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Sudden Strike 4

An unsurprising RTS in every sense of the word, but solidly entertaining and well-designed for console.
71%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
stability, grinding
77% User Score Based on 3,964 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5WindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SLinuxLinuxPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox
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About

Sudden Strike 4 is a World War II strategy game that offers three campaigns and over 100 units to command, such as the German bomber He111 and the Russian T-34 tank. Players can choose from nine individual commanders with unique abilities, and test their skills in singleplayer scenarios, skirmish mode, and multiplayer. The game emphasizes strategic exploitation of enemy weaknesses, ambushes, and positioning.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
Sudden Strike 4 screenshot
+29

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,974 reviews
story200 positive mentions
stability54 negative mentions
  • Great graphics and sound design, creating an immersive WWII atmosphere.
  • Challenging gameplay that requires strategic thinking and careful management of limited units.
  • Variety of campaigns and missions, including unique historical battles and different doctrines to enhance replayability.
  • Poor AI pathfinding and unit responsiveness, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Limited line of sight for units, making it difficult to engage enemies effectively.
  • Multiplayer mode is largely inactive, with few players and limited game modes available.
  • story
    1,215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of "Sudden Strike 4" is primarily conveyed through a series of missions based on historical World War II battles, with each campaign consisting of seven missions for the Germans, Soviets, and Allies. While the missions are designed to be engaging and varied, many players find them repetitive and overly scripted, often leading to a grindy experience as they aim for high star ratings. The lack of a cohesive narrative and the reliance on mission briefings rather than cinematic storytelling detract from the overall immersion, leaving some players wishing for more dynamic and interconnected storytelling elements.

    • “The game has a lot of depth, a ton of units, interesting and unique missions, and an authentic atmosphere.”
    • “Campaign missions each have their unique little story to tell, and there was never a mission that felt repetitive.”
    • “I have been playing Sudden Strike since its first release and as always I enjoy the attention to detail and the realistic storyline/events.”
    • “The big downside, if you care about these things, is the lack of cinematics, which means the story is told through voiced written interludes, and they're good enough but could be better.”
    • “The game would probably benefit from some sort of narrative to tie things together, either in between the campaign missions or within the missions themselves.”
    • “The missions themselves upon completion shall unlock clips with original footage from the war and texts which go further into detail about casualties and outcomes for each operation.”
  • graphics
    716 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in "Sudden Strike 4" have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising their beauty, detail, and historical accuracy. While some reviews noted that the visuals are not groundbreaking, they are considered a significant improvement over previous titles in the series, featuring impressive effects like explosions and environmental damage. However, a few users expressed disappointment with certain graphical elements and performance issues, suggesting that while the graphics are good, they could still be enhanced further.

    • “The graphics are gorgeous, sound is excellent, effects are excellent, voices, missions, units etc. I bought 2 of the DLC but I'll probably end up getting the rest too.”
    • “Graphics are amazing and appear historically accurate.”
    • “The graphics are very good with accurate models, tracks left by vehicles, smooth animations, excellent explosion and fire effects, ragdoll physics for bodies, turrets flying off, etc. The sand storms in the desert, frozen rivers in Finland, etc. make for interesting obstacles or opportunities.”
    • “The big downside, if you care about these things, is the lack of cinematics (the graphics are perfectly pretty on an RTX 1070), which means the story is told through voiced written interludes, and they're good enough but could be better.”
    • “Game looks good, but there's a bug that breaks the graphics and makes me unable to play it; it's been around for a few years but it hasn't gotten fixed, don't buy it if you have an RTX graphics card.”
    • “I would rate a 3/10 just for graphics!”
  • gameplay
    520 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Sudden Strike 4 has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its nostalgic elements and improved graphics, while others criticize its lack of depth and strategic complexity. Some find the mechanics straightforward and accessible, making it a good entry point for newcomers to the WWII RTS genre, but many veterans feel it has been overly simplified and lacks the challenge and intricacy of earlier titles. Overall, while the game offers engaging moments and solid mechanics, it may disappoint those seeking a more profound tactical experience.

    • “Beautiful graphics and amazing gameplay.”
    • “The game's attention to detail, engaging gameplay, and immersive experience make it a must-play for anyone looking for an enjoyable gaming experience.”
    • “Great detailed WW2 strategy game, very enjoyable gameplay and decent difficulty.”
    • “Sadly, SS4 has no major appeal; it's not horrendous, so if it's on sale, it might be worth it still, but don't expect anything better than mediocre gameplay.”
    • “The maps are tiny, and the gameplay is essentially massing clumps of units and then throwing them at the enemy.”
    • “The gameplay feels odd; for example, the units have special skills that seem designed for a more tactical game, but the gameplay makes the use of these skills very tedious.”
  • replayability
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as high, particularly due to the variety of commander skills, doctrines, and tactical options available in the campaign, which encourage different playstyles. However, some players feel that the skirmish mode lacks depth and replay value, limiting overall enjoyment. While the campaign offers engaging challenges and opportunities for replay, the multiplayer experience may not sustain long-term interest once all content is explored.

    • “Even if you finish the campaigns, the skirmish and multiplayer modes are very entertaining - giving the game infinite replayability.”
    • “The doctrines and their unique abilities, as well as the way they affect your starting units, can vastly change your playstyle and the way you approach the missions, allowing for greater replayability.”
    • “There is tons of content and replayability here even in the main campaign.”
    • “Play scripted campaigns that have absolutely no replay value.”
    • “Skirmish mode has zero replayability and the game ends up becoming a one-fight game every time.”
    • “It is, however, let down by limited AI which leaves missions feeling more like set problems to solve rather than dynamic battlefields, limiting any replay value.”
  • stability
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, including game-breaking issues, AI glitches, and matchmaking problems. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay without major technical issues, the overall consensus highlights a prevalence of bugs that detract from the experience, particularly in multiplayer modes. Players express frustration over the game's stability, indicating that it feels rushed and in need of further polish.

