In Command and Conquer, you’re playing as the leader of the entire GDI or Nod army, observing the battlefield from an enormous bank of monitors in a secure military installation. And yet, you’re able to talk to every single infantry trooper as if you’re standing next to them – when you give orders, your soldiers seem to receive them telepathically. That’s C&C. That’s how it works. But imagine if that communication broke down, and as well as attacking and defending, you now had to contend with a fractured chain of command that delayed your orders. Sequel to one of the best tank-based milsims on Steam, Armored Brigade 2 is a hybrid RTS and logistics game that makes even its most realistic rivals look casual.
It’s the Cold War, except things have gotten even more out of hand. Large-scale battles have spilled out all over Europe, and you have a choice of seven countries to lead into the fray. Maps in Armored Brigade 2 are based on actual satellite data. There are more than 1,000 units, all modeled on their real-world counterparts. Where the original game, released in 2019, used isometric maps and 2D visuals, Armored Brigade 2 is fully three dimensional. It’s an RTS game, but it’s also a meticulous, hard-won simulation game where every successful engagement requires planning and forethought.
The key is in communications. You don’t just order your tanks to attack, or arrange them into formation at the click of a button. If your units are far apart from one another, your orders will take longer to filter through the chain of command. Likewise, if telecommunications relays are damaged or your radio system is somehow disrupted, it can leave your troops stranded without direction.
This adds an extra layer to the strategy game, where you need to make decisions based on realistic expectations of reaction times. But you also have the ability to create Standard Operating Procedures, essentially templates for engagement that your officers will follow if the comms go down.
You need to be both reactive and proactive in Armored Brigade 2. There are linear and dynamic campaign modes and you can play it either in real time or using a turn-based system. Already rated ‘positive’ on Steam, if you want to try Armored Brigade 2 for yourself, head here.
Otherwise, try some of the other best war games, or maybe the best grand strategy games on PC.
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