videogamescritic
← all games
Wargame: Airland Battle

Wargame: Airland Battle

Eugen Systems · released May 29, 2013

IndieSimulationStrategyPC

2 SIDES, 12 NATIONS, 750 UNITS: THE STRATEGY GAME REFERENCE IS BACK! Richer, more beautiful and more accessible, Wargame AirLand Battle is the sequel to the explosive real-time strategy game Wargame European Escalation! 1985.

Steam page ↗Metacritic 80 · users 8.1 ↗
81
VGC Score
·No trend datamedium confidence▼ −8 since launch

scored 88 at launch, has slipped to 81

88%
At launch
87%
Steam all-time
80%
Press
85%
Player sentiment
76%
Recent sentiment

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.

ComponentPositiveQuality (0-100)Weight (pseudo-reviews)
Press reviews (Metacritic)–806
All-time Steam reviews87%811000
Metacritic user ratings–858
Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted)76%712
Calibration prior (typical game)–7250

Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 5 reviews sampled · 5 total reviews in window · weighted 3.1 up / 1 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →

Press & Creators reviews (22)

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.

  • 90
    GRYOnline.plGRYOnline.pl
    trust 75Jun 4, 2013

    “A brave attempt at pushing the series forward. Unfortunately some minor issues take away the feeling of playing a really excellent game. On the other hand Wargame is being updated almost daily, and the results are impressive - I have no doubt that Eugen's new baby is a must have for all lovers of military and the Cold War. But remember - this is a mostly multiplayer game.”

    read full review ↗
  • 85
    GameWatcherGameWatcher
    trust 69Jun 10, 2013

    “It’s a shame that Focus haven’t done more to ease people wanting to jump in to AirLand Battle who’ve bought the original game, but in all honesty this is worth the money, even if Focus don’t follow the same DLC plan they did before.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    EurogamerEurogamer
    trust 66Jul 3, 2013

    “We can say that, despite some hiccups, the masterminds behind Wargame: Airland Battle have done a good job in improving an already solid game.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    GameSpotGameSpot
    trust 66Jun 28, 2013

    “Smart and rewarding, Wargame: ALB is one of those rare strategy games that give more back to you the more you put into playing them.”

    read full review ↗
  • 90
    PC PowerPlay
    trust 64Jun 23, 2013

    “The new campaign provides the perfect training ground for newcomers, who can then look forward to an incredible multiplayer mode. [July 2013, p.88]”

  • 87
    PC GamerPC Gamer
    trust 64Jul 4, 2013

    “Wargame AirLand Battle is European Escalation escalated: more Cold War kit, more tactical tension and more replayability.”

    read full review ↗
  • 40
    LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    trust 62Jul 9, 2013

    “If there is whatever reason you've been enjoying European Escalation, you are going to be satisfied with this. In my case, the review is handed over, so the game is finally out of my hard drive. [Issue#231]”

  • 100
    Quarter to Three
    trust 61Jun 3, 2013

    “Only the great RTSs do it with this much flavor. And none do it with modern warfare, give or take thirty years, as well as AirLand Battle.”

    read full review ↗
  • 84
    IGNIGN
    trust 61Jun 6, 2013

    “It successfully borrows from table-top gaming and history itself to create a simulation that, more than most strategy titles, feels like war.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    JeuxActu
    trust 60Jun 6, 2013

    “Even if the the family look is there, Wargame: AirLand Battle isn't just Wargame: European Escalation with planes. The games are easier to handle (which is a good thing) and the campaign changes its format (which was almost a good thing). All this without damaging the strategic content that made the studio's lust. The wannabe soldier will be happy to find hundreds of available units, and it will be time consuming before you can master everything during online games. The players really fond of change might regret the seriousness of the graphics and interface.”

    read full review ↗
  • 81
    GameStar
    trust 59Jun 20, 2013

    “A strong and challenging multiplayer title.”

    read full review ↗
  • 80
    Games.cz
    trust 59Jul 3, 2013

    “A sequel to the solid strategy game that is scoring with its addition of planes, its tuned up and extended original game system, and mainly with its perfect balance of the game units.”

    read full review ↗

…and 10 more tracked reviews.

Patch history

  1. New version (v1621)
    Jul 1, 2014
  2. New version (v1621)
    Jul 1, 2014
  3. New version (v1616)
    Feb 20, 2014
  4. New version (v1616)
    Feb 20, 2014
  5. New version (v1613)
    Feb 14, 2014
  6. New version (v1613)
    Feb 14, 2014
  7. New version (v1600)
    Jan 21, 2014
  8. New version (v1600)
    Jan 21, 2014
  9. New version (v1579)
    Dec 13, 2013
  10. New version (v1579)
    Dec 13, 2013
  11. New patch (v1576)
    Dec 10, 2013
  12. New patch (v1576)
    Dec 10, 2013
  13. New patch (v1574)
    Dec 4, 2013
  14. New patch (v1574)
    Dec 4, 2013
  15. New version (v1570) replays / saved games fix
    Nov 29, 2013significant · resets scoring window
  16. New version (v1570) replays / saved games fix
    Nov 29, 2013significant · resets scoring window
  17. New version (v1553) aka "Mother of all patch"
    Nov 26, 2013
  18. New version (v1553) aka "Mother of all patch"
    Nov 26, 2013
  19. Patch v1544 : fix cross platform desync
    Nov 15, 2013
  20. Patch v1544 : fix cross platform desync
    Nov 15, 2013
  21. Patch log (v1528)
    Oct 21, 2013
  22. Patch log (v1528)
    Oct 21, 2013
  23. Patch 1515
    Oct 3, 2013
  24. Patch 1515
    Oct 3, 2013
  25. Patch (v1505) replays fix
    Sep 25, 2013
  26. Patch (v1505) replays fix
    Sep 25, 2013
  27. Patch (v1504) Global announcements in the chat
    Sep 24, 2013
  28. Patch (v1504) Global announcements in the chat
    Sep 24, 2013
  29. Patch (v1495) replays fix
    Sep 19, 2013
  30. Patch (v1495) replays fix
    Sep 19, 2013
  31. Patch (v1491) Linux executable fix
    Sep 16, 2013
  32. Patch (v1491) Linux executable fix
    Sep 16, 2013
  33. Patch v1487 (Pre-tournament balancing)
    Sep 12, 2013
  34. Patch v1487 (Pre-tournament balancing)
    Sep 12, 2013
  35. Patch (v1472) Ragnarok conquest Points per sector fix
    Sep 2, 2013
  36. Patch (v1472) Ragnarok conquest Points per sector fix
    Sep 2, 2013
  37. Patch (v1470) Ragnarok conquest missing buildings fix
    Aug 30, 2013
  38. Patch (v1470) Ragnarok conquest missing buildings fix
    Aug 30, 2013
  39. Patch (v1467) 10v10 official Conquest servers
    Aug 29, 2013
  40. Patch (v1467) 10v10 official Conquest servers
    Aug 29, 2013

…and 2 earlier patch announcements.