Phantom Doctrine

KeenGamerParker James

9/10

Phantom Doctrine is an enjoyable turn-based spy thriller game based in the 1980s Cold War. For fans of Xcom 2's more covert stuff, Phantom Doctrine will scratch that itch while sharing the lengthy game time and brutal difficulty.

Phantom Doctrine did come out of nowhere to become a truly enjoyable and memorable experience. If you had have told me six months ago that it would be possible to take the pulp sci-fi, raw entertainment of XCOM and apply it to a Cold War espionage narrative, I wouldn’t have believed you. That’s exactly what has been delivered here, though, and I hope it has the chance to surprise plenty of other people.

Nintendo World ReportJoel A. DeWitte

8/10

Whether it’s because I can play it untethered from the television or how it eschews the alien threat for a relatively more grounded espionage take on the genre, I found the break-up between on-the-ground missions and reconnaissance activities fresh if uneven, and the removal of dice rolls for hit rate removes obfuscation that for me made combat a much more rewarding endeavor. If you’re someone like me who liked Mario + Rabbids but wished there was more depth or don’t particularly love sci-fi themes, Phantom Doctrine is a worthy alternative.

Game InformerJeff Marchiafava

8/10

Despite the inherent focus on exotic locales, high-stakes plot twists, and stealth-driven action, spy video games are mysteriously few and far between. Phantom Doctrine tackles the underappreciated genre from a cerebral perspective, distilling its core concepts through the XCOM filter of turn-based tactical encounters and menu-driven base management. The abundance of systems takes a lot of time and experimenting to unpack, but if you’ve got the patience, the investment pays off.

Worth PlayingChris "Atom" DeAngelus

7.5/10

Phantom Doctrine is a turn-based tactical Cold War espionage game.

Video ChumsA.J. Maciejewski

7.4/10

The Cold War was a fascinating time in our world's history yet there aren't many games focused on this era of espionage and intrigue. Phantom Doctrine is a brand new tactical turn-based stealth RPG so let's send our spies into action.

Metro GameCentralGameCentral

7/10

An inspired XCOM clone, whose spy movie atmosphere inspires an emphasis on stealth rather than action – which is a good job given the somewhat flawed combat.

Capsule ComputersAdmir Brkic

6.5/10

With some incredibly vague story and punishing gameplay, I can only recommend it to hardcore turn-based strategy fans.

COGConnectedLillian King

64/100

It’s 1983, and you’re CIA…or KGB, depending on what kind of person you are. You look out into the world and you see dark forces threatening to turn the tide of evil. Only you have the espionage and tools to stop it. That’s right, you’re playing Phantom Doctrine, a spy tactics game that’s as frustrating to play as it is attractive to look at it.

Nintendo LifeDom Reseigh-Lincoln

6/10

Phantom Doctrine certainly shares plenty of DNA with the much-adored XCOM series, but it lacks the polish that’s made the likes of XCOM 2 such an enduring example of how to do tactics right. When Phantom Doctrine really doubles down on the minutiae of its spycraft – including the solving conspiracies and the stealth-focused nature of its missions – its own personality shines through. It’s certainly scrappy here and there – especially when it comes to managing the meta of its spy network – but push past these imperfections and you’ll have plenty of licence for kills (and the occasional thrill).

WellPlayedArana Judith

6/10

East and West, who's the best?

Checkpoint GamingEdie W-K

Unscored

Phantom Doctrine is a turn-based spy thriller set in an advanced-tech version of 1983 – a fun mix of wacky James Bond adventure and dry John le Carre mystery. It comes to us from CreativeForge Games, the developer of the 2015 strategy Hard West. They’ve left the wild west behind to put their turn-based tactics and asset management mechanics in a new setting: the Cold War.