PC Critic Reviews

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a great showcase for its world and has some nifty mechanics for both tower development and exploration. I once invested an uninterrupted 20 minutes simply placing foundations and balconies for a stone tower that served as the anchor for a couple of ports, simply to improve the architecture of that island. Unfortunately, the beauty of all these spires and walkways cannot compensate for a certain sense of aimlessness. The three campaigns don’t feel too different, and combat is too automated to feel interesting. Like its massive towers, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles has good foundations but it doesn’t offer something engaging to build towards.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an interesting piece of work. As a city builder, its simplicity in the actual building process is complemented by the unusual environment for the genre. That alone is enough to make simple settlements look cool. As a strategy game, the attempts to simplify some of the traditional mechanics of the 4X genre work surprisingly well, but some elements, like combat, could've used more attention so it doesn't feel like an afterthought. The end result isn't going to be for everyone, but it is worth a look for those who want to jump into the genre and appreciate something out of the ordinary.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an odd game that you will either really like and have a lot of fun with or it is going to frustrate the heck out of you, but I think ultimately I have to err on the side of it trying new things even if I don’t think it totally sticks the landing. Take that with the appropriate header.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is an impressive solo achievement. Its disregard for traditional goals, victory conditions or game-limiting objectives makes Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles stand out in a — pun intended — sea of builders. As a set of automated construction mechanics, the Freebuild Mode feels great. Sometimes the campaign scenarios sit uncomfortably in the middle, tasking players to discover how things work but not always giving them a clear, actionable goal. Fans of games like Townscapers will enjoy Bulwark very much, and players of more traditional RTS games will appreciate its fresh approach to the genre.

Tomas Sala’s second Falconeer game may come across as nicher at first glance, but it’s far easier to approach and have a great time with despite some baffling inconsistencies.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is as beautiful as it is original. The developer’s ambition and fresh approach to the city builder genre are commendable, but the decision to force players to discover the game’s mechanics on their own has brought mixed results, while the lack of a proper challenge becomes a problem during longer sessions.

With its artistic and creative approach, Bulwark offers a genuine experience, which may however quickly become boring for some types of players.

Simple and beautiful to look at, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles is a pleasant distraction but lacks the depth in its combat and economy to stay interesting for very long.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles lays down some solid ambitions foundations for autonomous city building, as you construct soaring towers and trade hubs for your oceanic colony. And while the resistance to duplicate conventional types of play is commendable, there’s a distinct lack of challenge, making this more of an open-ended plaything than your usual goal-driven game. Hopefully, the developer can make a few changes to make the autonomy a bit more engaging.

Tomas Sala, with a handful of helpers, created a somewhat strange game, the exceptionality of which cannot be doubted. But you will only have a limited amount of fun. However, Bulwark can impress you with a difference that you won't find in other strategy games.