BattleTech

 PC
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 396 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 241 out of 396
  2. Mixed: 58 out of 396
  3. Negative: 97 out of 396

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  1. tutike2000
    Apr 25, 2018
    5
    There is a lot of potential here, just needs a layer of polish.
    Battles are *incredibly* slow, even if you turn down all special animations.
    Whenever an action happens, it seems to not lock out your UI for the correct amount of time: you either see the entire animation happen, and then wait 2-3 seconds for no reason until you get control back, or the animation starts, then doesn't have    There is a lot of potential here, just needs a layer of polish.
    Battles are *incredibly* slow, even if you turn down all special animations.
    Whenever an action happens, it seems to not lock out your UI for the correct amount of time: you either see the entire animation happen, and then wait 2-3 seconds for no reason until you get control back, or the animation starts, then doesn't have time to complete and it just skips the last bit.
    (If you're familiar with XCOM and the 'Stop Wasting My Time' mod, this is exactly the same problem, only much worse)
    When a special camera is used, you often find that your view is obstructed by terrain, other mechs, building, etc, or simply not framed properly, with the effects of your enemy's shots being off-screen (so it won't show how much damage you've taken).
    Another problem is the EXTREMELY long loading times. If you've ever played Kerbal Space Program, you'll be familiar with how Battletech handles scene changes when out of combat. You click on something, the screen goes black for 4 or more seconds, then you get your UI back.
    Some missions require escorting allied vehicles. They move very, very slowly. One at a time. The game doesn't let you fast-fowrard.

    All of these types of artificial slowdowns take a huge amount of time when you add them together, making a pretty good game into only slightly above average.

    Then there's the UI:
    Hello, this is 2018. My mouse has a right mouse button as well as a left. Perhaps you can do something with that right mouse button, such as cancel a planned order? Instead I need to hit ESC or one of the other orders in order to cancel a move.
    Scrapping a mech is an option... but why not let the user know that they could sell it for more money? All I need is a "get rid of mech" option, give me the max money I can get out of it. Or at least mention that scrapping a mech gets you less money than selling it?
    When preparing for a mission, I constantly get reminded that my mech is 0.01 tonnes underweight. Yeah. I know. Stop pestering me about it.
    When exiting a mission, I constantly get reminded that I can't use my mechs until I repair them again (even though they took 0 structural damage, and are instanly available again)
    When moving your ship between systems, there's lots of unskippable video. I realize it's 'cool', but I don't want to see a jump anymore.

    When outfitting your mech, you need to create a kind of 'shopping list' of changes, and then your mechanic will proceed with those changes. If 90% way through designing your refit you realize you'd like to add another laser, you need to *cancel the entire refit* (5s loading time), go to the shop (5-10s loading time), buy a laser, go back to the refit screen (5-10s loading time), *re-do your entire refit from the top*, and then add the laser. They could have just added store items to the refit screen, and have them add to the cost of the refit, but no...

    Also, if you cancel a refit order - even seconds after you made it, you lose 50% of the money it cost to place. WTH, the game is paused, let me cancel refit orders if they're not started yet.

    Also, there's a queue of refit work - meaning only one mech can be worked on at any given time. However if you schedule any work for your mechs they are unavailable for combat even if they're not being worked on - WTH ?    … Expand
  2. socokid
    Apr 24, 2018
    9
    There are currently two reviews from "different" people with the same exact review text (Gave it a 10). Most of the low scores are from new people that have only voted on this game with very similar complaints. This is why I don't usually take the user review scores very seriously.

    If you like turned based strategy games, this is a very fun game. I just wanted to give it my honest score    There are currently two reviews from "different" people with the same exact review text (Gave it a 10). Most of the low scores are from new people that have only voted on this game with very similar complaints. This is why I don't usually take the user review scores very seriously.

    If you like turned based strategy games, this is a very fun game. I just wanted to give it my honest score and leave, but I had to post when I saw how terrible some of the other user reviews were. Goodness..    … Expand
  3. SouzGMK
    Apr 24, 2018
    2
    I'm torn with this game.

