Order of War
A WWII RTS focusing on large-scale battles without base building.
Order of War (Russian: Order of War: Освобождение) is a World War II strategy video game for Windows, released in September 2009. It was developed by Wargaming and published by Square Enix.
The game’s story covers two campaigns set in 1944. One campaign follows American forces pushing back Germans on the Western Front, while the other puts players in command of German troops trying to stop the Red Army’s advance on the Eastern Front.
Gameplay focuses on company-level engagements with large battlefield views. Players control ground troops, artillery, tanks, and aircraft in missions based on key 1944 operations. It is a real-time strategy game without base building or resource collection. Instead, players earn reinforcement points by capturing command points on the map, similar to systems in *Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War* and *Company of Heroes*, though point usage resembles *World in Conflict* and *Blitzkrieg*.
Features include a cinematic camera that shows the scale of battle while allowing command over a wide area. Players can lead up to 1,000 soldiers, tanks, armored vehicles, and aircraft. Two campaign modes offer different stories, missions, and environments. Game modes include the two campaigns, multiplayer, deathmatch, and skirmish.
Reception was mixed, with a Metacritic score of 69 out of 100 based on 39 reviews.
An expansion, *Order of War: Challenge*, was released on October 10, 2010. It was mostly a multiplayer extension, with only its tutorials working in single-player. It required ongoing server access for DRM validation. The expansion received a Metacritic score around 70. In September 2013, Square Enix shut down the Challenge servers due to low popularity. After that, the expansion became unplayable both legally and technically. It was completely removed from Steam, including from the libraries of users who had already purchased it. While other games have been delisted from Steam, *Challenge* was the first to be automatically wiped from users’ disks and libraries, raising concerns about digital ownership and drawing criticism toward Square Enix.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Order of War
- Developer
- Wargaming
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Release
- AU · September 17, 2009 · EU · September 18, 2009 · NA · September 22, 2009
- Genre
- Strategy
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Platforms
- Windows
- Composer
- Jeremy Soule
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Order of War is set in the summer of 1944, as World War II entered its end-game with major Allied operations on both the Western and Eastern Fronts. The game contains two campaigns: one American and one German. Players can lead American forces to victory in the west or command German forces repelling the Red Army's offensive in the east. The game features detailed graphics and a historically accurate storyline, with a focus on sweeping battlefield vistas and company-level engagements. Players command multiple unit types including ground troops, artillery, tanks, and aircraft in strategic assaults based on key missions from 1944. Unlike traditional RTS games, Order of War does not require base building or resource collection. Instead, it rewards players with reinforcement points over time for capturing command points, similar to systems in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, Company of Heroes, World in Conflict, and Blitzkrieg. The game can be presented in a cinematic style with a dynamic camera, allowing players to command up to 1000 soldiers, tanks, armored vehicles, and air force over a large geographical scale. Gameplay modes include two campaign modes, multiplayer, deathmatch, and skirmish.
Reader's Guide
Order of War received a mixed reception, with a Metacritic score of 69/100 based on 39 critical reviews. Its expansion, Order of War: Challenge, released on October 10, 2010, was mostly a multiplayer extension with only its specific tutorials working in single-player mode. The expansion required continued access to special servers for DRM validation and play. It was moderately well reviewed with a Metacritic score around 70. In September 2013, Square Enix announced it was shutting down the Challenge servers due to low popularity. After the servers shut down, Challenge became unplayable both legally and technically, and was completely removed from Steam, including from the on-disk libraries of users who had already purchased licenses. This made Challenge the first game to be not just delisted from the Steam store but also automatically wiped from users' disks. This removal has led to concerns about digital ownership and criticism of Square Enix by its users.
Did You Know?
- The game was released exclusively for Windows in September 2009.
- The expansion Order of War: Challenge was the first game removed not just from the Steam store but also automatically wiped from users' libraries.
- Square Enix shut down the Challenge servers in September 2013 due to low popularity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Order of War?
Order of War is a World War II real-time strategy game for Windows that launched in September 2009, developed by Wargaming and published by Square Enix.
How does Order of War gameplay differ from other RTS games?
Instead of building bases or managing economies, players focus purely on tactical combat, commanding infantry, tanks, artillery, and aircraft in company-level engagements across large open battlefields.
What campaigns does Order of War include?
The game features two 1944 campaigns: one leading American troops against German forces on the Western Front, and another commanding German units to slow the Red Army's push on the Eastern Front.
How was Order of War received by critics?
The title earned a Metacritic score of 69 out of 100 based on 39 professional reviews, placing it in the mixed-to-average range.
Who developed and published Order of War?
Wargaming, the studio best known for the World of Tanks franchise, handled development, while Square Enix took on the publishing role for the game's September 2009 Windows release.
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