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.
The graphics in 'Warno' are stunning, with incredible detail and a vibrant 1980s aesthetic that enhances the immersive gameplay experience.
The gameplay offers significant tactical depth and engaging mechanics, appealing to fans of realistic military simulations and providing a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time.
The soundtrack is widely praised for its nostalgic 1980s synthwave aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience and immersion of the game.
The game suffers from various performance issues, including bugs, glitches, and inconsistent enemy behavior, which detract from the overall experience.
Many players criticize the monetization practices as predatory, labeling the game a 'cash grab' due to expensive DLCs and a lack of promised features.
The gameplay can feel tedious and repetitive, with excessive micromanagement and a lack of depth in battles, leading to a monotonous experience over time.
gameplay
1,814 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The gameplay of "Warno" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its tactical depth and engaging mechanics that blend elements from previous titles like "Wargame" and "Steel Division." Players appreciate the improved graphics and the strategic focus on combined arms warfare, though some criticize the game for its steep learning curve, balance issues, and a perceived lack of content. Overall, while the gameplay is seen as solid and rewarding for those willing to invest time, it also faces scrutiny for its pacing and some mechanics that feel unrefined or overly simplistic.
“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.”
“I swear every single gameplay change they made is worse than Wargame.”
“This already sucks from a gameplay perspective, but it gets even worse because of the way the tanks behave.”
“The actual gameplay isn't really tactical but just spam upon spam.”
graphics
1,452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
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 1980s aesthetic, realistic unit models, and dynamic environments that enhance the overall gameplay experience. While some users noted minor performance issues and a few graphical glitches, the consensus is that the visual fidelity and artistic direction elevate the game to a standout position in the real-time strategy genre.
“Eugen have really gone all out on making this immersive; the graphics are fantastic and pretty well optimized graphically.”
“The graphics are incredibly detailed; you can zoom right up to the ground and it will look gorgeous - all graphics artifacting and such from Steel Division 2 is history.”
“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.”
“Its awful to look at in detail though its graphic is far better than wargames graphic, wargame: european escalation did with worse graphic the visual part far better than warno :c”
“The graphical improvements are not worth the cost either, it does not matter if the textures and model details have slightly been upgraded if units are still clipping through buildings and trees, with stiff bf1942 animations.”
“The developer claims it to be the 'ultimate next-gen world war iii battle simulator', but I am yet to understand what makes it ultimate, let alone next-gen: the graphics are still awful, the smoke and explosions look like they came straight out of budget 3D cartoons.”
music
864 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 music can feel out of place during intense battle scenes, the general consensus is that the soundtrack 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 the best soundtrack in strategy gaming which is such a coup for Eugen because, respectfully, this has been a forgettable element in their previous strategy games.”
“This game might hands down have the poopiest soundtrack of any game since we entered the 16-bit sound era.”
“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.”
“The ui has been over-complicated and lost its clarity, music is dreadful and comically misplaced, extremely short on content even for early access.”
story
316 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
80%
4%
The game's story aspect is currently limited, 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 feels repetitive and lacks depth. Players are hopeful for future updates that will enhance the narrative elements and introduce a more cohesive campaign.
“The game has a good story and the graphics deserve a Steam award.”
“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.”
“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.”
“The newly added army general mode is very flat feeling compared to Eugen's WWII version in Steel Division 2, which the numerous spelling errors in the story popups and the AI sounding major do little to help with.”
optimization
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
9%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many praising its ability to run smoothly on older hardware while others report performance issues, particularly during large-scale battles. While some players experience excellent performance and graphics, others encounter frame drops and stuttering, especially on higher settings or in 10v10 matches. Continuous updates and improvements are expected, but optimization remains a key area for further development.
“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.”
“Most optimized RTS I've played in a while as well; it runs fantastic!”
“Warno is a beautiful and well-optimized game, and is clearly where Eugen is going to be putting its resources in the future.”
“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
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
77%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly in modes like army general. While some users note that the game runs well on older hardware and is mostly playable, others experience significant issues such as random freezes, UI problems, and inconsistent enemy behavior. Overall, it appears that while the game has potential, it is currently marred by stability concerns typical of an early access title.
“Essentially bug free.”
“The graphics are superb, the music is atmospheric, and the gameplay is smooth and bug free. 10v10 tactical maps are very much my 'cup of tea.'”
“Graphically, it looks and runs great, especially the artillery and bomb impacts.”
“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
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
64%
8%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability through its diverse deck-building system, multiple campaigns, and a variety of units, which keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. While many players appreciate the depth and strategic options available, some express concerns about current limitations, such as a lack of content and map variety, which could hinder long-term replay value. Despite these issues, the game is frequently described as having "endless" or "infinitely" replayable elements, particularly with the addition of features like the Army General mode and ongoing modding support.
“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.”
“Immense strategic and tactical depth, as well as endless replayability.”
“Literally endless replayability - incalculable number of possibilities and results; impossible to recreate results.”
“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.”
“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.”
“It is extremely basic and linear, with the only replayability being the fact that you can change sides.”
humor
72 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 mechanics, and the developers' lighthearted approach to feedback. Many reviews mention hilarious situations arising from gameplay, such as unexpected unit interactions and balance issues, which contribute to a comedic experience. Overall, the game's blend of humor and chaos seems to resonate well with players, making it an entertaining, if flawed, experience.
“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.”
“For an early access game, it is very good—a funny mix of wargame and Steel Division, and the graphics are beautiful.”
“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
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and authentic representation of the Cold War era, enhanced by exceptional sound design, stunning visuals, and a fitting soundtrack. Players appreciate the detailed graphics and the thematic depth that draws them into the 80s military setting, creating a compelling experience that feels both realistic and engaging. While some note a slight lack of atmosphere compared to other titles, the overall consensus is that the game's ambiance significantly elevates the strategic gameplay.
“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.”
“The feeling of this game... it really immerses you in the time period, the atmosphere somehow is just insanely good.”
“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
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
13%
81%
The monetization practices of the game have been widely criticized, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" due to expensive DLCs and a lack of promised features. Players express frustration over the game's reliance on additional purchases and the perception that it was rushed to market without sufficient content. While some acknowledge improvements over time, the overall sentiment remains negative regarding the game's monetization strategy, leading to recommendations to avoid purchasing until significant changes are made.
“If the monetization won'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, some bugs to be squashed and (in my opinion) some minor mechanical reworks to be made, 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 (which I still hate).”
“To summarize: fun game, ok-ish 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
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
36%
58%
Players consistently describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and repetitive, often requiring excessive micromanagement that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many feel that the gameplay becomes monotonous over time, with battles and modding processes lacking sufficient depth or variety. While some new features aim to reduce this grind, the core experience still feels like a slog for many users.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Battles become tedious and samey after a while.”
“In wargame, the campaigns are 90% tediously gaming the system and 10% actual fun when things lined up for an actually enjoyable battle.”
“It's not fun and produces an extremely repetitive, dull, and tedious experience.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often reminiscing about past experiences and feeling nostalgic about the military themes, particularly the portrayal of Soviet forces. The soundtrack evokes memories of other games, enhancing the emotional experience, while some players find themselves deeply invested in their gameplay choices, reflecting a personal attachment to the game's mechanics and narrative. Overall, the emotional aspect is characterized by a blend of nostalgia, personal investment, and cultural references that resonate with players.
“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.”