Drawing an offensive onto a map becomes an order for an entire formation in Battleplan, the Second World War real-time strategy game now available on PC via Steam. Developed by Foolish Mortals and published by Slitherine, the game puts players in charge of operations that unfold over weeks of simulated time, with officers carrying out their plans through a customisable chain of command.
One of the biggest additions since February’s Steam Next Fest demo is the Zone Orders system. Players can designate operational areas for their forces, then move troops between those zones using a drag-and-drop interface. It gives commanders another way to organise formations across a front and adjust their responsibilities as a battle develops. Those returning from the demo will also find changes to army building, the interface and scenario difficulty.
The other changes noted for the launch build include:
- Expanded army customisation for different scenarios and playstyles.
- An in-game codex covering unit roles and army composition.
- Interface scaling, clearer Zone Orders visuals, and new icons and officer portraits.
- Revisions to unit AI and the orders tool.
- Scenario difficulty scaling to accommodate different levels of challenge.
On the battlefield, plans can link several stages of an operation. Players can prepare bombardments, establish defensive lines, organise withdrawals and coordinate counterattacks. Forces can also be divided between objectives or concentrated for a larger attack. Divisions are represented from headquarters down to individual companies, with infantry, armour, engineers, artillery, reconnaissance, anti-tank units and support elements working within the player’s command structure. Officers interpret orders and respond to changing conditions as those plans are executed. Missions cover between one week and one month of simulated time. The simulation advances second by second, with controls to pause, run in real time or fast-forward, allowing players to choose how closely they follow an operation.
Battleplan is available now on Steam
