Sumerian Six is a stealth-focused tactical RTS game where you play as a ragtag group of scientists hunting down Nazis during WWII. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Sumerian Six Review Overview
What is Sumerian Six?
Sumerian Six is a tactical RTS that leans heavily on stealth, smart positioning, and meticulous resource management as you infiltrate and dismantle Nazi bases across the globe. You command a squad of eccentric intellectuals armed with bizarre technology and quirky abilities—known as the Sumerian Six—as they embark on a globe-trotting mission to stop the creation of a new "Wunderwaffe," or German wonder weapon. Every encounter pushes your squad to the edge, but with clever tactics and careful use of resources, you have everything you need to tip the scales in your favor. All you need to do is figure out how to best use what you've got.
Sumerian Six features:
⚫︎ Real-time stealth-based tactics
⚫︎ Mid-mission upgrade options and side objectives
⚫︎ Developing story set in WWII
⚫︎ Full voice acting with original soundtrack
⚫︎ Three difficulty levels for players of all skill levels
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam |
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| $29.99 |
Sumerian Six Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Reverent to the Events of WWII Great Accssibility Options Foster Creativity Over Raw Skill |
Has a Bit of a Skill Floor The Story is Too Long Too Easy to Soft-lock Yourself |
Sumerian Six Overall Score - 80/100
Sumerian Six is perfect for short bursts of play, but it’s not a game you'll likely want to binge. It boasts solid visuals, a great soundtrack, and a meticulously designed gameplay loop centered on synergy and strategy. However, with so much to tackle in each mission, you might find yourself fatigued long before reaching the end of its somewhat meandering story—assuming you don’t get soft-locked along the way.
Sumerian Six Story - 9/10
I'm a big fan of Sumerian Six's story, especially for its unique theme, immersive setting, and overall charm. Each character in the titular team of globe-trotting agents really sells their backstory, premise, and relationships with one another, making the squad feel alive and cohesive. The overarching plot to stop the Wunderwaffe is grand and thrilling without being overly complicated, hitting just the right balance. While the pacing can feel a bit sluggish—especially with how little story progression occurs in each mission—it's still a fantastic WWII tale that's easy to get invested in.
Sumerian Six Gameplay - 8/10
Sumerian Six’s stealth-based tactical RTS gameplay is a complex and tightly crafted web of synergies that forms a solid backbone for its narrative. The mechanics are smartly designed, almost always offering a way out, even when you're up against seemingly impossible odds. The variety in mission solutions is refreshingly unorthodox, with some of the most creative stealth approaches I’ve encountered. If only it weren’t so easy to accidentally soft lock yourself at times, this could easily be considered the game’s best feature.
Sumerian Six Visuals - 8/10
Sumerian Six offers a refreshingly stylized twist on the usual WWII aesthetic, blending it with urban fantasy elements like superweapons powered by ancient magic and sci-fi inventions such as quantum entanglement generators. The vibrant colors and comic book-inspired visuals give the game a distinct vibe, though they don’t always hit the mark as well as they could. While the visuals aren’t as meticulously crafted as the gameplay, they still manage to be striking and beautiful in their own right.
Sumerian Six Audio - 8/10
Sumerian Six’s audio is solid for the most part, featuring a fully voiced cast and an original soundtrack. While it doesn’t break new ground and occasionally feels at odds with the game’s aesthetic, there’s something undeniably satisfying about taking down Nazis to the tune of modern rock anthems. It may not always blend perfectly, but it definitely adds some punch to the action.
Sumerian Six Value for Money - 7/10
Sumerian Six has plenty of positives, but they don't quite justify the $30 price tag, especially when compared to similar games priced around $25 that offer comparable, if not better, experiences. The game does provide a decently long story and some truly enjoyable missions, but that still doesn’t fully bridge the gap between its value and its cost.
Sumerian Six Review: Spectacular Stealth-based Synergy!
I originally expected Sumerian Six to feel more like XCOM. I probably shouldn’t have, since it was always marketed as a real-time strategy game focused on stealth tactics over gunplay. Still, the team-based tactical gameplay and mid-1900s aesthetic reminded me a lot of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. Having experienced what Sumerian Six has to offer now, however, I wouldn’t compare it to XCOM at all, as it is its own flawed but fun mix of stealth, tactics, playful banter, and WWII fantasy.
