Vietnam ‘65

About

Vietnam ‘65 is a single player turn-based strategy game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Every Single Soldier and was released on March 5, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

It is 1965 and the US ground war in Vietnam is in full swing. As a US Army commander, wage a counter-insurgency (COIN) war to secure the Ia Drang valley, on the border with Cambodia. Vietnam '65 is a tun-based operational game that captures the true essence of the Vietnam War, where airmobile operations are paramount, fire support bases play a critical role and air strikes can save the day.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 322 reviews

gameplay19 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Engaging gameplay that captures the complexities of counter-insurgency warfare in Vietnam.
Randomly generated maps enhance replayability and keep each game feeling fresh.
Simple mechanics make it accessible for newcomers while still offering strategic depth for experienced players.

The user interface can be clunky, leading to accidental misclicks that can significantly impact gameplay.
Limited variety in units and scenarios may lead to repetitive gameplay over time.
The logistics system can become tedious, requiring constant resupply of units which detracts from the overall enjoyment.

gameplay
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
60%
5%
The gameplay of Vietnam '65 is characterized by its simple yet deep mechanics that reflect the complexities of counter-insurgency operations, offering a challenging experience that requires strategic thinking and management. While the game is easy to learn, it can become repetitive due to its limited objectives and similar gameplay across different maps. Players appreciate the engaging mechanics and replayability, but many note issues with the interface and some tedious aspects of unit management.
- “Takes some time to understand the rules and mechanics, but offers an enjoyable return if you're willing to invest a bit of time into it.”
- “It has simple yet deep gameplay.”
- “The game offers a lot of replayability as the map changes each game and there are plenty of challenges to vary your gameplay.”
- “Feels like a low-budget early 2000's game you'd take to CEX after 30 minutes of gameplay.”
- “However, the experience of gameplay is tedious; Vietnam '65 has more DNA in common with a German board game than typical strategy or war games.”
- “On a positive note, there are achievements which give the game some extra playability, but still I found the overall gameplay rather tedious and linear. For this reason, I couldn't recommend the game.”
replayability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
63%
9%
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the randomized maps and custom settings that enhance replay value, others find the core gameplay mechanics repetitive after a few plays. Some reviews highlight that the game remains engaging due to its strategic depth and varying tactics, while others express disappointment in its limited replayability once certain strategies are mastered. Ultimately, the experience seems to depend on individual player engagement and willingness to explore different approaches.
- “Incredible design, boardgamey but simple and replayable.”
- “The depiction of the Ia Drang Valley randomly changes with each playthrough, so it retains some good replayability.”
- “This game may look simple, but there are a number of different tactics to try, and every game you play will have a different map making the replay value huge!”
- “Suffers a little on replayability, as even though the maps are never the same, once I was successful in beating the VC/NVA I really didn’t care to play again.”
- “My major complaint is a lack of replayability.”
- “Currently, I see little replay value.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users noting that while they are not particularly impressive or modern, they serve the gameplay well and contribute to the overall atmosphere. Some players describe the visuals as cheap or reminiscent of mobile games, while others appreciate their simplicity and effectiveness in capturing the game's setting. Overall, the consensus leans towards average graphics that prioritize gameplay over visual fidelity.
- “Period-appropriate graphics and sound add to the ambience.”
- “The atmosphere is really above par, with decent graphics and good (if sometimes corny) voice acting and sound effects ramping up the sense of paranoia and urgency that a good Vietnam game should have.”
- “While not setting the world alight, the graphics here are very likable too in their own way.”
- “The only downside is the graphics; they are quite ugly.”
- “There's absolutely nothing special about the graphics of this game, which is the reason Vietnam '65 normally doesn't retail for over ten US dollars.”
- “Cheap looking graphics and ugly UI (looks a lot like a mobile game).”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
72%
14%
The game's story aspect is criticized for its lack of a cohesive narrative or campaign, leaving players feeling disconnected from their missions. While the mechanics emphasize winning "hearts and minds" in a Vietnam War setting, many reviewers express a desire for a structured storyline to provide context and depth to the gameplay. Overall, the absence of a compelling narrative detracts from the experience, leading to repetitive missions without meaningful progression.
- “I felt it also captured the feel of the Vietnam War in how you have to win hearts and minds, not just destroy the enemy from the map.”
- “From there, you fight against Viet Cong (VC) and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) units of various types, send US and South Vietnamese (ARVN) infantry into villages to get intelligence on the enemy and/or raise support from the locals (called 'hearts & minds'), purchase more units (or perform some actions) with the game's version of currency (called 'congressional support'), make sure units are supplied, and hope that you have at least a 50% score in hearts & minds when the mission ends.”
- “Every mission is different as the map changes each time, giving you a new challenge and offering new obstacles to overcome or a different way to utilize a unit.”
- “There is no clear mission to do in this game.”
- “However, it would be nice if there was a campaign/storyline as well.”
- “Game had no real meaning to it, same thing every mission.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The game's music is minimal, featuring only brief tunes during victory and defeat screens, with no background music during gameplay. Players noted the absence of period-specific music, which detracts from immersion, leading many to suggest playing 1960s tracks from external sources to enhance the experience. Overall, while the lack of music may go unnoticed initially, it ultimately leaves a void that players feel compelled to fill with their own selections.
- “There is no music, but put on a 60s soundtrack from YouTube and it gets you in the mood pretty quick.”
- “Don't forget to play it with some music from the 60s like 'Fortunate Son' by Creedence Clearwater Revival.”
- “Not that Vietnam '65 needs music to be enjoyed; the music is next to non-existent.”
- “There's almost zero music.”
- “No music plays during the gameplay other than sounds of nature occasionally accompanied by a howitzer turning a red into chum.”
- “The sounds are generic and there is no period music in the game.”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively tedious and poorly designed, leading to a frustrating experience rather than enjoyable gameplay. Players find the micromanagement of unit supplies and the cumbersome interface to be particularly annoying, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While the game has a solid concept, the reliance on grinding and repetitive tasks ultimately makes it feel monotonous and less engaging.
- “Too many design decisions that just make it more tedious than fun.”
- “Not sure what person designed this game, but it is so unrealistic and just extremely tedious and boring.”
- “The experience of gameplay is tedious; Vietnam '65 has more in common with a German board game than typical strategy or war games.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, being lightweight at only 200MB while delivering smooth performance.
- “+ light-weight and well-optimized (only 200 MB game, runs very smoothly)”
- “The game is impressively optimized, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end devices.”
- “I appreciate how the developers focused on optimization; it makes the experience much more enjoyable.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often highlighting its significance in strengthening friendships and creating heartfelt experiences.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers highlight the game's stability as a strong point, noting the absence of glitches and unnecessary features, allowing players to focus on strategic elements like movement, firepower, reconnaissance, and supply management.
- “No needless bells and whistles, no glitches; just your brain managing movement, firepower, recon, and supply.”
- “No needless bells and whistles, no glitches, just your brain managing movement, firepower, recon, and supply.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is highly praised, featuring impressive graphics and effective voice acting and sound effects that enhance the feelings of paranoia and urgency typical of a Vietnam-themed game.
- “The atmosphere is really above par, with decent graphics and good (if sometimes corny) voice acting and sound effects ramping up the sense of paranoia and urgency that a good Vietnam game should have, in my opinion.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers find humor in the irony of others complaining about game mechanics, particularly the supply system and the elusive nature of the NVA/VC, suggesting a lighthearted take on the frustrations expressed by the community.
- “I find it pretty funny that many other reviewers are complaining about the importance of supply in the game and the elusiveness of the NVA/VC.”