Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts Reviews

A lot of reviews already mentioned that the game has been abandoned. But something that wasn't mentioned is how horrible the performance is during campaign fights due the the amount of ships in one battle, which makes this game mode really unattractive. A shame since this game had potential.

Unfortunately no longer recieving updates, fundamentally broken game which is being carried by modders

OK, so development has ended and it's not perfect. That's the way games always used to be sold before permanent early-access, ever-update, online requirements. After nearly 150 hours I haven't encountered any obvious or critical bugs. = It works well, if not brilliantly. It looks good, if not great. The UI is easy to use, if not as comprehensive as I'd like. There's a lot of information if you look for it but the greatest weakness is, perhaps, that the tutorials and in-game help don't explain some things as well as they could. The ship design is great, the combat a little cartoony, the strategy on the easy side of satisfying as far as I've seen (I'm still only at 1910 from an 1890 campaign start so I might get my arse kicked later ^^). If you enjoy ship design and strategy games this can be highly recommended.

I love this game. It takes me back to my PS2 games playing "Naval Ops Gunner" and "P.T.O. IV." There are two things I would really love to see in this game. The first would be a an overhead tactical screen that appears just before a battle begins. It could have a grid pattern with which players could set the distance between ships. They could then drag and drop ships into the formations they desire. They could also right-click on the mouse to assign ships into different divisions as well as functions. Second--and I'm definitely not the first person to say this--but I would absolutely love to see a version of this game that would match the functions and play of P.T.O. IV, only with the detail and abilities of modern gaming. This would include creating aircraft carriers and submarines in addition to the wide assortment of surface ships. I would also love to design my own aircraft, using research to improve their performance. Having the options of either AI aircraft assignment or player-based assignment would be fantastic. For this game, though, as it stands, is a joy to play both strategically and tactically. My thinks to everyone who contributed to it to whatever degree they helped.

The game is abandoned. I can only recoment the game to naval enthusiasts that are bored of RTW3, and prefer 3D graphics, but the game is seriously full of bugs, horribly optimized, and not worth it to play if you don't add mods. The developers messed up, they kept spiting out uptades that broke previous systems, solved 1 bug only to add 3 more, and then did the same again in the next uptade. Previous versions before 1.7 are seriously better if you don't plan to play with mods.

A great game with immense potential that got killed just to start another failed venture. This game is simply left as unfinished by now and the developers already posted the final update and declare the game dead. Now UG;AR is also dead, shame on you, Game-Labs.

Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts, developed by Game-Labs and officially released in 2023 after a lengthy early access period, stands as a rare gem in the naval strategy genre. It successfully fuses tactical real-time combat with an impressively detailed ship design system, set during a historically rich period spanning from the late 19th century through World War II. With a focus on the rise and evolution of dreadnought battleships — the ironclad titans that redefined naval warfare — the game invites players to become both an admiral and an engineer, crafting and commanding fleets in large-scale, realistic naval battles. The result is a uniquely immersive experience that appeals to fans of both strategic warfare and historical naval engineering. At the heart of Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts lies its ship design system, which is arguably the most intricate and satisfying feature of the game. Players aren’t simply handed a fixed roster of units; instead, they design every class of ship from the keel up. Each hull can be customized with a multitude of options — gun calibers, turret placements, armor thickness, propulsion systems, secondary batteries, torpedoes, and more. Every decision comes with trade-offs: increasing armor makes a ship tougher but heavier and slower; larger guns deliver more punch but cost more and require better stability. The result is a nuanced, almost puzzle-like experience where players must balance firepower, speed, and survivability — all within budget and tonnage limits. This process alone could be a game unto itself, and those who love tinkering and theorycrafting will find endless satisfaction in fine-tuning their designs. The campaign mode builds on this depth by adding a strategic layer that turns the game from a tactical simulator into a grand strategy experience. Players take control of a naval power — such as Britain, Germany, Japan, or the United States — and are tasked with maintaining naval supremacy over decades of shifting technology and geopolitics. You oversee everything from research and diplomacy to fleet logistics and territorial expansion. Political decisions can lead to alliances or wars, technological breakthroughs can open up new ship types or weapons, and mismanagement can result in economic crises or civil unrest. Unlike many naval games that isolate battles from broader context, Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts gives weight to every decision; a poorly designed fleet or misjudged war can doom an entire campaign. Combat in Dreadnoughts is tactical and deliberate, favoring methodical positioning and fire control over fast-paced action. Battles unfold in real-time with pause functionality, allowing players to issue orders, adjust formations, and focus fire as needed. Ships maneuver in formation, targeting enemies based on range, angle, and gun alignment. The ballistic modeling is robust, simulating shell trajectory, armor penetration, and damage compartmentalization — so angling your ship to deflect incoming fire can mean the difference between survival and catastrophic explosion. Watching your ships exchange broadsides with enemy battleships, shells splashing around them while fires rage on deck, is a visually and emotionally compelling experience. The AI generally provides a competent challenge, although at times it can exhibit odd pathfinding or suicidal aggression, especially in tight or coastal maps. The progression through naval eras is another highlight. Players start in the 1890s, when naval doctrine was still dominated by pre-dreadnoughts and wooden-hulled cruisers, and gradually advance into the steel-and-firepower age of World War I and II. The slow transformation of fleets over time mirrors real-world history, where naval innovation exploded between 1900 and 1945. This sense of evolving technology is reinforced by a dynamic research tree that opens up new armor types, radar systems, super-heavy guns, better torpedoes, and even aircraft carriers (though carrier mechanics remain limited compared to traditional ships). Each technological leap offers new strategic possibilities — such as the introduction of long-range fire control systems, or the shift from coal to oil propulsion — making tech progression feel truly meaningful. Visually, Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts strikes a solid balance between form and function. The ship models are richly detailed, with visible turrets, lifeboats, smokestacks, and rigging — and the damage modeling is particularly satisfying, showing fires, listing hulls, and shell impacts in real-time. The sea environments are well-rendered, with realistic wave physics and lighting, although graphical fidelity isn’t cutting-edge by modern AAA standards. Still, the emphasis on clarity and simulation accuracy means the visuals serve the gameplay rather than distract from it. The user interface, while dense, is generally clean and navigable, though newcomers may find the sheer volume of options and data overwhelming at first. A more comprehensive tutorial system would help ease new players into the complex mechanics without the need for constant trial and error. Sound design is functional and immersive, with appropriate audio cues for gunfire, torpedo hits, and sinking ships, though the soundtrack is minimal and often unmemorable. This fits the slow-burn pacing of the game but may feel sparse during long battles or campaign sessions. What the game lacks in cinematic flair, however, it makes up for in strategic tension and emergent storytelling — no two campaigns play out the same, and every ship loss or hard-fought victory carries emotional weight, especially if you personally designed the fleet involved. Despite its many strengths, Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts is not without flaws. Performance can become an issue in large engagements, especially when dozens of ships are exchanging fire simultaneously. AI behavior, while solid in broad strokes, can falter in complex maneuvers or under heavy fire, occasionally leading to immersion-breaking moments. Additionally, while the campaign is compelling, diplomacy and espionage mechanics can feel underdeveloped or overly simplistic, and the lack of a proper multiplayer mode may disappoint players hoping for competitive or cooperative battles with friends. Some users may also find the mid-to-late game grindy, as long wars of attrition can become repetitive without dynamic events to shake things up. In conclusion, Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts is a rich and rewarding naval strategy game that offers an unmatched blend of tactical combat, shipbuilding depth, and grand strategy. It succeeds in delivering a historically grounded experience that respects the complexity of early 20th-century naval warfare while empowering players to become masters of both engineering and command. For those who enjoy detailed simulations, alternate-history scenarios, or simply the thrill of seeing their custom battleship deliver a devastating broadside, this game is a treasure. Despite some rough edges and underbaked features, it stands as one of the most ambitious and engaging naval strategy titles in years — and a must-play for enthusiasts of the genre. Rating: 7/10

Game was good when it was supported. Now the game is not finished, has many glaring issues and has been abandoned by the developers who think that mass producing incomplete games is a good way to make money. Do not buy this game or any other game this poor excuse of a developer creates.

It is very fun and i like the game but it is hard to understand at first and to be honest i still don´t understand a lot of things

Despite all it's Problems, I really enjoy the game. Shame the Devs abandon ship. Glad they fixed a lot of the issues before they left. Hope the modding community can keep it alive. Doing my last play through for a while at least. The game for me ends in the 1940s, i usually start at 1900. Recommend first time players play the US. They are stupid easy to play, and a great way to learn mechanics. It's a slow start because the US is isolated but it's possible to conquer all of Europe by 1915. just stay out of wars until 1907 and keep the transport and research slider at 100. Limit which ships have torpedoes, the AI is not that smart and will full broadside a friendly less than 300 yards away. I only put them on CLs and DDs. I've had battles where I've lost more ships to friendly torpedoes than enemy shells. my Current play through I have a German CA, KMS Wuppertal that has sustained over 230 torpedo hits from friendly warships over 15 battles or so. And the Most important thing is, Never send Battleships and BattleCrusiers out un-escorted. Subs and destroyer swarms are nightmares for lone BBs and BCs