Stronghold: Definitive Edition

The main pros of the game

• Nostalgia Factor: Many players appreciate the nostalgic elements of the game, enjoying the return to a classic they loved from their childhood.
• Visual and Audio Upgrades: The game features upgraded visuals, music, and sound effects, which enhance the overall experience while retaining the charm of the original.
• Strategic Gameplay: Players find the game to be a competent blend of city-building and tower defense mechanics, appealing to fans of strategy games like Age of Empires II.
• Campaign Enjoyment: The campaign missions are generally well-received, with some players enjoying the challenge and strategic elements involved.
• Immersive Experience: The game is described as charmingly immersive, with a satisfying gameplay loop centered around building and defending castles.

The main cons of the game

• Bugs and Technical Issues: Several users reported encountering major bugs, including pathfinding problems and units disappearing, which detracted from the gameplay experience.
• Difficulty and RNG Issues: Some missions are criticized for being overly reliant on random events (RNG), leading to frustrating experiences where players feel they have little control over outcomes.
• Limited New Content: Some players feel that the new content and missions are uninspired or lack depth, making the game feel like a minimal remaster rather than a comprehensive update.
• Lack of Skirmish Mode: There is disappointment regarding the absence of the popular skirmish mode, which many players enjoyed in previous iterations of the game.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Skirmish Mode: Users expressed a strong desire for the inclusion of a skirmish mode, which was not part of the original game and is not supported in the Definitive Edition.
• Improved Pathfinding: Many players expected enhancements to the pathfinding mechanics, which were seen as outdated and problematic even in the original game.
• Artistic Map Borders and Mini-Map Improvements: Suggestions were made for better visual elements like artistic borders on maps and a mini-map that shows the entire map for easier navigation.
• Balanced Mission Design: Some users indicated that certain missions felt unfair or poorly designed, suggesting a need for more balanced gameplay mechanics that do not rely heavily on random chance.

Summary

• Overall, while Stronghold: Definitive Edition has been appreciated for its nostalgic value and visual upgrades, it faces criticism for technical issues and a lack of some features that players hoped would be included in the remaster.

Summary generated on: October 8, 2025