The Cyclist: Tactics

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The Cyclist: Tactics is a single player and multiplayer tactical racing game with a business theme. It was developed by Camshaft Software Ltd and was released on July 28, 2021. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A pro cycling turn-based tactics and strategy game. Create your own rider and manage your team throughout career mode, or compete in customizable single races and tours. Manage your resources wisely and outsmart the competition to ride to the top.

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 134 reviews

gameplay24 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The Cyclist: Tactics offers a deep and engaging tactical experience that effectively simulates the complexities of cycling races, making it enjoyable for both cycling enthusiasts and strategy game fans.
The game features a well-structured career mode that allows players to build and manage their own cycling team, with significant depth in team management and rider development.
The turn-based mechanics and lack of randomization in gameplay create a satisfying and strategic environment where success is based on player decisions rather than luck.

The game suffers from some presentation issues, including minimal graphics and a lack of in-race animations, which may detract from the overall immersion.
There are concerns regarding the AI behavior, particularly in breakaway situations, which can lead to unrealistic race outcomes and may require further balancing.
Some players have reported technical issues, such as crashes and limited save options, which can be frustrating and impact the overall experience.

gameplay
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The gameplay is praised for its engaging and strategic simulation of road cycling tactics, utilizing a simple yet deep turn-based mechanic that encourages careful planning and decision-making. Players appreciate the well-designed tutorials that help navigate the game's complexities, although some mechanics, like slipstreaming, could use refinement. Overall, the game offers a compelling "just one more race" loop, blending elements of tabletop gaming with PC mechanics, making it accessible yet challenging for both cycling enthusiasts and newcomers.
- “The gameplay loop is engaging; the seasons are fast, since each season is 9 months, and in each month you can pick an event, which ranges from 1-day races to 21 stages.”
- “The mechanics are simple, but elegant, and have an incredible amount of depth, from positioning riders to high-level decisions on how to build your team for specific tours.”
- “The racing gameplay itself is definitely addictive; I always want to do just one more race, one more stage.”
- “Only played 1.0, which had a lot of potential but also a few wonky mechanics.”
- “In its current state, it still feels like a beta version to me: the excellent core gameplay is there, but it needs to be refined on the edges to make it a great game.”
- “The only problem I have now is with the slipstream mechanic.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The graphics are described as simplistic and boardgame-like, focusing on functionality rather than complexity, which suits the gameplay style. While some users appreciate the well-crafted artwork and immersive screens, others note a lack of animations and in-race visuals, giving the overall presentation an amateurish feel. Despite these shortcomings, the graphics effectively support the game's tactical elements without detracting from the player experience.
- “The graphics are board game-like; you see a part of the track, but you can scroll to plan your moves.”
- “While the production values are of course not at the level of a AAA game, it is very well designed and balanced, has well-crafted artwork, enjoyable mechanics, and a great background soundtrack.”
- “The visuals and audio effects suit the board game-esque feel well.”
- “There are no in-race graphics where you see your riders battling for position, no cutscenes or flashy victory screens to reward your progress, and basically not even any animations, be it in the races or menus.”
- “I don't mind the simplistic graphics; the problems lie more in the way the information is delivered to the player.”
- “-1 no borderless windowed graphics setting”
story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game's story is praised for its richness and innovation, allowing players to create their own narratives through gameplay. However, reviewers express a desire for enhanced storytelling elements, world-building, and deeper lore to be included in future sequels. Overall, while the game offers a versatile storytelling experience, there is room for improvement in presentation and narrative depth.
- “The game is remarkably innovative and well-designed, and it is also remarkably story rich.”
- “But you make your own story, using its versatility and your wits.”
- “I wish there was a little bit more in terms of presentation and 'storytelling', such as:”
- “I'm sure there's more backstory and lore about this fictional universe that'd be great to uncover.”
- “I wish there was a little bit more in terms of presentation and 'storytelling', such as:”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's optimization features are well-implemented, providing detailed performance charts that allow players to see the impact of their adjustments on their bikers compared to others. Helpful tutorials guide users through the mechanics, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning over casual play to achieve optimal results. Overall, effective optimization is crucial for enhancing team performance throughout the season.
- “A chart shows what changes in your biker's performance compared to others when you change something on him.”
- “The tutorials are nice and helpful, and that's lucky, since it is not a game to be played carelessly, without first grasping the mechanics, unless good performance is of no interest to you.”
- “You plan a season of 9 months for a team of up to 6 riders, sending them to the terrain they like best and adding peak performance to that so you can make the sponsor happy.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, creating a cheerful atmosphere that appeals to players. While the production values may not match those of AAA titles, the well-designed soundtrack and vibrant artwork contribute to an enjoyable gaming environment.
- “The music is liked by all those sharing the same room, that's a real plus.”
- “Sound is great, music is great, and the color palette used is bright and cheerful.”
- “While the production values are of course not at the level of a AAA game, it is very well designed and balanced, has well-crafted artwork, enjoyable mechanics, and a great background soundtrack.”

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20h Median play time

20h Average play time

20-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Cyclist: Tactics is a tactical racing game with business theme.

The Cyclist: Tactics is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 20 hours playing The Cyclist: Tactics.

The Cyclist: Tactics was released on July 28, 2021.

The Cyclist: Tactics was developed by Camshaft Software Ltd.

The Cyclist: Tactics has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its story.

The Cyclist: Tactics is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Football, Tactics & Glory, Motorsport Manager, Hexarchy, Unity of Command 2, Mad Games Tycoon 2 and others.

The Cyclist: Tactics

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