WARNO

About

Warno is a real-time strategy game set in the Cold War era, where players command customized battlegroups from either NATO or Warsaw Pact arsenals. The game features dynamic tactical battlefields and intense 10v10 battles, challenging both AI and human opponents. The year is 1989, and as tensions rise, players must prepare for a large-scale conflict in a divided Germany.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+24

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,954 reviews

gameplay259 positive mentions

stability34 negative mentions

WARNO offers a fun and engaging real-time strategy experience with a focus on combined arms warfare.
The graphics and sound design are impressive, creating an immersive atmosphere reminiscent of the late Cold War era.
The game features a variety of units and tactical options, allowing for diverse gameplay and strategies.

The game suffers from balance issues, particularly in multiplayer, where certain divisions and tactics dominate.
The AI can be inconsistent and often feels unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The monetization strategy, including expensive DLCs and limited content at launch, has disappointed many players.

gameplay
907 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The gameplay of "Warno" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its tactical depth and mechanics that blend elements from both the "Wargame" and "Steel Division" series. Players appreciate the improved graphics and the introduction of new features like line-of-sight tools and smart orders, which enhance strategic gameplay. However, some critics argue that the game feels unbalanced and lacks content, with a steep learning curve that may deter newcomers, while others express disappointment over certain gameplay mechanics that feel overly simplified or arcade-like compared to its predecessors. Overall, while the core gameplay is seen as solid and engaging, there are calls for further refinement and additional content to fully realize its potential.
- “The depth of the gameplay is where Warno truly shines.”
- “If you’re a fan of realistic military simulations, tactical depth, and challenging gameplay, then Warno is an absolute must-play.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are well-crafted, blending strategy and tactical depth that keeps you engaged for hours.”
- “The gameplay feels much smaller and everything feels 'tricky' (mechanics won't work the way you expect and you don't know why) and usually not in a good way.”
- “This game is a strange RTS game I don't quite like; the mechanics are very weird and just in a way bad. They aren't what I expected as most people showcase this game as some massive warfare game, which is not what I got. Instead, what I got was just cool gameplay but not very fun to play because of how limited you are. You can't build, you can't go in defense unless it's a prebuilt building, which kind of takes away the 'strategy' from the game.”
- “The gameplay is lacking; they keep breaking promises to their community.”
graphics
726 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
40%
3%
The graphics in "Warno" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning detail and immersive quality, significantly surpassing those of its predecessor, "Wargame: Red Dragon." Players appreciate the vibrant aesthetics, realistic unit models, and dynamic environments that enhance the overall gameplay experience, with many noting the game's ability to run smoothly even on mid-range PCs. While some minor graphical issues and performance concerns have been mentioned, the overall visual presentation is considered a major highlight, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere and tactical realism.
- “Eugen have really gone all out on making this immersive; the graphics are fantastic and pretty well optimized graphically.”
- “The graphics are stunning and the unit models are so well-made that you can stare at them for hours if you would rather appreciate the attention to detail than start up a skirmish or multiplayer match.”
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, so much detail to marvel at!”
- “The graphics are a massive step up from previous games, but still remain in a somewhat 'cartoon' style.”
- “The graphics are tighter and updated as you'd expect from a new game, but the color scheme and lighting make models look even more plastic than previous games.”
- “The graphics update doesn't make up for the price of this game, considering it is a setting we have already seen (Germany Cold War) and it will be the same stuff (US/USSR/Germany/UK....), no Asia or Africa which is quite sad for a game about World War 3.”
music
432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many players praising its nostalgic 1980s synthwave aesthetic that perfectly complements the game's setting. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as "bangers" and "absolute fire," highlighting its ability to enhance the overall experience and immersion, even suggesting it could stand alone as a reason to purchase the game. While some critiques mention that the upbeat tracks may feel out of place during intense battle scenes, the consensus is that the music is a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal significantly.
- “The soundtrack is a straight-up masterpiece.”
- “The music is incredible, plenty of 80's style synth wave tracks.”
