Wargame: European Escalation

About

"Wargame: European Escalation" is a real-time strategy game set in the 1980s during the Cold War, which has the potential to become a World War III. The game features two sides, eight nations, and over 350 different models of vehicles and units to build your army. With the IRISZOOM™ feature, players can command hundreds of units in strategic and spectacular battles on large maps, and compete online with up to 8 players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,669 reviews

story38 positive mentions

grinding17 negative mentions

Great graphics and a large variety of units make for an immersive experience.
The game requires strategic thinking and careful planning, rewarding players for using tactics effectively.
Challenging single-player campaign that offers a sense of accomplishment when missions are completed.

The AI can be frustratingly overpowered, often leading to overwhelming odds against the player.
Steep learning curve with minimal tutorial support, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics.
Units can behave unpredictably, leading to frustrating moments where they do not follow commands as expected.

story
258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
80%
5%
The story in "Wargame: European Escalation" is set in an alternate history of Cold War tensions, where players engage in strategic military campaigns that unfold progressively through missions. While the narrative is generally coherent and supported by mission briefings, it lacks depth and can feel repetitive, with many missions focusing on defense against overwhelming enemy forces. Players appreciate the challenge and the importance of unit preservation, as lost units affect future missions, adding a layer of strategy to the gameplay.
- “The thing I like about this game is that it has an actual campaign, a story, not just capture the flag missions.”
- “Edit: I am playing this for more than 30 hours now and I really need to add that the story of the campaigns is absolutely beautiful!”
- “European Escalation, on the other hand, has a fully-scripted campaign where a real, human designer has taken the time to think carefully about the narrative that links the missions together, the design of the maps to support the specific missions that take place there, and the placement of each individual enemy unit.”
- “The general consensus even on this game's forums is to miss this game unless you want the 'story', which is the most forgettable thing about this entire game, and buy Airland Battles or Red Dragon.”
- “The campaign missions can easily take you an hour and more to complete.”
- “The game story line was not what I consider reasonable based on what I read through the years.”
gameplay
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The gameplay of this wargame expansion is generally praised for its realism, depth, and strategic elements, offering a satisfying experience for fans of the genre. However, players note a steep learning curve, with some mechanics being frustrating or poorly explained, leading to a mix of enjoyment and difficulty. While the graphics enhance the experience, the gameplay can feel slow and punishing at times, making it less accessible for newcomers.
- “I started playing it to learn some basics of modern warfare and I'm satisfied. Thanks to quite realistic mechanics, I now understand the types of forces that fight in war, their strengths and weaknesses, the importance of logistics, positioning, and the atrocious power of artillery!”
- “The gameplay is probably the most realistic I have seen in a modern warfare-themed strategy/tactics game, but set up in a way that is still fairly user-friendly and hassle-free.”
- “The gameplay is intense and fun.”
- “No natural introduction to mechanics, no compelling presentation or gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is very strange and the single-player mode is unfair, because the bots have a huge army since the beginning of the match.”
- “The real game ruining issue is the unit unlock mechanic... it just ends up sucking way more often than being enjoyable and compelling.”
graphics
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising them as impressive and well-detailed, particularly when zoomed in on units, while others criticize them as dated and occasionally plagued by glitches. Many users note that the visuals can enhance gameplay, but issues like brightness and flat terrain can detract from the experience. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent for an older title, they may not meet the expectations of players seeking modern standards.
- “The graphics are fantastic, making each unit distinct and identifiable.”
- “With great graphics, it almost seems like a remake of the old close combat series, in 3D.”
- “The graphics are jaw-dropping at points and extremely well done all across the board.”
- “Bro, I don't know what all of the positive reviews are for; the game looks like you're colorblind. I can't see the battlefield, and the graphics don't match the ones in the images.”
- “Production values in terms of sound and visuals are sub-par.”
- “The graphics are sub-par, the UI sucks, and you will go blind trying to see your units unless you are constantly zooming in and out.”
optimization
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its impressive performance and visual fidelity, allowing it to run smoothly on most systems. However, there are significant issues with balance and unit performance, particularly for older vehicles and on Linux and Mac platforms, where optimization is lacking. Frequent patches have improved performance, but some players still experience stuttering and gameplay inconsistencies.
- “The game is extremely well optimized.”
- “With all that said, the performance of this game is amazing.”
- “Very good graphics, incredibly well optimized and fun as hell.”
- “The game is so badly optimized for Linux it is a joke.”
- “Horrible performance in later missions.”
