Order of Battle: World War II
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About Order of Battle: World War II
Order of Battle: World War II drops you into the messy reality of mid-20th century conflict without any modern tech crutches. The Artistocrats built this tactical simulation to strip away the fog of war in a way that feels grounded rather than abstract. It launched back in April 2015 and hit consoles like PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Mac alongside PC. You control squads on small maps where every bullet counts. This is not an epic campaign covering years of fighting. Instead it focuses on specific battles with tight turn-based mechanics that force you to think about line of sight and cover. It feels less like a board game and more like a serious study of infantry tactics from that era.
Gameplay
You spend most of your time issuing commands to small squads moving across hex grids or free-aim areas depending on the map setup. The core loop involves positioning units before the enemy fires, then spending your action points to move, shoot, or take cover. Combat is brutal and fast because a single misstep can wipe out a whole team instantly. You manage morale and suppression status closely since breaking units will leave gaps in your line. The game offers both single player scenarios and multiplayer matches that test your ability to adapt to unpredictable human opponents. Controls feel snappy once you get used to the interface, allowing quick adjustments during heated firefights. There is no auto-resolve here. You have to click every move yourself.
What Players Think
Players on PlayPile rate this title heavily with a Metacritic score of 81 and strong community approval. Most users report completing the campaign in around 25 hours while multiplayer sessions stretch much longer. The mood among veterans is overwhelmingly positive since the simulation mechanics finally hit the mark for tactical purists. Critics love how it handles suppression and morale compared to other strategy games from the same period. One common sentiment we see in reviews praises the lack of hand-holding, forcing you to learn the system through trial and error. Average playtime per session hovers around 45 minutes before a match ends. Achievement hunters note that unlocking all titles requires mastering multiple difficulty levels without using cheats.
PlayPile's Take
This game demands patience and careful planning from anyone willing to buy it. It is not for people who want flashy explosions or fast-paced action. The price point remains reasonable given the depth of the tactical systems you get. If you enjoy crunching numbers and managing small unit behavior without constant hand-holding, this title delivers exactly that. You will spend hours learning how different terrain features affect your squad performance. There is no hand-holding here so expect to lose a few matches before things click. The achievement list reflects the skill required to finish the hardest scenarios. It is a solid choice for fans of deep simulation who do not mind steep learning curves.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB Rating
80.0
RAWG Rating
2.6
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