Stormgate

About

Stormgate is a single player and multiplayer real-time strategy game with fantasy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Frost Giant Studios and was released on August 5, 2025. It received neutral reviews from players.

Stormgate is a free-to-play, next-gen RTS from the team at Frost Giant Studios, including former developers of Warcraft III and StarCraft II. Command mechs to defend the Earth or invade it as one of two other invading alien factions. Explore an ever-evolving campaign storyline, group up for co-op missions, or compete in 1v1. Now in Early Access since August 13th.

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52%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,332 reviews

story301 positive mentions

graphics183 negative mentions

The game has improved significantly since early access, with better graphics and gameplay mechanics.
The campaign offers a fun experience with unique mission designs and a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic RTS games.
The 1v1 multiplayer mode is engaging and has a solid foundation, making it enjoyable for competitive players.

The campaign is short and requires additional purchases for full access, which feels like a cash grab.
The writing and voice acting in the campaign are subpar, leading to a lack of emotional engagement with the story.
The game suffers from bugs and performance issues, making it feel unfinished despite being labeled as a full release.

story
2,241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
79%
8%
The story aspect of "Stormgate" has received mixed to negative feedback from players, with many describing it as confusing, derivative, and lacking depth. Critics have pointed out that the campaign feels rushed, with characters and plotlines that fail to engage, often drawing unfavorable comparisons to classic titles like "Warcraft III" and "Starcraft II." While some players appreciate the potential for future improvements and the gameplay mechanics, the current narrative execution and monetization strategy—charging for additional campaign missions—have left many feeling disappointed and skeptical about the game's long-term appeal.
- “The campaign has a surprisingly engaging story that kept me interested throughout, and the mechanics feel tight and fun—especially if you’re into micro and strategy.”
- “The story is looking nice (I am just at the beginning but I like 'reclaiming earth' narratives :)”
- “Boring story, basically doom hell on earth without the slayer or the creepy atmosphere from doom 3 story (sounds great but is made terribly) we are searching for the 'key' cause we didn't come up with a better name, main character is daughter to the scientist that started all cause we didn't know anything better for character building.”
- “The story, dialogue, and voice acting were rough drafts in need of iteration.”
- “The campaign story is bland, characters are meh, and some of the missions are just poorly designed.”
gameplay
1,076 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The gameplay of Stormgate has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its solid core mechanics and responsiveness reminiscent of classic RTS games like Starcraft II and Warcraft III. While some appreciate the unique faction mechanics and streamlined macro features that enhance accessibility for newcomers, others criticize the game for lacking depth, originality, and polish, often comparing it unfavorably to its predecessors. Overall, while the gameplay shows promise and can be enjoyable, it is still seen as needing significant improvements in content, balance, and overall execution to fully realize its potential.
- “The core gameplay is fun, responsive, and intuitive.”
- “The gameplay feels great, the races are unique and very different to play.”
- “The gameplay is solid, a lot of quality of life improvements, and it feels good to play and control.”
- “The gameplay feels clunky and janky, there is no select all army button or idle worker.”
- “The core mechanics are mindless, with almost no depth or meaningful decisions.”
- “The gameplay lacks excitement or engagement.”
graphics
1,015 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
18%
The graphics of "Stormgate" have received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the inconsistent and cartoonish art style that feels more suited to mobile games than a modern RTS. While some acknowledge improvements in visual fidelity and unit design since early access, others argue that the graphics remain subpar compared to older titles like "Starcraft II" and "Warcraft III." Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant area needing further refinement to meet player expectations.
- “The graphics are beautiful, smooth, and I think they'll age well.”
- “The art style is visually stunning, bringing a fresh and vibrant look to the genre, and the three factions are well-designed, offering distinct and engaging gameplay experiences that add depth and variety to every match.”
- “The graphics have improved significantly even though I'm not a fan of the 'fortnite' style and the missions are ok (from a gameplay perspective), but the story is really bad.”
- “The graphics are abysmal, adopting a cartoonish art style that seems to cater to a younger audience (perhaps those who enjoy games like Fortnite and Overwatch with a similar art style).”
- “The graphics are worse than in Starcraft 2, a game released over a decade ago.”
- “The art style is atrocious, ugly, and actively makes me not want to look at it.”
monetization
258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
67%
