For the longest time, I’ve wanted to go back to writing about games I play, but since my long and drawn-out reviews usually require weeks of work before finally coming out, there’s no way it’s humanely possible to do that for every single game I dip my toes into, and there are quite a lot of those. For every Second Front review, countless other impressions go unwritten: Waronoi, Space Haven, Cantata, Ground Branch, Ready or Not, Dome Keeper, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, and Victoria 3.

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Combat Mission: Red Thunder

Another entry of the Combat Mission series makes its way into the Steam storefront with the help of Slitherine. It’s no secret I rank Combat Mission as one of my favorite World War II series of all time, even despite all of its many flaws. The attention to historical accuracy is remarkable, as each unit, weapon, and terrain element is meticulously crafted to reflect its World War II counterparts. One of the most notable features of the series is its realistic approach to gameplay. Everything is simulated, each soldier’s actions, each bullet fired, each round struck, every inch of armor, down to the communications between squads and HQs. The game includes a wide range of historically accurate weapons, vehicles, and terrain, which makes it feel like a true-to-life representation of the events of World War II. This makes combat challenging and engaging, as players must plan their moves carefully to avoid casualties. Every soldier lost is a soldier that cannot be used when the need arises.

The main problem with CM titles is their aging graphics and engine. Visually, Combat Mission: Red Thunder doesn’t boast cutting-edge graphics, and it’s getting harder and harder to ignore the flaws with each passing year. And it isn’t as if the bas graphics means you’ll have a smooth experience because the game runs terribly on every system. The UI could also need some reworking and its Steam launch could have benefited much from tooltips and propper tutorials.

The only serious competitor CM: RT has is Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front, which somehow manages to elevate the level of detail in its battles. It suffers from many of the same UI issues that Red Thunder does. However, it manages to run a lot better and looks very detailed. It’s also way more complicated of getting into and it has so many moving pieces that it can get rather confusing, with very little feedback to help you. I like to say that Mius Front is a game for people that don’t mind micromanaging every little thing soldiers can do. Combat Mission is pretty much the opposite.

So yeah, if you’re an Eastern Front aficionado and love the tactical nature of WW2 scuffles, you can’t go wrong with getting both titles if you can afford them. If not, think about what kind of commander you would be? Micromanaging? Get Combat Mission. Do you trust your soldiers to do the right choices in the heat of battle? Go with Graviteam. Both Mius Front and Red Thunder have some DLC that will go a long way when it comes to prolonging the game’s life cycle.

Combat Mission: Red Thunder, despite its flaws in graphics and UI, remains atop the pantheon of tactical games that faithfully capture the essence of World War II combat. Its attention to historical accuracy and immersive gameplay make it a worthwhile choice for fans of the Eastern Front. Whether you can overlook its shortcomings or prefer a different level of control, Combat Mission: Red Thunder offers a unique experiences that will satisfy your strategic cravings.

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