The Great War: Western Front

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,531 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • grinding
The Great War: Western Front Game Cover
Despite finicky controls and complex gameplay, The Great War: Western Front is deeply satisfying, always respectful of the source material.
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"The Great War: Western Front" is a real-time and turn-based strategy game set in World War 1, developed by Petroglyph. As a commander on the Western Front from 1914 to 1919, players can choose their faction, direct armies in battles, and make high-level decisions in the turn-based campaign. The Victory Edition includes a digital field guide, original soundtrack, and other bonuses. Pre-ordering grants up to 3 days early access.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,531 reviews
gameplay76 positive mentions
grinding55 negative mentions
  • The game effectively captures the brutal and grinding nature of WW1 trench warfare, making players feel the weight of their decisions.
  • The tech tree offers a variety of strategic options, allowing players to customize their approach to combat and resource management.
  • The persistent battlefield mechanics, where trenches and defenses carry over between battles, add depth and realism to the gameplay.
  • The AI is often predictable and can be easily exploited, leading to a lack of challenge in both the campaign and tactical battles.
  • Pathfinding issues can result in units getting stuck or behaving erratically, causing frustrating losses during critical moments.
  • The game can become repetitive quickly, as players are often required to fight the same battles multiple times to capture territory.
  • gameplay284 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitive nature and shallow mechanics, particularly in the context of World War I trench warfare. While some appreciate the strategic elements and the unique supply mechanics, others criticize the AI behavior and the lack of depth in combat, leading to a monotonous experience over time. Overall, the game offers an engaging concept but struggles with execution, leaving players wanting more variety and refinement in gameplay.

    • “The core gameplay loop of the tactical battles is incredibly satisfying once you get the hang of it.”
    • “Great War: Western Front delivers on the premise with genuinely unique and period-accurate gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is intuitive and basic enough that you can get right into it without obscure orders or UI buttons.”
    • “However, the more you play, the more it starts to become repetitive and boring, and the gameplay feels shallow, lacking proper execution.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics quickly grew monotonous, offering little variety or innovation.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely lacking; they could have done so much more with this, but it feels like it was just released too quickly and they didn't have a clear goal of what they wanted.”
  • graphics138 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players describing them as outdated and reminiscent of titles from the early 2010s or even earlier. While some appreciate the aesthetic and thematic elements, others criticize the visuals as bland, lacking detail, and poorly optimized for modern standards. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are not the game's strong suit, they do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.

    • “The graphics are fantastic, I really like the tech tree.”
    • “The artwork is great, the setting feels very authentic, the battles play really well.”
    • “Great presentation, audio, and visuals as well.”
    • “The graphics are just ugly and bland; you will not find yourself admiring units.”
    • “My system is the opposite of a potato, and yet, this game performs as if I'm using a 2005 laptop and trying to run a state-of-the-art next-gen game with top-of-the-line graphics.”
    • “Graphically speaking, the store page is borderline false advertising; I play on max settings with high-resolution monitors, and the quality is nowhere near what is shown in the advertising.”
  • grinding56 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for its tedious and repetitive nature, mirroring the slow attrition of World War I. Many players find the gameplay becomes monotonous after a few hours, as battles often reset and require multiple attempts to capture the same locations, leading to frustration. While some appreciate the historical accuracy and atmosphere, the overall consensus is that the grinding mechanics detract from the enjoyment, making it feel more like a chore than a strategic experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Many people say the game can get tedious.”
    • “This game is excellent for those who enjoy resource management, World War One, and mass infantry charges across beautifully crafted terrains; however, many of the game mechanics become repetitive, and after a few hours of playing, I found myself deciding to let the battles auto-play as I was not willing to sit through another tedious battle.”
    • “The game is tedious, repetitive, frustrating, and boring.”
  • stability46 mentions

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs, crashes, and unresponsive AI, rendering it nearly unplayable for many users. Players express frustration over the lack of updates or support from the developers, leading to a perception of the game as unfinished and poorly designed. While some acknowledge minor bugs as typical for new releases, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game suffers from significant stability issues that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game is incredibly buggy and pretty much not playable.”
    • “This game is nowhere near what was promised or expected, buggy as can be and is borderline unplayable.”
    • “The game is a complete buggy mess, with no info from the devs about further updates or changes being implemented to the game.”
  • music42 mentions

    The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its fittingness to the World War I setting and the inclusion of historical songs that enhance immersion. While some find the soundtrack repetitive over time, others appreciate its quality and the atmospheric impact it has during gameplay. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's aesthetic, despite some calls for more variety and improved audio feedback during battles.

    • “Really enjoy the game, especially the soundtrack and even the inclusion of real World War I era songs and film reels.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are superb.”
    • “The soundtrack is wonderful and has period songs playing as well.”
    • “The music is corny; I thought the old style motivational music would be overtaken by somber tones as the battle progresses, but no.”
    • “The game does take a day to get used to, and the soundtrack is boring.”
    • “They could have done a better job with getting music for the menus; playing the same song over and over again gets tired really quick.”
  • optimization40 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as low frame rates, stuttering, and bugs that affect gameplay. While some users noted improvements and stable performance on certain systems, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, particularly due to the impact of DRM and memory leaks. Many players are calling for better optimization options and patches to address these ongoing issues.

