This War of Mine
TWoM
Release Date: November 14, 2014
Strategy, modern conflicts, survival, Polish, 2.5D, side-scroll, crafting, Game Pass, EA Play, games for impact, PS Plus Premium, PS Plus Extra, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
An extraordinary war game with focus on survival. It was inspired by the real stories of people who at some point of their lives struggled to survive a war. The game was developed by Polish studio 11 bit, known for an original strategy game series Anomaly. The game gives you control over a group of civilians trying to survive in a ruined city, where the biggest enemies are such problems as starvation and shortage of medicines.
Last Update: January 13, 2017
This War of Mine Game Guide
Guide to This War of Mine contains a comprehensive walkthrough for overall game mechanics.
Videos and Screens
[1:29] This War of Mine Final Cut trailer
[1:23] This War of Mine This War of Mine: Stories - Father’s Promise DLC
Rock, Paper, Shotgun: by Alec Meer
Whether This War of Mine truly succeeds in saying anything more than 'war is hell' I don't know. Equally, I'm not at all sure it needs to. We play a lot of wars, and it is surely only fair to sometimes be reminded that war is not really about a muscle-bound American man saving the day. It makes its point very well, in that it is harrowing, it is careful, and its increasingly deadly Groundhog day approach supports rather than disrupts the atmosphere of extreme strife. It's without doubt effective and impressive at what it does.
Gaming Nexus: 8.8 / 10 by Jeff Kintner
This War of Mine delivers a setting that is depressing and unsettling. It's a slow-paced resource management strategy game that will hang over you long after you walk away from it. Admittedly, it tip-toes into being melodramatic at times, and the controls could benefit from some hotkeys to back up the point-and-click interface. But the mechanics and setting are so well done, it's an absolute must play for anyone looking for an example of how all the different parts of a game can come together to create an affecting and immersive experience for a player.
IGN: 8.4 / 10 by Rob Zacny
This War of Mine is a gripping survival sim, and a great study of survival during wartime and civil collapse.
The main pros of the game
- Unique Perspective: The game presents war from the viewpoint of civilians rather than soldiers, offering a fresh and poignant narrative.
- Emotional Depth: Players often form attachments to characters, experiencing genuine emotional responses to their struggles, moral dilemmas, and deaths.
- Complex Decision-Making: The game forces players to make tough moral choices that impact the well-being of their group, creating a deep sense of responsibility.
- Atmospheric Design: The art style and sound design effectively convey the somber tone of the game, enhancing immersion.
- Replayability: Randomized characters, locations, and events ensure that each playthrough feels unique, encouraging multiple attempts.
The main cons of the game
- Repetitive Gameplay: After several playthroughs, some players find the mechanics can become repetitive, leading to a sense of monotony.
- Difficulty and Frustration: The game can be punishing, with permanent character deaths that can lead to player frustration, especially with the lack of manual saves.
- Character Imbalance: Some characters are significantly stronger or more useful than others, which can lead to uneven gameplay experiences.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- More Content: Players express a desire for additional locations, characters, and storylines to enhance replayability and depth.
- Quick Save Option: Many players wish for a quick save feature to mitigate the frustration of losing progress due to unexpected character deaths.
- Expanded Customization: Some players desire more options for character customization and personalization to deepen their connection to the survivors.
- Improved Combat Mechanics: Feedback indicates that combat can feel clunky or unfair, and players suggest refining these mechanics for a smoother experience.
Summary
- Overall, "This War of Mine" is praised for its emotional weight and innovative approach to storytelling in the context of war, making it a significant entry in the survival genre.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 2346 votes. 464 players anticipated the game.
This War of Mine Description
This War of Mine for PC, AND and iOS is inspired by real events. The game is set during a modern conflict, where the theme of survival under unfavorable conditions has been strongly emphasized. The game was developed by Polish 11 bit Studios, which has previously created the award-winning and critically acclaimed Anomaly series - a representative of the inverted tower defense genre.
Story
In contrast to other games, this one is set in the realities of war. In This War of Mine the players take control over a group of civilians whose primary objective is to survive in the besieged city - constantly surrounded by threats to their life and faced with unpredictable situations created by the constantly changing conditions on the battlefield. During the game, the players have to deal with hunger, lack of medications, and the dangers of snipers’ attacks.