    • “The base game of Sudden Strike 4 is great and not buggy, if a bit short to get through.”
    • “Runs great on Linux with Mesa.”
    • “Because it has the heart of a true RTS and all the glitches of an independently developed game.”
    • “A buggy mess of a rushed game.”
    • “But damn, the amount of gamebreaking bugs and glitches is just crushing.”
  • music
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received high praise for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its dynamic nature and how it adapts to in-game moments, such as approaching enemy units. The soundtrack is described as beautiful and epic, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere, while sound design, including sound effects, is also highlighted as a strong point. Overall, players rate the music highly, often mentioning it as a standout feature that complements the game's historical context and visuals.

    • “There is obviously a lot of work put into the sound design, be it the bang of the guns, or the tense soundtrack, which sticks around in your head long past finishing a play session.”
    • “The music is also awesome, and I enjoy it alongside the historical footage in the menu--it sets the mood nicely.”
    • “The start of the game had some German soldiers in a Lorraine half track and they were playing 'Alouette' on a harmonica, a very famous soldier's song and football chant now, then the truck gets blown up for the title screen.”
    • “The soundtrack is decent, if nothing special.”
    • “Music is ok, atmosphere and controls are great.”
    • “The music and sound is much better than Blitzkrieg though.”
  • optimization
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and excellent graphics, even on older hardware. However, many others have reported significant bugs and performance issues, leading to a general consensus that the game feels incomplete and poorly optimized in its current state. Overall, while there are commendable aspects of optimization, the game's performance is inconsistent and often detracts from the experience.

    • “European battlefields, with enough optimization, and full-fledged real-time tactics... Sudden Strike 4 is definitely worth it if you're into all of these.”
    • “I'd give Sudden Strike 4 some credit for their good optimization on using the Unity engine, though.”
    • “Really fantastic performance, even with a lot of units on screen.”
    • “It's hard to recommend the game in its current state; the game is full of bugs and performance issues.”
    • “With a significant lack of content and performance, it's not worth $50, or even $30 in its current state, as it feels incomplete.”
    • “It's a shame debris, destroyed vehicles, and corpses don't stick around, but again, for the sake of performance, I'll accept it.”
  • grinding
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often feeling forced into a singular optimal strategy to achieve maximum stars on missions. The need for repetitive tasks, such as refueling and rearming units, combined with limited tactical options, contributes to a sense of monotony and frustration. While the game offers a rich historical experience, many reviewers express that the grind detracts from overall enjoyment, making it feel like a slog rather than an engaging challenge.

    • “The entire game is an amazing journey into WWII history with no farming or time wasting.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay feels odd; for example, the units have special skills that seem designed for a more tactical game, but the gameplay makes the use of these skills very tedious.”
    • “It soon grew somewhat tedious, and I realized that my soldiers were being butchered while I wasn't winning enough stars to unlock the various specialties of each commander/doctrine.”
    • “This game is flustering; I suppose I will eventually finish it in the coming years, but there's no way I'm going to spend countless hours grinding on a game with horrible balance.”
  • atmosphere
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its depth, authenticity, and immersive WWII setting, enhanced by impressive visuals and sound design. Players appreciate the unique missions and strategic challenges that contribute to a compelling war atmosphere, although some note a lack of atmosphere in the single-player mode. Overall, the combination of historical realism and engaging gameplay creates a memorable and atmospheric experience.

    • “The game has a lot of depth, a ton of units, interesting and unique missions, and an authentic atmosphere.”
    • “Its one of the very few games that manages to capture the atmosphere so well.”
    • “Excellent levels of realism for units and battlefields makes for an impressively atmospheric strategy game.”
    • “There's no atmosphere in the single-player mode at all.”
    • “Detail to landscapes adds to the WWII atmosphere.”
    • “It combines classic sudden strike atmosphere with fresh new graphics.”
  • humor
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is noted for its quirky and absurd moments, such as the exaggerated physics that result in bodies flying and tanks behaving oddly. Players find amusement in the dialogue of troops and the ridiculousness of the line of sight mechanics, although some feel the game could benefit from more consistent humor. Overall, the comedic elements add a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.

    • “Regarding the sense of humor, in the fireglow versions, the German submachine gun troops at rest would smoke compulsively. If you ordered them to assault, they would say 'Fuhrer und Vaterland', which was funny.”
    • “The physics on explosions versus infantry can be quite funny too, just seeing bodies flying.”
    • “Physics are quite hilarious, with bodies flying 100 ft in the air, and trucks pushing Tiger tank remains around.”
  • monetization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviews indicate that the game's monetization strategy is perceived as a cash grab, leading to disappointment among players. Additionally, there are concerns about the graphics quality not meeting the expectations set by advertising, particularly on high-end setups.

    • “Seems like this is going to be a cash grab, which is really unfortunate.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be engaging, with moments that evoke a sense of tension and strategy, as illustrated by the need to maneuver a tank closely to a bunker for effective action. Overall, the experience is described as wholesome, earning a score of 7/10.

65%Critics’ scoreBased on 14 critic reviews

Buy Sudden Strike 4

20h Median play time
47h Average play time
6-70h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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