War in Spain 1936-39

About War in Spain 1936-39

War in Spain 1936-39 is a turn-based strategy wargame developed by Matrix Games, set during the Spanish Civil War. Released on January 22, 2026, it runs on PC and focuses on hyper-detailed military simulations. The game covers land, air, and naval combat with a 5-nautical-mile-per-hex map scale, allowing control down to individual squads, vehicles, and aircraft. Designed for grognards, it features historically accurate units from Spain, Germany, the Soviet Union, and Italy. The new engine improves logistics, combat resolution, and AI, replacing older area-based systems. With nine campaigns and support for single-player, multiplayer, and split-screen modes, it’s a deep, tactical experience for fans of operational-level wargames.

Gameplay

Each turn revolves around managing units at brigade to company levels. You adjust movement, assign objectives, and resolve combat using granular stats for tanks, planes, and squads. The engine tracks fuel, ammo, and unit morale in real time. Combat resolution factors in terrain, weather, and line of sight, with results calculated per hex. Naval actions include ship-to-ship battles and amphibious landings. Campaigns range from short skirmishes to full-war scenarios, with AI opponents adapting to your tactics. Multiplayer allows hot seat or email-based turns. The interface leans toward spreadsheet-heavy, with unit lists and logistics queues dominating screens. Sessions last 1, 3 hours, but longer campaigns demand weeks of planning.

What Players Think

As a 2026 title, War in Spain lacks current community data. However, Matrix Games’ track record with War in the Pacific suggests strong niche appeal. Historical accuracy and engine improvements are expected to draw wargame veterans. No playtime, ratings, or achievement stats exist yet. Early reviews of pre-release materials highlight the 5 nm hex scale as fresh for immersion. Community moods are speculative but likely split between hardcore strategy fans and those overwhelmed by complexity. No notable review snippets are available. Completion rates and average playtime remain unrecorded.

PlayPile's Take

War in Spain 1936-39 is a must-play for advanced wargamers seeking hyper-realistic military simulations. Its detailed mechanics and historical rigor justify a purchase for enthusiasts of operational strategy, despite a steep learning curve. Price is unlisted, but Matrix’s past titles suggest a $40, 50 range. With nine campaigns and multiplayer, it offers longevity, though casual players may find it inaccessible. The lack of tutorial polish could deter newcomers, but for those who relish spreadsheet-level tactics, this is a rare gem. Worth the investment if you’ve ever managed fuel reserves in a historical wargame.

Storyline

The Prologue to World War II From the team that brought you War in the Pacific - Admiral’s Edition, we bring you a unique look at the Spanish Civil War, in our latest game War In Spain 1936-39. This is the first in a series of games based on a new wargame engine that preserves the same grognard level of detail for all three combined arms components (land, sea and air) but also makes significant improvements. Land movement and combat are much improved, finally leaving behind the “area” type system used in earlier games. War in Spain 1936-39 includes a TRUE artificial intelligence system, not at all based on “scripts”; together with an much improved and more realistic logistics system. War In Spain 1936-39 is meticulously researched by our international team to the highest standards of historical accuracy, including logistics, land, sea and air units as well as the map. There are 9 campaigns of varying length and scope included with the game, which can be played against the computer opponent, hot seat, or by email. War In Spain 1936-39 gives you the chance to fight the Spanish Civil War your way, on every level.