Tempest Rising Review — A Modern Classic RTS

Tempest Rising is a new real-time strategy (RTS) game that has mostly earned the praise of its fans, and I can absolutely see why. This slightly over-the-top, post-nuclear, near-future war simulation has all the charm and classic gameplay of RTS titles from the ’90s and early 2000s. It strikes a strong balance between the nostalgia of yesteryear and the polish of modern gaming, with impressive visuals and smooth performance layered on top of familiar mechanics. However, while the game does a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of its predecessors, it might come across as a little too safe—or even stagnant—for those looking for more innovation. On top of that, some noteworthy community backlash has left me cautious and somewhat skeptical about Tempest Rising as a whole.

The game’s narrative unfolds in an alternate reality where the Cuban Missile Crisis escalated far beyond what happened in our own timeline. It spirals out of control, literally detonating into a full-blown nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. It’s a believable “what-if” scenario that leans into Cold War fears and speculative fiction. What emerges from this global catastrophe are new geopolitical powers and, more intriguingly, a bizarre but incredibly potent new energy source known as Tempest. This bio-engineered plant, mutated by radiation (now a constant presence in the world), grows prolifically and produces a powerful biofuel. It’s far more efficient than anything we’ve ever seen in fossil fuels. Naturally, control of this resource becomes a central source of conflict, sparking fresh wars fought with cutting-edge weapons, many of which are only possible due to the harnessing of this strange new energy.

The first thing I have to say about Tempest Rising—before we even get deep into gameplay—is how well-developed and cohesive the game’s identity is. From the moment you boot it up, it’s clear the developers put a lot of thought into crafting a distinctive style and atmosphere. There’s personality everywhere, from the visual storytelling to the faction design and the voice acting. You’re introduced to two major factions—both ambiguously evil, which is very much in line with old-school RTS tropes. You’ve got the sleek, militarized Blue Team with a kind of “high-tech authoritarian” look, and the gritty, rebellious Red Team, who channel a Soviet-inspired aesthetic mixed with something that feels straight out of Gundam’s Zeon forces. It’s a wild mix of influences, but it works.

The characters—particularly the leaders and commanders—are big, loud, and over-the-top in the best possible way. They’re constantly giving speeches, spouting propaganda, and selling the ideology of their respective factions. It’s all done with a heavy dose of camp and theatrical flair, echoing the iconic vibes of Command & Conquer: Red Alert. Fans of those games will absolutely eat this up—it’s clear that Tempest Rising was created not just in the spirit of those games, but almost as a love letter to them.

Now, with all that being said, you can probably guess what a standard skirmish or non-campaign game in Tempest Rising looks like. You start by spawning on a map blanketed in fog of war, scout out your surroundings, secure Tempest nodes, build up your base, and then go on the offensive to destroy your enemy’s base with your superior forces. It’s the classic RTS loop that fans know and love. Each faction plays slightly differently—there are unique units, slight mechanical differences, and visual flair that give them a distinct feel. The asymmetry isn’t as deep as in, say, StarCraft, but it’s enough to keep matches feeling varied.

The gameplay of Tempest Rising is so familiar to RTS veterans that it can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, there’s strong comfort in playing something that feels like a forgotten classic from the early 2000s. On the other hand, that same faithfulness to the genre’s roots can feel limiting—or even stale. Over the past 20 years, the RTS genre has seen meaningful innovations—everything from streamlined interfaces and quality-of-life improvements to more dynamic mission design and deeper strategic layers. Tempest Rising seems content to sidestep most of those in favor of staying true to the old formula, which is admirable, but also kind of disappointing.

That’s not to say Tempest Rising doesn’t try anything new. There are some interesting mechanics at play—it just doesn’t feel like enough. One mechanic I really appreciated was how the game handles resource expenditure. Instead of paying for units or buildings all at once, your economy drains steadily over time during production. This seemingly small change has a noticeable impact on strategy, forcing you to manage your economy more carefully and time your purchases more deliberately. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s smart—and I wish there were more ideas like it throughout the game.

Visually, the game looks fantastic. The environments are crisp and atmospheric, the units are detailed, and the particle effects are satisfying without being overwhelming. There’s a surprising amount of polish here—the performance is rock-solid, and I never encountered any major bugs or crashes. From a technical standpoint, Tempest Rising runs circles around the RTS games that inspired it. The UI is clean, the pathfinding is reliable, and it’s just a generally smooth experience. All of this makes it even more of a shame that the gameplay itself feels like it never left 2002.

For some players, this won’t be a problem. In fact, the old-school gameplay will be exactly what they came for. But for others—especially those looking for something fresh or inventive—it might come across as generic, or even lazy. It’s not that the game is bad—it’s just very safe. If you’re not nostalgic for this style of RTS, there might not be much here to keep your attention for long.

One last thing I absolutely need to mention is the controversy surrounding the game’s EULA (End User License Agreement).

If you’re not familiar, an EULA is essentially the contract you’re agreeing to when you install or launch a game. It’s often full of legalese that most people skip over, but in this case, the community noticed something worth talking about. Unfortunately, Tempest Rising—as well as another title I reviewed this week, both published by Knight’s Peak under MY.GAMES—has been the target of significant backlash due to what many see as an overly invasive and even hostile EULA.

Specifically, the agreement includes clauses about personal data sharing that many feel go too far. There’s also a clause that restricts refunds, which is in direct violation of EU consumer law. Many players believe the EULA collects more personal information than it should and potentially sells it to third parties. I’m not a lawyer, so I can’t say with authority how bad it really is, but I can say this: it didn’t sit right with me, and if I weren’t reviewing the game, I probably wouldn’t have agreed to it.

If you’re someone who cares about data privacy or consumer rights, this might be a deal-breaker. Personally, I think it’s something potential players should be aware of and take into consideration. It’s disappointing that a game with this much promise is overshadowed by something like this, but it is what it is.

All that being said, Tempest Rising is far from a bad game. It’s a pretty solid RTS overall. While the gameplay can feel a bit generic and dated at times, it’s still undeniably classic and polished. The visuals are great, the performance is smooth, and the core loop remains fun, especially for fans of the genre. If you’re on the hunt for a nostalgic RTS title with a touch of flair and just a hint of innovation, Tempest Rising might be exactly what you’re looking for.

TryHardGuides was provided a PC review code for Tempest Rising. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on our Game Reviews page! Tempest Rising is available on Steam.