Rising Front is an ambitious single-player war simulation FPS developed and published by Sandstorm Studios Inc., version 1.0 was released on Steam on 10 Jan 2026. At its heart, Rising Front seeks to recreate large-scale historical battles — from World War I trench warfare to Revolutionary and Franco-Prussian War conflicts — with a mix of first-person combat, tactical overhead command, and an emphasis on sandbox freedom and mod support.
Since its initial Early Access launch in January 2023, Rising Front has amassed thousands of overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam, scoring around 90% positive user feedback and building an enthusiastic community of players who enjoy both its scale and creative potential.
Let’s follow us at Indie Games Tavern to dive in this indie game review, now!
Gameplay & Core Loop
Rising Front blends first-person shooter action with strategic elements that let you influence battlefield outcomes far beyond your own gun. The game supports both FPS combat and top-down command, giving players the freedom to jump into the fray as a soldier or step back to issue orders to companies of troops across the map.
Grand Battles & Scale: Battles in Rising Front can feature hundreds or even thousands of AI-controlled units, including infantry lines, cavalry charges, artillery bombardments, and more. This scale creates dramatic battlefields where your decisions and actions feel impactful amid chaos.
Varied Military Forces: You’ll encounter a mix of units such as cavalry from multiple eras — including World War I, Revolutionary War, and Franco-Prussian cavalry divisions — alongside 30+ aircraft types capable of fighter sorties and bombing runs.
Tactical Tools & Terrain: Rising Front also features procedural AI cover, a real-time building system for defensive positions, artillery, and a workshop that allows players to create and import custom maps, units, weapons, and more.
This loop — deploy, engage, adapt, and recreate — makes each session feel dynamic and distinct, whether you’re leading a bayonet charge or coordinating artillery barrages from a hilltop.
What Works Really Well
🔥 Massive Scale & Immersion: One of Rising Front’s biggest strengths is its scope. Seeing hundreds of units clash across open fields or entrenched positions evokes a sense of war’s scale rarely seen in FPS titles. Whether on horseback or behind machine-gun fire, battles feel dramatic and rivalling mock battlefield reenactments.
🎮 Dual Play Styles: The option to fight in first-person or take a strategic overview enhances replayability. Some players relish charging into enemy lines, while others enjoy orchestrating troop movements and watching their tactics unfold.
🛠 Workshop & Customization: Steam Workshop integration allows players to craft and share custom units, maps, and even buildables. This significantly boosts longevity and community engagement — players aren’t limited to the base game’s scenarios.
👍 Strong Community Ratings: With ~3,000 player reviews and a consistent Very Positive rating, Rising Front clearly resonates with players who enjoy its sandbox battlefield focus.
Areas for Improvement & Considerations
While Rising Front has a passionate fanbase and massive potential, it does come with notable caveats.
⚠ Performance & Stability: Managing battles with massive numbers of units can strain performance on some systems, and occasional stability issues have been reported by players pushing the game’s limits.
⚠ Repetitive Combat: Despite its scale, combat loops can feel repetitive over long sessions, especially without structured objectives or narrative context to frame battles.
These are notable, but many are common growing pains in sandbox games.
Final Thoughts
Rising Front is a remarkable feat of indie war simulation, delivering battles of scale rarely seen outside of large-studio titles. Its hybrid mix of first-person action, strategic command, and extensive mod support makes it a compelling choice for players who love sandbox warfare and historical conflict simulators. The title excels at creating epic battlefield spectacles that feel alive with chaos and opportunity, and its workshop tools unlock near-endless creative potential.
To us at Indie Games Tavern, its nature means occasional rough patches in AI, performance, and combat variety. But for players willing to embrace that and enjoy building scenarios as much as fighting through them, Rising Front is one of the most exciting grassroots war games on Steam today.
Who Should Play It?
✅ Fans of historical war simulations — especially those fascinated by World War I and earlier conflicts.
✅ Players who enjoy mix-and-match gameplay — combining FPS action with strategy and sandbox tools.
✅ Creative builders & modders — thanks to Workshop support and robust customization.
✅ Solo players who like sandbox freedom — the flexible battle setup invites experimentation.
Who Might Wait or Skip It?
⚠ Those who prefer tightly balanced multiplayer experiences may be disappointed — Rising Front focuses on single-player sandbox battles.
⚠ Gamers sensitive to performance dips in large unit battles may want to ensure their system is up to the task.
Rising Front Review by Indie Games Tavern.
Your cozy corner of indie gems. We’re more than just a indie game review channel, we’re a sanctuary for the unsung heroes of indie gamedev. Born from a love of the underdog, the quirky, and the downright brilliant, the Indie Games Tavern is your trusty guildhall for discovering the finest indie games—those hidden gems, wild experiments, and heartfelt labors that big studios often overlook. Picture this: a weathered oak table laden with scrolls—each a indie game review penned by your tavern scribes, folks like me who’ve braved the pixelated wilds to bring you tales of triumph, terror, and everything in between.
Indie Games Tavern 
Leave a comment