The first thing that stands out in Sumerian Six is its uniquely fantastical setting. It’s unmistakably WWII, with a certain infamous mustachioed dictator running the show, but the game also weaves in clear fantasy and sci-fi elements. This Nazi regime feels closer to the one in Hellboy, where the SS dabble in the occult to create powerful, world-conquering superweapons. Your squad is similarly equipped with magical artifacts, extraordinary abilities, impossible scientific gadgets, and, in one case, lycanthropy. There's a charm to this otherwise grim backdrop that really sets the game apart—something The Lamplighters League also attempted in 2023, but didn’t quite pull off.
Sumerian Six manages to pull off its bold concept with a setting that's richly developed and seamlessly integrated into the story. Though the narrative can occasionally feel a bit drawn out, it still delivers an entertaining and whimsical reimagining of WWII. While the game overlays a fictional veneer on a sensitive historical event, it handles the subject matter respectfully, drawing on themes of conquering evil and overcoming formidable global superpowers—both hallmark themes of that era.
The game’s excellent audio further enhances the experience, with solid voice acting, sharp sound design, and a rock-inspired soundtrack that surprisingly fits the game’s vibe. The playful banter between characters really brings their relationships to life, while the use of local languages for enemies and NPCs adds an authentic touch that deepens the immersion.
But enough beating around the bush—let’s dive into what really makes Sumerian Six shine: its gameplay. In a word, it’s efficient. Sumerian Six makes the most of every design element, creating tight-knit gameplay mechanics where your squad’s abilities mesh seamlessly, and interactions with the environment feel organic. The game empowers you to infiltrate Nazi bases with creativity, allowing you to think outside the box to solve problems. If you can imagine a strategy, chances are you can pull it off, and that’s what truly sets this game apart.
The best part is how unconventional your toolkit is. You’re equipped with teleporters, invisibility belts, grenades that swap positions with enemies, acid traps, psychic powers, and heavy weaponry, all at your disposal. This diverse arsenal lets you sneak, strategize, and eliminate targets with precision as you sculk through enemy territory, gathering the resources needed to put an end to the Wunderwaffe.
It’s important to highlight that Sumerian Six is a real-time strategy game, so think less D&D heist where the rogue is pulling off stunts, and more Hitman with a dash of magic. One of the game’s standout features is its encouragement of experimentation—try something, see how it plays out, and reload a checkpoint if things go sideways. The game’s quicksave system, reminiscent of Elder Scrolls, feels intuitive and perfectly suited to the gameplay, letting you refine your approach as you go.
Progression is structured in a level-based format, but each level feels more like a self-contained expedition, brimming with depth and challenge. However, it’s at this point that Sumerian Six’s gameplay begins to falter. The lengthy mission times aren’t the issue; rather, it’s the interaction between the quicksave system and the sheer number of possible outcomes in each encounter. If you don’t quicksave as often as you should, you risk soft-locking yourself with your own abilities, leaving you stuck and forced to restart from a distant checkpoint. It’s a frustrating combination that can easily turn a strategic romp into a tedious slog.
The game employs a "learn on the job" tutorial style, introducing new mechanics as they become relevant. This approach is both engaging and thoughtfully designed, keeping players immersed in the action. However, if you happen to slip up during the tutorial, you’re stuck redoing a lot of text-heavy segments and navigating through some awkwardly designed areas before you can pick up where you left off. An episode select screen would be a welcome addition, allowing players to revisit specific sections without the hassle of replaying lengthy tutorial sequences.
Overall, that’s the rundown on Sumerian Six. It’s a fun game with solid design, distinctive aesthetics, excellent sound work, and a compelling story that ties everything together. However, certain gameplay aspects miss the mark, occasionally dragging down the overall experience and introducing moments of frustration. Despite these flaws, Sumerian Six stands as a testament to Devolver Digital’s commitment to creative and bold ideas, proving they’re not just in it for a quick buck. While it may fall just shy of perfection, it’s still a commendable effort that showcases the studio’s passion for unique game experiences.
