# Arete: Battles of Alexander — user reviews > 29 indexed App Store user reviews of Arete by Vasilios Kalpakoglou, rated 4.70/5 from 24 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arete-battles-of-alexander/id6503917149/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arete-battles-of-alexander/id6503917149.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 20 · 4★ 2 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 1 ## Newest reviews (9 of 29) ### 5/5 — Great game! *2024-08-05* This one harkens back to the day of the old analogs and they did a great job. I would love to see more of these please! **Developer response:** Thanks for the kind words! Definitely going to be more in the future. ### 5/5 — The PERFECT way to play a fast and fun wargame on iPad! *2024-07-30* This game is brilliant... i'm already a fan of history tabletop games and wargames, I hadn't really dipped my toes much into this hex-and-counter style of game, but THIS is the perfect gateway game into this world! Very sharp AI Bots, super fun and tough challenges, lots of Scenarios AND a Campaign mode. What's not to like? Games fly pretty quick, on a flight or just sitting around you can play a few. Just amazing. If you're the slightest bit interested, GET THIS GAME! ### 5/5 — Terrific Game! *2024-07-22* I played through the campaign twice, and I had fun every minute. I appreciate that games like this exist. It captures what I love about analog hex and counter wargaming but in digital form. It’s also has a great solo system. I really wish there were more games like this in the App Store. **Developer response:** Thank you so much for the kind words, Henri! I’m so happy you’re enjoying it. ### 5/5 — The hex and counter experience we’ve been waiting for on iOS *2024-07-14, version 1.0.9* Great graphics, an intuitive interface, easy to pick up for a newbie but with enough tactical depth for an experienced tabletop grognard. ### 5/5 — Recommended *2024-07-09* I don’t normally pay for iOS games, but took a chance on this and wasn’t disappointed. I enjoy various ‘hexwar’ titles, but this has much more depth and subtlety. Still on the first two scenarios but enjoying it a lot. Visually appealing and smooth operation. Recommended! **Developer response:** Thank you for this great review! Really happy to hear it’s providing a challenge but still enjoyable. ### 5/5 — Fantastic hex and counter wargame *2024-07-05* This is a great game! This game recreates 7 battles from Alexander’s campaign that can be played as a campaign or in quick battles. You can further play against the computer (as either side), pass-and-play, or play other people online. The rules are quite straightforward with mechanics that would be familiar to anyone who enjoys these sort of hex-and-counter games. Units have a strength rating and movement rating. Combat ratios and a ten sided dice are used to resolve combat, and units retreat or take step losses that reduce their strength. Leaders can rally units to rally step losses and units out of the leaders command range suffer negative. modifiers in combat. Charts can be shown onscreen or minimised if not needed. There are terrain effects, ranged units, formations and a variety of unit types to represent the different forces and nationalities of each battle. The graphic design of the game is excellent. The counters and terrain are represented in a crisp semi-realistic design similar to Rodger MacGowan’s work for GMT games in the Great Battles series. Unit ratings are easy to read and understand. The interface is excellent - 1 finger to pan across the battlefield, a pinch (or optional buttons) to zoom in-and-out, a tap to select units. Animations are smooth and well done. Battles finish when one side is eliminated or you reach the victory point threshold. There is the option to have balanced or historical victory point goals (which are a little harder for the player). In my games so far I have lost - the computer makes good moves and I have adopted some of its strategies. We will see over time if I can get good enough to easily beat the computer. If you have any interest in wargames or ancient battles and you have an iOS device this game is a must buy. The rules are simple yet provide a good depiction of ancient battles. It looks fantastic and plays intuitively and smoothly. It is priced very reasonably. What a find! **Developer response:** Thank you for this brilliant review! Reading a review like this just makes the many long hours that went into making the game worth it. Hope it continues to provide wargaming fun for years to come. Cheers! ### 5/5 — Fun and Easy *2024-07-05* Easy to get into and definitely fun to play. A must try! ### 5/5 — Excellent game! *2024-07-04, version 1.0.3* Great to get hex and counter gaming on my phone and this game delivers. The tutorial makes it easy to learn and start playing quickly. Good variety in the scenarios and the AI is always challenging. I just went through the campaign for the first time and can’t wait to do it again to try to improve my grades. More of these games please! ### 5/5 — Slick hex and counter game *2024-06-21* Really well programmed and executed hex and counter game, works well both on my phone screen and my iPad. Rules are intuitive and nuanced - keen to see more! **Developer response:** Thank you for the kind words. I’m so happy you’re enjoying it! ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — And he STILL WON’T increase Zoom *2026-04-09* He said it doesn’t need be increased. Yet all the other triva they have added over the years. It dawned on me, he can’t. He doesn’t know how. Or it’s a bad design that won’t let him. He’s got my money, why should he care? ### 1/5 — Impossible to play on iPhone *2025-09-27* The developer doesn’t know how to increase the zoom. LOL —— And you keep deleting my reviews like the low class individual you are. Even your screenshots prove my point. It’s too small on a cell phone. The markers are too small to read. Documented 15 years and counting of dropping IQs in the industrialized nations. Go ahead delete this review too. :-p ### 1/5 — Impossible to play on iPhone *2025-03-17* And you keep deleting my reviews like the low class individual you are. Even your screenshots prove my point. It’s too small on a cell phone. The markers are too small to read. Documented 15 years and counting of dropping IQs in the industrialized nations. Go ahead delete this review too. :-p ### 1/5 — Unplayable iPhone 12 *2024-11-07* Update: The zoom should go twice as far, at least, to be able to see the details of the Counters beyond seeing the Command Range and Movement Allowance values. The counters’ artwork is nice. Why hide it? Why are you opposed to making your game legible? Again, this is on an iPhone 12 just fyi — what I said stands. It stinks on rhe iPhone 12. Period. Zoom is pathetic. You can’t can read the markers. What a crybaby. Go home to your mommy. I mean ‘seriously’. Font way to small and devs (yeah, right) aren’t good enough anymore to allow font sizes! The fact you’ve not seen adjustable font before shows how mediocre you are ss a so-called ‘developer’. Junk like this makes you wonder about their ancestry. Year after year, it’s almost exactly the same inferior apps. **Developer response:** There are 2 ways to zoom, one for older devices, and both go all the way into counter-level. I’m not aware of any game that allows you to change font sizes but I went to great lengths to make sure it’s as readable or better than other iOS board games. My game was tested extensively on multiple devices and I stand by the quality knowing all the hard work I put into it. It is in no way “junk” or “inferior.” Insulting my “ancestry” is just bizarre and makes me think this is a personal attack rather than an honest review of the game. ### 1/5 — Unplayable iPhone 12 *2024-10-24* Update: what I said stands. It stinks on rhe iPhone 12. Period. Zoom is pathetic. You can’t can read the markers. What a crybaby. Go home to your mommy. I mean ‘seriously’. Font way to small and devs (yeah, right) aren’t good enough anymore to allow font sizes! The fact you’ve not seen adjustable font before shows how mediocre you are ss a so-called ‘developer’. Junk like this makes you wonder about their ancestry. Year after year, it’s almost exactly the same inferior apps. **Developer response:** There are 2 ways to zoom, one for older devices, and both go all the way into counter-level. I’m not aware of any game that allows you to change font sizes but I went to great lengths to make sure it’s as readable or better than other iOS board games. My game was tested extensively on multiple devices and I stand by the quality knowing all the hard work I put into it. It is in no way “junk” or “inferior.” Insulting my “ancestry” is just bizarre and makes me think this is a personal attack rather than an honest review of the game. ### 1/5 — Terrible & Unplayable iPhone 12 *2024-10-21* Zoom is a ‘joke’. I mean ‘seriously’. Font way to small and devs (yeah, right) aren’t good enough anymore to allow font sizes! Junk like this makes you wonder about their ancestry. Year after year, it’s almost exactly the same inferior apps. ### 1/5 — Not ready for prime time. *2024-07-02* Run on iPad Pro: Hinky game released before its ready. Only one scenario plays. Many other to choose from **Developer response:** Hi thanks for playing. There are 7 scenarios. The next one unlocks when you finish the one before it (win or lose). And the scenarios then stay unlocked and available in all modes unless you delete the app off your device. I made sure this game runs perfectly on all devices before releasing it, but if you discover any issues please submit via the support link. ### 2/5 — Bug zoom gets stuck *2026-08-16* The game is simple and fun, but there is a bug where I cannot pan the field nor select units in the movement phase. Only action button that works is “Movement Done”…I have to restart the game every time this happens, not fun. Please fix the issue. Thank you. **Developer response:** Hi there. I’m not seeing this behavior and have had no other reports of it. There are two ways to zoom, with buttons or pinch (change in settings), but panning should always work. Can you message me through the contact page and I can try to sort it out? ### 3/5 — Bug zoom gets stuck *2026-08-26* The game is simple and fun, but there is a bug where I cannot pan the field nor select units in the movement phase. Only action button that works is “Movement Done”…I have to restart the game every time this happens, not fun. Please fix the issue. Thank you. Update: the developer contacted me to get this fixed. I will come up with steps to reproduce and send to him. Thanks for the prompt response, looking forward to get this fixed. **Developer response:** Hi there. I’m not seeing this behavior and have had no other reports of it. There are two ways to zoom, with buttons or pinch (change in settings), but panning should always work. Can you message me through the contact page and I can try to sort it out? ### 4/5 — Fun beer and pretzels Ancients *2024-06-22* Lighter Ancients hex and counter game. Easy to pick up and get rolling right into the game ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Great app, simple simulation *2025-06-18* This is an excellent app that I hope does well. Mobile is a great platform for hex and counter wargaming and this app perfects it. However, as far as wargames go, the systems are simple and draw inspiration from WW2 wargames such as Simonitch’s series and ASL. This makes the battles not feel quite ancient, as units are fluid and highly mobile. For example, on the battle of Issus, my strategy involved crossing the river with a flanking force