    There is a lot of potential here. The tactical gameplay is solid, and it stays true to the BATTLETECH universe. The company management component works well, and gives the campaign mode a good amount of depth. However, the battles are TORTURE to play as each move is incredibly slow to resolve, with lots of unneeded pauses throughout. Everything feels very    I'm torn with this game.

    There is a lot of potential here. The tactical gameplay is solid, and it stays true to the BATTLETECH universe. The company management component works well, and gives the campaign mode a good amount of depth.

    However, the battles are TORTURE to play as each move is incredibly slow to resolve, with lots of unneeded pauses throughout. Everything feels very drawn-out, and it makes the whole experience a lot less fun.

    Presentation and story are also underwhelming. Nothing especially bad, just really bland. It's like if Ed Sheeran wrote a game about mechs.    … Expand
  4. stonegolem
    Apr 25, 2018
    3
    As a 39 years old game developer, turn based strategy lover and a Battletech fan, I'm extremely dissapointed.

    User interface, camera controls and interactions are very similar to the late 90's first 3d rts games where you can't control the camera as it should be. Game graphics are really outdated and it's very apparent that the game was developed by the "dream game engine" Unity. It    As a 39 years old game developer, turn based strategy lover and a Battletech fan, I'm extremely dissapointed.

    User interface, camera controls and interactions are very similar to the late 90's first 3d rts games where you can't control the camera as it should be. Game graphics are really outdated and it's very apparent that the game was developed by the "dream game engine" Unity. It just looks and feels wrong.

    The idea was great and most of the tactical game mechanics are very good. However the application was terrible. Battletech universe deserved to have a professionally developed turn based strategy game instead of a college students weekend project.

    If you really want to see what is wrong with this game, then go and play XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012) and compare the user interface, camera and player controls and the visual atmosphere of that game with this one. Sure, they had a better budget for the development of XCOM, however it shouldn't be an excuse for delivering a 48 hours gamejam quality "product" to us.

    I am sad.    … Expand
  5. Stellen
    Apr 30, 2018
    0
    Unfortunately, it's a game with serious issues. Save game issues can wipe your progress, and gameplay mechanics are extremely limited. Basic concepts like overwatch or differing reload/recycle times are missing, the design for looting and salvage is very poor, and the economy in general seems fairly suspect.

    It has very weak AI, and a completely forgettable story. Player choice on    Unfortunately, it's a game with serious issues. Save game issues can wipe your progress, and gameplay mechanics are extremely limited. Basic concepts like overwatch or differing reload/recycle times are missing, the design for looting and salvage is very poor, and the economy in general seems fairly suspect.

    It has very weak AI, and a completely forgettable story. Player choice on who you work for and ally with is an illusion at best. Rather disappointing.    … Expand
  6. ScienceAdvisor
    Apr 25, 2018
    3
    Terrible optimization to the point where you will be wondering what kind of cryptominer is running both your CPU *and* GPU constantly, regardless of how little is actually going on. Poor balancing of gameplay, where SRM (short range missile) spamming is the way to go, even against heavy mechs, due to the ridiculously over-powered RNG critical strike system that was used of the normal ruleTerrible optimization to the point where you will be wondering what kind of cryptominer is running both your CPU *and* GPU constantly, regardless of how little is actually going on. Poor balancing of gameplay, where SRM (short range missile) spamming is the way to go, even against heavy mechs, due to the ridiculously over-powered RNG critical strike system that was used of the normal rule set. Finally, a broken save system that can, and probably will, wipe your progress. This forces you to sit through the tedium starting over without the ability to speed things up, or skip story elements, yet was deemed release worthy. Clearly without any kind of testing, or care.

