Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 80 | 32 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 86% | 79 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 82% | 76 | 136 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 24, 2026) · 59 reviews sampled · 136 total reviews in window · weighted 39 up / 8.3 down · computed 59m ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (8)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 70
“Get ready to defend your keep from merciless enemy waves, or die trying, in an RTS that’s far from a walk in the park. Success requires precise planning and plenty of patience, as maps often last longer than they should and failure lurks around the corner, ready to ruin hours of work. Diplomacy is Not an Option is rough around the edges and certainly not a casual-friendly strategy title, but it’s also tons of fun, with an unappareled feeling of satisfaction when everything goes according to plan.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Diplomacy is Not an Option demonstrates the art of negotiation by being totally unflinching in both its vision and level of difficulty. Massive, bombastic battles are an absurd delight, provided you can muster the bravado to keep smashing your head against these rather thick, unmoving walls. Despite its flaws and missteps, Diplomacy is Not an Option is a sturdy castle that can withstand a good few of the ridiculously gigantic onslaughts it faces.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Diplomacy Is Not An Option offers plenty of modes for beginner and experienced RTS players to enjoy, with a tongue-in-cheek attitude and gameplay that’s easy to understand.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“While not the most innovative in its genre, Diplomacy is Not An Option takes a solid focus on traditional tower defense and wave-survival city building, challenging you to manage resources and build a mighty castle to survive against huge, statistically varied hordes of enemies.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Less complex, but very demanding castle-building game that impresses above all else with its massive number of troop units.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“After 52 hours of play, Diplomacy is Not an Option has captured my attention in a way most games these days can’t. It’s an old-school style RTS that demands commitment and a dedication to “get good”. It asks a lot from the player and does many things right while stumbling in a few areas.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Diplomacy is Not an Option delivers on the ambitious promise of a streamlined RTS city builder that forgoes on the minutia of the more grindy aspects of the city building aspect, while retaining the surface gameplay of planning your city's layout, and letting you focus more heavily on the strategy side, which you'll have to to keep up with the actually really challenging waves of attacks you'll have to defend against. It also remains silly and entertaining despite being so hard and punishing when making mistakes.”
read full review ↗ - 76
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Try Hard Guides
GamingTrend
KeenGamerPatch history
- The Penetrative Update is Here!Aug 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- About the Penetrative Update: Starting BonusesAug 15, 2026
- The Tacticon Update is out!Jul 9, 2026
- About Tacticon Update: New Endless Mode MapJul 4, 2026
- Hotfix 1.0.159_rJul 2, 2026
- The Hot Update is Here!Jun 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- About the Hot Update: Improvements to Learning ProcessJun 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Bigger, Longer Update is here!May 27, 2026
- Update and 1,000,000 players!Apr 30, 2026
- The Deep Update is here!Apr 20, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- About the Deep Update: Research Tree ReworkApr 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- RAM Utilisation Update is Here!Apr 1, 2026
- The Loving Update Teaser!Mar 14, 2026
- Protected Update is here!Mar 9, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- About the Protected Update: Get your named unit!Feb 21, 2026
- About the Protected Update: Rebel BarracksFeb 17, 2026
- Undead Sandbox Update is here!Jan 12, 2026
- Hotfix 1.0.112_rDec 26, 2025
- Hotfix 1.0.110_rDec 24, 2025
- Update feedback requestDec 23, 2025
- Hotfix 1.0.109_rDec 22, 2025
- December update and sale!Dec 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Hotfix 1.0.99_rNov 21, 2025
- The Undead update is here!Nov 18, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- About the Undead update: units and moreNov 9, 2025
- About the Undead update: Dealer WormNov 2, 2025
- Hotfix 1.0.82Oct 9, 2025
- Anniversary Update!Oct 3, 2025
- Update Hotfix 1.0.73Aug 26, 2025
- August update, gamescom and a saleAug 20, 2025significant · resets scoring window
…and 6 earlier patch announcements.