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Unity of Command

Doesnt overdo unit counts and under-engineer AI, unlike most East Front wargames. Wargame of the Year material.
79%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, stability
78% User Score Based on 1,368 reviews
Critic Score 86%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSPCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinux

About

Unity of Command is a turn-based strategy wargame set on the Eastern Front during the Stalingrad Campaign in World War II. Players can command either Axis or Soviet forces in operational-level battles, focusing on maneuver, logistics, and weather conditions. The game aims to recreate the strategic challenges and tension of this critical period in the war.

Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot
Unity of Command screenshot

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,369 reviews
gameplay78 positive mentions
grinding20 negative mentions

  • Unity of Command offers a unique blend of strategic depth and accessibility, making it easy to learn but challenging to master.
  • The game's focus on supply lines adds a layer of realism and tactical depth, rewarding players for careful planning and execution.
  • The AI is challenging and punishes mistakes, providing a satisfying experience when players successfully navigate the scenarios.
  • The strict turn limits can be frustrating, often requiring players to restart scenarios multiple times to achieve the desired victory conditions.
  • The game lacks a true campaign mode, as losing a scenario forces players to restart the entire campaign, which can be tedious.
  • Many players feel the game is more of a puzzle than a true strategy game, with limited options for creative tactics and reliance on luck.
  • gameplay
    268 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of this wargame is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, particularly the innovative supply system that adds depth to the strategic experience. While many players appreciate the accessibility and visual appeal, some criticize the reliance on luck and the lack of flexibility in mission design, which can lead to frustration. Overall, the game offers a blend of straightforward mechanics and strategic challenges, making it suitable for both newcomers and seasoned players, though it may not satisfy those seeking complex tactical depth.

    • “The gameplay mechanics are simple but elegant, and the AI is solid but with a few quirks.”
    • “Unity of Command is a fantastic turn-based wargame that features a simple interface with a deep gameplay system underneath.”
    • “The supply system is probably the defining game mechanic: you advance and take territory but if the enemy manages to surround you or cut off road/rail links those advancing units will eventually be stopped in their tracks.”
    • “The problem with this game is the gameplay that is absolutely atrocious and unrealistic.”
    • “It's an interesting take on an increasingly stale formula, but it too often plays more like a puzzle game than a war game and has serious issues with poor documentation, obtuse and overly abstracted gameplay elements, and to top it off no way to save and reload your progress in a scenario or even restart the scenario without exiting back to the campaign map.”
    • “Unfortunately, due to the luck mechanics, the only real way of capturing every single objective is pure luck.”
  • story
    182 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is presented through a series of independent missions that lack continuity, often feeling more like isolated puzzles than a cohesive campaign. Players face strict turn limits and must achieve specific victory conditions to progress, which can lead to repetitive gameplay and frustration, as many missions require multiple attempts to master. While the historical context and mission variety are appreciated, the overall structure limits strategic flexibility and immersion, making the experience feel more like a chore than an engaging narrative.

    • “The mechanics are interesting and innovative, the missions are all very well made, and victory is extremely satisfying.”
    • “There are tens and tens of missions of varying difficulty, and you will certainly be challenged.”
    • “Replaying missions allows you to try pushing through at different points which may lead to breaking through and encircling enemy forces and cutting them off from supplies, or could lead to you trying to charge forward with armor and mobile infantry to reach further into enemy territory.”
    • “Trash game with a turn limit, no continuity between missions, and no real campaign, just 'scenarios'. Wasted a dollar on Fanatical for this crap.”
    • “But the campaign is kind of annoying; to fully complete it, you must beat missions quickly. Otherwise, some missions won't show up, which limits your strategic options and makes the game more of a puzzle rather than a strategy game sometimes.”
    • “If you deviate at all from what the game wants you to do, it seems to punish you with a failed mission, usually just for running out of turns.”
  • graphics
    110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the minimalist and clean design that enhances gameplay, while others criticize the simplistic visuals and outdated aesthetic reminiscent of the 1990s. Many find the art style appealing and fitting for the game's concept, contributing to an engaging user interface, though some note that the graphics can hinder gameplay clarity. Overall, the visuals are described as decent and functional, with a few standout elements that elevate the overall experience.

