In Classified: France ’44, Absolutely Games takes players deep into the heart of World War II, offering a turn-based strategy experience set against the backdrop of the months leading up to the Allied invasion of France in June 1944. As players take command of a special-ops team comprised of Allied commandos and French resistance fighters, the game presents an intriguing premise that explores the often overlooked efforts of resistance movements prior to the pivotal D-Day invasion. Published by Team17, it’s a game that we were very much looking forward to after having met with the developer previously during Gamescom – let’s see how it turned out with a look at the PlayStation 5 version.
The narrative backdrop for the game provides a fitting setting for the tactical squad-based combat the game offers. Players start with a small team of Allied troops dropped into France, gradually expanding their roster as the campaign progresses. Each character comes with their own background and personality, adding depth to the diverse cast of individuals involved in the resistance efforts. And what we especially like about Classified: France ’44 is how much care went into the historical accuracy – which makes it feel like you’re learning something new about a well-documented period in time. However, while the setting shines, the storytelling and narrative can feel a bit underwhelming at time. Interactions between your characters tend to veer towards the superficial, lacking meaningful depth or investment despite the high stakes of the wartime setting. Perhaps the developers wanted to stay away from too much drama for the sake of accuracy, but a more personal touch could have helped.
Gameplay mechanics in Classified: France ’44 are firmly rooted in the XCOM-inspired turn-based strategy genre. Players lead their squad through a series of missions across Nazi-occupied territory, employing familiar mechanics such as action points, cover systems, and specialized abilities. The emphasis on suppression adds an interesting twist, where every shot taken affects morale, influencing both player and enemy tactics. This is something that can be seen to great effect when you start surrounding an enemy, who then quickly loses hope. The core gameplay loop is certainly satisfying in this sense, and well executed, though genre veterans might lament not seeing too much that differentiates this one from similar titles.
The game’s faction system introduces an element of strategy that extends beyond the battlefield, as players navigate relationships with different factions to unlock bonuses and resources. However, this mechanic feels somewhat shallow, lacking the depth of competing loyalties or meaningful consequences for player choices – something that to a degree ties into the comments about narrative mentioned before. Additionally, you’ll notice that the game becomes progressively more challenging due to new enemy varieties and mission objectives, but a few tactics feel a bit overpowered and easy to exploit – we wouldn’t be surprised if we saw some post-launch balance fixes.
Visually, Classified: France ’44 presents a mixed bag. While the overview map and mission environments capture the essence of World War II settings effectively, a few graphical glitches can momentarily detract from the immersion. Character designs are serviceable, though not as impressive as the environments in which they operate. Despite these drawbacks, the game’s attention to detail helps to maintain engagement and a sense of immersion.
In terms of controls and performance, Classified: France ’44 holds up well, with an intuitive UI design that works well on the PS5 and smooth gameplay mechanics, especially if you’re used to XCOM-style games. We assume small issues like pathfinding troubles will be fixed, but even with those in place the game’s core gameplay loop remains very engaging, offering a satisfying blend of strategic depth and historical authenticity.
Overall, Classified: France ’44 stands as a really good entry in the turn-based strategy genre, offering an enjoyable if not too innovative experience. While it may not revolutionize the genre, its blend of historical authenticity and tactical gameplay provides a solid foundation for players interested in exploring a lesser-known arena of World War II resistance movements. For us, it was well worth the wait and an easy recommendation to turn-based strategy fans.
Score: 8.2/10
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