Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic

About

In Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic, players manage a Soviet-themed city, controlling all aspects of the city's economy from resource extraction to manufacturing and service provision. The game features a deep simulation of global supply chains, allowing players to make decisions that impact citizens' daily lives and loyalty to the nation. A challenging and engaging experience, players must balance various elements of city management to ensure their republic thrives.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic screenshot

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,919 reviews

gameplay210 positive mentions

grinding95 negative mentions

Incredibly detailed and complex city-building simulation that offers a unique Soviet theme.
Highly customizable difficulty settings allow players to tailor their experience, from casual to hardcore realism.
Engaging gameplay that rewards careful planning and management of resources, logistics, and citizen needs.

Steep learning curve with poorly explained mechanics and a lack of comprehensive tutorials.
Clunky user interface and controls that can make building and managing infrastructure frustrating.
Frequent bugs and crashes that disrupt gameplay and can lead to lost progress.

gameplay
888 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
73%
3%
The gameplay of "Workers & Resources: Soviet Republic" is characterized by its deep complexity and intricate mechanics, offering a unique blend of city-building and resource management that challenges players to think strategically. While the game provides a rich simulation experience, many players find the steep learning curve and lack of comprehensive tutorials frustrating, often requiring external resources to fully grasp the mechanics. Despite its rough edges, including outdated graphics and a clunky UI, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay and the ability to customize difficulty settings, making it rewarding for those willing to invest the time to learn its systems.
- “Super detailed gameplay that allows you to decide what level you want to engage at.”
- “The intricate gameplay and healthy modding scene make it one of the most endlessly replayable games I've played.”
- “Very complex game, deep mechanics.”
- “While it looks cool on paper, it's disappointing. The outdated game engine, complicated mechanics, outdated graphics, and terrible road tools make it centuries behind early access titles like Cities: Skylines 2.”
- “The game mechanics are not explained in the game almost at all, so you'll find yourself often guessing why something doesn't work as you'd expect it to.”
- “The gameplay is exceptionally tedious and vexing, revolving around fighting the game mechanics and existing infrastructure every step of the way, the instant a new objective or need is presented to you.”
graphics
423 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
59%
8%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear outdated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles, yet they effectively capture the intended Soviet aesthetic. While some appreciate the charm and historical accuracy of the visuals, others find them dull and lacking in detail compared to modern city-building games like Cities: Skylines. Overall, the graphics are functional and contribute to the game's atmosphere, but improvements are desired to enhance the visual experience.
- “The aesthetics of the game are very well done and certainly convey that Soviet style, and the soundtrack is a delight to listen to.”
- “The graphics and art style of the game are unique and beautiful in their own way; for example, if you elect to play with maintenance enabled, cars and buildings will visibly wear down over time as their condition deteriorates.”
- “The graphics are good (though not amazing); however, the 3D models are very lovingly detailed, and it tends to draw a lot of resources to run.”
- “The graphics are as drab as a Soviet-era apartment block, but the satisfaction of watching your city grow, albeit slowly, is oddly addictive.”
- “Graphics look quite dated, and the game looks more like RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 than something that would have come out in 2024.”
- “The graphics are dull, the tooltips are very hit-and-miss, it's not obvious how to do many things without an external guide, and the UI is very duct-taped together and confusing.”
music
294 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its thematic alignment with the Soviet era, featuring a blend of synth pop, folk songs, and military marches that enhance the overall atmosphere. While some players find the soundtrack catchy and immersive, others criticize it for being repetitive and suggest the need for more variety. Overall, the music is often described as a highlight of the game, contributing significantly to its charm and nostalgic appeal.
- “Fantastic soundtrack.”
- “The music is amazing.”
- “The soundtrack captures perfectly cold war-era eastern Europe and is just damn godly to the ears, especially the well-made Soviet marching music-inspired tracks.”
- “I have to mention that the game has maybe the worst music I've ever heard in a video game before.”
- “The music is just bad lol”
- “The soundtrack gave me a headache the first time I started the game years ago.”
grinding
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
8%
89%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, with players often feeling overwhelmed by the steep learning curve and complex mechanics. Many reviews highlight the need for constant micromanagement and the lack of intuitive guidance, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel like a time sink rather than enjoyable. While some players appreciate the depth and detail, the overall sentiment suggests that the game may require more patience and dedication than many are willing to invest.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Your mom yells at you for grinding till 3 AM.”
- “But for anyone with a life, this game is overly tedious and you'll feel like tearing your hair out long before you've even achieved anything noteworthy.”
- “The gameplay is both interesting and enjoyable but can be a challenge in the beginning; building roads and constructing on elevated terrain can be quite a teeth-grinding experience.”
- “Every aspect of this game is horribly tedious for all the wrong reasons.”
optimization
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
10%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from users. While some players report smooth performance even on lower-end systems, others experience significant lag and performance issues, particularly in larger cities or during construction. Many reviewers emphasize the need for further optimization to enhance gameplay, especially regarding CPU management and UI responsiveness, indicating that while the game shows promise, it still requires substantial improvements in this area.
- “Plus it's very well optimized, even running on a potato PC.”
- “The game runs smoothly and doesn't have game-breaking bugs.”
- “I love the optimization and recommend this game to anyone up for the challenge of building a Soviet republic.”
- “Workers and resources is a game where you cannot really reach the end game because the game is not optimized, so your processor won't actually handle a big city.”
