Tom Clancy's The Division

About

"The Division" is a third-person shooter set in a near-future New York City hit by a deadly pandemic on Black Friday. As a player, you become an agent of the Division, a secret group of tactical agents tasked to save society amidst chaos and restore order. With a mix of shooting, exploring, and looting, the game challenges you to make strategic decisions and survive in a city on the brink of collapse.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 30,489 reviews

story2.4k positive mentions

grinding1.9k negative mentions

story
10,623 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
8%
The story of "Tom Clancy's The Division" is set against a backdrop of a pandemic that devastates New York City, leading players to take on the role of agents tasked with restoring order. While the main narrative is engaging and features a variety of missions, many players find the storytelling to be somewhat shallow and repetitive, with side missions often mirroring each other. The game excels in environmental storytelling through collectibles and echoes, but the overall plot can feel disjointed and lacks depth, especially after the main campaign concludes, leaving players with a grind for gear rather than a compelling narrative experience.
- “The story made me fall in love with the universe, and the cinematics are a chef's kiss.”
- “The story is engaging, with well-executed lore and a sense of urgency that keeps players invested in the unfolding narrative.”
- “The storyline unfolds through engaging missions, captivating cutscenes, and environmental storytelling that immerse you in the desperate struggle for survival in a world on the brink of collapse.”
- “The story, lore, directing, characters, dialogues, and mission design... well, these aspects apparently were not in the focus of Ubisoft.”
- “The story is functional but not exceptional or motivating, and ultimately, I found it too difficult to press on once it was all over.”
- “The story is mediocre, which is disappointing since they sacrificed gameplay to focus on multiplayer aspects, so at very least they could have given players a strong story.”
gameplay
4,134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
54%
8%
The gameplay of "Tom Clancy's The Division" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its cover-based shooting mechanics and immersive graphics, while others criticize it for being repetitive and featuring "bullet sponge" enemies that require excessive firepower to defeat. The game offers a blend of RPG elements and tactical gameplay, which can be enjoyable, especially in cooperative play, but some players find the mechanics clunky and the overall experience lacking depth. Overall, while the game has solid core mechanics and can be fun, particularly with friends, it suffers from issues related to balance, repetitiveness, and a lack of engaging endgame content.
- “The gameplay is very smooth, with the cover system being very robust.”
- “The cover-based shooting mechanics provide a satisfying tactical depth, allowing you to outmaneuver enemies and utilize a variety of weapons and skills to gain the upper hand.”
- “The gameplay is fun and addictive even though it is pretty boring in the beginning pretty much until you hit level 30 but from there most of the game's content is available to you and becomes a blast to play with friends.”
- “Gameplay is simple; just as I said, it is perfect to thoughtlessly shoot your way through waves of regular enemies and the most lazily developed bosses in the game industry (just regular enemies with a lot of HP).”
- “The gameplay is starting to show its age; controls can get a bit wonky on mouse & keyboard.”
- “The gameplay is a frustrating mangle of plodding cover-based mechanics and jarring disconnections between hitboxes and character models.”
graphics
3,314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
35%
4%
The graphics of "The Division" have received mixed feedback from players. While many praise the game's stunning visuals and detailed environments, noting that it still holds up well even years after its release, others express disappointment over the graphical downgrade from initial trailers and the game's high system requirements. Overall, the graphics are often described as beautiful and immersive, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere, despite some players experiencing graphical glitches and performance issues.
- “The graphics are stunning—New York has never looked better, even when it’s in shambles.”
- “The graphics are great, smooth gameplay, nice questing lines but it does get repetitive when it comes to side missions.”
- “The graphics, physics, and gunplay are something else.”
- “The actual graphics look really bleh for how hard this thing rails on graphics cards.”
- “If you own this on PlayStation or Xbox, don't bother double-buying; keyboard controls aren't fluid and the graphics aren't that good even on high settings.”
- “The graphics are certainly not up to date.”
grinding
1,941 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game. While some enjoy the grind for gear and loot, likening it to other RPGs and looter shooters, others find it frustrating and unfulfilling, particularly due to the bullet sponge enemies and lack of variety in missions. Overall, the game is best suited for those who appreciate grinding mechanics and cooperative play, while players seeking a more narrative-driven experience may find it lacking.
- “Was hoping for some funky scenarios and gear, but I'm not grinding to find out if those things come.”
- “But post 1.4 patch, I can assure you that this game is now well balanced, so much fun to play, and not that grindy compared to Borderlands 2 - a game that I enjoyed so much.”
- “The game isn't too grindy (comparing to other RPGs).”
- “However, the game does get very repetitive and grindy in the late game.”
- “The open-world map was vast, but it was mostly filled with copy-paste buildings and repetitive side missions that quickly became a tedious grind.”