- “Warno has gorgeous graphics, and the music thumps with 80s synth nostalgia.”
- “This game might hands down have the worst soundtrack of any game since we entered the 16-bit sound era.”
- “The music is a disco banger.”
- “I just can't take the rockets, bombs, dying soldiers, and intense dog fights of an 'all too real conflict' seriously when an upbeat and 'poppin' soundtrack is playing in the background.”
story
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
80%
4%
The game's story aspect has received mixed feedback, with many players expressing a desire for a more developed narrative and campaign structure. While there are some single-player missions and operations that provide a glimpse of potential storytelling, the overall experience is often described as lacking depth and coherence, leading to a repetitive gameplay feel. Players are hopeful for future updates that will enhance the narrative elements and introduce more engaging content.
- “The army general storyline is overwhelmingly immersive, and the whole UI is designed much better than Steel Division 2, which is another favorite Eugen game of mine.”
- “The newly released single player missions are fun and balanced, and the multiplayer is lots of fun with friends.”
- “These gave my individual skirmishes against the AI significance within a larger story.”
- “The rest of the game offers nil story-wise.”
- “I found it boring after only doing the tutorial and 2 single player missions; it seems too generic and repetitive.”
- “Singleplayer content is still limited to simple skirmish games against the AI, but the army general campaign and missions are on the horizon.”
optimization
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
9%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to run smoothly on low-end hardware while others report performance issues, particularly during large-scale battles. While some players commend the impressive graphics and performance on mid-range systems, others experience frame drops and instability even on high-end rigs. Continuous updates and improvements are expected, but optimization remains a key area needing attention.
- “It's an excellent game for anyone who loves RTS games; it's well optimized to where it can run on your grandma's potato laptop, and the community is fantastic.”
- “Warno is a beautiful and well-optimized game, and is clearly where Eugen is going to be putting its resources in the future.”
- “Its beautiful, well optimized, has great depth and variety, fantastic gameplay, and is getting to a balanced state.”
- “Game is highly unoptimized and unbalanced; it needs a lot of work to get to a fun experience.”
- “Terrible performance optimization, huge frame drops during 10v10 tactical games despite running a 4090.”
- “Performance issues: the game tends to run slow even on some higher-end PCs (I have a 2060 Super GPU and I still have to play on medium graphics settings) and I end up playing with 20-30 FPS, sometimes going below 20.”
stability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
77%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting a range of bugs and glitches, particularly in specific modes and features. While some users note that the game runs well on older hardware and is mostly playable, others express frustration over frequent crashes, UI issues, and inconsistent gameplay experiences. Overall, the game is seen as needing significant polish and bug fixes, especially given its early access status.
- “The game looks and runs great on my PC using 6-8 year old hardware.”
- “Essentially bug free.”
- “The graphics are superb, the music is atmospheric, and the gameplay is smooth and bug free.”
- “It was very buggy.”
- “Sometimes when playing the game I get random freezes and a short black screen before everything refreshes itself; it has been a consistent issue for me since launch and ends up affecting other programs running on my PC, sometimes even crashing them (example: Discord).”
- “It's early, raw, buggy, and unpolished.”
replayability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
8%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability due to a variety of factors, including a robust deck-building system, multiple engaging campaigns, and a diverse selection of units. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and the potential for endless gameplay variations, some express concerns about current limitations, such as a lack of content and map variety, which could hinder replay value. Despite these criticisms, the game remains a compelling choice for those seeking a tactical experience with significant replay potential.
- “The deck building system gives multiplayer a ton of replay value, and it provides an engaging and exciting experience you won't find in many other tactical strategy games.”
- “The campaigns are fun, offer an actual challenge, are replayable, and the AI is relatively competent and will punish your mistakes.”
- “Having so many different units to choose from adds a lot to the replayability of this game.”
- “At the current state of the game, I feel it needs more content or different types of objectives in the battle map for replay value.”
- “Warno is one of those games that I keep coming back to, even if there is not much replayability in its current state.”
- “Most complaints I see now are directed at low replayability due to only a few maps, less-than-intuitive UI, and low unit selection compared to Red Dragon.”
humor
