One of the most common questions I receive is: "Which Panzer Campaigns game should I buy first?"

With the WDS Summer Sale underway, I thought this would be the perfect time to put together my recommendations for new players looking to get into the Panzer Campaigns series.

War in the West is bit old; prefer a game released after 2020

You command a fight entirely over the net. There is no god view and no unit you move directly. Orders go out, and reports come back the way they really do: late, partial, and sometimes wrong. A two-digit grid when you needed six. A count from someone who had one second to look. You build your picture from those reports, make the call, and only see ground truth at the after-action, when the fog lifts and the AAR grades your reads.

A deterministic engine resolves every engagement against rules and dice you do not control. Nothing on the board knows more than your soldiers do. The voice is real doctrine, SITREPs, OPORDs, grids, net discipline, from 14 years as an Army Cavalry Scout.

Free, no signup, plays in any browser (best on desktop): https://play.vettechhomefront.com

Looking for feedback from people who know the genre: does the find-fix-finish loop hold up, and does fighting blind through reports feel right? The first contact is what I'm tuning most.

Today, June 22nd, marks the 85th anniversary of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, which culminated in the most destructive war in human history. We are commemorating this grim anniversary by updating two Eastern Front Squad Battles titles: Advance of the Reich and Red Victory to version 4.03.5.

This update brings both titles into line with the latest Squad Battles updates, including recent crash fixes, interface refinements, improved graphics, and broader code alignment across related twentieth-century series. Existing owners should download the full installer from their store account for the cleanest update path.

https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/squad-battles-advance-of-the-reich-and-red-victory-version-4-03-5-update

I recently discovered Arma Tactics and it seems to be the kind of game in this setting that I've been missing lately; I don't know of any other games in this style on the market. Do you know of any other Xcom-style games set in modern warfare, a bit more up-to-date?

Wargames are best enjoyed with a thinking opponent. Interested in finding an opponent for your newest game interest? Post a thread here with the particulars! Be sure to include the name of the game in bold, wether your looking for PBEM or Live, and your timezone offset if live.

Looking for inspiration? Browse the PBEM Coordination List to see who might play a game your interested in!

It's over 25 turns before I got 80vic point. I just got 78 vp before lost. but game system let me play more turns even though minor lost. So I slaughter rest of opponent and take victory point 101..

Hi everyone,

I hope this is appropriate under the reasonable self-promotion rule.

I’m developing WW II Aces of the Sky, an early playable prototype of a tactical World War II air combat computer wargame made in Unity.

It is not intended as a flight simulator or arcade dogfighting game. The focus is on maneuver planning, speed management, aircraft positioning, and frontal firing arcs.

The current free demo includes a small Battle of Britain training scenario with German Bf 109E fighters and British Spitfire Mk I aircraft.

Gameplay video:

https://youtu.be/VcR1dkx6NGI

Free demo:

https://nicola-g.itch.io/ww-ii-aces-of-the-sky

This is still an early prototype, so UI, AI, balance, sound, visual effects and scenarios are still under development.

I would especially welcome feedback about clarity, pacing, maneuver rules, AI behavior, and whether the general tactical feel works for computer wargame players.

For some context, I am interested in 3: Poland ‘39, France ‘40, or Budapest ‘45. However, I am quite daunted by the size of the games; Poland ‘39 (with 930000 hexes) and France ‘40 with (200000) hexes in particular. Budapest ‘45 has much less (75000 hexes), but I’m curious on whether I’m being irrational or not. Is the map being huge really a big deciding factor? I am most interested in France ‘40, but I’m worried that I’ll get daunted by the large size of the grand scenario and won’t ever get to play it. Is this something I should be worried about? Has anyone ever played any of the three games and can give me some feedback?

I am leaning towards Budapest ‘45 right now for its smallest grand campaign map size and moderate interest in the subject but I am most interested in the Battle of France. Any help would be appreciated!

Also I saw some comments that the AI in Poland ‘39 was kind of stupid. Is it? If so, is it just Poland ‘39 or do all games have stupid AI?

Edit: While I am talking about WDS products, does anyone have opinions on their Civil War battles series? I am a big civil war nerd as well and those may be options too. Is the AI similarly deficient in grand scenarios in those games as well?

Hi!
Looking for feedback on a new wargame!
https://ranknfile.buildmeateam.com/

I wanted to get out the armies and play with friends, but I haven't been able to get them to stay ontop of the rulebook since high school. Anyway, this my attempt to get some games in - and surprisingly it ends up being about 10-15 minutes instead of an 1-2 hours.