- “The game is fun but there will be a point where the grinding gets repetitive and not many people are willing to do matchmaking so you could grind the incursions.”
stability
975 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
94%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a range of glitches and bugs that can significantly impact gameplay. While some users have experienced smooth performance with minimal issues, others have encountered frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and frustrating gameplay mechanics, such as enemies shooting through walls or spawning unexpectedly. Overall, the game appears to be plagued by stability issues, particularly in its multiplayer components, leading to a generally negative perception regarding its reliability.
- “The game feels really smooth and nearly bug free from my experience.”
- “Progressing well throughout the story, no glitches, bugs, exploiters, or anything broken in general at all.”
- “Game is well optimized, runs great, looks great, and has amazing audio on surround.”
- “You're gonna die as much to glitches as unbalanced gameplay because this game is buggier than day 1 Skyrim and it came out in 2016.”
- “The game is filled with bugs, glitches, exploits, and, worst of all, hackers.”
- “The game is in an unplayable state, bad coding, broken AI, bullet sponge, glitches, and unfair gameplay.”
atmosphere
705 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and detailed recreation of a post-apocalyptic New York City, particularly during the winter season. Players appreciate the combination of stunning graphics, dynamic weather effects, and ambient sound design that create a chilling and engaging environment, enhancing the overall experience despite some criticisms of gameplay repetitiveness. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of urgency and realism, making exploration and interaction within the world feel impactful and meaningful.
- “The atmosphere of this game is unmatched; you can't beat it!”
- “The atmosphere and visuals are just stunning.”
- “The atmosphere makes you really feel a sense of urgency, and it all feels so surreal.”
- “The atmosphere feels desperate.”
- “The enemies are bullet sponges, the areas are lazily thrown together, and the atmosphere is completely thrown off by how absolutely, mind-numbingly, excruciatingly boring this world was.”
- “The atmosphere is not at all engulfing.”
optimization
612 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
43%
24%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on high-end systems and noting smooth gameplay at high settings, while others report significant stuttering, crashes, and poor performance on lower-end PCs. Many users highlight that despite improvements through patches, issues persist, particularly with frame drops and inconsistent performance, making it challenging for players with less powerful hardware to enjoy the game fully. Overall, while some find it well-optimized, others consider it poorly optimized, especially for AMD systems and older rigs.
- “The endgame content offers a wealth of activities, including daily and weekly challenges, high-level missions, and gear optimization, ensuring that there's always something new to strive for and master.”
- “The game is really well optimized.”
- “Impressive optimization as well; I get 60 fps with very infrequent dips to 50 at a very minimum on almost all max settings, and it is a gorgeous game.”
- “General performance issues keep people with lower power PCs from playing this game.”
- “I bought both games, Division 2 first, and found out that it has been unplayable because the devs can't solve stuttering and crash issues.”
- “The sequel isn't much better and suffers from a lot of performance, server, connectivity, and optimization issues, making it pretty much unplayable for people who aren't rocking the latest and greatest PC hardware.”
humor
366 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
1%
The humor in the game is often described as a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the quirky dialogue, unexpected glitches, and the sometimes ridiculous scenarios that unfold during gameplay. While some players appreciate the comedic elements and funny interactions, others feel that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain attempts at levity feeling forced or poorly executed. Overall, the game's humor tends to shine brightest when played with friends, leading to shared laughter over both the game's quirks and its more serious moments.
- “In conclusion, Tom Clancy's The Division is a roller coaster ride through a post-apocalyptic hellscape that'll have you laughing, crying, and questioning your life choices all at once.”
- “The dialogue is still funny.”
- “Funny thing is, however, it got so boring that I couldn't even laugh.”
- “They're supposed to be funny, I guess, but every time I finished a side quest to grind my level up for the next mission, I would wonder if the looters are looking for an extra member.”
- “I'm just about giving up, it's simply not funny anymore, because of how hard it is to survive.”
- “Not good, not funny, and you should buy another DLC to continue.”
music
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The music in "The Division" is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting the haunting electronic soundtrack that enhances the game's wintery, post-apocalyptic setting. While some players find the music memorable and immersive, others note that it can be sparse or forgettable at times. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong complement to the game's visuals and gameplay, contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “Coupled with a soundtrack that complements the tense atmosphere, featuring haunting melodies and ambient sounds, the audio-visual presentation of The Division is nothing short of breathtaking.”
- “A gorgeous experience from the snow falling down onto decrepit streets to the beautifully somber electronic soundtrack composed by Ola Strandh.”
