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 (OpenCritic) | – | 73 | 23 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 75 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 74% | 70 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 66% | 64 | 6 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 16 reviews sampled · 15 total reviews in window · weighted 8.2 up / 4.3 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (59)
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.
- 60
“Phantom Doctrine certainly shares plenty of DNA with the much-adored XCOM series, but it lacks the polish that's made the likes of XCOM 2 such an enduring example of how to do tactics right. When Phantom Doctrine really doubles down on the minutiae of its spycraft, including the solving conspiracies and the stealth-focused nature of its missions, its own personality shines through. It's certainly scrappy here and there, especially when it comes to managing the meta of its spy network, but push past these imperfections and you'll have plenty of licence for kills (and the occasional thrill).”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Lack of a proper tutorial and some user interface annoyances aside, Phantom Doctrine takes amazing cues from Hitman and Jagged Alliance, and turns turn based tactics into a rewarding experience, be it completing or failing a mission. A must have for turn based fans.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Phantom Doctrine will pull you in so hard you won't even notice when the night has gone by. It provides lots of fun thanks to some cool ideas and good implementation, but at the same time, it can also be very frustrating. If not for the cheating AI, we would have been taking about a truly wonderful game.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Phantom Doctrine may not quite fully follow through on its early promise, but the game is still a lot of fun and will readily supply lots of hours of enjoyment.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“When it comes to turn-based tactical strategy there's no doubt that emulating the X-Com mold from the PC space is a smart way to go...”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A Cold War XCOM clone with enemy spies instead of aliens, Phantom Doctrine is a largely enjoyable strategy title. The awareness system means you have more control over the flow of combat, and the setting is well presented, rife with atmosphere and charm. However, the punishing difficulty and steep learning curve do take the edge off things every now and then.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Whether it's because I can play it untethered from the television or how it eschews the alien threat for a relatively more grounded espionage take on the genre, I found the break-up between on-the-ground missions and reconnaissance activities fresh if uneven, and the removal of dice rolls for hit rate removes obfuscation that for me made combat a much more rewarding endeavor. If you're someone like me who liked Mario + Rabbids but wished there was more depth or don't particularly love sci-fi themes, Phantom Doctrine is a worthy alternative.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“XCOM: Enemy Unknown meets Mission: Impossible! But not as good as that pitch suggests”
read full review ↗ - 60
“There's some unique aspects that I hope are observed by other developers but there are better strategy titles out there like Invisible Inc. that do the core basics better.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I had fun playing the Phantom Doctrine but it’s not a perfect game by any means. While it’s true that this isn’t going to be a game for everyone to enjoy, those who are a fan of turn-based strategy games with emphasis on micromanaging your troops might find it enjoyable. It really brought out the OCD in me. In short, if you’re like me and have an obsession with every detail about how you play a game, then Phantom Doctrine is worth a buy.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Phantom Doctrine's biggest issue is that it compares unfavorably to X-COM. That doesn't make it a bad game, but it emphasizes X-COM's tight design. With Phantom Doctrine, you end up feeling like everything's a touch too unfocused. The metagame is interesting but messy. The combat is filled with interesting ideas but weaker execution. A lot of this may sound really negative, but I had fun with Phantom Doctrine. Fans of X-COM-style games will absolutely find it to be worth playing; it just has so much potential that it's easy to zero in on the little things that it does wrong. Hopefully, for a sequel, the developer can polish up the flaws to create a true competitor to Firaxis's sci-fi adventure.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Despite the few bugs here and there, Phantom Doctrine represents an ingenious use of the XCOM formula in an enticing setting with a plot that’s as deep as you want it to be. With an excellent soundtrack, an intentionally drab yet appealing art style and a charismatic charm to it, it’s certainly a better-than-average turn based game. If you’re a fan of XCOM and are up for the hefty challenge this game presents, even on its easiest settings, this game will appeal to you. If your patience runs short and you want your fun to be more immediate, leave this game skulking in the shadows.”
read full review ↗
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Worth Playing
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Patch history
- Phantom Doctrine Full Clearance Update 1.1 granted!Feb 14, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Phantom Doctrine Patch 1.0.9 Goes Live!Jan 9, 2019significant · resets scoring window
- Patch 1.0.8 | Scare Tactics DLC | Dev LivestreamOct 29, 2018
- Phantom Doctrine Patch 1.0.7 Infiltrates Steam!Oct 3, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Phantom Doctrine Patch 1.0.6 Released!Sep 17, 2018
- Phantom Doctrine Patch 1.0.5 + Dev StreamAug 29, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Phantom Doctrine Patch 1.0.4 + Dev StreamAug 23, 2018
- Phantom Doctrine Patch 1.0.3 deployed!Aug 20, 2018
- LOS/LOF Patch BETA - Experimental BranchAug 20, 2018
- Preliminary Patch Notes for Upcoming Two Updates [LOS/LOF]Aug 18, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Phantom Doctrine Patch 1.0.2 released!Aug 16, 2018
- UntitledAug 16, 2018
- Phantom Doctrine Patch 1.0.1Aug 15, 2018
- Phantom Doctrine | Day 2 Update | Game ManualAug 15, 2018
- Phantom Doctrine Launch + Localisation UpdateAug 14, 2018