Take Command and Secure Victory in the Great War! Commander – The Great War features a Grand Campaign covering the whole war from the invasion of Belgium on August 5, 1914 to the Armistice on the 11th of November 1918 in addition to 16 different unit types including Infantry, Cavalry, Armoured Cars and Tanks, Artillery, and much more!
The game puts players in command of either the Entente Powers (e.g. Britain, France, Russia) or the Central Powers (e.g. Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire) during World War I. Players must manage all aspects of the war effort, including military strategy, production, research, and diplomacy.
Players move and order their units, which include infantry, cavalry, artillery, tanks, aircraft, ships, and more, across a large hex-based campaign map covering the major theaters of World War I. Combat resolution factors in unit type, terrain, leadership, morale, and other variables. Players must also carefully manage the production of new units and the research of new technologies to improve their forces. They must balance resource allocation between different fronts and between military production and technological advancement.
The game captures the trench warfare of World War I, with the lines on the Western Front often becoming heavily entrenched. Players must use a combination of artillery bombardment, infiltration tactics, and carefully timed offensives to break through. Similarly, players must think strategically about how to employ their limited naval and air resources. Effective use of submarines, battleships, fighters, and bombers can be crucial to securing victory.
Players must manage their supply lines, transportation networks, and industrial capacity to ensure their forces are well-equipped and supported. Decisions about railway construction, resource allocation, and morale maintenance can significantly impact the war's outcome.
The game's AI is described as challenging and capable, effectively utilizing combined arms tactics and responding to the player's moves in a thoughtful and strategic manner. While the AI may occasionally make questionable decisions, particularly in naval warfare, it generally provides a satisfying challenge that requires careful strategic planning.