The Great War is over - the fight continues. Command a legion of soldiers, desperately trying to make their way home amidst the chaos of civil war. Lead them through the unforgiving wilderness onboard an armored train. Manage your crew and resources and try to survive.
As the core of the experience, players must carefully maintain and upgrade the various carriages of their armored train. This includes the locomotive, supplies carriage, and medical carriage. Keeping soldiers fed, healthy, and able to continue the treacherous journey through Siberia requires strategic resource allocation and thoughtful carriage management.
Combat encounters unfold in real-time, allowing players to pause the action and issue precise orders to their squad of 10 specialized soldiers. Riflemen, grenadiers, medics, and other roles each contribute unique abilities to the team. Thoughtful positioning, effective use of cover, and coordinated skill usage are crucial to overcoming enemy forces. Players can opt for a stealthy, one-by-one elimination approach, or a more aggressive frontal assault strategy. This flexibility enables adapting tactics to the specific situation, fostering an engaging blend of stealth and action.
As the journey progresses, players can level up individual soldiers, unlocking new abilities and upgrades. This creates a sense of attachment, as players witness their squad members grow in strength and skill over time. The ability to award medals to fallen comrades adds emotional weight, commemorating the sacrifices made along the way. The character progression system intertwines with the train management and combat strategy, creating a compelling loop of resource allocation, tactical decision-making, and personal investment in the squad's development.
The game's narrative features multiple branching paths and impactful choices, offering a high degree of replayability. Players' decisions shape the events that unfold, exploring different routes and witnessing how their choices impact the outcome of the journey. This narrative-driven approach, combined with the strategic gameplay, results in an immersive and emotionally-engaging experience that resonates with players. The blend of historical events and compelling fictional storytelling has been widely praised.