Steam Squad

About

Steam Squad is a single player and multiplayer strategy game with fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Bretwalda Games and was released on July 28, 2016. It received negative reviews from players.

"Steam Squad" is a turn-based strategy game set in an alternate 19th century, where steam-powered machines dominate the battlefield. Players command a squad of elite soldiers, using tactics and technology to outwit their opponents in intense, squad-level combat. With a variety of units, weapons, and abilities at their disposal, players must carefully plan their moves to achieve victory in each mission.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+17

Skip User Reviews

35%

Audience ScoreBased on 46 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features a unique steampunk setting and interesting story elements that add depth to the gameplay.
The action point system allows for varied tactical gameplay, making it easy to learn yet challenging to master.
The developer is actively involved in updates and community feedback, showing commitment to improving the game.

The user interface is clunky and lacks essential features like a save menu, camera rotation, and clear indicators for cover and action points.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and unpolished mechanics, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Overall, the game feels incomplete and shallow, lacking the depth and sophistication expected from a modern tactical strategy title.

story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
84%
8%
The game's story centers around British Captain Ken Whitehall and his troop as they battle the Han across various missions. While the setting is described as interesting, players find the narrative shallow and the missions repetitive, lacking character development and meaningful progression. Overall, the execution of the story is hampered by technical issues and a lack of engaging content, leading to a disappointing experience.
- “The main character in the story is a British captain, Ken Whitehall, and his troop of 'gentlemen', who are battling the 'Han'.”
- “The storyline follows Ken and his men through different missions as they undertake the battle and stop the march of the Han.”
- “Nice, interesting story and setting.”
- “Ultimately, this is an extremely shallow game; granted I only made it to the third mission before having to quit forever, so maybe there's more content I haven't seen... but doubtful.”
- “No relation to your characters even though they can carry on to other missions.”
- “The actual missions are dull; just wait for them to rush into our overwatch areas, with forced cinematics that are hardly what I would call 'animated' and add nothing but time to the mission.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The gameplay of Steam Squad is characterized as a traditional turn-based tactical experience, featuring solid mechanics that are easy to learn but may feel somewhat simplistic compared to classic titles. While the game includes cover mechanics, it lacks clear indicators for players, which can detract from the experience. Despite these issues, improvements in user interface and fluidity of movement have enhanced the overall gameplay.
- “If you can get past those warts, the game has many gameplay delights to offer.”
- “The gameplay is the typical turn-based type, where you get to move your troops into position, fire at the enemy, and then end the turn, waiting for the enemy to make their move.”
- “These improvements have made a big difference to gameplay.”
- “Steam Squad is a classical tactical war game with a lot of dumb, old school mechanics.”
- “There is clearly cover mechanics in the game, but the game gives no indication to the player of whether or not you've actually gotten into cover, or what is actually considered cover.”
- “Gameplay feels a little light, especially if you compare it to old school turn-based strategy games like Silent Storm, Jagged Alliance 2, or Fallout Tactics.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The graphics in the game are a mixed bag, with some areas appearing polished and visually appealing, while others feel unrefined and inconsistent. The steampunk aesthetic is generally well-received, and the graphical representation of game mechanics, such as action points, is both functional and easy to understand. Overall, while the graphics are still in development and can be jarring at times, they are considered serviceable and contribute positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “Good looking and high quality graphics, music, game mechanics, etc.”
- “The artwork is interesting and fun, with of course a steampunk look.”
- “Beautiful graphics.”
- “Graphics are ok in some places and just bad and unpolished in others; screenshots are carefully picked.”
- “Graphically, it's a bit jarring, but completely serviceable.”
- “The graphics in Steam Squad are still being developed; they are similar to Men of War in its current state.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it good and of high quality, others describe it as rage-inducing and lacking in atmospheric depth, particularly in relation to background effects. Overall, the soundtrack seems to be a point of contention among users.
- “Good looking and high quality graphics, music, game mechanics, etc.”
- “Music is good too.”
- “Well, especially after muting the rage-inducing soundtrack.”
- “The music is okay, but the background effects lack the atmosphere of explosions and gunfire.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted tone, often contrasting with the serious atmosphere, particularly through the comedic portrayal of soldiers and their antics. While some players find the humorous elements enjoyable, others feel that they detract from the overall dramatic experience. The inclusion of films and letters home adds a charming touch to the narrative.
- “The X-com-like action camera is the worst part; it is funny here, not dramatic.”
- “Really good atmosphere (when not hindered by funny jumping soldiers); all these films and letters home are very nice.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive elements, such as films and letters home, which enhance the experience. However, some players feel that the presence of humorous jumping soldiers detracts from the overall tone, and the background effects could benefit from more impactful sound design, particularly regarding explosions and gunfire.
- “Really good atmosphere; all these films and letters home are very nice.”
- “The music is okay, but the background effects lack the atmosphere of explosions and gunfire.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to a clumsy user interface that requires precise mouse manipulation for unit movement and overwatch, making the experience tedious and cumbersome.
- “The clumsy UI makes the movement and overwatch of each single unit a tedious exercise in near pixel-perfect mouse manipulation.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and a sense of neglect from the developers, suggesting it may be abandoned.
- “Lame, buggy, and abandoned...”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Steam Squad is criticized as exploitative, with users perceiving it as a cash grab lacking proper support and maintenance from a dedicated development team.
- “Steam Squad feels like a cash grab game, unmaintained and not supported by a real development team.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization is lacking, with no incentives for players to improve performance or progress to the next map, leading to a sense of stagnation.