Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

WWII: Desert Rats places you behind the wheel of a sturdy British Jeep, thrust into the harsh expanses of North Africa. From the moment you fire up the engine, the game makes it clear that it’s as much about maneuvering as it is about shooting. Enemy convoys, bunkers and patrols appear dynamically, forcing you to think on your feet: do you charge straight in, or circle around for a flanking shot? The open-ended mission designs give you multiple avenues to approach an objective, making each playthrough feel fresh.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

A standout feature is the two-man crew setup. While the driver remains a silent but steady presence, you get to choose from five unique tail gunners before each mission. Each gunner brings a different specialty—bazooka proficiency, explosive grenade handling, or rapid-fire accuracy—yet all can adapt to any weapon slot. This choice adds a welcome layer of strategy: selecting a grenadier for bunker-busting or a marksman for picking off distant snipers can mean the difference between a clean getaway and a catastrophic ambush.

The control scheme blends third-person driving with first-person shooting sensibilities. Your keyboard handles acceleration, steering and braking, while the mouse seamlessly switches to aiming the turret behind you. The result is a fluid experience where you can drift around a dune crest while spinning the turret 180 degrees to suppress approaching infantry. It takes a bit of practice to master multi-directional shooting, but once you do, you’ll relish the adrenaline rush of weaving through enemy fire while unloading return shots.

Beyond individual missions, the game’s pacing encourages experimentation. Optional objectives—rescuing stranded comrades, intercepting supply lines or planting explosives on fuel depots—offer extra rewards and alternate narrative beats. Whether you’re aiming for a perfect stealth run under the cover of night or roaring in with engines blazing at high noon, Desert Rats accommodates multiple play styles without penalizing you for deviating from the main road.

Graphics

Visually, WWII: Desert Rats captures the sun-bleached palette of the North African theater with convincing authenticity. Sand dunes stretch into the horizon, their texture shifting realistically under tire treads and shell impacts. Scorch marks, crumbling fortifications and the occasional burst of desert flora punctuate the environment, creating a setting that feels both desolate and deadly.

The Jeep and enemy vehicles are modeled with commendable detail, from the battered canvas top to the weathered metal plating. When your chosen gunner fires the turret, muzzle flashes erupt in brilliant bursts, lighting up the interior with fleeting brilliance. Explosions send up towering plumes of smoke, and nearby walls chip and crack under sustained bombardment, thanks to an engine that balances performance with dynamic destruction in modestly sized combat zones.

Character models—including your five potential gunners—feature period-authentic uniforms, complete with sand-dusted helmets and scuffed boots. Animations are smooth during driving, shooting and reloading sequences, though some foot-chase or hand-to-hand combat stances can feel a bit stiff. Nevertheless, when you weave the visuals together—the shifting sun, the swirling dust and the sudden violence of battle—the overall effect is immersive, drawing you into the unforgiving environment of wartime North Africa.

Story

The narrative thread of Desert Rats is deliberately concise, focusing on quick-hit missions rather than sprawling campy cutscenes. You play as a veteran driver paired with various gunners, each offering bits of backstory in pre-mission briefings. While the dialogue isn’t Oscar-worthy, it nonetheless grounds you in the camaraderie and tension that defined the Western Desert Campaign.

Each mission briefing unfolds like a radio dispatch, with maps, objectives and intel from headquarters. These short vignettes set the stage without bogging you down in exposition—ideal for players eager to jump into the action. As you progress, you’ll pick up small narrative threads: sabotage efforts, rescue attempts and the advancing tide of Axis forces. Although the story rarely surprises, it provides enough motivation to keep you chasing the next objective.

What Desert Rats lacks in character-driven drama, it makes up for in historical ambiance. Enemy mortar rounds whistle overhead, commanding officers bark orders in clipped British accents, and the harsh sunlight feels almost tangible. This lean approach to storytelling means you’ll spend more time behind the Jeep than watching cutscenes, but it also ensures the pace never flags and the sense of frontline urgency stays high.

Overall Experience

WWII: Desert Rats succeeds as a focused, action-oriented war game that nails the thrill of hit-and-run operations in a desert theater. Its mix of driving and shooting mechanics sets it apart from traditional infantry shooters, while the two-man crew system adds strategic depth. You’ll invest time optimizing your gunner lineup and choosing the right loadout for each mission’s demands.

While the story remains lean and direct, it never overstays its welcome, allowing you to stay immersed in tactical skirmishes without wading through lengthy cutscenes. Graphically, the game impresses with dynamic lighting, realistic vehicle models and environmental effects that capture the brutal beauty of the Sahara. Performance is generally smooth on mid-range hardware, though very large fight sequences can cause minor frame-rate dips.

In the end, Desert Rats may not revolutionize the World War II genre, but it delivers a polished, engaging experience that’s perfect for short bursts of high-octane combat or dedicated weekend sessions. If you’ve been craving a game that lets you pilot a British Jeep into hostile territory, switch roles on the fly and feel the heat of desert warfare, this title deserves a spot on your radar.

Retro Replay Score

6.1/10