Gameplay
An important role during the game plays the day and night cycle, which determines players' activities. Going outside during the day, and stumbling upon a place controlled by either of the fighting side results in immediate death, forcing the players to focus on repairs and shelter improvements during day hours - the game allows the players to craft weapons, furniture, basic tools, or brew alcohol using stored items. It is also important to take care of the health and physical condition of the civilians. Under the cover of night, the players can finally leave the shelter and go out on the streets in search of some things that will support our characters' daily existence.
The creators tried to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and constant, tense struggle. The players are forced to make difficult decisions and choose between life and death on numerous occasions. Many times, they have to sacrifice the life of one of the civilians for the common good and the consequences of their actions affect the physical and mental conditions of the whole group.
Additionally, there is an option available which can generate random levels and characters. It provides a great diversity of challenges and unique locations for the action to take place.
Technology
This War of Mine for PC, AND and iOS depicts the action in the style of a 2.5D platform game - the game world is designed in 2D and interactions with the environment are achieved using various icons, allowing the character to take the appropriate steps. The war and survival theme is emphasized by the dark, gloomy style and the graphic design is based on a system of lights and shadows.
Last updated on August 14, 2015
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It's About Time Games Became Part of the Curriculum!
This War of Mine became (not mandatory, but still) part of the curriculum in Polish high-schools. Can we agree it's about time games became part of the education program? They often carry the same message as books, yet in more accessible form.
This War of Mine Summary
Game Series: This War of Mine
Platforms:
PC / Windows November 14, 2014
PlayStation 5 May 10, 2022
Xbox Series X/S May 10, 2022
Android OS July 15, 2015
Apple iOS July 15, 2015
Developer: 11 bit studios
Publisher: 11 bit studios
This War of Mine System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Dual Core 2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 260 / Radeon HD 5770, Windows 7/8/10
Recommended: Quad Core 2.5 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7950, Windows 7/8/10
This War of Mine Will Get Upgrade on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
11 bit studios has announced an enhanced version of This War of Mine: Final Cut, developed for the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The title will debut on May 10.
video games
Agnes Adamus
April 27, 2022
This War of Mine Review Bombed by Chinese and Russians
A statement on the war in Ukraine released yesterday by 11 bit studios has sparked outrage from Chinese and Russian gamers. In retaliation, they are conducting a review bombing of This War of Mine on Steam.
video games
Hubert Sledziewski
February 25, 2022
Officially: This War of Mine Enters Polish High-School Curriculum
The 11 bit studios company has confirmed that from the school year 2020/2021 its work - This War of Mine - will be optional „reading” for high school students.
video games
Bart Swiatek
June 24, 2020
This War of Mine - Fading Embers Expansion Launches
The latest expansion for the survival game This War of Mine has just debuted on PCs. The Fading Embers expansion offers a completely new story that focuses on the protection of cultural heritage during the war, it also adds new locations and gameplay mechanics.
video games
Michael Kulakowski
August 6, 2019
Fading Embers - New DLC for This War of Mine Announced
Polish developers at 11 bit studios have announced Fading Embers - another story expansion to the renowned strategy game This War of Mine. The production will go to PCs in August, as part of the This War of Mine: Stories season pass.
video games
Bart Swiatek
July 25, 2019
This War of Mine: The Little Ones is out for PC – buy the DLC and help children
The PC version of This War of Mine: The Little Ones DLC is now live and available on Steam and Games Republic at a 10% discount. By buying the extra content you send one dollar to War Child charity.
video games
June 2, 2016
This War of Mine: The Board Game funded on Kicktarter and coming out in early 2017
The award-winning war-time survival game This War of Mine is getting a tabletop adaptation, called This War of Mine: The Board Game. The game was successfully funded on Kickstarter and is scheduled for release in early 2017.
other
May 11, 2016
This War of Mine: The Little Ones confirmed for PC and mobile platforms
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One already received This War of Mine: The Little Ones, an expanded version of the war-time survival game. Now the title has been confirmed for PC and mobile platforms as well.
video games
March 24, 2016
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