26%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as aggressive and predatory, particularly due to the presence of numerous microtransactions even in its early access phase. Reviewers express disappointment over the piecemeal selling of campaign chapters and the overall perception that the game prioritizes profit over quality content, leading to feelings of it being a cash grab. While some acknowledge the necessity of monetization for a free-to-play model, the execution has left many feeling frustrated and skeptical about the game's future.
- “While there is monetization, none of that monetization is actually relevant to the game's balance, so there's no pay-to-win.”
- “I understand that a game by a small team needs a constant source of income to stay live, but none of the microtransactions seem like good deals for both parties.”
- “Very disappointed with how this game has turned out, all the potential wasted and in-game purchases are available before the game is even finished?”
- “The monetization strategy in this game is totally fair.”
- “The monetization model on this game is one of the worst I've seen and one that doesn't belong in a competitive game such as this.”
optimization
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
53%
32%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering, even on high-end systems. Despite some improvements noted in patches, the game is still considered poorly optimized, particularly during large battles, leading to a frustrating experience for many users. Overall, the consensus is that significant optimization work is needed to make the game playable and enjoyable.
- “Combined with the gearup booster, which optimizes performance across unstable networks, online matches feel fast and fair—regardless of location.”
- “The art style is sharp, animations are smooth, and performance has been rock solid for me.”
- “Performance improvements were really felt this patch and the ladder environment might be its best yet.”
- “Optimization is bad.”
- “The optimization is so bad that the game's performance drops with every patch to the point of becoming unplayable.”
- “Poorly optimized: big performance issues on RX 6700 XT on 2560px resolution.”
music
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising it as immersive and enjoyable, while others find it repetitive and unmemorable. Many reviewers note that the soundtrack lacks variety, leading to certain tracks playing on repeat, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, while there are positive remarks about specific tracks, the general consensus is that the music does not reach the heights of its predecessors and requires further improvement.
- “The music is the only positive thing in the whole game.”
- “The in-game music of the vanguard and celestial was good and time will tell where the soundtrack ranks next to SC and SC2.”
- “The music is a banger — really good.”
- “The graphics and music are both just average, which makes the whole game feel kind of lifeless.”
- “The music is just shockingly bad and doesn't fit an RTS at all.”
- “Music is really bland and boring.”
stability
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting a variety of bugs, glitches, and performance issues, including freezing, unresponsive inputs, and problematic unit pathing. While some players acknowledge the potential for improvement over time, many express frustration with the game's current state, describing it as unpolished and unfinished, particularly in its campaign mode. Overall, the consensus is that the game feels rushed and lacks the necessary stability for a satisfying experience.
- “I have a Steam Deck, and let me say, it runs great on it.”
- “The gameplay isn't buggy or clunky; it plays rather smoothly and is enjoyable.”
- “The game runs great; the new design direction is perfect, and the campaign is lightyears better.”
- “Poor unit pathing, projectiles getting stuck in the environment, sporadic glitches like being capable of exiting bounds of maps during campaign sometimes locking things, all clicks are stickied to a single point on the map until reloading the game, or in-game cinematics that freeze.”
- “They wanted to bring RTS to a new generation of gamers but ended up releasing a rushed, buggy, unfinished game which leaves a sour taste in the mouths of many RTS fans.”
- “Many balance and design issues with the game are unfixed after multitudes of patches, or are made even worse in new patches, and the game's engine is extraordinarily buggy and unpolished, with terrible performance.”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely criticized for being heavy-handed, corny, and often cringeworthy, failing to match the darker, more subtle tones of its predecessors like Warcraft 3. While some players find moments of amusement in the absurdity of certain mechanics and situations, many feel that the attempts at humor detract from the overall experience, making it feel awkward and out of place. Overall, the humor is seen as inconsistent, with some finding it unintentionally funny due to the game's flaws rather than intentional comedic writing.
- “First thing I did was click Amara and she gave me funny comments after the first few, which I always found amusing.”
- “The co-op is pretty funny; I've played a couple of times.”
- “I advise you to play it; there are very funny mechanics here, you can get stuck :)”
character development
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
62%
22%
Character development in the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many reviewers criticizing the character design as uninspired, poorly executed, and lacking depth. While some players appreciate certain aspects of the character design and express hope for future improvements, the general consensus highlights a significant deficiency in storytelling, character immersion, and overall quality, leading to a disappointing experience. The game's early access status has led to calls for better character development and narrative depth, but current impressions suggest a lack of effort in these areas.
