Sudden Strike 4 is a real-time strategy game set during the Second World War. Unlike most RTS games, the Sudden Strike series focuses primarily on the control of units in combat rather than on gathering resources or building bases. Compared to other games in the genre, this one is slower, more thoughtful and more focused on the real-world tactics of fire, movement and cover.

Back to the battlefield

If you've played previous games in the Sudden Strike series, the gameplay in Sudden Strike 4 will feel very familiar to you. Limited resources and scripted reinforcements make battles more like tactical puzzles than clickfests. The game's missions are divided into the three separate campaigns, one each for the western allies, the Germans and the Soviet Union -- combined, they total over 20 missions. A new feature is the existence of specific commanders, who bring special abilities to your forces. You can choose from nine famous leaders like George Patton or Bernard Montgomery, each of whom boosts some aspect of your troops' abilities. In addition to the single-player campaigns, the game also supports competitive multiplayer matches.

May the best general win

Sudden Strike 4 is a complex, tactically-rich historical RTS game that requires patience and practice to truly master. If you're willing to put in the effort to get to grips with it -- and especially if you're a bit of a history buff -- it can be very rewarding.