Wargame: AirLand Battle

The Wargame series of strategy games from Eugen Systems is a kind of golden mean between hardcore military simulators for experts and accessible strategies for the general public. Here you don’t need to study reference books on tank modules, as in classic wargames, although the name may be confusing. Instead, the game offers a pleasant visual component, clear rules and a fairly smooth entry. But do not be fooled – it is easy to master the basics, but it is really difficult to become a master. Especially considering the fact that a full-fledged single-player campaign is practically absent in the series, which is why it can be difficult for beginners to initially understand the essence of what is happening.

There are not many games similar to Wargame on the market. Or rather, almost none. Perhaps you can recall R.U.S.E. – a spiritual predecessor from the same developers. Wargame stands out with large-scale battles, huge maps, many modes and a rich selection of vehicles. And what is surprising is that all this epicness does not interfere with the visuals. Thanks to the IRISZOOM engine, you can switch from a detailed view of one fighter to a panorama of the entire map in a second – just by turning the mouse wheel. The effect is impressive even by today’s standards.

Wargame: AirLand Battle Free Steam Account

Each battle in the game gives a new experience – this is especially noticeable in multiplayer, where no battle is repeated. But the single-player campaign in Wargame: European Escalation turned out to be more of a training one – you go through it once to figure out the mechanics and interface. The real heat began online: intense battles with live opponents quickly put everything in its place. A newbie entered the multiplayer, got it in full from experienced players – and now the game is gathering dust in the library, put aside “until better times”.

And now, it seems, these better times have finally come. A year has passed since the release of WEE, during this time four free DLCs have been released, and now Eugen Systems has presented a full-fledged continuation of the series – much more ambitious and mature.

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New campaign in Wargame: AirLand Battle – what awaits players?

The developers clearly tried to please everyone. Those who adored the multiplayer of Wargame: European Escalation finally got planes, new modes, and even an increased participant limit — now up to 20 people can fight on one map at a time. But beginners and fans of single-player campaigns were offered a dynamic mode with AI, allowing them to calmly get used to it and not immediately rush under the onslaught of experienced players.

This time, the events unfolded in Scandinavia — a harsh, cold region became the arena of a large-scale conflict between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries. It is difficult to say why the choice fell on the north of Europe. It would have been more logical to have a clash somewhere in the vast expanses of Germany or France, where the main ground forces of both sides were once concentrated. A tank march on Paris or an attack on Moscow still remain in the world of fantasy. But knowing the Eugen Systems studio, we can count on future additions — it is quite possible that we will get to Central Europe. Moreover, the game now features armies of four new countries, three of which are European.

The dynamic campaign is perhaps the main innovation. It can be played both alone and in multiplayer. At first, it resembles old-school wargames with turn-based mechanics, hexes and conventional graphics. But in AirLand Battle, this is where the similarities end. There are no familiar resources, but there are two types of points: morale and trust.

Morale is a reflection of your combat effectiveness. It is given for victories in battles and the destruction of the enemy. Collect enough – and the enemy will capitulate. Moreover, the initial stock of morale is different for each side. Trust points, in turn, are awarded for holding provinces. You can spend them, for example, on calling in reinforcements or a special operation:

• laying sea mines — blocks the fleet’s actions in the desired area;
• counterintelligence — prevents enemy special forces from penetrating the rear;
• bombing — reduces the morale and initiative of enemy units in the selected province.

Each army in the game has its own initiative and morale. These parameters are critical when confronting the enemy — they determine the starting conditions of the battle: the number of points at the beginning and, accordingly, how many you need to score to win. Tactical battles are built around these characteristics, which gives each fight more depth and unpredictability.

But the campaign is not just a set of missions. The world around you lives its own life. While you are thinking about the next step, events unfold behind the scenes that can change the entire course of the war. For example, you may be asked to send part of the army to another front where the enemy has begun an offensive. Decide to help — you will lose some reinforcements, but earn trust points. Refuse — you will save resources, but risk losing in another direction, which will affect the entire balance of power in Scandinavia.

And although the new campaign looks much more solid than the single player from WEE, it still lacks scale. I want to see a real global Third World War, not a series of local skirmishes. Perhaps one day we will see a map covering the entire globe… But then the game will turn into something like Hearts of Iron. In the meantime, Wargame is still about tactics, about fire contact, about intense battles in which every mistake can be fatal.