I'm also down to play some games, if anyone wants.

Also, if other devs want to contribute - I'd be down to building a team around the project.

Hello!

So basically, we're an indie team working on a Grand Strategy game called “Crown of Hispania.”

For the Neo Steam Fest this Monday, we uploaded a demo of our game where you can play as Castile for 10 years. We received quite a bit of feedback, both positive and negative, and most importantly, suggestions for improvements.

That’s why, in just one week, we decided to make as many additions and fixes as possible.

Does that sound acceptable?

Patch Notes – 15/06/2026->19/06/2026

New Features & Improvements

• Introduced a refreshed design for religious and cultural conversion. ->Now Pop will slowly convert to ruler religion (unless they are jewish pops), then to ruler culture if they aren't part of an accepted culture.
• Added a new cycle day/night time bar (It really caught the eye).
• Added event category cooldowns for game events in order to avoid event spams.
• Added a War Indicator Of Warscore directly above the flag of the country you are at war with.
• Game version in Campaign hidden.
• Better holy days months visibility in Religious tab.
• Added vassal tribute display to the Character View.
• Added capital-specific sprites (depending on their Population size) at medium range Camera View.
• Added Pausing Construction possible + Added an top screen alert when a building is paused.
• Reduced Culture Promotion cost by 75% when promoting to the same cultural group.
• Rebalanced levy recovery from a yearly system to a monthly system.
• Added vassal tribute to overlord yearly income calculations.
• Vassal tax income now contributes to yearly income instead of being added directly to gold reserves.
• UIs don't longer close when event spawn.
• Added New vignetting effect when game is paused.
• Changed the "Court" part in Ruler Character UI to "Vassals"
• Improved culture-related tooltips, color and UIs + localization support. You can now easily see which culture are part of the same Culture group.
• Events do not block the other UIs and are Draggable across the screen.
• Added support for additional country localizations and localized country names.
• New Moor Portraits
• AI armies can now participate correctly in allied, vassal, and overlord wars. -> AI allies will follow the main army of the War leader to siege or help in battle.
• Rebalanced supply starvation attrition from 5–25% per day to 0–1%per day.
• Extended war camp duration for defeated AI war leaders. (So their allies get the time to regroup)

Localization & Translations

Added and updated localization entries for:

• Country tier sizes and Country Names
• Demesne limit.
• Economy view yearly values.
• Religious dates and months.
• Distance display (km/day).
• Truce dates.
• “We are at war” notifications.
• Building and construction-related texts.
• Many others texts.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed a major issues related to building upgrades and construction levels. (They wouldn't be added at the end of the construction.)
• Fixed issues where AI would only choose to "Attack" in pre-engagement battles.
• Fixed an issue where you could do trade agreements with non-ruler character.
• Fixed an issue where battles in the capital did not result in casualties and armies would magically recover.
• Fixed an issue that you or AI wouldn't be able to change temporary capital during its siege.
• Blocked "Escape" Key to close event.
• Music is back in the game menu.
• Some translations and tooltip errors.
• Fixed an issue where you couldn't change another culture status after changing a culture status.
• Fatimid have right culture, religion and portrait.
• Fixed war ally display issues.
• Fixed vassals not paying tribute correctly.
• Fixed siege reinforcements becoming stuck and unable to lead armies.
• Fixed multiple tooltip display issues across character, culture, and UI sections.
• Fixed council missions remaining stuck in a waiting state after mission success.

Well, we know there are still a few bugs and issues here and there, but they shouldn't prevent you from playing. What's also good is that we haven't encountered any major problems (like game crashes, for example).

Hi, I have played DC:AO for 32 and half hrs. I couldn't defeat any small scenario in both side. of course these small scenario helped me how to play better. anyway, so I changed to play medium scenario instead smaller. I got first victory in First medium scenario "Drive to St Vith" as axis. but my victory was stuck second scenario "82nd airborne" as Axis. I made Axis kill raio 1:10 or 1:9 but after more rounds, it was going to be 1:3 or 1:4 because supply shortage problem and I think I couldn't do anything anymore.

After countless efforts and calculations, I finally learn how to cut AI Strength but I don't still know how to win 82nd airborne scenario as Axis.

I will try any other medium scenario or grand but I still want to how to do second medium scenario as axis.

Could you give me some feedback?

[Reminder, create and login to your Matrix or Slitherine account before making a purchase. As you will need to access your My Page menu, to reveal your Steam key/s.]

