After searching for another top down stealth game similar to 63 Days or War Mongrels, I finally decided on this when I found a $4 sale. It was definitely worth it for the game play. It's not perfect, but so few of this type of game are perfect. It is entertaining and engaging for the most part, and sometimes frustrating. The 'base building' and intermission parts with the stories are almost pointless aside from letting you level up XP and get a few more gadgets. About halfway through, I was just skipping that because I wanted to get into the levels. If you find this at a price that's agreeable to you, I think you'll generally enjoy it.

Partisans 1941 had potential, but it’s a frustrating experience overall.

Achievements are misleading: On Steam, DLC achievements (from Back Into Battle) are mixed right into the base game list. This makes it look like you can unlock things like Missions Mode and Defense Mode, when in reality they’re locked behind paid DLC. If you only own the base game, you’ll never be able to 100% the achievements. It feels unfair and misleading for completionists.

Unresponsive UI: The interface often doesn’t respond properly. Menus lag, commands fail to register, and inventory management is clunky. In a tactics game, where precision and timing are critical, this is unacceptable.

Story & execution fall flat: Compared to Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, which delivered a far better story, polished UI, and flawless execution, Partisans 1941 feels like a rough imitation rather than a true competitor.

Unless you’re willing to buy extra DLC and tolerate buggy systems, I can’t recommend this game. If you want a polished, challenging, and satisfying tactics experience, play Shadow Tactics instead.