Bomber Crew: Deluxe Edition

Bomber Crew is an exciting, in-depth management sim with a charming style that offsets the occasionally brutal difficulty of keeping your crew alive and trying to hit a target, all in real time. A rewarding upgrade cycle makes some trial-and-error frustration worthwhile, and once you get into the groove you can lose hours to its enjoyable rhythm.

Bomber Crew takes the FTL formula to WW2, but it can be a bit of a bumpy ride.

Despite its unyielding nature and curiously juxtaposing approach to its characters, Bomber Crew is a sometimes thrilling and constantly rewarding title. Favouring roguelite progression, strategy and resource management over frantic arcade-style combat, if you can get past the simple, cute visuals and steep learning curve you'll find a rich, intense and satisfying experience here.

Bomber Crew is an immersive RAF Bomber RTS which will thrill fans of the genre, the crew management concept, and the WW2 time period. It features fun and engaging gameplay which is likely to feel fresh for a solid 10 hours, but to some, not much more. RTS fans may wish to wait for a small price drop from $15, but anyone enticed by the whole premise, and doesn't mind repetition, wouldn't go wrong at the full price either.

Bomber Crew is increasingly difficult and often frustrating, but it has bags of charm and completely suits the Switch. Playing portably is a great way to experience the game; it looks lovely and contains some wonderful nuances within the sound and features. I loved the little homing pigeon, decaling my plane with garish pictures of Yoshi and solving problems, if only there weren’t so many problems to solve at the same time.

Bomber Crew is an amazing accomplishment for a team of just two people. It's an enjoyable, well thought out, and immersive little game that will scratch most people's micromanagement itches. Having mouse control on a PC version might be advantageous, and therefore the way to go with a potential purchase, but the portable nature of the Nintendo Switch means you can take your crew everywhere you go. Win-win.

Under that childish layer that can repel in the first instance, Bomber Crew hides a deep gameplay, where tension and the need for quick decisions are the order of the day. Perhaps its curve of difficulty can reverse neophytes in the genre, or perhaps the handling could have somehow taken advantage of the touch screen of the console, but who knows how to ignore these small problems will find a worthy heir to Faster Than Light set in World War II that will provide you with many hours of gameplay.

Bomber Crew is the rare game that combines many of the things I personally enjoy, but that doesn't mean it's without its faults.

Bomber Crew surprised me quite a bit, especially after getting accustomed to its odd control scheme.  Replay value is somewhat hindered in Campaign mode but is quickly forgotten with the fast gameplay, the obsessions of upgrading your plane, and Challenge mode. Whether you are into the history of World War II, simulations, or just fun gameplay, Bomber Crew could have something you are looking for in a new game.

Combining strategy, action and roguelike permadeath, Bomber Crew is thoroughly enjoyable, and well worth a look.