing.

    • “The character development is impressive, with meaningful progression that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making each decision feel impactful.”
    • “The depth of character development adds layers to the story, allowing players to connect with the characters on a personal level.”
    • “The character development is minimal, mainly focusing on ranks and reputation points, which feels lacking.”
    • “There is a significant lack of depth in character development, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “The character progression feels superficial and doesn't offer meaningful choices or growth.”
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 30 analyzed playthroughs

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