- “The powerful soundtrack composed by Ola Strandh is utilized well to highlight moments of intensity throughout the game, otherwise, you are left to the ambient sounds and distant gunfire of a ravaged city.”
- “The soundtrack is forgettable.”
- “Music is forgettable and sound design is average.”
- “Unfortunately, music in the game, both real and ambient, is so sparsely used that it's almost like they aren't there.”
replayability
202 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
60%
9%
The game offers a mixed bag of replayability, with many players praising its extensive content, including replayable missions, various difficulty levels, and engaging multiplayer modes that enhance the experience. However, some users express frustration with repetitive gameplay and a lack of meaningful endgame content, leading to diminished replay value for certain players. Overall, while many find the game highly replayable, especially with friends and through DLCs, others feel it falls short in sustaining long-term interest.
- “What truly sets The Division apart is its replayability.”
- “The sheer variety of options you have for specializing your equipment and skills means there's quite a bit of replayability built into the game, meaning the endgame is less about grinding to be able to get to the next content and more about completing content so you can min-max the next crazy/weird/op build that you've come up with.”
- “The game has replayability now and is worth picking up if the price is under $50.”
- “It's a very good game, however I've only put 40 hours into it because it has *zero* replayability once you beat the main campaign.”
- “The game pretty much lasts as long as you want, with each plot mission being replayable in a variety of difficulties, and numerous add-on missions of severe difficulty requiring teaming up.”
- “This game is exceptionally mediocre and there is no replay value.”
monetization
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
53%
44%
The monetization strategy in this game has drawn mixed reactions, with many players criticizing it as exploitative and a blatant cash grab, particularly due to the presence of microtransactions and pay-to-win elements. While some reviews note that cosmetic purchases do not impact gameplay and can be earned through regular play, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment, especially in light of high base prices and additional DLC costs. Players express frustration over misleading advertising and the feeling that the developers prioritize profit over player experience.
- “This game is not egregious with microtransactions; you aren't locked out of the game or out of cosmetics for not spending money.”
- “Free DLC, minimal microtransactions, and lots of secrets?”
- “Great game... love the fact that Ubisoft adopted the free content (besides the paid DLCs) platform and no pay-to-win microtransactions to keep players interested in the game.”
- “Finally, the game's microtransactions and pay-to-win elements were an obvious cash grab, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of players who were expecting a fair and balanced gaming experience.”
- “The developers are more interested in getting you to spend money on in-game purchases than in fixing the poor gameplay.”
- “This entire game is a very obvious cash grab by Ubisoft; the fact that it took them over 4 years to make this game is a testament only to laziness and ineptitude.”
emotional
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
18%
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing, with some players finding it deeply affecting due to its dark themes and personal stories, while others criticize the lack of emotional investment in the characters and narrative. Many highlight moments of heartbreak and immersion through environmental storytelling, yet others feel the overall experience is marred by a boring plot and repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from sadness to frustration, depending on individual player experiences.
- “The story is slow-paced, dark, and emotional, with those tiny bits of voice messages rubbing salt into the wounds.”
- “Had the most heartbreaking game of survival in which right before extraction the random player I was with went down; we had no medkits. As I went to search the group we fought off, he died just as I found a medkit.”
- “The city of Manhattan is littered with personal stories, each with their own defining quality of perseverance, a heart-wrenching story, some humor, dark tales, and others in quaint observation of the city at large.”
- “Extremely boring story and characters.”
- “Boring storyline, boring challenge modes, same old missions for 'daily activities'.”
- “Game has a boring storyline with little quest variety.”
character development
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
53%
22%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as weak and lacking depth, with many reviewers noting a lack of meaningful progression for both the main character and NPCs. While some appreciate the character design and voice acting, they criticize the repetitive missions and minimal narrative engagement, leading to a feeling of stagnation in character growth. A few players mention that there are glimpses of good character development, particularly in the context of rebuilding society, but overall, the consensus leans towards disappointment in this aspect.
- “Character development is addictive and good to see.”
- “It makes up a lot of points for the decent voice acting, likable characters, and actual character development.”
- “I'm pretty early on in the game at this time ~8 hours, but there is some nice character development for not only the main character, but for those around him as well, as well as a lot of lore in terms of recordings both audio and visual.”
- “Faye Lau gets crippled for the entire game, which, mind you, is the only character development that occurs in this game entirely.”
- “There is little to no character development in this game.”
- “The story feels flat and often lacks character development.”