The Great War: Western Front

Lore & Background

The Great War: Western Front allows players to choose either the Central Powers or the Allied Powers, each with unique gameplay features and abilities. In the real-time strategy segments, players spend gold and supplies to construct trenches, machine gun nests, artillery batteries, and observation balloons during a set-up phase. Battalions can be commanded across no man's land to attack enemy trenches, with successful attacks granting ownership of that trench. As players progress, they unlock weapons and technology such as tanks and chemical weapons. Each skirmish has nine possible outcomes, ranging from great loss to great victory. Players may negotiate a ceasefire if resources are nearly exhausted, while defenders can surrender to preserve resources and prevent further casualties.

The theatre map displays overall war progress, with each region having a number of 'stars' indicating defensibility. Stars are removed only after a decisive victory; minor victories deplete the opponent's national will but do not capture regions. Regions regain a star each turn if not attacked, but stationed troops become fatigued. Victory is achieved by capturing all enemy capitals or completely draining the opponent's national will. Depleting one's own national will through heavy casualties results in defeat.

Lead designer Chris Becker described the First World War as 'a war of attrition and a battle of inches,' leading the team to prioritize maintaining national will over winning individual battles. The game features a persistent battlefield where destruction from previous conflicts remains visible. Weather changes affect unit movement and artillery performance. The team hoped players would develop new strategies through map familiarity to achieve victory at lower cost.

Reader's Guide

The Great War: Western Front represents a focused attempt to simulate the strategic and tactical realities of the First World War within the real-time strategy genre. Its significance lies in its emphasis on attrition and national will rather than conventional victory conditions. Players must carefully balance offensive actions against resource expenditure and casualties, as even a tactical victory can severely drain national will. The game's persistent battlefield and dynamic weather systems add layers of strategic depth, rewarding players who learn map layouts and adapt their approaches. The collaboration with the Imperial War Museums lent authenticity to the setting, though the game received mixed or average reviews. Critics noted that the user interface was clunky and difficult to use, sometimes leading to strategic missteps. PCGamesN praised the realism but found that real-time battles often resulted in frustrating stalemates that burned supplies and caused heavy casualties. Vice highlighted the research and development metagame, where transformative technologies like tanks required significant investment over multiple turns, creating opportunity costs. The game's legacy is as a niche title that attempted to capture the grim, grinding nature of trench warfare, appealing to players interested in historical authenticity and strategic resource management over fast-paced action.