Developer: Mizrab Game Studios
Platform: Steam / PC

They don’t make ‘em like they used to… but sometimes, someone actually tries.

That’s exactly the vibe I got when I booted up Tactical Warfare, the throwback RTS from indie developer Mizrab. From the second the title screen loaded, I felt transported straight back to a time when Command & Conquer ruled the genre.

Retro Charm with Extra Glitches

The story is simple, if not original. Two warring factions are locked in a battle for the planet’s resources. One faction hails from Earth, while the other comes from a parallel universe almost identical to ours. Both are human, and, as you might guess, human greed is the driving force behind their conflict.

To succeed, you’ll need to balance resources, technology, defense, and offense. Resources are vital at the start of each match, so make sure to churn out harvesters to collect what you need. Once your economy is rolling, you can focus on defending your bases as you expand and rake in more resources across the map.

But don’t get too comfortable—even on the easiest settings, the AI is aggressive enough to attack before you’ve even finished building a few turrets. So, don’t turtle; build both defensive and offensive units early, because you’ll need to fend off enemy attacks right from the get-go.

A Soldier’s Seat

One pleasant surprise is Tactical Warfare’s third-person control mode. Like in Uprising, you can jump directly into the action, piloting a tank or chopper across the battlefield.

It completely shifts the pace—suddenly, you’re not just a commander; you’re right there in the thick of it. It’s a fun feature (though expect some clunky aiming and pathfinding), but the ambition is clear. It needs refining, but it stands out as one of the game’s strongest hooks.

You've Been Promoted

There’s also a leveling system that makes you genuinely invested in your units. Troops who survive gain promotions that boost their stats and unlock new weapons. This adds a surprising amount of depth—watching an underdog unit you rescued early on become an unstoppable force is especially satisfying.

Just don’t expect your units to use their best weapons automatically; I scoured the settings for a hotkey but found nothing. So yes, prepare for some old-school micromanagement—click by click.

Campaigns Carry, Skirmish Stumbles

It’s not just the visuals that feel retro, either; it’s the attitude. The UI looks like it hasn’t seen an update since CRT monitors were state-of-the-art. Even the bugs feel era-appropriate: units freeze, commands occasionally go ignored, and tanks sometimes lose interest in following orders.

Somehow, rather than ruining the experience, these quirks feel oddly appropriate—like a vinyl record with a skip that somehow makes the song better.

What the game offers right now is a mixed bag—but a promising one. The ten campaign missions (five for each faction) show real care: actual stories, structured pacing, and new units and objectives introduced at a manageable pace.

Skirmish mode exists, but it feels more like an afterthought than a fully developed feature. And multiplayer? Don’t bother for now. It’s technically there, but I couldn’t find a match, and what options exist feel half-baked.

Brown and Beautiful

Visually, the game’s aesthetic is no accident; it’s a loving nod to the classics. Starting the game may make you think you’ve entered the world of 90s DOS games. The brown, dust-blown terrain paired with brightly colored units creates a stark contrast that’s both retro and practical. It’s clear and readable—and charming in its lo-fi way.

There’s a bit of trivia behind this: some of Tactical Warfare’s graphics were inspired by scanned sketches from the developer’s high school notebooks. That personal touch gives it an extra layer of nostalgic warmth, like booting up a half-remembered favorite from childhood. Sure, the glitches are real—but they fit the game’s old-school vibe. It’s not polished, but it has personality.

Your Final Orders

Despite its shortcomings, let’s not forget that Tactical Warfare is still finding its footing, despite being out of Early Access. Everything you love (and hate) about classic RTS games is still here—in all its unfinished glory. Think of it as a living project: rough around the edges but packed with potential.

If you can overlook its flaws and treat its bugs like familiar old friends, it’s worth checking out. It won’t replace the classics—nor does it try to. Its real achievement is simpler: it lets you relive them by dropping you back onto the battlefield one more time.

Pros:

• Perfectly captures the spirit and aesthetics of classic ’90s RTS games
• Third-person control mode adds a fun, unexpected twist. Still glitchy though.
• Unit promotion system adds depth and strategy
• Campaign missions are more polished than expected
• Retro art style is both functional and charming
• Ambitious for an indie title, with plenty of potential

Cons:

• Bugs and glitches are frequent
• No option to auto-select best weapons for upgraded units
• Skirmish mode feels shallow compared to the campaign
• Multiplayer mode is nearly non-existent at the moment
• Some UI and control elements still feel clunky and unfinished

If you enjoyed this blast from the RTS past, dive into more of my reviews at www.walawala.gg/reviews where good games deserve a second look!