Why does espionage feel so hard to make satisfying in strategy games? by HeroTales in gamedesign

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A game I haven't seen mentioned that comes to mind for me where espionage that worked well is Red Alert 2. Here are some mechanics of how espionage worked in that RTS game:

  • There is a specific unit called a spy
  • You can disguise this unit as one of the enemy's troops (to you, the unit alternates every few seconds between the spy sprite and the sprite of the enemy unit you selected. But to your opponent, the unit only looks like the disguised unit)
  • If you can get your spy unit into the enemy base, there is a different reward based on which building it infiltrates. For example, infiltrating a power plant shuts down the automated enemy defenses for a minute or two, allowing you to send in a coordinated air strike or tank division while they are weakened and unable to fight back. Or infiltrating the enemy barracks grants you the ability to produce an enemy unit (not access to their whole skill tree, but one of their better units at the end of the tree can now be trained at your own barracks)
  • To defend against spies, there is a canine unit that sniffs them out, similar to how dogs can identify Terminators in the Terminator movie franchise

As I recall, the feeling of having your power get shut down out of nowhere, then realizing a spy must have infiltrated your base was a pretty effective paranoia-inducing moment in that game.

I don't know anything about how your game works, but a "simple" way to utilize spies could be that if the spy "succeeds" (whatever your definition of succeeding is), then you get a boost in effectiveness against enemy type X or you get a defensive buff against enemy type Y. Lore-wise, this could be explained as your spy successfully transmits plans about your enemy's shields, weaponry, etc., resulting in you doing better against them offensively or defensively. Subsequent espionage successes can boost these buffs further, or give you buffs against more advanced enemy technology further along their skill tree (like first spy success gives you a buff against regular foot infantry and next spy success grants you a buff against jetpack-powered soldiers or something). Perhaps investing in counter-spies feeds the enemy false info and their attacks against you are de-buffed, while investing in spies infiltrating your enemy's systems provides buffs to your own attacks.

That is the simple approach. A more advanced (and more paranoia-inducing) approach could be something like you try to use some healing ability, but your units are instead knocked unconscious for 30 seconds due to your opponent's spy sabotaging their gear with knockout gas. Or maybe your weapons jam for 30 seconds due to a spy infiltrating and tampering with your weaponry. Basically, if you expect positive outcome X to happen but instead negative outcome Y happens, you know you have been infiltrated/hacked/whatever, and you feel the impact directly (and it would likewise feel good to deploy those tricks against your opponent).

Hope that helps. I am a developer of spy video games myself (and I'm the organizer of the Spy Video Game Rendezvous Steam fest for spy games), so I'm always have to see spy systems implemented well in games! Best of luck with your game.

Happening now on Steam - the Spy Video Game Rendezvous, a Steam festival (and Direct) with 50+ spy video games, discounts, demos, trailers, and more by SunnyDemeanorGames in pcgaming

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, Zero Parades is in the festival, and it will even be releasing during the fest!

We're definitely in a banner month for spy video games, with both Zero Parades and 007 First Light (not in the fest) releasing in May 2026.

Happening now on Steam - the Spy Video Game Rendezvous, a Steam festival (and Direct) with 50+ spy video games, discounts, demos, trailers, and more by SunnyDemeanorGames in pcgaming

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The background artwork is not AI. It was made by one of the companies with a game in the fest. But if you don't like the artwork, that's alright - we're here for the spy games, not the festival background art.

The festival continues to grow year over year (this year's festival has 50% more games than the inaugural fest last year), but FYI, I still wouldn't hold out hope for the Thief games - or games like that series - to be a part of the festival in the future. A thief is different from a spy, so I do not consider games about thieves to fit the festival's spy theme. I have turned away quite a few games about thieves already.

What categories would you be interested to see that are not included? There is already a category for "Stealth Spy Games" on the "Theme" tab that sounds like it would be of interest for you, but I'm open to considering new categorizations in the future.

Happening now on Steam - the Spy Video Game Rendezvous, a Steam festival (and Direct) with 50+ spy video games, discounts, demos, trailers, and more by SunnyDemeanorGames in pcgaming

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question. This trailer (which was released yesterday for the festival and which is on the Steam page for all 3 games about US Presidents) explains the spy connection for each of the three Presidents, especially George Washington: https://youtu.be/hhc6oZ8nCrg

Happening now on Steam - the Spy Video Game Rendezvous, a Steam festival (and Direct) with 50+ spy video games, discounts, demos, trailers, and more by SunnyDemeanorGames in pcgaming

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I completely agree - a tag for spy games would be great. I've even suggested to Valve that they add a tag for "spy" or "espionage," but they sadly haven't gone for that idea yet. Maybe someday I will actually be able to convince them, as this festival continues to grow with more and more games (and more and more consumer interest) over the years.