    • “It could use a patch or two of polish and a big dash of optimization, but the bones are solid and they've managed to make it feel like a true WW1 experience.”
    • “I've had no performance issues using the mod, and would highly recommend it if you're like me and love seeing the aftermath of battles.”
    • “I was worried about the game being a buggy, slow mess after playing the demo a few months back, but honestly they have improved performance a lot and it runs fine (after updating my graphics card driver, it was crashing before but I haven't had one since I did that).”
    • “However, the performance is maddening, like single digit FPS sometimes.”
    • “It's poorly optimized and has memory leak issues which cause units to bug out even more and fall under the map or get stuck in trenches and map objects easily.”
    • “I have an i7-14700KF, 64GB DDR5, and a 4080; there is no reason I should be getting 40 FPS and constant stuttering in battle and on the campaign map.”
  • story29 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players finding the campaign missions uninteresting and repetitive. While some appreciate the historical context and the potential for strategic gameplay, the overall narrative experience is deemed weak, with minimal storytelling elements and a reliance on basic mission objectives that do not significantly impact gameplay. Additionally, the absence of voice acting and the clunky mission structure detract from the immersive experience players seek.

    • “10/10 for the story mode and gameplay, but the PvP is the whole reason I got this, so I could play against my friends in the main mode.”
    • “Thanks for interesting gameplay and historical story.”
    • “For potential buyers: if you like trench/defense-based games, enjoy setting up fortifications and trenches, find enjoyment in a battle even if you lose by treating it as a story, and are thinking of buying this game because it looks appealing based on what you see in the store page screenshots, then yes, do buy it and try out skirmish mode for a quick preview.”
    • “The campaign missions are not very interesting and most often than not, I complete them by accident.”
    • “The repetitive nature of the missions and objectives made it feel like a never-ending slog through the trenches, devoid of strategic decision-making or engaging gameplay elements.”
    • “No commander voice acting in story battles, just text bubbles.”
  • replayability26 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag. While some players appreciate the custom difficulty settings and the option to play as different factions, many criticize the lack of variety in campaigns, maps, and unit options, leading to a perception of limited replay value. The absence of post-launch content and engaging skirmish modes further detracts from its long-term appeal, leaving some players feeling that the game could have offered more.

    • “The game seems to have a lot of replayability.”
    • “This game is great! The custom difficulty adds great replay value, allowing you to have super strong units or weak units, and you can also set how good the enemy's troops are too!”
    • “Very fun game, a lot of replayability with different styles of war. The elite difficulty campaign is very good too, as the AI goes as brutal as possible on you, but not so ridiculous that you can't win.”
    • “I don't feel that the replayability is there, unfortunately.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely exploitable; after a couple of hours, you'll understand how to never lose to the AI. There is virtually no replay value due to awful unit and map variety, and as the cherry on top, it's a massive insult to everyone who fought in the Great War.”
    • “Moderate replay value as there are too few varieties in battle maps and no variety in the initial campaign setup.”
  • atmosphere17 mentions

    The game effectively captures the atmosphere of World War I, particularly the brutal trench warfare, through its aesthetic elements like music and weather effects, creating a dreary and immersive experience. While some reviews note a lack of historical accuracy and gore, the overall ambiance is praised for its authenticity and ability to convey the horrors of war. Many players appreciate the game's dedication to representing the period, making it a standout in the genre despite some areas for improvement.

    • “Although not accurate, it does get the atmosphere of the Great War across very well.”
    • “This is a game that does a pretty decent job of capturing the atmosphere of brutal, grinding trench warfare of the First World War.”
    • “The atmosphere and music are superb.”
    • “Its atmosphere and playing into the memes around WW1 is all it has, making its disdain for history much worse.”
    • “There is a lack of gore that seriously wounds the atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Nothing to deplete units, but it may add to the overall atmosphere of an exchange all down the line rather than it being dead quiet when trenches are just yards apart.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from its absurdities and quirks, such as the comical movement of units and the exaggerated effects of weaponry, which often lead to unintentionally funny scenarios. Players find amusement in the game's portrayal of World War I, where the challenges of advancing troops and the slow pace of the campaign map are humorously reflective of the historical context. Overall, while some mechanics can be frustrating, the game's aesthetic and comedic elements provide a lighthearted take on the serious subject matter.

    • “Now of course there are downsides: sometimes units move awkwardly, moving forward then regrouping only to be mowed down by rifle fire, units outside of trenches orienting towards trenches already in the midst of melee combat and thus, getting mowed down by rifle/mg fire and the comedic launching of grenades across the map because one German rifleman is near a machine gun and all of a sudden the Kaiser's army are armed with M203s is more funny than annoying to see.”
    • “If you zoom in on the models they are a bit funny, but overall the game has a great aesthetic.”
    • “I also find it funny that a lot of the things people don't like about the game are things like 'advancing troops is hard and everyone gets killed' or 'things on the campaign map rarely move' - that's the First World War for you!”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke deep feelings of grief and nostalgia, particularly through poignant moments like receiving a telegram. Players experience a mix of wholesome themes and the harsh realities of war, leading to a powerful emotional impact as they witness the consequences of conflict on both soldiers and their families.

    • “Mother home, get a telegram and shed a tear of grief.”
    • “Watching literally hundreds of enemy soldiers getting cut down by your machine guns and mortars while your entrenched men fire volley after volley of rifle fire into their lines is bad enough, but then witnessing the handful of men that survived dragging themselves over the first line of barbed wire as you drop hundreds of 155mm shells onto their position can be heartbreaking.”
    • “Very cool game, and wholesome.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling misled by the advertising that overpromises on features like persistent trenches. While the gameplay itself is enjoyable, the disconnect between expectations set by marketing and the actual experience has left many feeling disappointed.

    • “It's a quickly abandoned cash grab, if anything.”
    • “The advertising is incredibly misleading.”
    • “I expected more than a cash grab with this game, but after playing, that's all it feels like.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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Play time

24hMedian play time
24hAverage play time
14-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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