Sudden Strike 5 is Coming. Is The Series Any Good? (Ep.54)
Welcome back to Critical Moves! In this episode, hosts Jack and Adam welcome newest team member Sid to break down the Sudden Strike series - the World War II real-time tactics franchise that's been quietly serving a dedicated fanbase for over two decades. With Sudden Strike 5 recently announced at Gamescom and promising ambitious features like 300+ units, co-op PvE gameplay, and massive 25-hour campaigns, we dive deep into why this arcade-style strategy game occupies such a unique space in the genre. Sid walks us through his experience with the series from the original game through Sudden Strike 4, explaining the core gameplay loop that focuses on tactical resource management, fuel and ammo conservation, and scripted reinforcements rather than traditional RTS base-building. We explore why Sudden Strike has struggled to gain mainstream recognition despite four previous entries, discussing how it sits awkwardly between hardcore military simulations like Men of War and more accessible titles like Company of Heroes, making it too arcade for wargaming purists but potentially too tactical for casual RTS fans.https://criticalmovespodcast.com
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New Year, New Game (Ep.53)
To celebrate the new year of Critical Moves Podcast, Al, Tim and Adam sat down to recommend a new game for the others to try. These were games that the others had never played before but that each hoped their co-hosts would enjoy. Games recommended were: Tim: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1207650/Suzerain (for Al) https://store.steampowered.com/app/1434950/HighFleet (for Adam)Al: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2088550/Dying_Breed (for Adam) https://store.steampowered.com/app/3556750/Warhammer_40000_Dawn_of_War__Definitive_Edition (for Tim)Adam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/457140/Oxygen_Not_Included (for Al) https://store.steampowered.com/app/25900/Kings_Bounty_The_Legend (for Tim)We will come back in a few months and let you know what we thought of them.
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Heroes of Might and Magic: OE or Endless Legend 2. Which Is Better? (Ep.52)
Jack and Adam compare two modern revivals of strategy design: Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era and Endless Legend 2. We cover how HOMM OE modernises the classic loop, the daily and weekly map rhythm, city growth, unit upgrade forks, and where it stumbles with a cluttered spell UI and questions about handcrafted maps. We dig into Endless Legend 2’s Civ-style shell with heroes anchoring armies, event chains that create real attachment, and the tides mechanic that reshapes the map, plus the tutorial build crashing on our end and why it still kept us playing. The thread through both is a character-led 4X style that looks like Civ but plays closer to HOMM and Age of Wonders, with smaller tactical scopes and more authored micro-stories. https://criticalmovespodcast.com
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54:41
Steam NextFest Special (Ep.51)
Adam, Jack, and Tim dig into the October 2025 Steam Next Fest lineup. They highlight the most promising strategy titles, the ones to skip, and talk about how Steam’s visibility system shapes the fortunes of indie developers. The discussion covers what works, what doesn’t, and why the algorithm can make or break smaller strategy games.https://criticalmovespodcast.com
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RTS Is Quietly Having a Comeback (Ep.50)
Nuno, Al, and Jack talk about how modern real-time strategy has changed — and improved. Dawn of War: Definitive Edition shows the strength of classic design, while new projects like Tempest Rising and Broken Arrow push toward a leaner, more deliberate form of RTS. The conversation covers what recent games are getting right, where design has shifted, and why the future looks more promising than it has in years.https://criticalmovespodcast.com
À propos de Critical Moves Podcast - Strategy Videogames
Critical Moves is a strategy games podcast that takes RTS, 4X, and tactics seriously. Most gaming podcasts treat strategy games as an afterthought. We don’t. Every week we cover real-time strategy, turn-based tactics, 4X empire builders, indie experiments, and overlooked classics with long-form analysis and no wasted time.This isn’t quick reviews or recycled talking points. It’s sharp criticism and honest discussion about strategy game design. If a game is shallow or broken, we’ll say so. If it does something clever, we’ll explain why it works. We talk to developers without the marketing filter, getting into the mechanics and design choices that actually shape the games.If you want a RTS podcast, a 4X podcast, or a place for smarter conversations about tactics and strategy gaming, this is it. Critical Moves is made for players who think about systems, mechanics, and design—not just surface impressions.New episodes every Friday.https://criticalmovespodcast.com
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