Grand Tactician: The Civil War (1861-1865)

After having played this game more; I wanted to revise my original review a bit and add some additional context. I wish there was a "mixed" recommendation. On one hand, the dev(s) are active responding to feedback and emails when sent bug reports and save files. Patches are semi-frequent; it's clear the dev(s) have passion and want this game to be great. I can't deny that I have had some fun playing this game, and have had some memorable moments and battles. The game-breaking issue I outlined in my original review below has only ever happened that one time; so either it is exceedingly rare or whatever underlying causes existed have since been fixed. However, I must also be upfront and say that there are still some jarring issues, primarily with the strategic and tactical AI, that can severely detract from the overall experience. I would like to eventually change this review to a positive wholehearted recommendation. I believe that eventually I can do so in good faith if the dev(s) keep up their work and keep fixing and improving the game. As I mentioned earlier, I wish there was a "mixed" recommendation. This game definitely has its fun moments, and currently there are no other Civil War titles that come close to matching the scope and features of Grand Tactician. If you are okay with the possibility of bugs or weird/bad AI potentially torpedoing a campaign that you have sunk hours into, I'd say go ahead and give it a shot because when it works, it works really well. But, every time you enter a battle, every time you start the game, you never know if the AI is going to decide to derp out or if some morale or ammunition bug might cause you to lose a major turning point battle. -------------------------------------------------- ORIGINAL REVIEW: I just picked this up despite some of the reviews, and I can confirm that game breaking issues are still present that have not been fixed despite a paid DLC coming, despite the game having been out for nearly two years now. It would not surprise me if I came back in 3 years to check up on the game again only to find that the major issues have outlasted the Confederacy IRL. I encountered a plethora of game-breaking issues in my latest CSA campaign that caused the whole campaign to "soft-lock". Time could still move forward, but the union AI stopped doing anything at all, towns/depots would not switch control, I could not physically save the game, subsidy and policy progress were stuck despite time moving forward, etc. I don't even know how to describe how broken the game became, and due to the fact that the game would not let me save (it seemed to be stuck on autosaving?) I cannot even share the save for troubleshooting. I physically couldn't quit either, the game gave me an endless black screen when I attempted to quit, so I had to kill it in task manager. All in all, hours of progress lost. I could forgive the lackluster AI but the fact that this game still has such game breaking issues that have not been fixed but yet there's a paid DLC coming does not paint a good picture. All of that isn't even mentioning the terrible performance; 12-14FPS during larger battles with 100,000+ men. I have an i9-13900K, 3090Ti, and 64gb of DDR5 RAM. Although this isn't a "twitch" game or one that requires high actions per minute, that kind of performance is frankly inexcusable. I will update this review accordingly for future patches and what not, but nearly two years after release and there still being such major issues is not very reassuring. I cannot recommend the game in its current state. There are hints of greatness marred by bugs, poor design decisions, and sub-par AI that bring the game down significantly.

They're recent dev post sounded great but at the very end they said they would no longer be working on the civil war and only other games in the gun powder era, kinda thought that energy was going to be put into this game but ya know, im not trying to trap devs into a lane but I could hope

What can I say about this other then it is a far superior product then Ultimate General in every aspect. It follows the battles YOU fight. So...if you move down South and fight Bull Run and destroy the rebel scum? Well, that actually matters! You may not fight historical battles now. You'll be fighting the war in how YOU'VE been playing. Not how it actually happened. You can equip your men, deploy them and go cav, infantry, artillery with much more flexibility. As for the battle itself? Slow, but thats taken into account with x2, x5 and x20. You can shatter the entire enemy morale and win a battle, even being outnumbered. The AI does need some work but it has shown improvement. In defense battles, I will dig in and form a line that they can't break and instead of following the quickest route to the objective as they used to do...they'll skirt around to another avenue of attack and I'll need to shift my forces to counter. Nice. The economy aspect is...well trash. Easily. I've found much more enjoyment in modding the game and removing the economy aspect. The military is where its at. The surrender mechanic REALLY needs improvement though. I shouldn't be able to sorround an enemy army...5 to 1 and they route and run THROUGH my line of Union blue. All in all: This is one of the best Civil War games out there, 2nd only to Sid Meier's: Gettysburg!

The game has a lot of bugs and at times it can get a little boring. However, I always have a lot of fun and it is worth it. The game doesn't do a great job showing you how to do everything, but once you figure it out it is great.