and clearing a path, which my main army ended up backing over. This essentially meant that I ended up on the Persian bank with Persians attacking my lines from my side of the river. It was fun, but ancient armies weren’t that mobile generally. I like the Field of Glory system of movement as it allows both cool tactics like crossing a river but still feels like the army has inertia that needs to be fought. **Developer response:** Thanks for the great review! In the battle of Issus the river was fordable and within the game it does slow down units, more infantry than cavalry. There’s also a -2 penalty for being in the river during combat (ranged and close). This typically gives the non-fording side a turn or two to react and move and take considerable advantage positioning-wise. This to me mirrors historical accounts accurately, but may not mirror some other ancients wargames. Other battles, other rivers are different (even within the game). ### 5/5 — Great Cardboard Feel *2025-04-20* Great interface, fun game. ### 5/5 — Love this game! *2025-03-26* As an avid wargamer, I love this game. It functions well on both phone and tablet. It provides a great hex and counter wargame experience online and against AI. I also enjoy the online matches a lot! I can’t wait for more titles like this. **Developer response:** Thanks for the great review! Glad to see you’re enjoying playing online as well as playing the computer. ### 5/5 — Top war game *2025-03-26* This is a very well written and developed war game. High quality graphics and great replayability define this as a superior game. I look forward to future releases. Well done developers. **Developer response:** Thank you for the great review! So happy to hear you’re enjoying the game. More games to come for sure. ### 5/5 — Great classic hex and counter gameplay *2025-03-02* I love the classic feel of old school counters combined in a great UI that really lends to the atmosphere. **Developer response:** Thank you for the great review! ### 5/5 — Great Game! *2025-02-12* It’s totally intuitive and very much like a board war game. So glad I found this. I hope the developers will take on other subjects too. A big buggy but great! **Developer response:** Thank you for the review! Note that older devices may have issues with pinch zoom so switching to button zoom will be more stable. If you’ve encountered any other bugs, please message me through the contact info so I can get it resolved. Thanks for playing! ### 5/5 — Great game! *2024-12-26* This is pretty much an old-fashioned turn-based war game, and anyone who’s played one will get into it instantly. If you haven’t played one before, the advantage of playing on an app is it takes care of all of the fiddly bits for you, it’s all very intuitive. Newbies just want to be sure to check the modifiers that make you stronger or weaker in combat. Leaders are also important in keeping your units strong. Rules and tutorial are very clear and helpful. Very good system, I hope it is used for more games in the future. The only additions I can think of are maybe some sort of positive modifier for heavy cavalry charges, and also maybe a movement penalty for units that are not in command. This compares favorably to the HexWar game on Alexander simply because it has online play against human opponents, which is always more fun. **Developer response:** Thank you for the great review and excellent feedback! So happy to hear you’re enjoying it. The move penalty is a really interesting idea. ### 5/5 — Old School Wargame, Great new game *2024-11-12* I’m an old hex and counter wargamer, and this definitely sits in a slightly above low complexity game, on the order of Command and Colors Ancients, without the frustration that I hear so often from C&C players about “not being able to order all their troops because of not having the right cards”. There are definite command limitations, units in command get bonuses for attack and defense, but you can order everything every turn. There is chaos in that initiative is dice driven, so you could go last one turn and first the next, but that’s the fall of the dice. The mechanics are clear, the TEC available for view anytime, and it plays fast. The community is growing, and whether you play a computer or human, you will have fun. I’m on as “Wargamermike”, so hit me up for a game! **Developer response:** Thank you for the kind words, Mike! You described the game perfectly. And another big thanks for being such a formidable opponent in online games. Arete players, if you haven’t played Wargamermike yet, find him ASAP. He’s tough to beat. ### 5/5 — High Production Value *2024-11-10* Just finished my first battle and was compelled to write a review. This is a game I have been wanting on iOS for a long time. I love hex and counter war games (Squad Leader, Band of Brothers) and this game scratches that itch. I was a little worried it would be hard to play on my iPhone, my eyes are not what they were when I was younger. I had zero issues playing the game or reading the text. The UI is outstanding and makes the play seamless. The game itself is a lot of fun and mirrors tradition H&C board games. Definitely the best $10 I have spent in a long time. Congrats to the developer for such a well made game. He will be getting my money for any future games he develops. **Developer response:** Thank you so much for this wonderful review! Makes me so happy to see fellow wargamers enjoying Arete, and especially happy to know everything is seamless and readable. ### 5/5 — Excellent *2024-08-16* Very good classical wargame, with muances such as command, cohesion etc that make it much more interesting than other similar games one the App Store (eg Ancient Battle series). **Developer response:** Thanks for the kind words, Pat. So glad you’re enjoying it! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*