Get First Sino-Japanese War for PC

First Sino-Japanese War is a naval strategy game covering the 1894–1895 war between China and Japan. It includes tactical naval combat and a strategic layer, with battles played using a dynamic time step, such as one second per pulse. You can play in turns, such as one-minute turns, or in real time. Its core combat-resolution mechanics are inspired by and digitally adapted from SEEKRIEG-style naval miniatures rules.

Scenarios and battles

The game includes historical battle scenarios, including the Battle of Yalu River, as well as other historical and hypothetical scenarios set during the First Sino-Japanese War, the Boxer Rebellion and the Russo-Japanese War. Quick battles are available in skirmish mode.

Commanding fleets

You can adjust how much command is automated, from controlling each weapon mount and fire-control system manually to delegating some or all fleet command to the AI. You can also control both sides by hand at the same time. In LAN multiplayer, players can be assigned command of different parts of the order of battle.

Editor and mechanics

The integrated editor uses the same interface as regular gameplay and exposes parameters and status data. You can modify ship classes, including penetration and fire-control tables, armor and dynamics, as well as damage, the environment and deployment. The editor lets you make changes and generate scenarios at any time, including custom battles beyond the built-in scenarios. The game’s mechanics are open source.

Ships appear as counters, using historical or generated line drawings, and move across the globe; the game has no 3D models.

Campaign development

The campaign is work in progress. Its planned systems cover land-combat resolution, supply, repairs, the chain of command and other actions. The grand campaign scenario describes the start of the war on 25 July 1894 and models how events unfold afterward.