Grand Tactician: The Civil War (1861-1865), developed by Oliver Keppelmüller and his small indie team, is an ambitious, richly detailed grand strategy game that attempts to simulate the full scope of the American Civil War. Blending large-scale strategic planning with real-time tactical battles, the game offers an intricate experience that few historical strategy titles dare to tackle at this level of complexity. Released on Steam after a long early access period, Grand Tactician is not a polished mainstream product, but rather a labor of love aimed squarely at history enthusiasts and strategy purists. Its steep learning curve, overwhelming scope, and occasional rough edges are all part of the experience, but so too are moments of incredible immersion and rewarding depth. The game is divided into two interlinked layers: a grand strategy campaign map and a real-time tactical battle system. On the strategic level, players choose to lead either the Union or the Confederacy through one of several campaign scenarios, beginning at different stages of the war. From there, they must manage the political, economic, and military machinery of a divided nation. This involves everything from appointing generals and organizing armies to managing infrastructure, passing legislation, and navigating foreign diplomacy. The level of historical fidelity is impressive—key figures from the era are represented, and the strategic decisions available to the player reflect the political realities of the time. Whether managing the industrial juggernaut of the North or the resource-starved Southern Confederacy, players must constantly adapt to shifting conditions and long-term consequences. Where Grand Tactician truly distinguishes itself is in how the strategic and tactical layers interact. Army movement on the campaign map is realistic, with units needing time to muster, move, and engage. When armies clash, the game transitions into a full-fledged real-time tactical battle that can last several in-game days. These battles are where the game’s strengths and weaknesses both come into sharp relief. Players are given command of thousands of troops across expansive, historically accurate maps. Terrain, fatigue, morale, and command structure all play crucial roles in determining the outcome of engagements. The command delay mechanic—where orders take time to reach subordinate units—adds a level of realism that makes battlefield control feel authentic and challenging. Battles unfold slowly and require foresight, patience, and discipline, rewarding players who embrace the tempo of 19th-century warfare rather than trying to micro-manage every regiment like in a traditional RTS. Visually, the game is functional rather than flashy. The campaign map is beautifully illustrated, capturing the look of 19th-century cartography with muted earth tones, hand-drawn elements, and period-accurate styling. Tactical battles use a more utilitarian 3D engine that, while not cutting-edge, serves its purpose. Units are represented with historically correct uniforms, flags, and formations, and the environments—ranging from dense forests to rolling farmlands and river crossings—are rendered with enough detail to support strategic positioning and maneuvering. The UI, while sometimes clunky and unintuitive, provides a wealth of information, from unit stats and supply lines to detailed reports on national morale and political trends. However, new players may find themselves overwhelmed without external guides or significant trial and error. The historical atmosphere is further reinforced by a stirring original soundtrack composed by Wasyl Dvorak, which features period-appropriate arrangements of traditional American folk songs and military marches. These tracks, along with newspaper headlines, speeches, and changing political climates, help immerse players in the cultural and emotional context of the war. Whether you’re watching Maryland teeter toward secession or dealing with an army crippled by desertion and hunger, the game excels at making you feel the weight of command. The AI, though inconsistent at times, can be competent and occasionally surprising—especially in longer campaigns where it adapts to your strategies and economic decisions. Grand Tactician is not without flaws. The complexity that defines its appeal can also be a barrier to entry. The tutorial is sparse, the interface sometimes cumbersome, and bugs, while fewer than in early access, still crop up in longer campaigns or larger battles. Some mechanics—such as supply systems and naval warfare—lack clarity and can feel underdeveloped compared to the land-based military simulation. Additionally, the game demands significant time investment, not just for a full campaign (which can take dozens of hours), but for learning how its many interwoven systems work together. For those expecting the accessibility of a Total War title, this may come as a shock. However, for players willing to immerse themselves, there are few strategy games that reward attention to detail and historical roleplay to this extent. Despite its limitations, Grand Tactician: The Civil War (1861-1865) succeeds remarkably well in what it sets out to do: simulate the complexity, chaos, and high stakes of the American Civil War in a way that respects both historical accuracy and player agency. It offers a rare blend of operational-level strategy and real-time battlefield command that allows players to relive one of the most defining conflicts in American history from both the map table and the front lines. It may not be a game for everyone, but for those with a passion for Civil War history and deep strategic planning, it is an unforgettable experience—one of the most ambitious and evocative Civil War games ever created. Rating: 7/10

So much potential, hampered by so many game-breaking bugs. Which makes it even worse that it's been 6 months since the last patch. RIP.

It was fun at first. But then the developers abandoned it after releasing a DLC which, after purchasing, broke the game. A year later and not a single patch. Not an honest way to do business and they should've sold the game to someone else who takes things seriously.

There was so much potential with this title, bug with little to no support for its endless bugs, not to mention completely useless options, it becomes an absolute slog.