Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol

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Sid Meier’s Ace Patrol is a single player and multiplayer casual turn-based strategy game. It was developed by Firaxis Games and was released on August 27, 2013. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Sid Meier's Ace Patrol is a turn-based strategy game that puts you in the cockpit of World War I fighter planes. Command a squadron of pilots, engage in thrilling aerial combat, and upgrade your planes and pilots as you progress. With multiple campaigns and multiplayer modes, Ace Patrol offers a rich and immersive experience for strategy and war game enthusiasts.

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66%

Audience ScoreBased on 559 reviews

story20 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

Fun and engaging turn-based aerial combat with a unique tactical approach.
Simple mechanics that are easy to learn, making it accessible for casual gamers.
Offers a variety of missions and pilot upgrades, providing a sense of progression.

Repetitive gameplay with limited mission variety and lack of depth.
Graphics and presentation feel dated, resembling a mobile port rather than a polished PC game.
Frequent crashes and technical issues, particularly on certain hardware configurations.

story
237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
87%
5%
The game's story aspect is minimal, primarily consisting of a series of repetitive missions without a cohesive narrative or character development. Players engage in turn-based aerial combat through various mission types, such as dogfights and escorts, but the lack of a deeper storyline or strategic elements leaves many feeling disconnected from their pilots and the overall experience. While the gameplay can be enjoyable and addictive, the absence of a compelling story detracts from the potential for emotional investment in the characters and their journeys.
- “The game's campaign mode follows the historical timeline of World War I, with players taking on missions that mirror real-life battles.”
- “These scenarios range from escorting vulnerable reconnaissance planes to intercepting enemy bombers or surviving against superior numbers, and each mission emphasizes careful planning over brute force.”
- “The missions are varied, too, and range from straightforward air combat to strafing runs to escort missions to aerial cover.”
- “There is no grand strategy here; you're mainly taking on inconsequential missions that promise more points for your score and then trying to keep the damage your pilots sustain during the mission to a minimum so as to retain as many of those points as possible.”
- “The missions are all kind of generic, but can be very challenging if your pilots and craft are not prepared.”
- “The 'story' and upgrades are mostly worthless, but the battles are very fun and engaging.”
gameplay
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
68%
10%
The gameplay is centered around turn-based aerial combat, emphasizing altitude and movement strategies alongside basic attack mechanics. While it offers a refreshing take on dogfighting with light RPG elements and historical accuracy, many players find it repetitive and lacking in depth, with some mechanics poorly explained. Overall, it provides an accessible and engaging experience for casual players, but may disappoint those seeking more complexity and variety in gameplay.
- “The core gameplay revolves around turn-based aerial engagements where altitude, facing, and movement options matter just as much as raw firepower.”
- “The gameplay is fast, furious, and surprisingly tactical.”
- “The game has a unique blend of historical accuracy, engaging gameplay, and a beautiful art style that immerses players in the thrilling world of aerial combat.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive, but at least refreshing new in the beginning.”
- “To be straight, it is hard to believe this game was released in 2013; it has no place on a PC and only belongs on a mobile platform with its repetitive gameplay and lack of depth.”
- “The entire game can be finished in less than 3 hours and the gameplay never really changes all that much from the beginning.”
graphics
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
70%
14%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are simplistic, dated, and reminiscent of a mobile port, often lacking the polish expected from modern titles. While some appreciate the cartoonish style and find it fitting for the game's tactical focus, others criticize the visuals for being subpar, glitchy, and not visually engaging. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose but are generally seen as a weak point, overshadowed by the game's strategic gameplay.
- “While it lacks the cinematic flair of larger PC strategy titles, this restrained aesthetic supports the game’s tactical focus and keeps attention squarely on decision-making rather than visual distractions.”
- “The game has a unique blend of historical accuracy, engaging gameplay, and a beautiful art style that immerses players in the thrilling world of aerial combat.”
- “The graphics suit the game just fine, a bit cartoony but not over the top cartoony.”
- “The graphics are subpar, even for mobile, and the menus are oversized and boringly simple to cater to touchscreens.”
- “Each map looks almost identical, and the graphics look like a direct port from a mobile platform.”
- “Unfortunately, I cannot get the game to work, and am unable to resolve the graphics problems with support.”
replayability
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
56%
16%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the variety offered by different factions and random missions, many find the experience repetitive and limited, particularly due to the short campaign length and lack of substantial unlockables. The potential for replay value exists, especially for those interested in achievements and experimenting with different strategies, but it may not satisfy players seeking depth akin to other Sid Meier titles.
- “The four factions you can play in campaign add replay value, as their respective aircraft are just dissimilar enough in performance to change up the gameplay.”
