Commander: The Great War

Commander: The Great War is a turn-based strategy game set during World War I. You command forces across a hex-based campaign map spanning the USA in the west, Africa and Arabia to the south, Scandinavia to the north and the Urals to the east. The Grand Campaign follows the war from the invasion of Belgium on August 5, 1914, to the Armistice on November 11, 1918.

Campaigns and events

There are five Grand Campaigns, each beginning in a different year at the start of a historical offensive: 1914 The Great War, 1915 Ypres Artois, 1916 The Battle of Verdun, 1917 The Nivelle Offensive and 1918 The Kaiserschlacht. More than 40 historical and hypothetical events can be triggered by conditions on the campaign map.

Units and commanders

The game includes 18 unit types, from infantry, cavalry and tanks to railroad guns, armoured trains, cruisers, submarines, battleships, fighters, bombers and airships. Each unit has strengths and weaknesses based on its historical performance in different theatres of the war. You can attach historical commanders to units: Generals lead ground units, Admirals serve at sea and flying Aces strengthen air units. Each commander has specific strengths, so you choose who is suited to each front.

Research and combat

You invest in research to improve your units. Aircraft can develop from fragile observation tools into planes capable of deadly ground and air attacks, artillery barrages can become more accurate and powerful, and armour research can unlock tanks. Combat accounts for supply, morale, terrain, leadership, equipment, training and fog of war.

Multiplayer and modding

You can play multiplayer battles through Slitherine's PBEM++ server system, including cross-platform multiplayer between PC and iPad players. Lua scripting lets you modify many aspects of gameplay, including combat, research, unit statistics and terrain effects.