    Warning: A lot of new Steam users trolling negative reviews, and posting fake claims of brigading behaviour have been detected and reported to Steam. So when you see someone claiming something without any supporting evidence, just cursor over their name and see if they
    have to hide their profile, to show their account is brand new. Even when marked private, Steam Level 0 will still show, and you will know the shilling is real.    … Expand
  7. kozzy420
    Apr 24, 2018
    10
    Amazing turnbased roleplaying game, if you like Xcom 2 or Divinity Original Sin 2 you will LOVE this
  8. Sardauk
    Apr 24, 2018
    10
    Old BattleTech fan. Been waiting for something like this for years. Delivers in every regard.
  9. topenhargen
    Apr 24, 2018
    1
    Terrible game from a mismanaged company that has disdain for their customers. The system requirements are way too high for what is rendered, the campaign is contrived and artificial, and performance is terrible.
    I expected nothing less from a Harebrained and Paradox
  10. wiski
    Apr 24, 2018
    9
    I've been loving the game so far, have about 7.5 hours in, plus the time I played in the Beta and the 30+ hours I watched streamed by other people in the weeks before release. This is the game I've been waiting for since MechCommander came out and I was disappointed it was an RTS instead of Turn-based, as I wanted a PC version of the tabletop game.

    This isn't exactly the tabletop rules,    I've been loving the game so far, have about 7.5 hours in, plus the time I played in the Beta and the 30+ hours I watched streamed by other people in the weeks before release. This is the game I've been waiting for since MechCommander came out and I was disappointed it was an RTS instead of Turn-based, as I wanted a PC version of the tabletop game.

    This isn't exactly the tabletop rules, but it's a really good interpretation of it. I have also had zero crashes in my time played, so I cannot comment on that issue for the people that are having it.

    I backed this game when it was on Kickstarter and am more than thrilled with what HBS has produced.    … Expand
  11. Wax-OnWaxOff
    Apr 24, 2018
    1
    -Game runs terribly slow, and the graphics are dated like it's early 2000. Frankly the old original hex maps from the original box set games have better graphics.
    -Cutscenes and voice acting are about on par with a low budget web based comic book.
    -Gameplay is agonizingly slow and you can win every fight by simply running up and meleeing the enemy mechs. -This is not the Battletech of    -Game runs terribly slow, and the graphics are dated like it's early 2000. Frankly the old original hex maps from the original box set games have better graphics.
    -Cutscenes and voice acting are about on par with a low budget web based comic book.
    -Gameplay is agonizingly slow and you can win every fight by simply running up and meleeing the enemy mechs.
    -This is not the Battletech of nostalgia for veteran BT lovers.
    Fastest way to be banned is make any comment at all about the fact they use more than two Pronouns in the character creation. Get upset they didn't include "Cis" and Insta banned.    … Expand
  12. eat5
    Apr 25, 2018
    0
    Horrible Graphics on highest settings, Mind Numblingly Horrible Story with way to many Cut scenes, hardly no Game play Mostly Flash animations, Paradox account Failure. Could not Recover Password to play Multiplayer, which might be better with out storytelling..... Unity Engine, Crappiest Game Engine ever........
  13. Electrofried
    Apr 24, 2018
    2
    This game is like an early access prototype, the cut scenes and art, while nice enough were something I would expect to see in a late 90's game. The UI is horrible, the game is riddled with major bugs. I wanted to enjoy this, I tried, but the game was just lacking in so many areas it felt like it was half done. There is no difficulty setting, little to no replayability. No multiplayerThis game is like an early access prototype, the cut scenes and art, while nice enough were something I would expect to see in a late 90's game. The UI is horrible, the game is riddled with major bugs. I wanted to enjoy this, I tried, but the game was just lacking in so many areas it felt like it was half done. There is no difficulty setting, little to no replayability. No multiplayer features that incentivise multiplayer play.