    • “The graphics look wonderful.”
    • “Beautiful art and graphics, quick and fun gameplay that is deceptively complex.”
    • “The general presentation of the game is astounding – all the menus, unit icons, map graphics are lovely and up to a very high standard.”
    • “Hideous visuals combined with some of the most underwhelming sound effects possible.”
    • “The graphics, sound, and gameplay are circa 1990's and not in a good way.”
    • “I can't say much about the gameplay, because the tiny graphics (which can't be adjusted in scale or zoomed) make the game unplayable.”
  • music
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to create atmosphere and enhance the gameplay experience, while others find it repetitive and limited in variety. Many appreciate the emotional depth it adds, particularly in relation to the game's themes, though some note that the sound design overall could be improved. Despite its shortcomings, the soundtrack is often described as beautiful and fitting for the game's context.

    • “Awesome music, engaging graphics, and a smooth interface that allows a typical gamer to get up to speed quickly.”
    • “Love the sound design and even though the music is just three tracks 'short', I find them to create the atmosphere this game needs.”
    • “The rules-set complements the narrative so well, the music gives it a depressing crushing aura, the visual aesthetic while simple complements the fatalistic aura and the supply mechanic... it's truly excellent.”
    • “It's really dull with its presentation visually (including UI), in its sound design, and with the music.”
    • “Music can get repetitive and the graphics are not the selling point of the game.”
    • “Also, there is little variety in terms of music, but the music that is there is really nice.”
  • replayability
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it offers substantial value through varied strategies and challenges, others feel it lacks depth and becomes repetitive after initial completion. The presence of different campaign challenges and online features enhances replayability for some, but many reviewers note that once the core puzzles are solved, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly. Overall, the game's appeal for replayability largely depends on individual player preferences for strategy and challenge.

    • “Its systems are simple to understand yet challenging to master, so I have found plenty of replay value.”
    • “There are different levels of challenges for each campaign which add a lot of replayability.”
    • “The game takes about 20 hours to fully master but provides replay value as you can try to win every battle with a brilliant victory or just try a slightly different approach.”
    • “This game has zero replayability.”
    • “Without one, each mission is a quick one-off puzzle without much replayability.”
    • “It's much more a puzzle rather than a military game, with scenarios that simply need to be 'solved' - once you've done that (and it's fairly easy) there's little or no replayability.”
  • grinding
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unengaging, often feeling that it halts progress due to supply limitations and a lack of meaningful strategy. The gameplay is described as more of a tactical puzzle focused on quick victories rather than traditional grinding mechanics, leading to a sense of boredom and frustration. While the game offers complexity and multiple ways to win, those who dislike puzzle-solving may find the experience particularly tedious.

    • “This game became too tedious to enjoy way too fast.”
    • “It's not a strategy game, more like a tedious tactical puzzle of how to hastily rush your troops to capture victory points in the minimum amount of turns.”
    • “This game basically boils down to the hugely unrealistic strategy of luring your enemy away from their supply lines and then slowly grinding them down (hugely unrealistic) and not very satisfying.”
  • optimization
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its excellent optimization, running smoothly even on low-end hardware, which contributes to its stability and overall enjoyment. However, some players feel that the performance ranking system could be improved by incorporating additional factors, such as troop loss, into the evaluation of gameplay.

    • “As a program, the game is very stable and runs smoothly on a potato.”
    • “I enjoy it very much and it seems to run smoothly.”
    • “If I had to criticize gameplay, I would say it's mainly this: your performance is solely ranked based on how timely you take objectives and nothing else.”
    • “Troop loss should have been included in your performance rating.”
    • “Every few months, I come back to it; I try to improve my performance in the campaign, or to improve on my performances on the tougher maps.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report significant stability issues with the game, citing persistent bugs and malfunctions even after extensive troubleshooting efforts. Many express frustration that these problems remain unresolved long after the game's release.

    • “Unfortunately, this option is very buggy.”
    • “Yes, I've gone through all the standard troubleshooting, looking for conflicting software, verifying the game files and cache, etc. It just does not work now.”
    • “So long after release and the client is still buggy as hell.”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is described as addictive, with some users appreciating its overall ambiance. However, there are criticisms regarding the music, which is considered generic and lacking in atmospheric quality.

    • “Addictive and atmospheric.”
    • “Good atmosphere.”
    • “Addictive and atmospheric.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization system is primarily based on microtransactions, but many users find it to be non-intrusive and harmless, suggesting that it does not negatively impact the overall gaming experience.

    • “I feel that it was supposed to be the microtransactions system, but honestly, it is actually harmless.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing name "Maykop," which several users find particularly funny. This suggests that the game's humor may rely on quirky or unexpected elements.

    • “I still think Maykop is a funny name.”

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