Master of Command

Master of Command is a tactical real-time strategy game set in the 18th century, combining elements of roguelite progression with detailed army management and battlefield combat. Players command a single army through procedurally generated campaign maps divided into three acts, facing a variety of encounters and culminating in challenging boss battles. The game shines in its deep unit customization, allowing players to personalize regiments' appearance, equipment, and progression trees, fostering a strong connection with their forces. Battles emphasize positioning, terrain advantages, and formation tactics reminiscent of historical linear warfare, offering a fresh take distinct from grand strategy titles like Total War.

While the game delivers an engaging and challenging experience with a unique art style inspired by Armchair Historian, players note that AI behavior can be inconsistent and sometimes simplistic. The campaign loop, though novel, may feel repetitive over time due to limited map variety and encounter diversity. Early bugs and quality-of-life issues have been reported but are expected to improve with ongoing developer support. Overall, Master of Command offers a compelling niche experience for fans of historical RTS and roguelite hybrids.

Highlights

Master of Command receives praise for its deep unit customization and the ability to personalize nearly every aspect of regiments, creating a strong emotional bond with the army. The art style is widely appreciated, blending cartoonish charm with historical authenticity inspired by the Armchair Historian channel. Gameplay mechanics, including terrain usage, formation tactics, and the veteran progression tree, add satisfying strategic depth. The campaign map’s roguelite approach introduces meaningful resource and time management, making each run feel distinct. Battles are challenging and rewarding, especially when using combined arms tactics, and the AI, while imperfect, can provide a competent opponent at higher difficulties. The game runs smoothly and is optimized well, offering good replayability across multiple factions and subfactions.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the AI’s limited tactical complexity, with enemy units often charging recklessly or failing to adapt formations, which can lead to repetitive battle patterns dominated by artillery duels. The campaign’s procedural maps and encounters lack variety, causing runs to feel repetitive after several hours. Several players report bugs such as unresponsive units, missing cursors, and occasional crashes, which impact save functionality and gameplay fluidity. The absence of features like fog of war, dynamic line of sight, and auto-resolve reduces tactical nuance and convenience. Some find the roguelite campaign length too long and desire more frequent progression rewards or alternative game modes. Others feel the price is slightly high given the current content and suggest waiting for discounts or updates.