Wargame: Red Dragon
- April 17, 2014
- Eugen Systems
- 155h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games StoreWargame Red Dragon is thrilling in single-player mode with its new dynamic campaign system, and also offers an extensive multiplayer mode where up to 20 players can compete against each other simultaneously.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- gameplay642 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Wargame: Red Dragon" is characterized by its deep strategic elements and complex mechanics, requiring a significant time investment to master. While many players appreciate the immersive and tactical nature of the game, they also note a steep learning curve exacerbated by a lack of effective tutorials, leading to frustration for newcomers. Despite these challenges, the game offers a rewarding experience for those willing to engage with its intricate systems, making it a standout title in the real-time strategy genre.
“Wargame: Red Dragon offers an incredibly immersive real-time strategy experience, with dynamic battles and intricate tactics that keep you fully engaged.”
“The game excels in its depth, requiring players to consider logistics, supply lines, and reconnaissance, adding layers of complexity to the gameplay.”
“Red Dragon offers a deeply satisfying and strategic gameplay experience that will keep you engaged and continuously coming back for more.”
“The game does absolutely no handholding and does very little to explain many of the unique mechanics outside of a few paragraphs from a poorly written tutorial trying desperately to summarize what is an extremely complicated game.”
“The tutorial is garbage; they might as well take it out, it's just a bunch of text, not gameplay or scenarios to showcase each class's strengths and weaknesses.”
“The lack of an effective tutorial, slews of hidden gameplay systems and mechanics that are not referred to anywhere in the game itself, and a tiny but very experienced playerbase means that as a new player you will have no clue what you're doing and will almost always be matched against people who very much do.”
- graphics357 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many users praising the high-quality visuals, detailed unit models, and immersive environments that enhance the gameplay experience. While some reviews note that the graphics may feel dated compared to newer titles, they still hold up well for a game of its age, providing a visually appealing experience even on lower-end systems. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its strategic depth and realism.
“The game features high-quality graphics that bring the battlefield to life, from detailed unit models to lush landscapes, enhancing the overall visual experience.”
“The graphics are stunning, and the gameplay is fun and engaging after you figure out how it all works.”
“The graphics are incredible, with a level of detail that allows you to zoom in from a satellite view down to an individual soldier.”
“A great wargame, but the age is starting to show when it comes to graphics.”
“The graphics are just so-so.”
“The entire campaign system is broken, the graphics just look like crap now, and bugs that were in release have not been squashed yet.”
- story124 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many players noting that the single-player campaigns lack depth and engaging narratives. While some appreciate the tactical challenges presented in missions, they often feel frustrated by the AI's difficulty and the absence of a coherent storyline, leading to a perception that the game is more focused on gameplay mechanics than storytelling. Overall, players express a desire for more substantial narrative content and better tutorial support to enhance the single-player experience.
“The game just feels exactly like reading 'Red Storm Rising,' except you are the commander of war and the storyteller of the novel.”
“I haven't been into RTS games in a very long time, and the fact that they base this game on real life (other than the story that makes the Cold War break into a hot war) is what makes this the closest to a 10/10 game and maybe my favorite I've played in the past decade.”
“These campaigns are decent in story and certainly immersive, and provide a really interesting challenge for the player.”
“The campaign mode has no decent story and focuses on 4x turn-based features rather than RTS.”
“The campaigns are quite short and lack a decent story; in fact, they are some of the most arid campaigns I've ever played in an RTS.”
“The single-player campaigns are better done than what was in AirLand Battle by having a proper story structure and events, but it suffers from repetition as you fight on the same battle maps constantly.”
- replayability76 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability, attributed to its depth, complexity, and the ability to create custom decks, allowing for diverse strategies and playstyles. Players report that once they overcome the steep learning curve, the game offers endless enjoyment through its engaging multiplayer and varied campaigns, with many dedicating hundreds or even thousands of hours to gameplay. However, some note that single-player content could benefit from more variety to enhance replay value further.
“This isn't just a testament to the game's replayability, but also to its depth and complexity.”
“The amount of freedom the game offers you is staggering, and there are so many variations you can set up your army; its replayability is extremely high.”
“This game has an enormous amount of replayability (many players end up playing for hundreds or thousands of hours) thanks to the deck builder and the amount of opportunity for innovation.”
“Despite the learning curve, this game strikes the right balance between predictability and replayability.”
“While the game itself has its own issues such as brain-dead unit pathfinding in towns, limited single-player content beyond a basic skirmish (with a basic AI) or five campaigns (decent replay value, but the aforementioned AI doesn't lead to very interesting battles) and the near total lack of modding support, the real issue could perhaps be considered to be the community.”
“It's a shame, really, as a large number of maps could add so much to replayability.”
- humor54 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players frequently highlighting the hilarious in-game chat and community interactions, which range from funny to toxic. Many reviews mention amusing moments during gameplay, such as absurd AI behavior and comical voice lines, contributing to an overall lighthearted experience despite the game's competitive nature. However, the humor can be polarizing, as some find the community's toxicity and offensive content off-putting, while others embrace it for its comedic value.
“The chat in this game is really funny and the mechanics are great!”
“This game... while complicated it is hilarious, has funny voice acting, and takes basically everything into account.”
“The global chat in the game is toxic, but really funny.”
“The game is still virtually restricted to the most unfunny parts.”
“Modify the AI behavior in sea battles; it's just unfunny to play against something so aggressive.”
“Funny bugs.”
