Stronghold

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,557 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Stronghold Game Cover
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Stronghold is a historic real-time strategy game set in Medieval Britain, offering both economic and military campaigns. The game boasts phenomenal graphics, mechanics, and music, with a good dose of humor. Despite some bugs, Stronghold provides an immersive and engaging experience for both single-player and multiplayer warfare strategies.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,557 reviews
gameplay24 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • Stronghold 2 is a nostalgic classic that combines castle building and resource management with engaging gameplay.
  • The game offers a variety of modes, including a detailed campaign and Kingmaker skirmishes, allowing for both strategic planning and combat.
  • The graphics and atmosphere, despite being dated, still provide a charming experience that many players enjoy.
  • The AI in multiplayer is absent, limiting gameplay options and making it less enjoyable for those wanting to play with friends.
  • There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including frame rate problems tied to game speed, which can hinder the overall experience.
  • Some mechanics, such as the crime and rat systems, can feel tedious and detract from the enjoyment of managing your castle.
  • gameplay93 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of complex mechanics and nostalgic elements, offering a unique blend of city-building and RTS combat that keeps players engaged. While many appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay options, some criticize the presence of bugs, unbalanced mechanics, and a lack of polish that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, it provides a fun and challenging experience, especially for fans of the series, despite some outdated elements and frustrating design choices.

    • “I love the complexity of this game; it has so many different mechanics that you won't get tired, especially in online games.”
    • “Great mechanics definitely have their own feel; it doesn't feel like any other RTS.”
    • “Stronghold 2 experiments a ton with the stronghold formula, introducing a plethora of new mechanics, including crime and honor, as well as the estate system.”
    • “Some of the new mechanics can be tedious; it would be best if you could turn off the crime, rats, and gong.”
    • “The saddest part is that all those complex management mechanics tend to bug and stop working randomly from game to game, truly bringing down the fun of competitive play.”
    • “This game is fun, sure, but the gameplay is just bad; some missions are just impossible, especially when attacking. Even in the peaceful campaign, the last few tasks are impossible to complete without knowing what they are ahead of time.”
  • story87 mentions

    The story aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging narrative and historical context, while others criticize it for being poorly written and lacking memorable characters. Many users note that the campaign missions can be frustratingly difficult and unbalanced, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game offers a variety of missions and challenges that can be enjoyable for players who appreciate strategic gameplay.

    • “The story is good and the ability to make new missions makes the game a worthwhile purchase.”
    • “I love this game and you should at least give it a go if you are into medieval games or even good medieval stories such as King Arthur: The Sword in the Stone.”
    • “The variety of story and troops is awesome; strategies can be challenging but so rewarding when your plan works.”
    • “The entire game just feels unfinished, particularly once you get towards the end of the campaigns and the missions suddenly become very short and difficult.”
    • “The story is terrible, but the missions themselves are a lot of fun.”
    • “Honestly, I didn't even bother with playing the eco campaign or scenarios - Stronghold 2 just doesn't feel right compared to the beloved Crusader, in which I could complete 50 missions-crusade several times over, and play skirmishes day and night.”
  • graphics77 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are an improvement over earlier versions, they still feel dated and occasionally lack detail. Some appreciate the nostalgic charm of the early 3D graphics, while others criticize them for being poorly executed and reminiscent of the "uncanny valley." Overall, the visuals are considered decent for their time, but many fans express a desire for a more polished aesthetic that aligns with modern standards.

    • “I'm very nostalgic for Stronghold 2 and I like the improved graphics and controls compared to previous games.”
    • “Great graphics, there is quite a lot of detail in every aspect of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere, dated but charming early-2000s 3D graphics, nostalgic sound and fantastic soundtrack all lend themselves to make a game that you can lose a lot of hours into.”
    • “The graphics got an upgrade to full 3D, but arrived at uncanny valley.”
    • “The graphics are worse; yes, the polygons are more, but because they paid no attention to details, it looks much worse - e.g. buildings look like something out of a game editor, like you see that they do not stand on the ground and are just decorations overlapping.”
    • “The 3D graphics are cheaply done, the camera angles and game speed are annoying to control, the voice acting is painfully bad, and the music is lame.”
  • music25 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and captivating quality, with many players appreciating the blend of original compositions and familiar tracks from previous titles. While some critics noted a reliance on recycled songs from earlier games, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable even after extended playtime. The combination of great music, voice acting, and aesthetic elements contributes to a compelling atmosphere that resonates with fans of the RTS genre.

