I’ve been getting back into the classic Close Combat games, and they’re some of my very favorite of the wargame genre.
I’m curious what retrogaming’s favorites are. I’m not too particular on what constitutes a “wargame,” it could be anything from Final Fantasy Tactics to Steel Panthers.
To throw a couple more out, I really enjoyed Rome: Total War for the 4x strategy and the Combat Mission games for their simulation systems as well.
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Rise of Nations
Man I haven’t played Close Combat in probably 27 years but I instantly recognized that screen shot. Great game!
I still play C&C Generals and Supreme Commander fairly often. Not sure I’d call them retro but they are pretty old!
Generals:Zero Hour is still a great play, especially with mods.
I loved close combat games! I still want think and look for similar games. It left a void I haven’t quite filled.
Sudden Strike 2
Empire Earth
Oh, I’d forgotten about that game. I actually liked it better than Age of Empires.
Historyline: 1914 - 1918
Sometimes I feel like I’m the only person on earth that remembers Close Combat. I loved how the units felt like real people instead of automatons. That’s definitely a franchise I would love to see return.
I completely agree; the buildup and production involved in most RTS games is tedious to me. Close Combat seems like the perfect middle between simulationist war games and RTS chaos. It was actually developed as a Squad Leader game before they lost the Avalon Hill license.
The Combat Mission games were fairly similar, with my favorite feature being a mode where you issue orders in 1 minute increments; you’re watching the battle play out in real time, but it’s still turn based. Edit: Apparently they’re still making these. Here is the one I remember playing most. I still like the Close Combat games better to just jump into though.
The only modern franchise I’ve played that has a similar play style are the Total War games, but I think they realize WWII isn’t a great fit for them.
Fallen Haven
