U is for Unlikely combination of UBOAT and Papers, Please. Of the three sub games mentioned in today’s dispatch, False Echo is the hardest to classify. An in-development solo project from a dev who previously worked on franchises such as Blitzkrieg and Men of War, FE will cast us as U-boat cryptography officers in a not-quite-WW2 conflict. Inside the game’s side-on convoy molesters, the Kapitan might call the shots, but as it’s the player that decides, with the help of an Enigmatic cipher device, which incoming orders end up in his hands, it sounds like we’re going to have considerable influence on patrol outcomes.

U is for Unforeseen delay and unacceptable bugs

Modern Naval Warfare’s postponed release has given previewers such as Normal Guy of the North plenty of time to spot and rue sizeable bugs such as faulty weapons and comatose AI. Fortunately for Wave Ops, most serious simmers realise that strapping adults sometimes start out as sickly newborns.

U is for Utilitarian visuals

Blessed with a novel theme and a tempting price (£0), Early Access First Sino-Japanese War doesn’t just sim the titular conflict’s wet warfare, it models land clashes too. How you feel about genre dreadnought Rule the Waves will probably determine whether SJW’s superficially sterile screenshots strike fear or stir excitement. If the era/theme appeals but the graphics are a deal-breaker then bear in mind that other steamship wargames are on the way.

U is for Unexpected return

If Theatre of War: Rearmed was just the original trilogy plus expansion packs bundled into one convenient package, I’d have shrugged and moved on. Because Sergey Solomanichev is promising, amongst other things, improved AI and performance, there’s a good chance I’ll check out his redux when the time comes. After all, as I observed back in May 2024 “believable ballistics, roomy battlefields, good looks, and a knack for producing eye-catching sideshows, allow Theatre of War to evoke the great Graviteam Tactics far more often than it has a right to.”

U is for Unfussy PTO sub sim on the way

Sophisticated dynamic campaigns… realistic instruments… thermal layer modeling… six playable USN sub types… Silent Shark seems to have plenty going for it. Potential customers should check out the browser-based demo.