Welcome Back, Commander was one of the more intriguing titles on the list and deserves massive praise just for the choice of name. I had an opportunity to sample this retro real-time tactics game as part of the Steam Next Fest. You’re dropped into the city of Sun Stone, rendered is glorious MS Paint 98, when it is ravaged by a mysterious plague which has turned the inhabitants into blood-thirsty killers. You’re tasked with leading a strike team deep into the heart of the infection zone, balancing tactical combat and survival against overwhelming odds. It’s a mix of real-time tactics with strategic squad management, featuring a heavy emphasis on decision-making.
The core gameplay is squad-based real-time tactics, with an optional active pause system that allows you to make strategic decisions mid-combat. This pause feature is helpful for planning attacks and reacting to enemies, but I found it essential in moments when the pressure ramps up.
You’ll manage your squad’s health, supplies, and even their sanity, which adds an interesting layer to the resource management. However, the demo reveals some issues with pacing, especially in larger skirmishes where things can get chaotic, making it hard to manage everything effectively.
The demo hints at a lot of replayability, with multiple paths and endings, random events, and choices that impact the outcome. While I haven’t played enough to test all of this thoroughly, the promise is strong. Multiple endings and achievements seem designed to push players toward several playthroughs. The added randomness helps keep each run fresh, but the demo’s limited content means it can feel repetitive after a couple of playthroughs.
The demo has seen several updates to fix bugs and crashes, and while stability has improved, it’s still a bit rough. I experienced some crashes during certain sequences and some occasional visual glitches. These weren’t game-breaking but definitely took me out of the immersion. The devs have been actively addressing these, so there’s hope for more polish by the full release.
Visually, the game adopts a top-down tactical view, and while it’s not ground-breaking in terms of graphics – and is not meant to be! – the atmosphere is well-crafted. The plague-ridden city of Sun Stone has a haunting vibe, and the art style fits the dark theme well. However, the environments are a bit too repetitive at times, with a lack of visual variety in the demo’s maps.
Welcome Back, Commander has a solid foundation with its blend of tactical strategy and squad management, and it nails the dark, foreboding atmosphere. The demo shows promise, but it’s still early. Performance issues and balance tweaks are needed, but if the final game delivers on its potential, it could be a solid addition to the tactical strategy genre.