- “The optimization leaves much to be desired: even on powerful systems, the game can lag and freeze.”
- “The game isn't optimized enough and can be slow to run when the size of a republic goes beyond the 100,000 citizens mark, with low to very low fps and moving around the map in general becoming slower.”
story
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
81%
11%
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that there is no compelling narrative or overarching goal, rendering the campaign more of a tutorial than a traditional story-driven experience. While some players appreciate the freedom of a sandbox environment, they express a desire for more structured missions or a storyline to provide context and purpose to their gameplay. Overall, the lack of a cohesive story detracts from the experience for many, leaving them feeling unmotivated to progress.
- “Compelling storyline - engaging narrative.”
- “You start with nothing but a plot of land and a stack of cash (and on some maps, a few hundred workers living in shacks) and transform it into a prosperous socialist economy where everybody is happy and healthy and nobody would ever want to leave.”
- “A great mission of liberation has fallen to your lot. Be worthy of this mission!”
- “There is no story; the campaign is basically a tutorial.”
- “The lack of story or an ultimate goal usually prevents me from playing a game.”
- “The game lacks standard progression and ending (no opponents, impending disasters, missions, etc.).”
stability
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
2%
91%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that hinder gameplay. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these issues, others express frustration over the technical problems, including corrupted saves and unresponsive controls. Overall, the game is seen as a promising title with potential, but it requires substantial optimization and bug fixes to enhance the user experience.
- “On the technical side, it works well with no glitches or halts, and it has low PC requirements.”
- “The game isn't buggy at all, but it does take a lot of figuring out yourself.”
- “Technically, the game runs great!”
- “It's also really buggy; stats disappear, menus glitch, statuses don't update, etc. It's fun but needs way more optimization to be enjoyable for me.”
- “This game has huge potential, but at this time it is very frustrating and buggy.”
- “The game is ambitious in scope, but it is a buggy mess, and in 5 years of development, they still haven't been able to address basic issues.”
atmosphere
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
39%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its authentic representation of the Soviet era, characterized by bleak visuals, brutalist architecture, and a fitting soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience. Players appreciate the detailed environment and the unique thematic elements that evoke a sense of nostalgia and realism, making it a captivating city-building simulator. However, some critiques mention that while the atmosphere is strong, the gameplay mechanics may feel outdated or complex for newcomers.
- “The atmosphere is unique.”
- “This game has a special atmosphere that you can't find elsewhere.”
- “Worst of all is the lack of atmosphere and character in that game.”
- “The decrepit panel houses and smoking chimneys on the horizon create a depressing atmosphere.”
- “The developers really nailed that oppressive, bleak Soviet atmosphere with the graphical style and the music as well.”
humor
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its satirical take on Soviet themes, with players finding amusement in the absurdities of gameplay mechanics, such as the exaggerated speed of pedestrians and the quirky AI behaviors. Many reviews highlight the game's tongue-in-cheek humor, with references to stereotypes and humorous dialogue that evoke a lighthearted yet critical view of the planned economy. Overall, while some players note that the humor may not be as overt as in other city-building games, it adds a unique charm that enhances the experience.
- “Roads are king in this game and second place goes to the pedestrians where a granny of age 86 goes 40km/h (I am not bullshitting, take a stopwatch and a known walking distance, it's hilarious).”
- “It is well crafted and the dialogue available from advisors does feel a bit like stereotypical satire of Soviet Russia, but the tongue-in-cheek humor to it all is pretty fun.”
- “Somehow it captures the 'spirit' we popularly associate with the Soviet Union, humorously yet never tastelessly.”
- “That is not the purpose of a computer game, because that is not funny.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its intricate gameplay, diverse economic systems, and strong modding community, which continually adds new content. Players appreciate the ability to explore various strategies and specializations, although some note that the lack of randomly generated maps may limit replay potential. Overall, it offers a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in mastering its complexities.
- “The intricate gameplay and healthy modding scene make it one of the most endlessly replayable games I've played.”
- “The game has incredible replayability and complexity, making it a lot of fun every time I play.”
- “An excellent combination of city builder and tycoon games with hardcore logistics, nostalgic historical vibes, thriving mod community, high replayability, and constant content updates.”
- “But the game has several issues with game mechanics and other elements that shorten the game's replayability.”
- “There's no randomly generated map, so replayability lowers.”
- “Flaw 9: by the looks of it, every player must manually edit some script files to tweak the game into a more playable mode, but I haven't yet found where those files are or how to edit them.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally resonant, highlighting its heartwarming community engagement and the sense of fulfillment it provides. The setting evokes strong connections, particularly for those with Central European roots, while the game's wholesome atmosphere and depth foster a touching experience that transcends mere gameplay. Overall, it combines elements of city-building and management with a heartfelt appreciation for history and culture.
- “The game gave me this incredible sense of fulfillment and made me feel so alive.”
- “For me, I have a strong emotional connection to the setting as a Central European, but I would recommend this to anyone in the world.”
- “The mods on the workshop are fantastic, and it's oddly touching to see how much love Eastern Europeans can give to the concrete relics of fairly cruel and only recently toppled regimes.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players criticizing the reliance on microtransactions and perceiving it as a cash grab, while others appreciate the developers' efforts to enhance the game through DLCs. Concerns about the game's functionality and support from the development team also contribute to the negative sentiment surrounding its monetization strategy.
- “The building system still feels early access and glitchy as hell; the dev team is completely useless in trying to teach anyone how to actually play this cash grab.”
- “If you feel compelled to continue monetization without adding to the base game, then add functionality/features with your DLC.”
- “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”