Skirmish Line

About

Skirmish Line is a single player casual real-time strategy game. It was developed by Snarktopus and was released on March 21, 2019. It received very positive reviews from players.

"Skirmish Line" is a challenging endless defense game set in the Pacific Theater during WWII, where you lead Allied forces in fending off the Imperial Japanese military. As a tactical commander, you build trenches, call in artillery, and upgrade your squad in a randomly generated environment. With three modes to choose from, players must adapt and strategize to face off against the fanatical enemy and their exotic weapons, vehicles, and Banzai charges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+13

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 211 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

Captures the spirit of the original Mud and Blood series while adding new features and improvements.
Offers a challenging gameplay experience with a variety of units and strategies, making it engaging for fans of tactical games.
Regular updates and developer responsiveness enhance the game's potential and replayability.

The game can feel unbalanced and frustrating, with sudden difficulty spikes that may deter players.
User interface and controls can be clunky, making it difficult to manage troops effectively during intense gameplay.
Some players report bugs and graphical issues that can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The gameplay is generally praised for its depth and unique mechanics, offering a satisfying experience with a focus on troop positioning and strategic decision-making. However, some players express a desire for improvements, such as a larger map and better balance, particularly regarding the game's brutal damage model. Overall, while the gameplay loop is engaging and nostalgic, it has room for enhancement to fully realize its potential.
- “Aside from the flash-style UI, it's a small masterpiece: the concise gameplay loop delivers; even losing feels satisfying.”
- “The basics of the gameplay involve watching the battlefield from a bird's-eye view, requisitioning soldiers, directing them, and providing support (e.g., re-equipping them, calling in artillery, airstrikes, etc.).”
- “The game's mechanics really lend to a brutal and immersive atmosphere with suppression, morale, and a relatively realistic damage model where it's entirely possible to be taken down by just 1-2 shots.”
- “Worst handling, worst gameplay, meh.”
- “But the issue is, at the end of the day the 'unfair brutality' mechanic is extremely unbalanced and has a ton of flaws.”
- “I just don't think the nature of the gameplay fits the objective of pushing forward.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The graphics of the game evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of early 2010s titles, appealing to fans of classic aesthetics despite some occasional glitches. While not aiming for realism, the visuals are generally well-received, with improvements that enhance the overall experience, particularly in comparison to similar games. However, some players note that the controls can feel clumsy, which may detract from the graphical enjoyment.
- “Graphics-wise, it still reminds me of my middle school to high school years, and that was 2012.”
- “The graphics are very nice for what it is trying to do, even though they are not 'realistic' graphics.”
- “It has many improvements and lots of its own unique features to set it apart, including better graphics.”
- “It's not perfect, with some graphical issues and glitches every once in a while.”
- “But graphics-wise, it still reminds me of my middle school to high school years, and that was 2012.”
- “Weird controls, simple graphics.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's story is structured around a campaign mode that allows players to engage in missions with specific objectives, rather than endless defense scenarios. Players can customize their squads using points earned from missions, and surviving troops retain combat experience for future challenges, adding depth to the narrative progression. However, some users expressed frustration with being returned to the main menu after each mission.
- “It also has a campaign mode where you take on missions with specific objectives rather than indefinitely defending a position until you inevitably lose.”
- “Once you complete the objective of a mission, you can use your points to acquire more resources and invest in your troops with upgrades and training.”
- “Campaign: this game mode allows you to fully customize your squad using points as you send them on missions, whether it's defending or assaulting enemy lines.”
- “At least don't drop us back into the main menu after each mission...”
- “The campaign mode features missions with specific objectives, but it lacks depth and engagement.”
- “While you can customize your squad and invest in upgrades, the overall story feels disjointed and uninspired.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by a blend of dark and gritty elements, effectively juxtaposing the horrors of war with comedic moments. Players appreciate the well-crafted animations and dialogue that contribute to a consistently humorous experience, often finding themselves laughing even in defeat. Overall, the humor adds a unique and engaging layer to the gameplay.
- “I like how the horrors of war are depicted with dark humor; it's still chilling.”
- “It is well made, well polished, and has an odd sense of humor.”
- “The animations are hilarious, the dialogue is funny and gritty.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users reporting superb performance throughout.
- “Performance is superb.”
- “The game runs incredibly smoothly, even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I appreciate the extensive options for tweaking graphics and performance settings.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players highlight the game's strong replayability, enhanced by various challenges like the 12 man rule and additional DLC content. Many find it enjoyable to revisit, especially once they grasp the underlying mechanics.
- “The challenges also add a fair amount of replayability, with the 12-man rule being my favorite one.”
- “Very fun to play, and the DLC increases the replay value.”
- “This game has amazing replayability and is fairly easy once the science behind it is understood.”
- “The challenges add a fair amount of replayability, with the 12-man rule being my favorite.”
- “Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The lack of diverse endings makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game's atmosphere is described as dense and immersive, creating a compelling environment that encourages extended play sessions. Its mechanics contribute to a brutal realism, with elements like suppression and morale enhancing the intensity, making encounters feel genuinely perilous.
- “The game's mechanics really lend to a brutal and immersive atmosphere with suppression, morale, and a relatively realistic damage model where it's entirely possible to get put down when you're hit by 1-2 shots.”
- “Dense like characters that make it perfect for an all-nighter; however, it is playable straight away once you expose it to the earth's atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels dense, making it perfect for an all-nighter, but it becomes playable only once you expose it to the earth's atmosphere.”
- “The game lacks a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
- “Despite its potential, the atmosphere is flat and uninspired, failing to draw players into the experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the quality of life improvements that reduce the tedium of grinding, making it a more enjoyable experience. Many find the challenge of navigating through numerous randomly generated waves engaging, especially for those willing to invest time in the grind. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a rewarding endeavor for dedicated players.
- “These are mostly quality of life improvements to make the game less tedious.”
- “Well worth the price if you want to spend a nice half hour grinding your way through 100 or more randomly generated waves of ruthless bonsai charges and artillery strikes, all the while trying to keep your men's heads on their shoulders.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally acceptable, though players report occasional graphical issues and glitches. Some users have noted that the tutorial is lacking and can be buggy, particularly at higher resolutions, which may hinder the overall experience.
- “It's not perfect, with some graphical issues and glitches every once in a while.”
- “I like the game very much; it's a good time killer. However, it took a while to figure out how to get reinforcements and defensive structures, as the tutorial is really bare and buggy on my screen (3440x1440).”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by intense moments, such as a character using a flamethrower in a tense confrontation, which evokes feelings of danger and urgency. This scene suggests a struggle between characters that can resonate deeply with players, enhancing the overall emotional experience.