Syrian Warfare

About

"Syrian Warfare" is a realistic real-time strategy game that simulates the complexities of the Syrian conflict. Players command various factions, managing resources, troops, and military strategies in intense battles. The game features a rich narrative, detailed environments, and authentic military equipment, providing a thought-provoking exploration of the human side of war.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,406 reviews

story244 positive mentions

stability42 negative mentions

Engaging and challenging gameplay that requires strategic thinking and careful unit management.
Unique perspective on the Syrian Civil War, providing a narrative that is often overlooked in mainstream media.
Variety of units and realistic mechanics, including limited ammunition and fuel, as well as destructible environments.

Poor pathfinding and AI behavior can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Heavy political bias and propaganda throughout the story may alienate some players.
Lack of multiplayer or skirmish modes limits replayability and overall content.

story
1,350 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
79%
3%
The game's story is a complex narrative set against the backdrop of the Syrian civil war, told from a perspective that often aligns with the Syrian government and Russian viewpoints, which some players find controversial and propagandistic. While the missions are engaging and provide a unique insight into the conflict, they can be challenging and require careful management of resources and units, as losses carry over into subsequent missions. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its depth and realism, though it is marred by a heavy bias and occasional poor writing.
- “Great storytelling, make sure you play through the whole DLC and download Damascus Steel for Battlegrounds once you complete the expansion.”
- “The storyline follows actual events and scenarios, providing a perspective that is rarely seen in video games.”
- “The story is fantastic, you will never get enough of it as you follow through very true events that have happened throughout the years of the war.”
- “The writing and the story is lame, weak and yes too forced in/shoving it in your face.”
- “Pushed very hard on the propaganda tho, so was very hard to take the story seriously so I just ignored it.”
- “The story is full of propaganda so hold your nose with Russian super-terminators that sacrifice themselves for the good of the Arabs unlike those denying Americans and sneaky Europeans - Russia, truly the most humanitarian of countries.”
gameplay
538 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The gameplay of the game is generally described as engaging and challenging, with a mix of deep mechanics reminiscent of titles like "Men of War" and "Company of Heroes." However, it suffers from significant issues such as poor pathfinding, clunky controls, and a lack of certain quality-of-life features, which can lead to frustration. Despite these drawbacks, many players appreciate the realistic combat mechanics and the strategic depth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “As other reviewers have expressed, the mechanics are excellent with the exception of pathfinding, which is still quite manageable once you learn how it works.”
- “The gameplay captures lots of the peculiarities of the real Syrian civil war - from a ridiculous amount of variants of technicals to your opponents using SVBIEDs against you.”
- “The gameplay itself is unique because it's purposely designed to force the player into hardscrabble situations: every unit has limited ammo/fuel, unit availability per mission is dictated by a persistent points system, and important buildings used as cover can be destroyed.”
- “For how in depth the game attempts to be in terms of ballistics and armor penetration, it lacks seriously important mechanics to accompany them, such as reversing, smoking to break line of sight quickly to avoid ATGMs, etc. Even worse, this game is plagued with some of the worst pathfinding I've ever seen.”
- “Not trying to trash talk, but as a game it has the generally right idea in terms of gameplay but falls heavily short on those marks.”
- “Problem is: because gameplay is so incredibly clunky while the pathfinding is the absolute worst I have ever seen in any strategy game, this piece becomes unplayable.”
graphics
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
46%
9%
The graphics of the game are generally described as decent but somewhat dated, with many reviewers noting a charm and aesthetic quality that compensates for their lack of modern polish. While the visuals effectively capture the war-torn environments and include impressive destruction effects, they often fall short of current standards, leading to mixed opinions on their overall quality. Despite these criticisms, the graphics are considered acceptable for an indie title, allowing it to run on lower-end systems while still providing an engaging gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are amazing and the terrain, buildings, and textures are really accurate for the most part.”
- “The graphics, though far from spectacular, are still impressive in their own right, and at max settings with all the physics enabled can lead to some great and highly destructive action sequences that are a joy to behold.”
- “I love everything about this game, starting with the graphics, textures, and of course the realistic part that I have never seen in any RTS game before.”
- “The graphics suck and the acting/voices are terrible.”
- “The graphics look like the game is from 2003.”
- “This game... it's hard to tell if the devs are simply stuck in early 2000s or they're trying to be retro on purpose, but the end result is a mess of outdated - for a good reason - game mechanics, bad graphics and technical issues.”
music
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
38%
11%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack for its distinctiveness and atmospheric quality, often likening it to classic RTS titles. However, some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time and lacks excitement, particularly during missions. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, there are calls for more variety and engagement in the musical experience.
- “Edlise, Brook Vernade, and Smileque have masterfully composed the game's soundtrack, which I have jammed on repeat as I type this review.”
- “Every single song is distinct and creates its own atmosphere.”
- “Whether it's Sands' slow, steady, and punchy pace backing methodically commanding several BTRs through a village or Homeland's gentle guitars accompanying two disparate RPG groups holding the line against all odds, the soundtrack is just perfect and fits the ambience perfectly.”
- “The music is uninspired and boring.”
- “I assume meant to be 'Syrian' music, it drones on in the background of missions, seemingly very repetitive. Much could be done to increase the music's excitement or engagement to the player.”
