Strategy
The Red Solstice
Give it 5 hours
Gets good by 5h then rated almost like by veterans
Fully opens up by 10h rated like by long-time players
Started playing 26% of owners
Steam reviews 71% positive of 2,559
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 2 reviews are negative (52%); after 10h it's 1 in 8 (13%).
- Fully opens up by hour 10.
- The opening is criticised more than in 81% of games we track.
- Most players drop off before “Colony Dark”: only 65% of starters get there.
- Only 26% of owners have even the first achievement — the rest barely played.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 2,569 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 246 reviews: 5.8h for positive, 1.1h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (25.5% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Colony Dark You have completed Colony dark mission Most players quit here 65% −35
- S.A.R.A. You have completed S.A.R.A. mission 30% −35
- Stonewall You have completed Stonewall mission 25% −5
- Balance of Power You have completed Balance of power mission 22% −3
- Chasing Echoes You have completed Chasing echoes mission 20% −2
- Castel Nuovo You have completed Castel nuovo mission 19% −1
- Bonds Which Bond You have completed Bonds which bond mission 19%
- V.L.A.K. Transport You have completed V.L.A.K. transport mission 18%
- The fabian strategy You have completed The fabian strategy mission 18%
- Smoke and Mirrors You have completed Smoke and mirrors mission 17% −1
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (73)
story milestone ending side
- M.E.R.C.S. Armor You have located the hidden M.E.R.C.S. armor 100%
- Colony Dark You have completed Colony dark mission 65%
- First encounter! You have seen it, and you have killed it! 63%
- Survivalist You have survived, and that's what it counts for! 55%
- Call down the thunder! You have taken out hellspawn with SHIVA weapon. 45%
- Man of Duty You have contributed to salvation of Tharsis, whether for the good of it, or for the bad. 44%
- Frosty You have succesfully activted the distress signal with Frosty! 41%
- Veteran You know your way around, you've been here for some time. 32%
- S.A.R.A. You have completed S.A.R.A. mission 30%
- Stonewall You have completed Stonewall mission 25%
- Nemesis of the dark You got on the field, you took them down in one round, 50 high threat kills. 24%
- Balance of Power You have completed Balance of power mission 22%
- Chasing Echoes You have completed Chasing echoes mission 20%
- Dirty Little Secret You have completed the Insurgents storyline succesfully. 20%
- Project Terra You have completed the Project Terra storyline succesfully. 20%
- Castel Nuovo You have completed Castel nuovo mission 19%
- Tactical Advantage You have mastered all 8 classes. 19%
- Bonds Which Bond You have completed Bonds which bond mission 19%
- V.L.A.K. Transport You have completed V.L.A.K. transport mission 18%
- The fabian strategy You have completed The fabian strategy mission 18%
- Bronze Star Bronze Star Medal is awarded a person who has distinguished himself or herself by heroic or meritorious achievement. In order to have a chance to earn this medal, you need to complete all primary objectives and finish few secondary missions and objectives. 17%
- Smoke and Mirrors You have completed Smoke and mirrors mission 17%
- Soldier's Medal Complete storyline on Recruit. 17%
- Experienced Assault Complete primary storyline and 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 17%
- Scientist You have completed the science sector on soldier difficulty or higher. 17%
- Veterans Medal Complete storyline on Soldier. 17%
- Experienced Heavy Support Complete primary storyline and 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 17%
- Experienced Hellfire Complete primary storyline and 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 17%
- Experienced Medic Complete primary storyline and 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 17%
- Industrialist You have completed the industrial sector on soldier difficulty or higher. 17%
- Campaign Order Complete storyline and finish Industrial sector on Soldier. 16%
- Experienced Demolitions Complete primary storyline and 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 16%
- Experienced Marksman Complete primary storyline and 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 16%
