The Scouring (Early Access) Review – Nostalgia Meets Caution in a Classic RTS Revival

The Scouring on PC

A Familiar Drumbeat Returns

There’s something unmistakably comforting about The Scouring from Orc Group. It opens with that rhythmic heartbeat of resource gathering, base building, and the quiet tension before armies clash. For veterans of Warcraft II or The Battle for Middle-earth, this indie real-time strategy title feels like slipping back into a well-worn but beloved pair of boots: a game that respects the fundamentals of real-time strategy without overcomplicating them.

Yet this nostalgia is wrapped in the humility of an Early Access label. The Scouring doesn’t pretend to be the next great genre revolution. Instead, it feels like a love letter written by someone who remembers what made the classics tick and simply wants to get that feeling right again. And for the most part, it does, even at this stage.

A Classic Foundation, Forged with Care

At its best, The Scouring thrives on simplicity done right. Every unit matters, every peasant lost stings, and every expansion feels earned. The economy is deliberately punishing — gold mines deplete quickly, food caps punish over-extension — pushing players to balance aggression with prudence.

The AI is surprisingly sharp, punishing poor scouting or weak defences, and its pacing feels refreshingly methodical compared to the twitchy excess of modern hybrid RTS titles. Matches unfold like measured chess games with swords and catapults. The inclusion of a day-night cycle, where undead rise under the moonlight to harass careless players, adds just enough unpredictability to keep each match interesting.

Technically, it’s stable too, even in Early Access. There are no game-breaking bugs or constant crashes here, which is no small feat for a one-man development effort. It’s proof that solid foundations can sometimes outshine spectacle.

A Work in Progress and It Shows

Still, it’s impossible to ignore how skeletal The Scouring currently is. With only two factions and a small roster of units, tactical depth is limited. The result is that most matches boil down to who can field more troops, not who can pull off more innovative strategies.

The much-touted Hero Mode, where players guide a single character while the AI manages base operations, is intriguing in concept but half-formed in execution. Abilities feel underwhelming, progression is shallow, and itemisation needs serious work.

Beyond that, the absence of a campaign mode leaves the experience feeling more like a strong sandbox than a complete game. Multiplayer lobbies are still sparse, and while the developer promises modding tools, new factions, and naval combat down the road, these remain hopes pinned on a future patch rather than features you can engage with today.

The Soul of a True RTS — For Better and Worse

For all its gaps, The Scouring gets one crucial thing right: it understands what makes the RTS genre tick. It doesn’t chase cinematic grandeur or free-to-play gimmicks. It focuses on timing, resource scarcity, and the satisfaction of a well-timed strike.

That purity will resonate deeply with fans who cut their teeth on LAN cafés and dial-up duels. But the very same purism can feel alien to players raised on convenience. There’s little hand-holding, no elaborate tutorials, and very few accessibility aids — a deliberate design decision that may divide audiences, especially ones that have not grown up with the genre.

A Battle Worth Returning To, Someday Soon

The Scouring is best seen as a foundation worth investing in, not a finished product. It’s a confident debut that channels the old magic of 90s strategy with modern stability, but it’s also painfully light on content and balance.

If you miss the deliberate pacing of classic RTS games and enjoy watching Early Access titles grow over time, this is one worth supporting. But if you want a fully fleshed campaign, deep faction diversity, or robust multiplayer, patience will serve you better than purchase.

The Scouring is available now in Steam Early Access.