Stormgate

Stormgate, developed by ex-Blizzard devs, is a new RTS aiming to be a spiritual successor to StarCraft II. While the gameplay fundamentals and 1v1 mode receive praise for being solid and accessible, the game suffers from an unfinished feel and controversial monetization. The campaign is fragmented into paid chapters, causing frustration among early supporters who feel misled by the pricing model. Many players criticize the limited content, repetitive missions, and lack of polish in dialogue and audio.

Multiplayer modes beyond 1v1, such as 3v3, remain incomplete, and the co-op mode is seen as underdeveloped with few maps and commanders locked behind additional paywalls. Technical issues like forced online connectivity for single-player and occasional server disconnections further dampen the experience. Despite these drawbacks, some players appreciate the game’s quality-of-life improvements, intuitive controls, and potential for future growth. Overall, Stormgate is viewed as a promising but rough-around-the-edges RTS that has yet to deliver a fully realized experience.

Highlights

Players praise Stormgate's gameplay mechanics for being engaging and more accessible than StarCraft II, with quick execution and quality-of-life improvements. The 1v1 mode, while limited in player base, is considered solid and enjoyable. The game's art style has improved over time, and the campaign offers around 10 hours of play with some challenging missions. The editor tool, though basic, shows promise with community-made custom games emerging. Fans appreciate the passion and perseverance of the developers and the game's potential to evolve into a modern RTS staple.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's fragmented and expensive monetization, with the campaign split into multiple paid DLCs that frustrate early backers. The campaign's story and dialogue are often described as clichéd, poorly written, and unpolished, with underwhelming voice acting. Many game modes remain incomplete or locked behind paywalls, and the forced online connection for single-player causes disconnections and lost progress. Technical issues, lack of polish, limited content, and a small multiplayer player base further detract from the experience, leading some to label the game as a cash grab or unfinished product.