- “Performance was boosted in the latest patches, making single-player campaign missions unbalanced and nearly all old guides obsolete.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the campaign. While some appreciate the challenge of unlocking new units and strategizing for battles, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of grinding, leading to a sense of boredom and exhaustion during missions. Overall, the grinding can feel excessive, making the game less engaging, especially in single-player mode.
- “Oh no, I can't get to anything else until I've somehow clawed my way to grinding victory.”
- “Honestly, it's not a bad game but it feels like the campaigns are a bit tedious instead of fun. Sometimes in missions, I'll want to use infantry instead of hordes of armor, but I can't because in order to actually combat the enemy AI on any level, it seems I need hundreds of armor units and artillery.”
- “The non-timed missions take so long and are just exhausting, so I frequently just save and play something else because it becomes so tedious.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
12%
71%
The stability of the game is highly inconsistent, with many users reporting severe graphical glitches that render it unplayable, particularly on Linux systems. While some players experience smooth performance with minimal issues, others face frequent bugs and design flaws that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's stability is a significant concern, with a mixed reception depending on hardware and operating systems.
- “It only costs a 5-10% CPU tax if you've done it right and runs great.”
- “The game runs smoothly on my rig with very little to no glitches (and I'm using AMD Catalyst drivers).”
- “It runs great since it's old but still manages to have very decent graphics.”
- “There are long-standing glitches in graphics, which makes the game almost unplayable.”
- “Unfinished, buggy, and poor design decisions.”
- “I can't recommend this game because of heavy glitches on Nvidia GeForce 930M with the latest drivers on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS that makes playing simply impossible.”
replayability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Overall, the game offers a mix of replayability, with some players praising its challenging nature and dynamic campaigns that encourage multiple playthroughs, especially in multiplayer modes. However, criticisms arise regarding balance issues, limited single-player options, and a lack of variety in unit support, which may hinder long-term replay value for some users. Despite these flaws, many still find it a worthwhile experience for its length and strategic depth.
- “The game is also very challenging and has a lot of replay value.”
- “Ultimately, Fatal Error was a fine add-on to extend the replayability of Wargame.”
- “Win or defeat is not permanent; missions are replayable to improve your score.”
- “Not too much replayability either, however the campaign is very long if you want to play it to the full extent and the multiplayer system is quite balanced since you can control who you face.”
- “Really fun but has little to no replay value.”
- “Win or defeat is not permanent, missions are replayable to improve your score.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The music in the game is generally described as calm and lackluster, lacking the dramatic orchestral elements often associated with war themes. While some players appreciate that it fits the scene, many find it underwhelming and prefer to turn it off, missing more impactful military music from previous titles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered weak but not offensive.
- “The music fits the scene nicely, and the single player campaign storyline is nicely plausible.”
- “Sound and music and just the layout of this game is impressive.”
- “There's no dramatic orchestral music that keeps reminding you that war is bad; in fact, the only music the game has is just calm melodies.”
- “The gameplay is very slow, the music quite lackluster, and at best you have to fumble through the controls to make units do what you want.”
- “The graphics are moderate, the sounds far away from being realistic, music is okay but I turned it off very soon.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is derived from its intentionally flawed mechanics, such as the absurdity of weapon accuracy and the chaotic nature of aerial combat, which often leads to amusing misunderstandings among players. Additionally, the game's moral system and visual glitches, like broken particle effects, contribute to a comedic experience, despite some players expressing disappointment with their overall investment in the game.
- “Atgms are hilariously bad, as well as pretty much every weapon in this game being spray and pray.”
- “Players, even teammates, may see a completely different battle, which can lead to funny or insulting chat.”
- “And the moral system is the third funny thing.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Reviews indicate that the emotional impact of the game is significantly lacking, with players feeling no attachment to the characters or story. Comparisons to higher-quality titles highlight a stark contrast in emotional engagement, suggesting that the game fails to evoke any meaningful feelings. Overall, the experience is described as uninspiring and devoid of emotional depth.
- “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, drawing players into its narrative and making them truly care about the characters.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact, making me reflect on my own experiences long after playing.”
- “Every decision felt weighty and significant, creating a profound emotional connection to the game's outcome.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating both its immersive quality and the graphics that enhance the overall experience.
- “Overall, I do enjoy the atmosphere and the graphics of this game.”