7 – No Retreat! The Russian Front
Now we step away from the SGS-like games for a moment to take a look at No Retreat! The Russian Front, a digital port of the board game with the same name, designed by Carl Paradis. This entry is a streamlined, turn-based wargame that masterfully simulates the entire Eastern Front of WWII. This title is a perfect fit for players who want a quick, yet deep, strategic experience, as the scale is pretty damn massive, with 2 months per turn, 100 km long hexes, and unit scales are not battalions or divisions, but full armies.
As you might expect, you’ll command either the German or Soviet forces and navigate the shifting tides of the war, from the initial German blitzkrieg to the final Soviet push to Berlin. The game blends classic hex-and-counter mechanics with a card system representing random events.
6 – SGS Korean War
We are back to regular SGS games, with their grand entry SGS Korean War, which brings the “Forgotten War” to life in a detailed, operational-level wargame. The game allows the players to take command of the either the United Nations forces or the Communist side in the Cold War’s first major armed conflict. Unlike the games we looked at before, SGS Korean War is quite massive in its scale, and the size and mechanics typical of SGS are perfect for this.
There are 11 scenarios, ranging from small 3 to 12 turn, which you can get done and over with in a couple of hours, maybe even less than an hour for the smaller ones, but there are also 3 massive ones: the 1951 Campaign lasts 100 turns, and the 1952 Campaign lasts for 50. The biggest scenario is the one covering the entirety of the war, and has an astounding 150 turns, starting in June 1950. If you ask me, this is some impressive bang for just 10 bucks. Add to that the game’s card system, which makes all these scenarios highly replayable, and you have something that can keep you entertained for months!
5 – Small Wars: Mohicans
Small Wars: Mohicans is a unique and fast-paced turn-based strategy game set during the French and Indian War. Based on a classic board game, this digital adaptation pits the powerful British regular forces against the mobile, ambush-oriented French and their Indigenous allies. The game’s main goal is not just about combat, but also about winning the diplomatic favor of the powerful Iroquois Confederacy. Its streamlined design and quick gameplay sessions make it a perfect fit for players who want a rich strategic experience without the time commitment of larger wargames. The game is easy to learn for newcomers while offering enough strategic depth to keep veterans engaged.
Leave a Reply