- “Loving the character design so far.”
- “Also, there are compelling character designs right away, with very well made cutscenes and dialogue.”
- “I am excited to see the story play out and the character development.”
- “For a game that focuses on selling campaign chapters, the storytelling and character development is mediocre at best, and horrible at its worst.”
- “No character development or anything; I have no knowledge of the world, and it has done very little to get me immersed in it.”
- “The campaign is laughable in both quality and writing; voice acting is bland and uninspired, character designs are blocky monstrosities that look terrible.”
emotional
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
90%
10%
The emotional aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many reviewers noting a lack of character development and a forgettable story that fails to create meaningful connections. Emotional moments intended to resonate with players fall flat due to one-dimensional characters and uninspired writing, leading to a general sense of disconnection and disappointment. Overall, players express a desire for deeper emotional engagement and a more compelling narrative to enhance their gaming experience.
- “If you’re a couple looking for a fun, smart, and surprisingly heartwarming game to play together—especially if one of you is new to RTS—Stormgate is absolutely worth it.”
- “The conflicts and relationships between Jim Raynor, Kerrigan, etc., added emotional weight to the narrative, making each mission feel like a vital part of a larger story.”
- “This is probably the most emotionally charged RTS of all time if nothing else.”
- “Boring story, basically doom hell on earth without the slayer or the creepy atmosphere from Doom 3. It sounds great but is executed terribly. We are searching for the 'key' because we couldn't come up with a better name. The main character is the daughter of the scientist that started it all, as we didn't know anything better for character building.”
- “- Underwhelming, boring story.”
- “One of the most boring story modes I've ever genuinely tried to like.”
replayability
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
77%
10%
Replayability in the game is a mixed bag; while co-op missions and community custom games offer significant replay value, the campaign is criticized for its limited replayability and the monetization of content. Players appreciate the diverse factions and strategic depth, which enhance replayability, but many feel the campaign lacks the depth and replayability found in similar titles like Starcraft II. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements that encourage replay, the campaign's shortcomings and monetization practices detract from the overall experience.
- “The co-op missions are a blast with friends too — super replayable.”
- “Diverse factions: each faction offers unique playstyles, enhancing strategic depth and replayability.”
- “Levelling, upgrades, items, etc. those changes alone do a lot of heavy work to add replayability to the current missions.”
- “The replayability of the campaign is just non-existent as of now and I will get to why in a bit.”
- “Campaign is alright, but replayability is a bit low.”
- “I also had the false assumption that there'd be some kind of new game plus when I completed the campaign... like, I'd get to keep all of my upgrades and farm credits for everything I didn't get, essentially bringing new replayability.”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and forced, with repetitive tasks such as item management and unskippable dialogues detracting from the overall experience. Players express frustration with the limited co-op missions and the necessity to grind for levels, particularly in comparison to more polished titles like Starcraft 2. While some enjoy the multiplayer aspects and the strategic depth, many find the grinding elements to be a chore, especially for new players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “However, it becomes very tedious as you have to put the item into the main character's inventory from the stash and put it in the other character's locker.”
- “Co-op has a limited mission count/structure, and while entertaining, it can get tedious doing the same couple missions over and over again - though again, this is effectively a beta game mode.”
- “They are part of the missions and are unskippable, making multiple playthroughs for the purpose of achievement hunting or replaying missions extremely tedious as you always have to talk to certain characters during the downtime before you can access the mission terminal.”
atmosphere
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
52%
24%
The atmosphere of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lacking in depth and identity compared to titles like Starcraft 2. While some appreciate the graphics and voice acting, others criticize the blandness of the environments, poor sound quality, and a weak narrative that fails to create an engaging experience. Overall, the game struggles to establish a compelling atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected and unimpressed.
- “The atmosphere and terrain look great; building and units are fine but not spectacular.”
- “The voice acting is strong and fits the atmosphere well.”
- “Mission 1 especially is absolutely dripping with atmosphere.”
- “It lacks identity and the atmosphere.”
- “At least for now, there is no reason to play this; it's dead, gameplay is boring, the graphics are awful and the atmosphere is just not there.”
- “First, the campaign, atmosphere and world building is not there yet.”