Phantom Doctrine

 PC
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 33
  3. Negative: 1 out of 33
  1. Guardian
    Aug 16, 2018
    40
    Phantom Doctrine may find an enthusiastic audience with strategy-game masochists. It is complex and open-ended; there are multiple ways to finish missions, and they’re are not always about taking out targets. But it’s also punishing and opaque, poorly explained and hampered by a flummoxing plot. For most of us, it’s a confused and very niche experience.
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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Aug 14, 2018
    For a game about spies, Phantom Doctrine is atrocious at providing you with information. It doesn’t set up its pieces in an interesting way, it just pretends to – and while it has some neat ideas I haven’t gone into detail on, that’s because I so rarely needed to engage with them.
  2. Vice
    Aug 24, 2018
    An interesting and atmospheric tactical spy game that never quite comes together.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Discussed PC Game of 2018
30
#30 Most Shared PC Game of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 121 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 81 out of 121
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 121
  3. Negative: 24 out of 121
  1. vvanguard
    Aug 14, 2018
    10
    Phantom Doctrine (PD) is the newest installment from polish developer CreativeForge Games. They are known from Hard West (also a turn-basedPhantom Doctrine (PD) is the newest installment from polish developer CreativeForge Games. They are known from Hard West (also a turn-based tactical game set in the wild west with a satanic twist).
    Their newest game is set in the cold era period where the player controls undercover agents who are trying to stop an evil plot of a super secretive organization who's aim is to cause world war 3.

    I personally grew up on games like UFO, Jagged Alliance or X-com.
    I liked the latest installment from Firaxis, but i despised the dumbed down feel of the latest xcom games. Dont get me started on the RNG, with having an experienced marine not being able to shoot with a shotgun from point blank range. Or the lifeless base management.
    Well, CFG up'ed their game with PD. The game is not linear, and the player decides on how he will time manage his team and their agenda.
    The absolute cherry on top I would say is the revealing and gathering of intelligence and misc data. The player needs to connect the dots in order to reveal a valuable piece of information, leading him to either a secret base of the opponent, or allowing him to recruit a double agent OR revealing that the player himself, has a mole among his team.
    Another original idea and how CFG did not plan to dumb down the genre, is mission prep. In each mission the player has to decide on what kind of support he will take with him in order to complete the mission with the utmost success. You can decide to go guns blazing and take a team of snipers and spotters to make your life a bit easier, or go completely silent and rely on comm's and unveiling portions of the map to make passage of your agents easier.
    Dont get me wrong - this game is NOT easy. Its demanding on both fronts from the player - on how he manages his time, his resources, how to deploys his team and his tactical sense.
    The customization is also something PD heavily improved from xcom and allows you to fully customize the agents and their appearance.

    TLDR; its a breeze of fresh air in turn-based tactical genre, anyone who ever enjoyed xcom, Jagged alliance and UFO will have tons of fun!    … Full Review »
  2. Acronymous
    Aug 14, 2018
    10
    This is a serious espionage experience with a tactical, turn-based combat. If you liked XCOM you should definitely try it and if you're a fanThis is a serious espionage experience with a tactical, turn-based combat. If you liked XCOM you should definitely try it and if you're a fan of spies, conspiracies and Cold War you're gonna love it.

    There are moments when it is obvious the game had not have the same budget as Firaxis' masterpiece but at less than 40$ it is worth every penny from its price. Challenging, satisfying and NO RNG!!! I mean, no more missing shots from two feet away!
    Every strategy fan should give it a go as it might be solid candidate for a GOTY in this particular genre.    … Full Review »
  3. BLADELING
    Aug 15, 2018
    0
    it's practically unplayable. The combat system is broken.
    Don't expect an X-Com in spy sauce, this game has nothing to do with it.
    I do not    it's practically unplayable. The combat system is broken.
    Don't expect an X-Com in spy sauce, this game has nothing to do with it.
    I do not understand why the developers released Phantom Doctrine in this state. There were so many good ideas behind it! :(    … Full Review »
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