    Perhaps in six months after patches are released and some (free?) DLC added this might be worth looking at picking up on a half price sale, but for now I would take the wait and see approach unless you are a die hard battletech fan.    … Expand
  14. Overwatchkido
    Apr 24, 2018
    0
    I've had nothing but graphical glitches and bugs crashing me anytime I try to play. I gave it a few hours and only got 30 minutes into the game, of which it was mostly boring. Battletech has promise but doesn't deliver.
  15. Tusen
    Apr 25, 2018
    0
    One of the most disgusting and insulting experiences I have ever had the misfortune to play. Not only is the game a buggy mess, prone to making it completely unplayable, but it is the ultimate insult to Battletech fans. It butchers what few rules it uses from the tabletop, and changes the experience to be nearly unrecognisable from tactical Battletech while completely ignoring the popularOne of the most disgusting and insulting experiences I have ever had the misfortune to play. Not only is the game a buggy mess, prone to making it completely unplayable, but it is the ultimate insult to Battletech fans. It butchers what few rules it uses from the tabletop, and changes the experience to be nearly unrecognisable from tactical Battletech while completely ignoring the popular strategic elements. Even if judged on its own merits, without its ties to the Battletech franchise, it is a horrendously repetitive and boring game lacking in replayability and customisation chances.… Expand
  16. Xelluse
    Jul 30, 2018
    0
    I want to like this game, but can't, this game is just a walking unfinished problem, you can stuck after mission in strange screen with flying ship, saves can just disappear, so you will lose 3-4 hour playthrough, with quite dated graphics, this game overheats machine which perfectly run on Ultra games like ARK:SE and FFXV without any problem, some missions can become unfinishable... AndI want to like this game, but can't, this game is just a walking unfinished problem, you can stuck after mission in strange screen with flying ship, saves can just disappear, so you will lose 3-4 hour playthrough, with quite dated graphics, this game overheats machine which perfectly run on Ultra games like ARK:SE and FFXV without any problem, some missions can become unfinishable... And so on... In short, this game have all great things to destroy whole fun...
    So, before they will fix that - 0/10, gamebraking bugs and almost unplayable... After Shadowrun series, this product is Technical shame...

    P.S. - btw, do not upgrade Drivers, game have problems with new Nvidia set...    … Expand
  17. ensonar
    Jul 10, 2018
    1
    Poor graphics, too complex and not interesting story, slow gameplay. I expected X-com with mechs, but was very disappointed.
  18. DanteYoda
    Dec 5, 2020
    4
    This game is a repetitive slog, every mission is gain money to fund next mission and unlock new gear to literally do the same thing over again so you do not go bankrupt..

    Yes its technically Battletech but with literally no soul and a huge hardcore grind.. A Mech gets destroyed weeks in repair bays, Mechwarriors (driver) get injured weeks in hospital, It just sucks the fun out of the    This game is a repetitive slog, every mission is gain money to fund next mission and unlock new gear to literally do the same thing over again so you do not go bankrupt..

    Yes its technically Battletech but with literally no soul and a huge hardcore grind.. A Mech gets destroyed weeks in repair bays, Mechwarriors (driver) get injured weeks in hospital, It just sucks the fun out of the game, the missions are literally all the same and the difficulty is all over the place.

    The story is atypical and forgettable and so hidden inside the grind by the time you reach a story mission you've lost the will to care.

    Nothing like Mech Commander Gold which was an amazing game right through.    … Expand
  19. megabear
    Jan 28, 2019
    3
    They did many things right. Mainly the graphic, sound, music and animation. Basically all the "front side" of things. Just about everything else (the "back end") is clunky and feels incomplete however. You can read all about it in the negative reviews.
  20. tjohobbit
    Apr 12, 2022
    1
    I apolgize for kickstarted this.

    Sending 4 mechs vs full companys.
    Send 100 LRM vs a vehicle and it survives.
    Total RNG and they have no clue about the universe so a light spider have no problem taking down a heavy Atlas mech.

    Kickstarted battletech and bardstale and its only moneygrabs of old good IP´s.
  21. Zenren
    Mar 28, 2020
    4
    GrindTech might've been a better name for this game. It is repetition over and over, the attempted fix is a RNG that dramatically favors the computer opponent. You will hit a 20 ton mech ten times with skills in the 8s and 9s, and it will not die, then it will come up and headshot you with a single shot. This is something that's actually happened, numerous times, just read some posts onGrindTech might've been a better name for this game. It is repetition over and over, the attempted fix is a RNG that dramatically favors the computer opponent. You will hit a 20 ton mech ten times with skills in the 8s and 9s, and it will not die, then it will come up and headshot you with a single shot. This is something that's actually happened, numerous times, just read some posts on Reddit or Steam. This game really does nothing but anger me and the 20+ hours I spent playing it seem like a monumental waste of time. Paradox dropped this one on its head and it's not quite what it should be. Go somewhere else for a mech game, or tactical game for that matter, this game is just not what you're expecting. Fan boi's will upvote because "it's Battletech", but take it from me, a person who played every Battletech and Mechwarrior game ever released, this will only be a disappointment, and may ruin the entire franchise for you.… Expand
  22. iseeall
    Aug 10, 2019
    4
    A TBS with mechs, in Mech Commander-like setting, with clumsy controls and laggy everything.

