War on an Epic scale from Moscow to Berlin – this is War in the East!
The game models every aspect of the war on the Eastern Front down to the division and brigade level, including factors like supply, fatigue, experience, morale, and the skill of commanders. It features over 4,000 individual units in its database, each with its own equipment, vehicles, and support units, creating an incredibly realistic and detailed simulation.
Players can engage in massive, dramatic campaigns that involve thousands of units across a map that stretches over 10 miles per hex, covering an enormous geographic area from Moscow to Berlin. The game offers several major campaigns as well as many smaller scenarios, each presenting unique strategic and operational challenges.
Maintaining the flow of supplies, fuel, and ammunition to the front lines is crucial. Players must carefully plan the movement of their forces, repair railroads, and coordinate the transportation of resources to sustain combat operations. The game realistically models the logistical challenges faced by both the German and Soviet militaries during the brutal Eastern Front campaign.
Over 500 historical commanders are included, each with their own unique skills, attributes, and impact on their units. Players must manage these leaders, deciding when to dismiss, execute, or reassign them based on their performance, as the abilities of the commanders play a major role in determining the success or failure of combat operations.
The game realistically models weather and environmental conditions, with snowstorms, freezing temperatures, and muddy terrain all significantly impacting the movement and combat effectiveness of forces. Players must adapt their strategies to account for the changing weather patterns and terrain conditions throughout the campaigns.
The game offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing players to automate certain aspects or dive deep into the detailed management of systems like aircraft allocation and supply distribution. The full-featured scenario and data editor also enable players to create their own custom campaigns and battles.
The game has a dedicated and passionate community of players, many of whom engage in massive, years-long multiplayer campaigns organized through the Matrix Games forums. These cooperative and competitive multiplayer experiences are a significant draw for fans, who appreciate the depth of strategy and the social aspect of the game.