    • “The music, the animations, the overall craftsmanship placed into the original Stronghold titles is amazing.”
    • “One of my favorite RTS games of all time, the atmosphere is captivating, the soundtrack is stunning, and the game in general is incredible.”
    • “Soundtrack is also awesome, it's not annoying even after hundreds of hours playing this game.”
    • “I disliked how many songs were from the original Stronghold; it felt as if they just recycled things from the original game.”
    • “The 3D graphics are cheaply done, the camera angles and game speed are annoying to control, the voice acting is painfully bad, and the music is lame.”
    • “Getting an issue when starting up this game, the screen constantly lags and flickers between black and white constantly, I hear the intro music.”
  • stability12 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized due to persistent bugs and glitches, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences, particularly in multiplayer modes. While many players acknowledge these issues, they often emphasize the game's overall enjoyment and recommend it despite the technical shortcomings. Some users report that performance can vary based on system specifications, with occasional freezing and crashes.

    • “This game is an unbalanced, buggy mess.”
    • “Certain missions have huge difficulty spikes out of nowhere, thanks in part to the buggy, broken way that many units interact with one another.”
    • “But.... the multiplayer is buggy and there are still some glitches.”
  • humor11 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the creators' medieval-themed comedic elements and find the gameplay amusing, others criticize the execution, noting that certain voice acting and story elements fall flat. Despite the presence of game-breaking bugs and frustrating mechanics, many players still find the experience entertaining and filled with meme-worthy moments. Overall, the humor can be hit or miss, but it contributes to a unique and often chaotic gaming experience.

    • “The creators have a good sense of humor and love for the medieval, and I think it really shows in the game.”
    • “All round hilarious and simply a meme world in itself.”
    • “The campaign is very short, but there are challenges as replacements which don't include a story, but it's funny to play these maps; also, they are extremely useful to learn new strategies!”
  • optimization11 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant stuttering issues and low framerates, making it unplayable for some. While a few users report smooth performance under certain conditions, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from poor optimization, particularly on mid-range hardware like the Nvidia GTX 1060. Additionally, there are complaints about unaddressed mouse stuttering and performance inconsistencies, suggesting a lack of developer support for these issues.

    • “It runs smoothly, maybe lags a little when your castle is too crowded, but that might be an old engine limitation.”
    • “The issue has to do with the game's optimization, not if you have a good PC or not.”
    • “Though at times the game freezes and suddenly kicks me out, but I blame my specs for that since most of the time the game itself runs smoothly.”
    • “Stuttering issues make the game unplayable.”
    • “But this game has really bad performance on my computer with a Nvidia GTX 1060.”
    • “Poorly optimized, resulting in low framerates.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and captivating qualities, enhanced by a stunning soundtrack and nostalgic graphics. Players appreciate its ability to create a relaxing and engaging environment, making it a memorable experience that draws them into the setting. Despite some dated elements, the overall ambiance remains charming and enjoyable, contributing to its status as a beloved title in the RTS genre.

    • “I fell in love with the game's atmosphere as a kid.”
    • “This is a very atmospheric and immersive game, and it really pulls you into the setting.”
    • “The atmosphere, dated but charming early-2000s 3D graphics, nostalgic sound, and fantastic soundtrack all lend themselves to make a game that you can lose a lot of hours into.”
    • “One of my favorite RTS games of all time, the atmosphere is captivating, the soundtrack is stunning, and the game in general is incredible (the story has some cringy moments though). It's the game that got me into the RTS genre back in 2005; too bad the sequels fell short (except Stronghold Legends).”
  • replayability7 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it high due to engaging mechanics and community-created content, others note limitations in replay value compared to previous titles in the series. The skirmish mode and player-generated maps significantly enhance replayability for dedicated fans, particularly in contrast to earlier installments like Stronghold Crusader, which is praised for its replayability and historical depth. However, some players feel that the game's overall replay value does not fully compensate for its shortcomings.

    • “Its mechanics and replay value are very high and top notch.”
    • “Skirmish saves this game from being garbage, and thanks to the player community for adding a ton of maps, reviving the replayability for veteran Stronghold players like myself.”
    • “The advantages of this over the original Stronghold is the replay value with 'Kingmaker' (skirmish mode).”
    • “Regardless, the replay value of this game far exceeds any loss of functionality or slightly dated graphics; one loyal to the brand would have only hoped that Stronghold 3 wasn't such a disaster and carried the Stronghold brand high.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the new mechanics like the crime system, rats, and gong, which can detract from the overall experience. New players may struggle with setting up the economy, making it difficult to enjoy certain community maps that are more frustrating than challenging.

    • “Some of the new mechanics can be tedious; it would be best if you could turn off the crime, rats, and gong.”
    • “However, the way they implemented things like the new crime system, rats, and gong is just tedious and annoying.”
    • “If you're a new player, you might find it a bit tedious to set up the economy.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has received negative feedback from users, primarily due to the inclusion of advertisements for other titles during the opening intro, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, players express frustration over the prioritization of ads over fixing existing technical issues, leading to a thumbs down from some reviewers.

    • “As part of the opening intro, there is an advertisement for another one of their games. I bought the collection on sale for $7.”
    • “The developers added advertisements for their other games, but they couldn't be bothered to fix the mouse stuttering issue.”
    • “I have to give it a thumbs down, as the developers felt the need to play ads for their other games when you start it up.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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