Battleplan: American Civil War is a top-down real-time/turn-based hybrid strategy game that offers an exciting and pure strategy experience. The game is set in the American Civil War, and players can take command of either the Confederate or Union troops and fight through ten of the most famous battles of the war.

The game's focus is solely on battle management, with players having to worry only about where to send their troops and how best to keep them supplied. With three difficulty settings, players can choose to play the game as a one-off battle or a campaign. The game offers a historically accurate simulation of large-scale battles at the divisional and brigade level. Players must factor in weather and reinforcements, and the game offers a random reinforcement mode and a no-pause mode for a greater challenge. The game also features unique 'automatic' and high-level command battle mechanics, allowing players to manage messengers and lines of communication, build pontoons and earthworks, and manage ammunition and supply.