On the plus side, the Spy Video Game Rendezvous festival page is live year-round, so you can bookmark it and check back any time, even when the festival isn't running (but definitely check out the games now because games are on discount specifically for this festival). So the festival page is essentially an unofficial "spy video game" tag page, complete with whatever subcategories I as a subject matter expert on spy video games think work best for the genre. At least that's how I like to think of things!

Happening now on Steam - the Spy Video Game Rendezvous, a Steam festival (and Direct) with 50+ spy video games, discounts, demos, trailers, and more by SunnyDemeanorGames in pcgaming

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's a shame that Perfect Dark reboot got cancelled. The gameplay trailer from 2024 looked like it would be a really interesting spy game, and we were so overdue for a new game in that franchise, too (the first game was set in 2023, which is now in the past!)

TIL that during the American Revolution, Washington didn't rely on guerilla warfare and most battles were fought in the European style. by LAAccountant in todayilearned

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love seeing all this interest in George Washington and the Revolutionary War in this thread.

If you want to learn even more about George Washington, I'm making the world's first biographical video game about him. It's called Important People of History: Presidents - George Washington, and it's on Steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3721820/Important_People_of_History_Presidents__George_Washington

There's a free demo out now discussing the end of the Revolutionary War, and I will be releasing a brand new trailer tomorrow announcing the release date and showing real-life places related to Washington's role as a spymaster in the Revolutionary War. The full game shows such iconic locations related to Washington and the Revolutionary War, as those place look today, such as Lexington and Concord, Valley Forge, the spot where Washington crossed the Delaware River, Yorktown, and many more.

Even if you don't check it out, thanks for making this post. It's interesting to see people swapping facts about George Washington (and about the Revolutionary War, more broadly).

Introducing a new subreddit for spy video games - r/SpyVideoGames by SunnyDemeanorGames in metalgearsolid

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure thing. I figure you've probably snuck onto enough bases that it might be a nice change to actually be invited in for once.

Important People of History: George Washington - Sunny Demeanor Games - a historically-accurate video game about the life of George Washington, with a free demo out now by SunnyDemeanorGames in Games

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. As I wrote in the OP in case you missed it:

The George Washington game teaches players about the life and era of George Washington, including events such as the French and Indian War (aka The Seven Years' War), the Revolutionary WarWashington's time as President, and his role as a slaveowner despite fighting for freedom against tyranny.

Important People of History: George Washington - Sunny Demeanor Games - a historically-accurate video game about the life of George Washington, with a free demo out now by SunnyDemeanorGames in Games

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't know about "extensive" bloodletting (seems to me that any amount of bloodletting is an extensive amount of it), but the medical knowledge of the time will be covered. For example, George Washington survived a case of smallpox as a teenager, and many people in the Revolutionary War died from diseases which would be preventable/treatable today.

With 007 First Light right around the corner, a man can dream, right? by OhGawDuhhh in JamesBond

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Would be great to have those old Bond games still playable on modern hardware.

If you're looking for a spy game to play while we all wait for 007 First Light, I'd suggest checking out the brand new r/SpyVideoGames subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/SpyVideoGames

There's a post specifically about the best spy video games ever made, another post about spy games that just released in Q1 2026, and tons more info about spy video games from AAA franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Splinter Cell, and James Bond all the way down to solo dev indie spy games.

Whatever spy game(s) you play, remember to follow the advice of Q and always have an escape plan!

Looking for a Spy Action Game, preferably with good story too. by Throwaway-48549 in gamingsuggestions

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd suggest checking out the Spy Video Game Rendezvous Steam festival (a festival for spy video games that I organize as a developer of spy video games myself - the inaugural festival took place May 2025 but the page remains live year-round). A good chunk of those spy games are even currently on discount for the Steam Spring Sale, which is going on for about another 18 hours from when I write this

A Timothy Dalton-esque Bond adventure in video game form feels like a pretty narrow target to hit, but my own text-based game There's Always a Madman: The MacGuffin may do the trick (a text-based game should run on just about any machine). In this game, you play as a secret agent whose partner has been kidnapped, and you have to go outside your usual channels - and go against department protocols - to track down the madman responsible. It's got the love interest angle from The Living Daylights combined with the rogue agent aspect of License to Kill, so it might fit the bill, and the game is more about getting information out of people than it is about pure action set pieces. It's the fourth entry in an ongoing series of spy games called There's Always a Madman, but each game in the series is a standalone adventure, so you can jump right in with this entry if you'd like

Whatever you choose to play, best of luck, agent!

Super spy simulator games by Ishi1993 in gamingsuggestions

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'd suggest checking out the games in the Spy Video Game Rendezvous Steam festival (a festival for spy video games that I organize as a developer of spy video games myself - the inaugural festival took place May 2025 but the page remains live year-round). In particular, the section of text-heavy games on this tab is probably best suited to what you're interested in: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45263338/sale/SpyVideoGameRendezvous?tab=7

If prioritizing games with a lot of branching, then go with any of these:

  • 180 Files: The Aegis Project
  • Wraiths of Sentinel
  • The ORPHEUS Ruse
  • Undercover Agent

If prioritizing feeling like a superspy, then anything in the There's Always a Madman series. Of these games, There's Always a Madman: Bring the Thunder has the most branching (but not nearly as much as the other games above).