- optimization35 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to run smoothly on a variety of hardware, including older systems, and highlighting good graphics and fast load times. However, several users report significant issues such as stuttering, frame rate drops, and crashes, indicating that while the game is well-optimized in theory, practical performance can vary widely. Overall, it appears that the game's optimization is commendable for many players, but persistent bugs and performance inconsistencies detract from the experience for others.
“Very well balanced and optimized.”
“The game is well optimized from what I can tell, and runs very smoothly with my age-old box of a PC.”
“The game is extremely well optimized; I was able to run it at a steady 40-60 fps on a laptop that could only use Intel integrated graphics (albeit on medium settings).”
“Oh forgot to add, very buggy and poorly optimized, frame rate drops every game, game crashes about 1 out of 4 games.”
“Stuttering is commonplace, CTD (crash to desktop) is commonplace.”
“Impossible video options to make the game run smoothly and look relatively good at the same time (worst optimization ever).”
- stability25 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and performance issues such as frequent crashes and frame rate drops. Many players have experienced game freezes, particularly during skirmish modes, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some users report a smooth experience, the consensus leans towards the game needing significant optimization and bug fixes to enhance stability.
“Runs great on Linux!”
“It's more or less bug-free and it provides free DLC.”
“Really great game overall, great graphics, no glitches, lag, or any other problems.”
“Oh forgot to add, very buggy and poorly optimized, frame rate drops every game, game crashes about 1 out of 4 games.”
“Game freezes for upwards of two minutes randomly when playing 4v4 skirmish games.”
“This game right now is imbalanced, broken, buggy and kind of a shit show.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, particularly in the single-player campaign where players often feel overwhelmed by micromanagement and unbalanced AI. Many reviewers express a desire for a more engaging progression system to alleviate the grind, while others suggest that the addition of mods can improve the experience. Overall, the gameplay is described as requiring significant time investment, which may deter those not fond of extensive grinding.
“I have found, however, that installing the 'sandbox' mod provides a better gameplay experience on the skirmish side, so you aren't farming for points the entire match only to get a handful of units out to defend.”
“One long, tedious grind.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The single-player campaign is pretty tedious.”
“The campaign, in my opinion, is not really enjoyable; you will find yourself grinding out enemy waves of units which are mostly straight-up counters to your regiments.”
- music22 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the soundtrack as epic and atmospheric, while others find it repetitive and mediocre. Although there are standout tracks that enhance gameplay, many users note a lack of variety, with some expressing a desire for more diverse music options. Overall, the sound design is considered satisfactory, contributing to the game's immersive experience despite its imperfections.
“Nice soundtrack”
“Sound/music: 9/10”
“Excellent music and sound.”
“No music.”
“Only one music for the whole game.”
“Music is mediocre (some tracks I have heard in other game franchises), and the gunfire seems a little muted but it does provide an acceptable atmosphere.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotional experiences with the game, highlighting a sense of community and wholesome interactions, yet also feeling frustration and disappointment due to its shortcomings and lack of updates. Many find themselves emotionally invested in their gameplay, forming attachments to their units, which can lead to psychological strain during challenging moments. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable content, players caution against deep emotional investment due to its unresolved issues.
“The amount of stuff missing from this game is heartbreaking, because honestly, this should have kept getting updates as opposed to Warno, the absolutely terrible sequel that's also unfinished.”
“This game is psychologically draining because I keep on gaining emotional attachment to my own men.”
“I sent 10 strong Mi-24s to their death as I tried to rain fire down on some tanks and infantry in the woods, my team yelled at me, I ran out of command points to call units in, I cried, and we lost.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 70 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of microtransactions and the provision of free updates, while others criticize the introduction of DLCs as a cash grab, especially given the game's initial free release on Epic. Concerns have also been raised about misleading advertising regarding features like multiplayer campaigns, leading to dissatisfaction within the community. Overall, while the lack of microtransactions is seen as a positive, the reliance on DLCs and perceived deceptive marketing practices have left some players feeling exploited.
“All content is unlocked and ready to go (if you have the nation unlocked, some nations come as DLC). No microtransactions to unlock cards or custom stuff is a refreshing sight.”
“No DLC or microtransactions nonsense, just free updates with new maps.”
“No microtransactions = that's a pro, right?”
“Although South Africa is what the community has wanted for years, I can't help but feel that it's a cash grab since they started development after releasing it on Epic for free.”
“The ads for this game are completely false.”
“Particularly as, at the point of both pre-purchase and full publication, the Eugen website was advertising this game as having a multiplayer campaign - either an honest mistake or a strong indication that something went very wrong in development.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is described as immersive and engaging, particularly during tactical operations, though some players find it lacking compared to other titles. While the sound design, including music and gunfire, is considered mediocre, there are ongoing efforts to improve the overall experience, particularly in addressing the overwhelming "blob" effect in naval gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is a mixed bag, with some elements enhancing immersion while others detract from it.
“Whether you're orchestrating combined ground and air assaults or coordinating naval operations, Red Dragon's immersive atmosphere ensures that each move you make carries weight and consequence.”
“The game felt much more engaging and would submerge you in the action-packed atmosphere far better than Red Dragon does.”
“If you are looking for a game with tons of unbalanced units and a crappy atmosphere in global chat, you are welcome.”
“Music is mediocre (some tracks I have heard in other game franchises), and the gunfire seems a little muted, but it does provide an acceptable atmosphere.”
“Eugen is trying to fix the 'blob' atmosphere of the naval in a game where blob atmosphere reigns supreme.”