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted by players, who find amusement in the quirky units, absurd gameplay scenarios, and the developers' lighthearted approach to feedback. Many reviews mention the comedic aspects of gameplay, such as the ridiculous balance issues and unexpected unit interactions, which contribute to a fun and entertaining experience despite the game's flaws. Overall, the humor serves as a significant draw, making the game enjoyable even amidst its imperfections.
- “If you're currently not in a match, you'll spend most of your time either laughing at some goofy units or trying to build a meme deck.”
- “The developers also seem to have a great sense of humor and are receptive to feedback and care that their work is quality.”
- “It is funny to see how a place gives up one battalion at a time when you attack it.”
- “The game really hasn't improved with more content; the line 'they say they're sacrificing historical authenticity for gameplay, but what's actually happening is they're terrible at research and they're horrifically uncreative' permeates the whole game. Now the new divisions are so similar to the release ones it's not funny.”
atmosphere
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive sound design, stunning visuals, and authentic 80s Cold War vibe, which collectively enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the realistic audio effects and thematic elements that draw them into the game's setting, creating a compelling and engaging environment. While some note a slight lack of atmospheric depth compared to other titles, the game's strategic complexity and aesthetic details largely compensate for this, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The sound design also deserves mention; the atmospheric sounds and realistic audio effects enhance the immersion, making you feel like you’re right there amidst the action.”
- “Warno nails the cold war vibe with its intense and immersive atmosphere.”
- “The realistic and breathtaking visuals pull you into the intense atmosphere of a cold war gone hot, and the variety of units at your command gives endless strategic depth.”
- “Warno, for me, doesn’t have the atmosphere of COH games, but the realism, scale, and depth go so much further that it (for the most part) compensates for the lack of atmosphere.”
- “I wish they would have added a bit more ambient effects to the atmosphere.”
- “Those games had an atmosphere within their menus which is lost here.”
monetization
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
7%
81%
The monetization practices of the game have been widely criticized, with many reviewers labeling it as a "cash grab" due to expensive DLCs and a lack of promised features. While some players appreciate the game's potential and improvements over time, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment with the predatory nature of its monetization strategy, leading to recommendations to avoid purchasing until significant changes are made.
- “If the monetization doesn't go overboard for new decks (the type of units available to you), then it will be quite a fun game.”
- “Some much-needed balancing changes have been made, and while there is still some tweaking to be done, I would now recommend Warno to those who might be interested in a larger-scale RTS or have enjoyed Eugen's past titles - in spite of Eugen's borderline predatory DLC monetization strategy.”
- “To summarize: fun game, okay balancing, predatory monetization practices.”
- “The monetization in this game is terrible; I hate DLCs that are way too expensive just to give developers some money.”
- “I do not recommend a purchase due to the predatory monetization attempt.”
- “Overall, the game feels like a cash grab.”
grinding
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
58%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game is overwhelmingly tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive micromanagement and leading to a frustrating experience. Players express a desire for more streamlined mechanics and better documentation to alleviate the monotony, as many aspects of gameplay feel like a slog rather than engaging. Despite some improvements in newer features, the core grinding experience remains a significant drawback for many users.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Battles become tedious and samey after a while.”
- “It's not fun and produces an extremely repetitive, dull, and tedious experience.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting nostalgia and personal investment in gameplay experiences. The mention of the soundtrack evokes memories of past titles, while references to the Soviet army and weaponry elicit a sense of pride and identity. Overall, the emotional responses range from joy and nostalgia to frustration, reflecting a deep engagement with the game's themes and mechanics.
- “Also, did I mention that like everyone in the Soviet army has AKs? It almost made me cry and go into a fetal position, like I own an AK in real life and now we own an AK, glorious like everything in communist Russia.”
- “Just like when AirLand Battle came out, there was always that one guy who wanted to still play Euro Escalation because he was so invested emotionally in playing his way… the same is going to happen with WGRD to WARNO.”
- “The soundtrack kind of made me feel like I was playing Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, and I really want to forget that game.”