In the void that Command and Conquer has left, many RTS games have emerged to try and take the legendary series’ crown. Titles like Company of Heroes 3, World in Conflict, and Men of War 2 have all cocked their hats at the king of the genre, exploring different takes of military RTS action. Upcoming game Broken Arrow looks like it might be the most ambitious of the lot, combining RTS mechanics with the in-depth look at military hardware as seen in titles like War Thunder or World of Tanks. It’s just launched its latest playtest, and it’s already storming up the Steam player charts.
What immediately sets Broken Arrow apart from everything else out there is the breadth of the RTS game’s simulation. It’s not content with giving you small maps to fight over – these battlefields are huge, detailed environments that at times feel remarkably realistic. These huge arenas can contain varying terrain, meaning you’ll need to take different approaches in order to achieve your objectives.
If there’s water you can deploy marine units like hovercraft, landing troops at harbors to take key locations. Your forces will send soldiers, tanks, and fast attack vehicles to hold areas against enemy incursion, relying on air support to keep them safe. You can launch paratroopers behind enemy lines, or send helicopters to strike deep into enemy territory. It’s almost a complete look at the different ways you can wage war, and if it pulls it off it may very well take up the torch Command and Conquer has dropped.
Another aspect that makes Broken Arrow stand out is its almost slavish devotion to military accuracy. It contains over 200 different accurately-recreated military units, vehicles, and technologies, all of which you can get a closer look at in the game’s customization menu.
Yes, that’s right, Broken Arrow isn’t just satisfied with giving you tons of military toys to play with, you can tweak them to better serve the role you want them to take on the battlefield. You can change loadouts on aircraft, tanks, and more – letting you make key tactical decisions before the mission has even started.
The Broken Arrow multiplayer playtest is now live on Steam and you can take part for free. Head over to the announcement post to learn more, and to join the nearly 8,500 other players who are playing right now at the time of writing.
Should you need something else in your life, our guides to the best war games and the best strategy games will be sure to keep your tactical mind busy for a long time to come.
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