- “Music can get a bit annoying after a while.”
atmosphere
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
74%
6%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its realistic depiction of the Syrian conflict, effectively immersing players in a tense and gritty environment. Reviewers commend the detailed maps, engaging music, and the ability to convey the complexities of warfare without overt exposition. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating and intense, enhancing the strategic gameplay experience.
- “The visuals are effective in conveying the atmosphere of a conflict zone, though they may not be cutting-edge.”
- “It's hard to put into words how good the devs have done at creating an intense, even daunting atmosphere.”
- “Impressed by its deep atmosphere based on realistic combat, character dialogues, and music.”
- “It's hard to put to words how good the devs have done at creating an intense, even daunting atmosphere.”
- “Impressed by its deep atmosphere based on realistic combats, character dialogs and music.”
- “Then, there's the tense atmosphere of suspecting enemy counter attacks and ambushes.”
humor
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of dark and absurd, often stemming from its janky mechanics and politically charged dialogue, with players finding amusement in both the writing and the game's quirky pathfinding issues. While some lines, like the infamous RPG quip, are noted for their comedic value, the overall tone can be politically incorrect and satirical, reflecting a blend of dubious army humor and light-hearted absurdity amidst challenging gameplay. Despite its outdated graphics and rough voice acting, the humor effectively complements the intense action, making for a uniquely entertaining experience.
- “You can still appreciate the humor this game has to offer while not taking everything at face value.”
- “The humor in the game goes well with the nail-biting intense shootouts; every mission I'm in disbelief that I actually beat it, lol, but it keeps me coming back.”
- “Personally, I thought some lines and plot points were just outright funny.”
stability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game is generally described as unstable, with frequent bugs and crashes occurring every few hours or after several saves. While some players find it enjoyable despite these issues, many report significant frustrations with pathfinding, unit behavior, and graphical glitches, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall stability.
- “This game is bug-free, except for the frustrating pathfinding.”
- “The overall stability of the game is impressive, with minimal issues.”
- “There were no major, serious glitches although the game does crash every 10 or so saves/a few hours, but if you save obsessively, it's not a big deal.”
- “The game has too many glitches not worth the money unless they fix it.”
- “The game is really buggy though, I played through the second level twice only for at the end to have the convoy get stuck on a destroyed car and never move again.”
replayability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
70%
20%
The game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting a decent amount of content in the campaign and scenarios, while others criticize its limited replay value compared to other RTS games. The inclusion of a workshop and the ability to create custom scenarios enhance replayability for some, but the absence of additional modes like sandbox or multiplayer restricts it for others. Overall, while the single-player campaign offers replayable elements, many feel the game lacks sufficient variety to sustain long-term engagement.
- “I just love it, and the workshop makes it replayable.”
- “The other very good thing about this game is the amount of content it provides; all of the campaigns are lengthy and replayable, and the latest DLC allows you to create your own scenarios using any of the maps, which are pretty huge.”
- “Despite being a story-driven game, the replay value is actually pretty high.”
- “Only 'flaw' is poor replayability.”
- “The game is short with not much replayability.”
- “Also lack of replay value because there is only a campaign and no other modes.”
optimization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
29%
36%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth gameplay and good performance, while others report frequent crashes, slow loading times, and overall poor optimization. Despite some improvements noted in updates, many still find the game struggles to run efficiently even on powerful rigs, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while there are instances of high frame rates and stability, the consensus leans towards significant optimization issues that detract from the gameplay experience.
- “Smooth gameplay, great performance; I think that older PCs can run this too.”
- “Edit April 27, 2019: The game runs smoothly now, with good frame rates, no texture glitches, and no crashes!”
- “S about optimization and overall performance - playing on my Asus ROG GL502VS and getting 40-60 FPS with the graphics maxed.”
- “Basically a poorly optimized clone of Men of War, with a bad UI, even more awkward combat, and that crashes somewhat regularly doing routine things like loading a save or continuing to the next mission.”
- “Really ugly, badly optimized, and often irrational game trying to be a modern Company of Heroes, but it is inferior in every common aspect.”
- “Performance - loading times can be incredibly slow on large maps.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game's narrative and characters, with some expressing that the experience moved them to tears, even in a real-time strategy context. The imperfections of the characters enhance this emotional depth, making players feel invested in their struggles. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, particularly during pivotal moments in the storyline.
- “The first mission made me cry, and I'm 34.”
- “I rarely 'feel' while playing any game, let alone an RTS, but I feel emotionally connected to the struggles of my men.”
- “Characters are emotional and have imperfections.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with missions varying from engaging to tedious, particularly due to scripted elements that limit tactical freedom. While some enjoy the micromanagement of squads and vehicles, others feel that certain tasks, like clearing mines, can become monotonous and detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “This game is tedious at best.”
- “I would recommend this game to those who like micromanaging squads, vehicles, and all the tediousness that comes with it.”
- “Some missions are a bit too scripted, limiting freedom of tactical decisions and making them a bit tedious.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is criticized for being lacking, with both the protagonist and supporting characters described as flat and underdeveloped.
- “Character development: the protagonist and his supporting characters are flat.”