    Pros: - selection of weapons on mechs - detailed graphics Cons: - trashy story which at least you can skip though. I'm so tired of these shovelware trash stories which the gaming industry never gets tired of producing. Can you please fire your writers and just make a game without a story?    A TBS with mechs, in Mech Commander-like setting, with clumsy controls and laggy everything.

    Pros:
    - selection of weapons on mechs
    - detailed graphics

    Cons:
    - trashy story which at least you can skip though. I'm so tired of these shovelware trash stories which the gaming industry never gets tired of producing. Can you please fire your writers and just make a game without a story? It's a waste of money to produce cutscenes and record dialog which I'll just always skip or try not to listen to. It's like, even before I see any tutorial, you already want me to drop your game in disgust
    - clunky controls
    - super-annoying camera which keeps moving around and removes the feeling of control
    - everything is slow: a few seconds waiting here, a few seconds there. That's because of all the unnecessary animations and constant movement of the camera which can't be controlled or turned off
    - the game is poorly optimized. On my new laptop (with specs enough to run VR games), in this game everything is just laggy. Especially annoying when the camera just doesn't want to hold still. Yes, that's your price of firtrees and other scenery which are completely unnecessary and just add visual clutter on the field

    This game basically reminds me why I should stick to indie games and avoid anything that's with 3D graphics or feels like it's based on a franchise. The developers are totally unaware of what TBS players want. They want interesting choices and quick, easy controls. Instead this game is just trying you tell you about some boilerplate sci-fi world and to watch laggy animations of mechs running and exploding.

    To think of it, this game would probably better work on consoles, or even on mobile. Just not sure that its clumsy graphics would work on Android phone where it belongs. It's like they wanted a game about mechs but some stupid boss told them to make it a TBS, and then they spent half the of their development time trying to hide the fact that it's a TBS because some abstract 10 y.o. boys from the projects might find it boring or something. What a mess of a game...    … Expand
  23. sixsixfive
    Jun 5, 2019
    4
    - poor story
    - only partially voiced
    - enemy turns can't be skipped
    - no translations
    - poor equipment store systems
    - high system requirements
  24. Strikearrow
    May 21, 2023
    0
    I love the Battletech/Mechwarrior lore and games. I've played them since MW2 including all the subsequent games. This one is a bust. The UI is clunky and the coding is very poorly optimized. It's atrocious. MW3 was the most playable version by far, but MW4 was more balanced. This game is clunky and slow for no good reason. The mechlab even lags.

    By far its biggest flaw is the    I love the Battletech/Mechwarrior lore and games. I've played them since MW2 including all the subsequent games. This one is a bust. The UI is clunky and the coding is very poorly optimized. It's atrocious. MW3 was the most playable version by far, but MW4 was more balanced. This game is clunky and slow for no good reason. The mechlab even lags.

    By far its biggest flaw is the atrociously awful coding - the game crawls and the graphics do not justify the huge resources it requires. I mean lagging in the mechlab is unacceptable in this day and age. It should respond instantly when I click from one tab to another.