Pros of Sumerian Six
| Things Sumerian Six Got Right |
|---|
|
Reverent to the Events of WWII Great Accssibility Options Foster Creativity Over Raw Skill |
Reverent to the Events of WWII
While Sumerian Six might initially seem irreverent due to its frequent use of Nazi symbolism in cutscenes and level designs, it is surprisingly respectful of the real events of WWII. The game rarely references actual historical events, maintaining a careful distance from real-world tragedies.
Furthermore, it makes no attempt to garner sympathy for the Axis powers; the main objective is to eliminate as many Nazis as possible without getting caught. The game’s fantastical elements don’t parody real life but rather serve to distinguish this fictional universe from our own, creating a clear separation that allows players to engage without feeling it trivializes history.
Great Accessibility Options
This game also shines in its accessibility options, ensuring that players with visual impairments, colorblindness, or sensitivity to flashes and explosions can fully enjoy the experience. These features, especially given the game’s reliance on sightlines and stealth mechanics, may seem small at first glance, but they make a big difference, opening the game up to players of all abilities and ages.
Foster Creativity Over Raw Skill
Sumerian Six emphasizes creativity over pure skill. While there’s still a learning curve—which we'll get to shortly—you’re generally able to think your way out of most situations using the tools you’ve acquired. Designing a game where nearly every approach is viable is no small feat, yet Sumerian Six excels in this regard.
The game goes beyond basic attacks and stealth, offering an array of unorthodox abilities as you unlock new characters, each filling a unique strategic role. A great example is Rosa Reznick, the second character you unlock, who can completely eliminate enemies and their corpses, ensuring no alarms are raised when bodies would normally be discovered.
Cons of Sumerian Six
| Things That Sumerian Six Can Improve |
|---|
|
Has a Bit of a Skill Floor The Story is Too Long Too Easy to Soft-lock Yourself |
Has a Bit of a Skill Floor
While I commend the game for not relying heavily on raw skill, creativity still demands some mental effort. It’s not as steep a learning curve as you might find in an FPS or a complex RTS, but it’s noticeable if you're the type to shoot first and ask questions later. That said, anyone can enjoy this game—it’s just that each player might get a different level of satisfaction depending on their approach, especially if the learning curve is much steeper for a lower payoff.
The Story is Too Long
As much as I appreciate the game’s unique setting and larger-than-life elements, the story takes a bit too long to hit its stride. You spend most of the time just assembling your team before you finally set off as the full Sumerian Six, and even then, the missions that follow crawl along at a frustratingly slow narrative pace. It’s not that the story is overly long, but rather that it drags from one scene to the next, throwing the pacing completely off balance.
Too Easy to Soft-lock Yourself
With so much that can unfold in a single encounter—let alone an entire mission—it’s surprisingly easy to land yourself in a soft lock, or at least a lighter version of one. You might set things up in a way where your only option is to blast your way out, which isn’t exactly how the game is meant to be played. Thankfully, the quicksave system has your back, but if you didn’t remember to save, well, you’re out of luck.
Is Sumerian Six Worth It?
Yes, But It's a Tad Too Pricey
Sumerian Six is just a bit too pricey for what it offers. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a great game that I’d happily replay, but $30 feels a little steep. Something closer to $25 would be more reasonable, especially given the uncertainty around its modding capabilities, which are key to a game like this having long-term appeal. Even $27 would feel more fitting. It’s not a huge stretch, but it’s still a bit of an overreach.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
|||||||
| $29.99 |
Sumerian Six FAQ
Who Are The Enigma Squad in Sumerian Six?
The Enigma Squad is the official name of the special tactics team you control in Sumerian Six.
Who is The Main Antagonist of Sumerian Six?
Hans Kimmler is the main antagonist of Sumerian Six, leading the Third Reich’s special research division. A former member of the original Enigma Squad, Kimmler broke away from the group after their failed experiments with Geistoff, choosing to align himself with the Nazi regime.
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Sumerian Six Product Information
 | |
| Title | SUMERIAN SIX |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 2, 2024 |
| Developer | Artificer |
| Publisher | Devolver Digital |
| Supported Platforms | PC (Steam) |
| Genre | Action, Adventure, Strategy |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Rating | RP |
| Official Website | Sumerian Six Official Website |
