"Strategy in its purest form" – free game launches with 93% positive reviews

Take a classic strategy game like Age of Empires and strip away everything non-essential – what remains is War of Dots. There are no sprawling tech trees or cluttered menus, just clear rules, fast-paced matches, and more room for tactical thinking. The trade-off comes in the visuals: War of Dots is built entirely from colored zones and, as the name suggests, simple dots representing units.

The core gameplay centers on capturing cities, which function as both production hubs and supply centers. Controlling more cities provides an automatic economic advantage. The unit system is deliberately simple, consisting of just two types: light and heavy troops. Light units are inexpensive, flexible, and effective across most terrain, while heavy units move more slowly but offer greater durability and combat power.

The economy follows the same minimalist philosophy. Each city can support up to five units – any additional troops will begin to starve. As a result, expansion is not just helpful but essential for long-term success. While classic solo play is available, War of Dots places a strong emphasis on multiplayer, featuring quick online matches, ranked PvP, team battles, and even a map editor for custom battlefields. Player response has been positive so far, with much of the praise focusing on the game’s surprising strategic depth, delivered without a steep learning curve.

Players note that the simplified interface could still benefit from some fine-tuning. There also appear to be issues with account creation, with many reporting difficulties when trying to register. That said, the free-to-play model removes any real barrier to giving it a try. With a strong 93% positive rating based on around 150 reviews, War of Dots might be well worth a look for strategy fans. Steam Deck compatibility (available on Amazon for $530) is currently listed as “Unknown,” but the game’s minimal system requirements suggest it should run smoothly on modern handheld PCs.