    Another flaw is the turn-based concept. Mech Commander 2 was a top down RTS with pause and when you had pause, then you do not need turns - turns are just redundant when pause exists. However, I would guess that this game would not even run as an RTS due to the resource drain.    … Expand
  25. CodyYoung
    Feb 22, 2021
    0
    An obtuse game poorly explained, with worse pacing, and inconsistent mechanics.
  26. pcapinheiro
    Mar 2, 2022
    2
    L... O... A... D... I... N... G
    Logos da produtora, distribuidora, etc.
    L... O... A... D... I... N... G Tela inicial. L... O... A... D... I... N... G cutscene bem básica. L... O... A... D... I... N... G L... O... A... D... I... N... G L... O... A... D... I... N... G Game lento, com telas gigantes de L... O... A... D... I... N... G entre qualquer coisa. O jogo até parece    L... O... A... D... I... N... G
    Logos da produtora, distribuidora, etc.
    L... O... A... D... I... N... G
    Tela inicial.
    L... O... A... D... I... N... G
    cutscene bem básica.
    L... O... A... D... I... N... G
    L... O... A... D... I... N... G
    L... O... A... D... I... N... G
    Game lento, com telas gigantes de L... O... A... D... I... N... G entre qualquer coisa. O jogo até parece interessante, mas a paciência vai embora muito rápido. A campanha é bem chata e L... O... A... D... I... N... G
    Parece ter muita coisa interessante nesse game, mas não basta para segurar, Tudo bem que é um jogo em turnos, mas tudo leva muito tempo nesse jogo. Tudo demora, e tem mais L... O... A... D... I... N... G pra qq coisa que você clica.    … Expand
  27. wojownik133
    Jul 26, 2021
    4
    I was disappointed with the game. Slow and rather boring. I know plenty of better tactics games.
  28. Nemyue
    May 5, 2018
    6
    This game deserves neither 0 nor 10.

    It is fairly fun but it needs a lot of improvements.

    Pros:
    Interesting background story
    Addictive battle system for turn-based game fans.
    Good soundtracks

    Cons:
    Weak storytelling.
    Slow-paced battle
    (the playtime for battles can be significantly reduced if you cut out battle cutscenes in the options menu.)
    Poor optimization.
  29. WillGamer
    Apr 30, 2018
    6
    I do like this game but... it is in need of some serious patching and was probably released a couple of weeks too early. Its slow. Everything from the animations to loading a list of save games.
    My top QOL changes for now:
    1. Give us an option to multi select save games to delete. I have hundreds and I wanted to delete some of the older ones to try speed up the wait on the load save game    I do like this game but... it is in need of some serious patching and was probably released a couple of weeks too early. Its slow. Everything from the animations to loading a list of save games.
    My top QOL changes for now:
    1. Give us an option to multi select save games to delete. I have hundreds and I wanted to delete some of the older ones to try speed up the wait on the load save game screen.
    2. Fix the memory leak. looks like the game gets slower the longer you play.
    3. Bind keys to a quick save and quick load option.
    4. Add a manual or something. There are still icons on the screen that assume I know what they mean through trial and error.    … Expand
  30. Moki
    Nov 11, 2018
    0
    Game has serious optimization issues. The manufacturer has also added pauses to aid in slowing things down. Add in the occasional crash, and very common lock up. This game plays like a 40 hour baseball game; doesn't matter how much you like baseball, it's painful at best. Add to this some very weak dialogue and questionable game mechanics and it's like a late 80's game. After playing aGame has serious optimization issues. The manufacturer has also added pauses to aid in slowing things down. Add in the occasional crash, and very common lock up. This game plays like a 40 hour baseball game; doesn't matter how much you like baseball, it's painful at best. Add to this some very weak dialogue and questionable game mechanics and it's like a late 80's game. After playing a previous version where I could be a pilot in a mech, why would anyone want to be a main character who is basically an npc ? How are people giving this a 10?… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best PC Game of 2018
30
#30 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
14
#14 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 62 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 62
  3. Negative: 0 out of 62
  1. RPG Fan
    Mar 5, 2020
    84
    BattleTech is a special kind of experience that doesn't come around too often. As much as it demands from you, it offers equal or greater reward in return. As I said before, this property is very dear to my heart, so it brings me joy to see this game achieve what it sets out to accomplish with so much success.
    Read full review
  2. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 13, 2018
    80
    Return to the future to tin monster wars has its flaws, but even so Battletech grabs your attention and does not let go. Lovers of robotic battles will be definitely intrigued. [Issue#286]
  3. CD-Action
    Jul 6, 2018
    80
    MechCommanders’ beautiful dream finally came true in a form of a couple dozen hours of excellent tactical gameplay underpinned by good visuals and superb music. [06/2018, p.46]
See all critic reviews »