Warfare 1917
A World War I strategy game with trench warfare and morale mechanics.
Warfare 1917 is a World War I strategy game built in Flash, created by Australian developer ConArtist and released through Armor Games. On 28 April 2025, a remastered version arrived on Steam as part of the Warfare Legacy Collection, which bundles the original with its sequel and a spin-off campaign.
In the game, players command soldiers to seize ground and enemy trenches against AI opponents. Available units—shared across British and German campaigns as well as a custom mode—include riflemen, machine gunners, assaulters, officers, sharpshooters, and tanks. Support weapons like artillery, mortar, and mustard gas can be called in, but must first load up before use. Players can also design their own levels.
Each campaign features nation-specific unit variants based on real historical differences between the armies. Specialized units, such as the Sturmtruppen or the Mark IV Tank, offer higher combat effectiveness and a unique tactical edge. The roster expands gradually over the course of the war, reflecting historical innovations: players begin with limited options and unlock new units and fire support—tanks among the last—after each victory, with the British gaining tanks before the Germans.
Victory is achieved either by capturing enough of the enemy’s side of the battlefield or by killing enough enemy troops to drain their morale to zero, forcing a surrender. The AI opponent wins under the same conditions: if the player fails to halt the enemy advance or lets their own morale drop to 0%.
The game was generally well received, earning a 4.57/5 rating on Newgrounds.
A sequel, Warfare 1944, was later released by ConArtist, pitting American and German forces against each other in World War II.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Warfare 1917
- Developer
- ConArtist
- Publisher
- Armor Games
- Released
- September 19, 2008 (Browser) / Legacy Collection / April 28, 2025 (Steam)
- Genre
- Strategy
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Flash
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In Warfare 1917, the player orders soldiers to capture ground and trenches while fighting programmed enemies. Units such as riflemen, machine gunners, assaulters, officers, sharpshooters, and tanks can be used in both the British and German campaigns and custom mode. Support weapons like artillery, mortar, and mustard gas can be called down but must load up first. The game also allows users to set up custom levels.
During either campaign, the player may use nation-specific variants of several units based on actual historical differences between each army. Specialized units enjoy higher combat proficiency and provide a unique strategic advantage, such as the Sturmtruppen and the Mark IV Tank. The campaigns provide a historical atmosphere by slowly expanding the player's unit roster over the course of the war based on historical innovations; regardless of affiliation, the player starts with limited options and unlocks new units and fire support with every battle won, with tanks being among the last and available to the British before the Germans.
Victory is achieved in one of two ways: capturing enough of the enemy's side of the battlefield, or killing off enough enemy units to deplete morale and force a surrender. The AI opponent wins under the same conditions.
Reader's Guide
Warfare 1917 garnered generally favorable reviews, receiving a score of 4.57/5 on Newgrounds. Its significance lies in its faithful representation of World War I trench warfare through strategic unit deployment and morale-based victory conditions. The game's inclusion in the Warfare Legacy Collection on Steam in 2025 preserved and remastered the original Flash title alongside its sequel, Warfare 1944, and a spin-off campaign. The sequel, developed by ConArtist, features Americans and Germans in the Second World War. The game's custom level mode and nation-specific unit variants based on historical differences added replayability and educational value. Its legacy is tied to the Flash game era and its successful transition to a modern platform.
Did You Know?
- The game was developed by Australian programmer ConArtist and published by Armor Games.
- It was remastered and released on Steam on 28 April 2025 as part of the Warfare Legacy Collection.
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