- “The randomization of missions for each battle provides extended replayability.”
- “All in all, a wonderful game with high replayability.”
- “Way simpler and way less replayable compared to other Sid Meier titles like Civilization, but not a bad experience overall.”
- “There are almost nothing to unlock and replayability is limited to 4 'goes through' (each of the four factions).”
- “Unfortunately, it has nearly no replay value.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The music in the game has received mixed to negative feedback, with many users describing it as bland, generic, or nearly non-existent during gameplay. While some appreciate the title screen music and find it fitting, overall, it lacks variety and impact, leading to a consensus that it does not significantly enhance the gaming experience.
- “The music fits the game, although I turned it off.”
- “Music is good, graphics pretty cute.”
- “As soon as I opened up the game, I was given a blank screen with music playing.”
- “The sound and the music is very meh, bleh, and bland.”
- “Sound/music: 2/10 - almost non-existent or just very generic and unremarkable.”
- “There isn't much music to this game.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, graphical glitches, and even system freezes. While some players find enjoyment in the gameplay, many express frustration over the game's instability and lack of effective customer support. Overall, players are advised to be prepared for a bumpy experience filled with technical problems.
- “On the downside, it can be as buggy as the underside of a rotting log.”
- “This is such a buggy mess.”
- “The game is buggy and customer support is non-existent.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is often criticized for its tedious pacing, especially on PC, where players may quickly become bored. While it offers a light and fun experience suitable for short play sessions, the repetitive nature of grinding for achievements across different pilot nations can feel monotonous. Overall, it may appeal to casual players looking for a brief escape, but those seeking depth may find it lacking.
- “Therefore, it has many of the downsides you would expect a mobile port to have, including poorer graphics and tedious pacing.”
- “Maybe it feels less tedious if you play it on a mobile device, only doing a mission or two a day, but playing on PC will probably leave you bored within a couple of hours.”
- “For the achievement hunters, all 50+ achievements are different levels of grinding for the four different pilot nations.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally smooth for most players, with no significant performance issues reported. However, some users noted a lack of PC optimization and mentioned occasional crashes, suggesting that experiences may vary. The diverse aircraft performance adds to the gameplay, enhancing replay value despite these concerns.
- “The four factions you can play in campaign add replay value, as their respective aircraft are just dissimilar enough in performance to change up the gameplay.”
- “Personally, I didn't experience any crashing like other reviewers mentioned, and there are absolutely no performance issues.”
- “There is no PC optimization.”
- “Plane performance and time of appearance are taken into account.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers note that the game lacks depth in character development, feeling that essential elements such as base building, research, and budgeting are underexplored, which detracts from the overall narrative and character growth.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to truly connect with their characters and see them grow throughout the story.”
- “I love how the character development is intertwined with the gameplay, making every choice feel impactful and meaningful.”
- “The progression of each character feels natural and rewarding, with well-crafted arcs that keep you invested in their journeys.”
- “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
- “There is a noticeable absence of depth in character arcs, making it hard to connect with them.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The monetization of Sid Meier's Ace Patrol on Steam has been criticized as a rushed cash grab, tarnishing the game's reputation despite its enjoyable gameplay. However, players appreciate the absence of in-game purchases, contrasting it with the mobile version, which they view negatively.
- “Loads of fun, glad there are no in-game purchases. Actually very smart AI.”
- “Sid Meier's Ace Patrol is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as a cheap, nasty cash grab, in an apparent attempt to besmirch Sid Meier's once great name.”
- “The game itself is good fun, but everything else feels so rushed that you can't help but think it's a cash grab.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its humor, providing a funny and engaging experience despite some glitches. Players find the campaign enjoyable, with a mix of easy and challenging elements, and pursuing achievements adds to the overall excitement.
- “A funny little game that can be both easy and quite challenging.”
- “You can finish a campaign on easy difficulty in about 2 hours, but the achievements are really exciting to pursue. The gameplay, although simple and a bit glitched, is very engaging and humorous.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The short length of each mission fosters a compelling "one more turn" atmosphere, encouraging players to keep engaging with the game.
- “The short length of each mission definitely contributed to a 'one more turn' atmosphere.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that the emotional impact of the game is heightened by the light role-playing elements, particularly the significance of losing a seasoned pilot, which creates a deeper sense of investment and consequence beyond merely restarting a mission.
- “This light role-playing element adds emotional investment, as losing a seasoned pilot carries more weight than simply restarting a failed mission.”

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