Thirty Years' War

Thirty Years' War is a strategy game set during the conflicts between Catholics and Protestants in the Holy Roman Empire and surrounding regions from 1618 to 1648. You take control of either the Protestant or Catholic side and fight for supremacy over Central Europe, coordinating armies, managing their supplies and fatigue, and choosing when to engage, besiege or retreat to recover.

Campaigns and map

The game covers Europe from the western seaboard to the Volga. Its first scenarios focus on Germany, Denmark, parts of France, the Netherlands and Bohemia. The map is divided into more than 4,600 regions, and the scenarios cover different stages of the war, beginning with its historical start in September 1618.

There are three tutorial scenarios and five main scenarios. You can recreate the campaigns of Lützen, Nördlingen and Rocroi, as well as events including the Bohemian rebellion and the Swedish intervention led by Gustavus Adolphus.

Armies and command

More than 80 historical leaders are rated for their abilities, and the game includes over 160 unit types, from Spanish tercios and veteran Scottish infantry to Cuirassier cavalry, artillery and Swedish warships. Chain of Command lets you organize units into groups and larger stacks to represent armies.

Managing the war

You control national spending on the military, economy and diplomacy through assets and production centers. Regional Decision Cards can trigger events such as contributions, and their use can affect a campaign. Historical events also create decision points, ranging from local uprisings to foreign intervention.

Weather, attrition, supply, prisoners and fog of war are part of the game’s model. Battlefield tactics let you make decisions during battles, while sieges and naval warfare are also represented.