Gone are the days of all-in rushing, high APM gameplay, and rock-paper-scissors unit designs. Broken Arrow is one of the more accessible games in the genre, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple, far from it, in fact. If you enjoyed the likes of Wargame Red Dragon, Warno, or World in Conflict (for those who can remember that far back), you’ll likely enjoy Broken Arrow.
Combining real-time strategy (RTS) with real-time tactics (RTT) gameplay, Broken Arrow delivers a familiar experience to veterans of the genres. It blends complex and realistic wargames with the strategy of traditional RTS titles, while still remaining, on the surface, relatively simple in its design.
I enjoyed my time with Broken Arrow, but a couple of things tarnished the fun. Firstly, there’s no true offline single-player skirmish against AI. The only way to successfully face AI is through an online connection, so should your internet be down, you’re out of luck. This is a massive step up compared to the previous PvE experience that was on offer, which required you to join other players. Secondly, there’s no save option.
Being unable to save in 2025 is wild to me, especially when so many who grew up gaming now have families. Single-player missions can take a while, and skirmishes even more so. Why the developers didn’t include an option to save is beyond me, but it is by far the biggest deterrent to Broken Arrow.
The good, by far, outweighs the bad, assuming you’ve 45 minutes to allocate for a skirmish. It’s your standard US vs Russia war game, with hints at EU and China as future DLC. At its core, gameplay is tight and can be enjoyed casually or by focusing on memorising hotkeys; it’s the best of both worlds.
Where it shines is in its unit variety and, in turn, tactical complexity. There are a lot of unit types with a vast variety of weapons and abilities to tackle a variety of problems enemies throw your way. Broken Arrow combines many RTS titles before it to deliver a well-designed and thought-out experience, which is sure to satisfy fans and first-timers alike.
Strategy and tactics are core to combat encounters. Featuring buildings, line of sight, and on foot, in vehicle, ranged and aerial tools, with varied costs and load outs, it’s not as simple as X beats Y which beats Z which beats X. Further, ammo, fuel capacity, and supplies must be managed in addition to money, perfectly replacing the traditional resource management of other titles.
By doing so, Broken Arrow stops players from amassing larger and larger armies and adds to the tactical complexity while still ensuring an approachable experience. It can be enjoyed as simply as saving money to call in the units you want, without worrying about much else, or you can micro each platoon to your heart’s content and make every dollar count. It’s as casual or complex as you want it to be.
The audio and visuals shine most during the heat of combat. Artillery barraging down, craters, dust and smoke cover battlefields and cities. Infantry traverses through tight landscapes while heavy armour and air support roar through the fields. It truly captures modern-day combat in all its glory.
Due to its modern setting, you’ll be dealing with modern problems that aren’t present in the titles mentioned earlier. Heck, there’s even an expensive tactical nuke that, if you’re not prepared for, can shred your army in an instant. Yet, you’ve the tools available to detect and eliminate the threat, so should you plan ahead, you will be rewarded.
Factors such as laser-guided bombs and radar missile technology are mixed with previously featured tools such as smoke or cover. Broken Arrow not only took what worked but also built upon and improved it. It sets itself apart from what’s already in the market.
The complexity of the game doesn’t lie in APM or economy management, but rather in unit decks. Decks come with specialised unit types and point allocations for the units you can purchase. Think of Company of Heroes commanders multiplied by a factor of 10.
With hundreds of units available, I understand why decks exist – having access to everything would lead to information overload. Customising units is the root of Broken Arrow – Anti-infantry or anti-tank? Will you focus on anti-air or ground support? Do you prefer close or ranged encounters? There’s no shortage of customisation options.
The complexity of units can also be felt in how they take damage. Flanking and rear hits are crucial to take down armoured forces. Stun and shock enemies, keep them suppressed, and even go as far as blowing tracks from tanks. As you can imagine, immobile tanks are useless.
The voice work is sub-par, however, almost AI in nature. In saying that, I’ve never decided to pick up an RTS because of its voice acting. Similarly, the writing is poor, but again, this isn’t why I play RTS titles.
A dynamic campaign will keep single-player enthusiasts happy. Despite the focus of Broken Arrow being multiplayer, it can still be played solo. For me, others have done so better, but when it comes to multiplayer, none come close.
The success of Broken Arrow lies in how multiplayer is managed, including how leavers are punished (which is currently an issue). Up to 5 v 5 matches across 19 matches, and 45-minute matches, I can understand why some people may leave, especially if you’re losing heavily early on. No one wants to waste 30+ minutes, but they shouldn’t be able to leave and ruin the match for everyone without punishment.
Overall, Broken Arrow is an approachable yet deep RTS. You can enjoy it without investing as much time to reach the skill floor as other RTS titles, but the ceiling remains high for veterans of the genre. The variety of units and their abilities is where Broken Arrow shines.
If you seek a refreshing yet familiar RTS, Broken Arrow is for you. The audio is pleasant, the visuals even more so, and the depth and variety of units is nothing to be glossed over. If you haven’t already, give it a try – as an RTS fan, you’re unlikely to be disappointed.
BROKEN ARROW REVIEW
Broken Arrow does enough to differentiate itself brilliantly from what already exists in the market. Unfortunately, the heavy focus on multiplayer holds it back due to cheaters and leavers. Whether the game survives depends heavily on the coming weeks.
PROS
Large unit variety with impressive customisation
Accurate and detailed model designs and overall visuals
There’s so much potential, once the multiplayer kinks get ironed out
CONS
Cheaters in multiplayer
Leavers in multiplayer continue to go unpunished
AI leaves a lot to be desired, feeling almost scripted rather than intelligent
Reviewed on PC. A review code was supplied by the Publisher for purposes of this review.