- Experienced Recon Complete primary storyline and 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 16%
- Experienced Terminator Complete primary storyline and 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 16%
- Field Service Achievement Finish all objectives on soldier, have 0 casualties among the squad, finish 1 secondary mission and storyline. 16%
- Force Cross Lead a team to victory on soldier, as one of the leaders, finish 3 secondary missions and complete storyline. 16%
- [M.E.R.C.S.] Win the game in Hardcore, Primary, Secondary missions with 4 marines, and finish all objectives. Defeat Vivian Parks, or win normal difficulty alone. 16%
- Purple Heart Awarded to those who have almost fallen, but succeeded. 16%
- Veteran Assault Complete primary storyline and 2 secondary missions on Veteran. 16%
- Veteran Heavy Support Complete primary storyline and 2 secondary missions on Veteran. 16%
- Veteran Medic Complete primary storyline and 2 secondary missions on Veteran. 16%
- Aetriden Medal of Honor Complete storyline in Military sector on Aetriden and evacuate Tyler Hunt, Vivian Parks must survive. This medal can be awarded to those who have fallen in battle. 16%
- Aetriden's Cross Lead a team to victory on aetriden, as one of the leaders, finish 3 secondary missions and complete storyline. 16%
- Colonial Distinguished Service Colonial Distinguished Service placeholder description 16%
- Colonial Superior Service Finish all objectives on aetriden, have 0 casualties among the squad, finish 1 secondary mission and storyline. 16%
- Commander Cross Lead a team to victory on veteran, as one of the leaders, finish 3 secondary missions and complete storyline. 16%
- Cross of Honor Win the game on Military sector on Soldier, Vivian Parks and Tyler Hunt must survive. This medal can be awarded to those who have fallen in battle. 16%
- Distinguished Force Specialist Activate project F.L.U.F.F.Y. Finish everything. Rescue everyone. Ammo Efficiency above 75%. Veteran difficulty. 16%
- Elite Assault Complete primary storyline and 3 secondary missions on Aetriden. 16%
- Elite Campaign Order Win Red Storm, evacuate Tyler Hunt and all followers, finish 3 secondary missions on Military sector. 16%
- Elite Demolitions Complete primary storyline and 3 secondary missions on Elite. 16%
- Elite Heavy Support Complete primary storyline and 3 secondary missions on Aetriden. 16%
- Elite Hellfire Complete primary storyline and 3 secondary mission on Aetriden. 16%
- Elite Marksman Complete primary storyline and 3 secondary mission on Soldier. 16%
- Elite Medic Complete primary storyline and 3 secondary missions on Aetriden. 16%
- Elite Recon Complete primary storyline and 3 secondary missions on Aetriden. 16%
- Elite Terminator Complete primary storyline and 3 secondary mission on Aetriden. 16%
- Field Service Commendation Finish all objectives on veteran, have 0 casualties among the squad, finish 1 secondary mission and storyline. 16%
- Force Specialist Cross Win project F.L.U.F.F.Y on military.Specialist Cross placeholder description 16%
- Legion of Assault Win Red Storm, Fast mode and complete storyline with 1 secondary mission on Soldier. 16%
- Legion of Merit Complete storyline, evacuate all followers and Tyler Hunt, win fluffy hunt on Aetriden in Military sector. 16%
- Brutal Hardcore You have finished single player in brutal hardcore mode 16%
- Hardcore You have finished single player in hardcore mode 16%
- Order Of Colonial Defense Activate all mods except bunker/tactical/point capture, finish storyline and 1 secondary on veteran. 16%
- Order of Colonial Force Survive 20 minutes into overrun on veteran and evacuate. 16%
- Silver Star Win the game on military sector. Ammo efficiency above 83%. Evacuate Tyler Hunt. 16%
- Veteran Campaign Order Evacuate Tyler Hunt, evacuate all followers, finish 1 secondary mission on Residental sector. 16%
- Veteran Demolitions Complete primary storyline and 2 secondary missions on Veteran. 16%
- Veteran Hellfire Complete primary storyline and 2 secondary missions on Veteran. 16%
- Veteran Marksman Complete primary storyline and 2 secondary missions on Soldier. 16%
- Veteran Recon Complete primary storyline and 2 secondary missions on Veteran. 16%
- Veteran Terminator Complete primary storyline and 2 secondary missions on Veteran. 16%
Steam page Updated: 2026-10-19.