''Trenches'' is a strategic
World War I video game first developed for the
iPhone and
iPod Touch
The iPod Touch (stylized as iPod touch) is a discontinued line of iOS-based mobile devices designed and marketed by Apple Inc. with a touchscreen-controlled user interface. As with other iPod models, the iPod Touch can be used as a music pl ...
by American studio Thunder Game Works. The initial version launched on December 24, 2009.
Gameplay
''Trenches'' is a combination of a Castle Attack and
Tower Defense set during World War I. The player is put into the role of a Battlefield Commander for the
British Expeditionary Forces in Western Europe during 1914 against the
German Army
The German Army (, "army") is the land component of the armed forces of Germany. The present-day German Army was founded in 1955 as part of the newly formed West German ''Bundeswehr'' together with the ''Marine'' (German Navy) and the ''Luftwaf ...
, or vice versa, and the player must accomplish a set of missions to complete the game during the campaign. The game spans throughout the war as the game progresses, allowing the play to unlock more classes and artillery.
The player must allocate resources and hire units to combat enemies units advancing from the right side of the screen. Units include the Riflemen, Machinegunner, Sniper, Engineer,
Mortar Team, and randomly spawned Officers that add aura-based benefits to allied units. Players also have access to off-screen artillery support that include High Explosive Bombardment and
Poisonous Gas.
The game includes a variety of skirmish modes that includes
King of the Trench (King of the Hill) and a Zombie Horde mode, with a subsequent updated adding cooperative and competitive multiplayer.
Reception
''Trenches'' released with a wide range of ratings and response and was featured by Apple under "Hot New Games", "Most Addicting Games", "Best Strategy Games", and "Made for
iOS4
iOS 4 is the fourth major release of the iOS mobile operating system developed by Apple Inc., being the successor to iPhone OS 3. It was announced at the Apple Special Event on April 8, 2010, and was released on June 21, 2010. iOS 4 is the fi ...
". ''Trenches'' earned PocketGamer's Bronze Award.
Press
''
Kotaku
''Kotaku'' is a video game website and blog that was originally launched in 2004 as part of the Gawker Media network. Notable former contributors to the site include Luke Smith, Cecilia D'Anastasio, Tim Rogers, and Jason Schreier.
History
...
'' praised the game after it was patched.
''Trenches'' received a 3 out of 4 from Slide to Play with reviews stating that it was "an addictive trench-filled WWI strategy game that shares a few aspects with the war itself."
''
MTV
MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...
'' stated that ''Trenches'' was an impressive and tight iPhone experience.
The title received some negative criticisms at its launch due to a simplified gaming experience.
TouchArcade stated that the game can be completed by overwhelming the enemy with basic units and contained a very short campaign. Thunder Game Works publicly acknowledge this and released a substantial update to add new skirmish modes, multiplayer, and an extended campaign.
Updates
Thunder Game Works has later announced a standalone spin-off version of its popular Zombie Horde skirmish mode, ''Stenches'', which expanded on the Zombie Horde mode's features and gameplay.
''Trenches HD'', the iPad version of ''Trenches'', has been released as ''Trenches: Generals.''
''
Trenches 2'' was announced in 2011 and was released on December 15, 2011.
References
{{Reflist
2009 video games
IOS games
IOS-only games
Tower defense video games
Video games developed in the United States
World War I video games
Single-player video games