Holdfast: Nations at War Console Review, Bayonets, Banter, and Bloody Brilliant Chaos
Right then, boots polished, musket loaded, tea brewed, let’s talk Holdfast: Nations at War on console. Big thanks to Anvil Game Studios for sending over a code so I could spend an entire weekend doing my best redcoat cosplay and blasting baguette enthusiasts into next week. Honestly, my serotonin levels haven’t been this stable since I discovered biscuits and gravy.
So What the Hell Is Holdfast?
Imagine a game where Call of Duty takes off its shirt and tries historical roleplay after one too many beers. That’s Holdfast. It’s a third- or first-person shooter that plops you into either World War I or the Napoleonic era, though let’s be honest, if you’re booting this up for the WWI side, you’re doing it wrong.
This is a game where you’re not just playing a soldier, you’re the poor sod at the front of the charge with 149 other people shouting, missing every musket shot, and dying heroically for a flag you barely remember enlisting under.
Naval battles? Check. Line infantry charges? Yep. Screaming into voice chat while someone plays the recorder behind you? Oh yes.
“I came for the history, stayed for the man with a Scottish accent yelling at me to reload faster.”, paraphrased Steam review
It’s like Total War, except instead of commanding troops, you are the troop, and you’ve just been shot by a 14-year-old playing the fife.
The Vibe Check: Gloriously Unhinged
The energy here is unmatched. The community doesn’t just play the game, they perform it. One minute you’re lining up with your mates, the next you’re being barked at by a self-appointed officer quoting Shakespeare with a Yorkshire accent while cannonballs whistle past your ears.
“Feels like a reenactment hosted in a pub car park, and I mean that in the best way possible.”, paraphrased Steam review
It’s chaos. But it’s organized chaos. The class system’s deep enough to matter without making you feel like you’re taking a bloody certification exam. You’ve got riflemen, medics, officers, cavalry, sappers, sailors, and absolute madmen with drums.
You’ll die a lot. That’s kind of the point. It’s not twitch shooter speed, it’s patience, timing, and laughing when your entire line misses a volley and gets wiped by one bloke on horseback.
Progression and Unlocks: Come for the Carnage, Stay for the Cosmetics
Look, I don’t need much. Give me a title, a flashy emblem, maybe a fancy hat. And Holdfast delivers. There’s actual stuff to grind for, and that’s refreshing these days. You unlock emblems, banners, different rifles (although whether those rifles do anything differently is anyone’s guess, might just be the same musket with a new hat, really).
“No clue if the guns change a damn thing, but my new one looks cooler and I’m dying with slightly more dignity.”, me, basically
It’s simple. But it works. You come back because you want to hear someone yell “FIX BAYONETS!” in a bad Cockney accent while waving your new regimental banner like a lunatic.
The Bad Bits (Because Even Legends Limp)
Let’s not pretend this game is flawless. It isn’t. But here’s the thing: it wears its jank like a badge of honour. Still, some things deserve a gentle slap on the wrist.
❌ No Iron Sights
That’s right. You’re aiming like it’s 2003. Crosshair floating in the middle of your screen like a budget FPS mod. It works, kind of, but iron sights would be an absolute game-changer.
“I don’t need a scope, I just want to see where I’m pretending to shoot.”
❌ Melee Is a Joke
I don’t know what the sword hitboxes are doing, but I’ve swung at someone’s neck and somehow hit a tree five feet away. Meanwhile, Chad McBagpipes is slicing through four people like a hot sabre through butter.
❌ Graphics? Eh
Don’t expect miracles. This ain’t winning any awards for visual fidelity. But you can blow up towers and watch people fall out screaming, so it gets points for personality.
❌ Minor Bugs
Trying to interact with things sometimes requires the ol’ quit-and-pray method. It’s rare, but when it happens, you’ll remember it.
The Community: Absolutely Bonkers, In the Best Way
Here’s the real selling point: the people. You will hear accents. You will hear battle cries. You will hear someone reading Napoleon quotes off Google like it’s an open mic night. And it’s fantastic.
“Joined a server and immediately got drafted into a French line led by a guy doing a flawless Inspector Clouseau impression. 10/10.”, paraphrased Steam review
This is one of those rare games where the chaos is part of the fun. The moments aren’t scripted, they’re born from 149 strangers all deciding to play pretend together with bayonets and questionable aim.
Final Thoughts
This game? It’s not polished. It’s not pristine. It’s not even always functional. But it is fun, and that’s something so many games forget to be.
For $16.99, you get carnage, comedy, camaraderie, and cannonballs. It plays smoother than some $70 AAA messes I won’t name. You can tell the devs care. The servers are full. The laughs are constant. And the immersion? Chef’s kiss, with soot and gunpowder.
“It’s Chivalry meets Monty Python in a battlefield you actually want to be in.”, paraphrased user comment
If you’ve ever wanted to scream at a Frenchman in a mud-covered trench while a drummer bangs out “God Save the King” behind you, this is your game.
Strengths & Drawbacks
| ✅ Strengths | ⚠️ Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Unique community-driven atmosphere | Visuals and melee mechanics feel dated |
| Strategic depth via class system | Gameplay may feel slow if you hate reload pacing |
| Diverse and chaotic modes — land, sea, siege | Menus and UI on console could be more intuitive |
| Solid console port and stable servers | Cosmetic unlocks don’t affect gameplay performance |
Verdict: 8.5/10
Bring a musket. And a sense of humour. And maybe a helmet, not for protection, but to hide your shame after you miss five shots in a row.
