Steam Squad

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"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

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

25%

Audience ScoreBased on 23 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

Steam Squad features a unique steampunk setting that adds an interesting twist to the traditional turn-based strategy genre.
The game mechanics are solid and easy to learn, allowing for tactical gameplay that can be engaging for players.
The developer is actively involved in the community and regularly releases updates, showing commitment to improving the game.

The user interface is clunky and unpolished, lacking essential features like a save menu, camera rotation, and clear indicators for cover and action points.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, including crashes and poor AI behavior, which detract from the overall experience.
Many players find the gameplay shallow and repetitive, with limited unit types and a lack of meaningful progression or incentives to continue playing.

story
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The game's story centers around British Captain Ken Whitehall and his troop as they battle the Han across various missions. While some players find the setting interesting, many criticize the narrative for being shallow and lacking character development, with repetitive missions and forced cinematics that detract from the experience. Overall, the story fails to engage players, leading to a lack of investment in the characters and their journey.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “No relation to your characters even though they can carry on to other missions.”
gameplay
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Steam Squad is characterized by traditional turn-based tactics, allowing players to maneuver troops and engage in combat, though it suffers from outdated mechanics and a lack of clarity regarding cover. While the game features solid mechanics and a user-friendly interface, it feels somewhat simplistic compared to classic tactical games. Despite these shortcomings, players can find enjoyment in the game's visual and auditory elements, as well as its strategic depth once they adapt to its quirks.
- “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 a cover mechanic in the game, but it gives no indication to the player of whether or not you've actually gotten into cover, or what is actually considered cover.”
- “The 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
9 mentions
44 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
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 visually clear. Overall, while the graphics are still in development and may remind players of similar titles, they are considered serviceable and enjoyable by many.
- “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 okay 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
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its quality, others find it underwhelming and lacking in atmospheric depth, particularly in relation to the game's action elements. Overall, it seems to be a decent but not standout aspect of the game.
- “The music is good too.”
- “Good looking and high quality graphics, music, game mechanics, etc.”
- “Well, especially after muting the rage-inducing soundtrack.”
- “The music is okay, but the background effects lack the atmosphere of explosions and gunfire.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted tone, often overshadowing dramatic moments, particularly through the use of comedic elements like jumping soldiers. While the atmosphere is generally well-received, the humorous aspects can sometimes detract from the overall 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's funny here, not dramatic.”
- “The atmosphere is really good (when not hindered by the funny jumping soldiers); all these films and letters home are very nice.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is generally praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by films and letters home, though some users feel it is occasionally disrupted by comedic elements like jumping soldiers. While the music is considered satisfactory, the background effects are criticized for lacking the intensity of explosions and gunfire, which diminishes the overall ambiance.
- “Really good atmosphere (when not hindered by funny jumping soldiers), all these films and letters home are very nice.”
- “The music is okay, but the background effects lack the atmosphere of explosions and gunfire.”
- “The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, failing to immerse me in the game world.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere feels lifeless and unengaging.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating due to a clumsy user interface that complicates movement and unit control, making it a tedious task requiring precise mouse manipulation.
- “The clumsy UI makes the movement and overwatch of each single unit a tedious exercise in near pixel-perfect mouse manipulation.”
- “Grinding feels like an endless chore, with little reward for the time invested.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding quickly becomes monotonous and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and a lack of ongoing support, leading to a perception that it feels abandoned.
- “The game is plagued with bugs and feels abandoned.”
- “Constant crashes make it nearly unplayable.”
- “Frequent glitches ruin the overall experience.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
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.”
- “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which ruins the overall experience.”
optimization
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization is lacking, with no new incentives for players to improve performance or load times, leading to a generally unsatisfactory experience.