Silent Service cover art

Silent Service

The classic WWII Pacific submarine simulator of stalking Japanese convoys and plotting torpedo attacks.

On Steam ↗
Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION2 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE5 /10OPTIMIZATION7 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    2/10

    Periscope aiming and timing matter, but pace is slow

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    Escort AI is scripted; no adaptive opponent

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    5/10

    Convoy composition and detection rolls are hidden randomness

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    7/10

    Torpedo solutions and approach plotting are solvable geometry

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Bad North cover art

Bad North

Systems & Chaos · minimalist real-time tactics

E
R
V
O
Bad North
The Banner Saga cover art

The Banner Saga

Systems & Chaos · tactical RPG

E
R
V
O
The Banner Saga
DREDGE cover art

DREDGE

Systems & Chaos · fishing horror adventure

E
R
V
O
DREDGE
Project Zomboid cover art

Project Zomboid

Pure Optimization · zombie survival sim

E
R
V
O
Project Zomboid
Prison Architect cover art

Prison Architect

Pure Optimization · construction management sim

E
R
V
O
Prison Architect
The Long Dark cover art

The Long Dark

Systems & Chaos · wilderness survival

E
R
V
O
The Long Dark

Game details

Released
1985
Developer
MicroProse Software, Inc.
Platforms
Apple IIGS, Thomson MO5, Atari8bit, PC-9800 Series, C64, ZXS, Atari-ST, DOS, Amiga, Apple][, ACPC, NES
Modes
Single player
IGDB users
60/100
SimulatorHistoricalWarfare