Aviation in Wargame: AirLand Battle

AirLand Battle brought a major innovation to the Wargame series — full-fledged combat aviation. If earlier the skies above the battlefield belonged only to helicopters, now everything is much larger: fighters, attack aircraft, interceptors and even frontline bombers have entered the action. In the arsenal, you can find both the time-tested MiG-17 and the technological monster F-117 Nighthawk — the “invisible”, which at the time of the events described had just begun to enter service.

It’s a pity that they did without strategic bombers and transport aircraft. The ability to land troops in the rear, strike at headquarters and temporarily paralyze the control of enemy troops would clearly add depth. Yes, something can be done with the help of helicopters, but still there is not enough feeling of a large-scale air operation.

In addition, you can’t thoughtlessly throw away aircraft — they are expensive and are easily shot down. Especially if you don’t take care of reconnaissance and don’t identify enemy air defense positions in advance. Even in fierce 10 vs 10 battles, aircraft are rarely used en masse – most often these are pinpoint strikes or support at critical moments, for example, when trying to stop a tank breakthrough.

The main types of aircraft that appeared in the game:

• Fighters – for air control and destruction of enemy aircraft;
• Attack aircraft – indispensable in supporting ground troops;
• Bombers – effective against concentrations of equipment and fortifications;
• Interceptors – fast and deadly, especially when defending.

Other changes are not so noticeable at first glance, but they are no less important. Infantry can now occupy buildings, turning entire city blocks into strongholds. The interface has become more convenient and informative. And the total number of available units has grown to 750 – mainly due to the expansion of aviation and the emergence of new countries participating in the conflict.

Is AirLand Battle Worth Playing for Wargame Fans?

AirLand Battle is an example of how to properly develop a good idea. Formally, this is supposedly a continuation of Wargame: European Escalation, but in fact, it is still a major addition. Yes, the long-awaited dynamic campaign appeared here, full-fledged aviation was added, some things were corrected in the balance and interface, but the foundation remained the same. Nevertheless, even these changes were enough to refresh the game and breathe new life into it.

For beginners, the entrance has become noticeably softer – it has become easier to figure it out, the entry threshold is lower. But veterans had to use their brains: the old proven troop assemblies no longer work like clockwork, and you have to experiment again. Battles have become even larger in scale, the graphics are still pleasing to the eye, and the key principles – thoughtful command, changing tactics on the fly and close interaction between units and allies – have not gone anywhere.

As a result, although this is not a revolution, but rather a solid evolution, the game brings a lot of pleasure. Sometimes this is quite enough.

What I liked:

• All the best from European Escalation is in place
• New modes and long-awaited aviation
• Improved friendliness for newcomers

What I disappointed:

• There are not so many changes to talk about a full-fledged new part
• The dynamic campaign turned out to be too simplified – lacks depth and scale

Wargame: AirLand Battle System Requirements

How to play Wargame: AirLand Battle for free on Steam via VpeSports

Forget about fantasy and magic. In Wargame: AirLand Battle, you are not a hero of legends, but a real field commander of the Cold War. Everything is for real here: real armies, authentic equipment of the 80s and maps where any mistake can cost you an entire front. You will have to make decisions on which the success of the operation depends – and it does not matter whether you command NATO soldiers or Warsaw Pact soldiers. Welcome to a world where strategy is more important than force, and the air is always taut, like a live wire.

And here’s the good news – you don’t even need to buy anything. We provide access through a free Steam account, so you can launch the game absolutely free. All you need is a couple of minutes: register on our website, go to your personal account, and detailed instructions are already waiting for you. Everything is simplified to the limit: no hassle, no piracy – just an honest way to start playing without unnecessary expenses.

We tried to make everything not just convenient, but humane: if something goes wrong, write to us, we will help. After the game, you can leave a review – it is important not only to us, but also to other players. All comments are moderated, and after approval, you receive data from a free Steam account to your email.

And if you want to be “in the know”, follow our Telegram channel – there we publish new accounts, share news, discuss patches and just chat. And if you suddenly get confused, go to the section “How to play for free – a detailed guide” or just write to us in the chat. We are always in touch – because you deserve to play easily, fairly and with pleasure.