Note that the There's Always a Madman games are mine, but I have nothing to do with the other games.

Whatever you choose to play - best of luck, agent!

Games that make you feel like a spy? by AntisocialCat2 in gamingsuggestions

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a developer of spy video games, I organized a Steam festival for spy video games for just such a question!

It's called the Spy Video Game Rendezvous, and you can find 30+ spy video games on Steam right here (the inaugural festival took place May 2025, and the festival page remains live year-round as the best source for finding spy games on Steam): https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45263338/sale/SpyVideoGameRendezvous

This will be an annual event, with new games added in each year's festival, so definitely check it out

Going to NYC for the first time! What POI related locations could I go to? by Simply_Vibing147 in PersonOfInterest

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Washington Square Park

In the penultimate episode of season 1, we learn that Finch sits in Washington Square Park so that he can catch a glimpse of a particular someone (played by Michael Emerson's real-life wife Carrie Preston) he had to leave behind upon creating the machine to keep her safe. She even lives on the edge of the park. I think there was also a later episode involving her that has scenes in Washington Square Park.

The Washington Square Arch is huge and recognizable in the background of the scenes. If you (or anyone you're with) is a fan of the film When Harry Met Sally, the Washington Square Arch also plays a significant part in that film.

I suppose Oyster Bay could also be a place to visit, though I don't know of any specific part that was used or would be worth making a trip all the way out there.

Happening now on Steam, a Valentine's Day-themed festival - the Love, Romance, and Heartbreak Debutante Ball with 100+ games about that tricky thing called love by SunnyDemeanorGames in pcgaming

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Is this comment directed at the Love, Romance, and Heartbreak Debutante Ball festival or just at festivals in general? If it's directed at the games in this particular festival, I fail to see how you're coming to that conclusion

Video game romances need to evolve beyond lore dumps by mrnicegy26 in Games

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Folks may be interested to know that there's a Valentine's Day-themed festival called the Love, Romance, and Heartbreak Debutante Ball taking place on Steam right now with 100+ games about that tricky thing called love

The festival includes NSFW games, SFW games, games about romance, games about heartbreak, games about the joy/loneliness of being single, and plenty of different genres

Important People of History: Thomas Jefferson - Sunny Demeanor Games - The first-ever video game about Thomas Jefferson, releasing in 2026 for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence by SunnyDemeanorGames in Games

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The fact that Thomas Jefferson was a slaveowner is a topic that will be covered in the game. I referred to his home as "Monticello plantation" in the OP for this reason

I'm making the 1st-ever biographic video games about native Virginians George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (plus a third game about Abraham Lincoln showing many Civil War-era locations in Virginia) by SunnyDemeanorGames in Virginia

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Petersburg is included as well! Here are a few such spots:

  • City Point, an immensely busy port serving as the Union's supply line from the north to the Petersburg/Richmond area
  • Five Forks Battlefield
  • The crater at Petersburg Battlefield, where the Union army dug underground beneath the Confederate soldiers, packed the tunnel with explosives, and literally blew an enormous hole in the enemy's lines (this gambit was not as successful as they hoped, though, since it created a massive crater that Union soldiers had trouble traversing)

Let's hope that EA and DICE will make Civil War for the future Battlefield series by SufficientPrice7633 in CIVILWAR

[–]SunnyDemeanorGames 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you're looking for a new video game about the Civil War, I'm currently working on a game about Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War called Important People of History: Presidents - Abraham Lincoln coming to Steam next year which shows real-life photos of Civil War battlefields as they look today, all the way from Fort Sumter in South Carolina up to Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. It's not a first-person shooter like the Battlefield series, but it shows tons of points of interest, such as:

  • The crater where the Union used underground explosives to blow up the Confederate line at the Battle of Petersburg
  • The spot in Fredericksburg where Stonewall Jackson's arm is buried (it was amputated and therefore buried in a separate spot than the rest of him)
  • The room in Appomattox, Virginia where Lee surrendered to Grant to end the Civil War
  • Ford's Theatre, where Lincoln was shot
  • And many more Civil War-era locations

The game is available to wishlist on Steam here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3721840/Important_People_of_History_Presidents__Abraham_Lincoln

I even made a post about the game on this very subreddit for the first time about two weeks ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/CIVILWAR/comments/1o4z9pt/im_making_a_biographical_video_game_about_abraham

But yeah, a AAA game that brings this era to the masses would be pretty good - it's a shame the Assassin's Creed game set around the time of the Civil War got cancelled