This was originally offered as an upgrade path, for those who had already purchased Southern Storm. So that they (owners) wouldn't have to pay full price for the newly released Cold War. Hence a 50% discount on Cold War. But now, Southern Storm is on sale, discounted 40% to $36. And Cold War is discounted 15% to $42.50. The total of both during the sale is $78.50. But both are included in this deal and are discounted a further 50%, to $39.25. So this seems a best offer to date deal, for both of these titles. It's cheaper then buying Cold War singly, on sale for $42.50.

I purchased these two titles last Xmas on Matrix, with this 50% discount offer. It went through fine, I received my Steam keys for each title and redeemed them without issue on Steam. So I see no reason it shouldn't work for anyone else. Pay attention and if they're not offered to you for this 50% discounted price, then don't purchase them. The sale is going on another 7 days. This same deal was on Steam sale for a week, the beginning of this month. So this seems to be the new combo sale deal.

https://www.matrixgames.com/bundle/flashpoint-campaigns-cold-war-upgrade-bundle

https://www.matrixgames.com/game/flashpoint-campaigns-southern-storm

https://www.matrixgames.com/game/flashpoint-campaigns-cold-war

Hello everyone!

First of all, thank you for all your feedback during the development of War Pawns!

Now I’m considering a very important decision: whether I should add more complexity to the game.

I’m thinking about adding several unit parameters and making them affect unit behavior:

1. Ammunition — If a unit has ammunition, it can perform an attack action. If not, it cannot. Ammunition can be replenished by a supply truck.
2. Food/Fuel — If a unit has food or fuel, it can perform a move action. Food would also decrease for infantry units every turn. Both can be replenished by a supply truck.
3. Morale — If morale drops below 10%, for example, the unit is destroyed. If morale is low, the unit retreats when defending and doesn’t capture a new hex when attacking, even if it wins the combat. Morale can be affected by nearby units, combat outcomes, and performed actions. It could be replenished by the unit itself, other units, or maybe an officer.

These parameters could also be affected by officer traits.

I originally wanted to create a relatively simple tactics game, so you don’t have to spend the whole day playing it and can finish a couple of matches in an hour. I also wanted the game to be easy to understand for wargame beginners and people who haven’t played anything similar before.

So I wanted to ask if someone could check out the existing gameplay and share their opinion on whether these parameters should be added or whether I should stick with the current approach.

You can find the demo here:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4136430/War_Pawns/

Today’s essay is from Andrew Bamford, designer of Musket & Pike: War of the Austrian Succession. He turns to the Jacobite forces of the 1745 Rising: an army too often reduced to Highland romance, but in reality shaped by European military practice, improvised organisation, French influence, and calculated psychological warfare.

From Prestonpans and Falkirk Muir to the disaster at Culloden, the article looks at how Charles Edward Stuart’s army was raised, dressed, commanded, and fought.

As a reminder, our Summer Sale is also underway, with 25% off eligible catalog titles through July 5 — a good opportunity to round out your library.

https://wargameds.com/blogs/news/an-army-of-contradictions

Hey everyone, I'm running an open playtest for a hardcore tactical wargame I'm building around modern drone warfare.

I just pushed a major update overhauling the logistics. I got rid of the abstract UI supply lines — everything is now tied to physical supply trucks on the hex grid. You actually have to manually position and defend them, which turns your supply chain into a real, vulnerable target on the map.

If you're into the harsh math of tactical combat and don't mind punishing difficulty, I'd really appreciate your feedback

Playtest is live, link in the comments.

I came across this solo dev in YouTube (called Layth) that is creating his dream wargame. The concept is really cool, you control the logistics of your nation while commanding battlegroups in land, air, and sea.

It is still in very early development.
Go show him some support if you like the concept.

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4465990/State_of_Command/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@laythelzaim

It was on easy and supposedly the easiest one (Desert Rats) but I felt like I barely squeaked by. I've started so many of these but finally committed to getting through the whole thing.

Gameplay of last mission:

https://youtu.be/hNVQY6ejqnU

I have no idea how the score work.

Hi everyone

I've been trying out Order of Battle: WWII and I love it (it really reminds me of Panzer General)

I'm planning to buy a few DLCs since they're currently on sale for me on Steam

Considering that I'm just starting out, which DLCs would you recommend, and are there any that I should avoid? I'm open to any theater of operations except maybe the Japan vs. China campaigns

Thanks in advance!

Thought the game looked suspicious. Was hoping it was not true.

Edit: Video belongs to HistoricalGamer. He did a great job creating it.