The Avid Wargamer: Computer Wargame Reviews, AARs and Guides

WarFront demo headquarters under attack inside curved trenches, with smoke over the base and a damaged supply road.

Review

WarFront Demo First Impressions: The Tanks Are Already Outside

WarFront demo first impressions: oil trucks, trenches and striking night battles. My AI ally conquered towns while I struggled to construct a barracks.

Uncategorized

New Paint, Same Bad Generalship: A Guide to the New Avid Wargamer

The Avid Wargamer has been through a refit. Here is a quick guide to what changed, where everything lives now and what to expect from here.

Official Twilight in the East artwork showing tanks and infantry advancing across a snowy Eastern Front battlefield

News

Weekly Wargaming News: Twilight in the East Approaches

Moscow beckons, Sweden is on offer, and Battlesector checks the sums. This week’s wargaming dispatch passes through the procurement office.

After Action Report·Computer Wargame·Featured·Review

Task Force Admiral – Vol. 1: American Carrier Battles – A Wargamer’s First Thoughts

Task Force Admiral’s early demo is rough, ambitious and very easy to love. My carriers drifted off station, my strikes launched late, and I kept coming back for more.

Computer Wargame·Featured·Review

Why I Think Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance is a Wargame

Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance looks like an RTS and plays like a wargame. Suppression, morale, wounded crews and very precious reinforcements. Here is my case.

Computer Wargame·Featured·Review

Combat Mission: Red Thunder – The Rite of Spring (Review)

Combat Mission’s take on the Eastern Front belongs in the library of every Eastern Front enthusiast, and of anyone who can’t sleep at night knowing their collection lacks some Soviet meat-grinding bonanza.

Computer Wargame·Featured·Review

Second Front – A Modern Hex-Based Wargame

Second Front brings old-school hexes, cartoon-sharp graphics and campaigns on the Eastern Front’s biggest battles. Here is how it plays and who it suits.

flamethrower: iwo jima medal of honor recipient and u.s. marine woody williams and his controversial award, Japan's holocaust and the pacific war

Book

Flamethrower by Bryan Mark Rigg

Bryan Mark Rigg’s Flamethrower is a strong history of the Pacific War and a shakier biography of Woody Williams. My review, elbow strain included.

After Action Report·Computer Wargame·Featured

Graviteam Tactics: Pivot Point – AAR (Part 1)

The great maelstrom of death that is the Battle of Stalingrad still rages to the north, sucking up supplies that are a necessity for the tanks to continue their drive for the

Computer Wargame·Featured·Review

WarPlan Pacific – A Road Less Taken

While the original WarPlan concentrated on Europe, the standalone Pacific edition focused primarily on the Pacific War. WarPlan Pacific, developed by Kraken Studios, focuses on the Sino-Japanese conflict. A turn-based IGOUGO mechanism

Featured·Modern Military

Mercenaries Today

Since the 1990s, when more "contractors" have been used in military operations, the role of the mercenary has changed. Beginning in 2000, Ukraine has been one of many places where mercenaries have

Featured·Interview·Wargame Development

An Interview with Jason Petho

A conversation with Campaign Series Legion’s Jason Petho about two decades of wargame development, scenario design and the work behind the maps. Originally published in 2021.

Computer Wargame·Review

Warhammer 40,000 Battlesector – Gore and Spore!

Standing eight feet tall, each Primaris unholstered their bolt rifles and decimated the Tyranids below the cliff. Innards and blood sprayed the already crimson armor of the space marines. It wasn't very

Computer Wargame·Review

Gary Grigsby’s War in the East 2 – The Granddaddy is Back!

Christmas might be over, but there is always one grand old man aside from Santa who wargamers will always welcome into our life. That man would be Gary Grigsby and his elves

Computer Wargame·Review

Field of Glory 2: Medieval – The Cavalry Has Arrived

To my knowledge, there are not that many medieval tactical wargames out there. I can name a few of the top of my head like Total War Medieval 2 and XIII Century.

Computer Wargame·Review

Combat Mission: Shock Force 2 Review – A Major Victory!

My review of Combat Mission: Shock Force 2 on Steam, covering the base game and the three modules I played.

Review

Blocks! Hammer of the Scots Review

Taking a look at Avalon Digital’s Blocks! Hammer of the Scots. Play as Wallace from Braveheart and rebel against the English!

Review

Panzer Corps 2 – Spanish Civil War Review

The Spanish Civil War DLC not only lived up to my expectations, but surpassed them. A campaign for an overlooked conflict, with plenty to get your teeth into.

Review

Command LIVE: Aegean in Flames Review

After being given the great opportunity as my first wargame to review, Command Modern Operations, I was again provided with the chance to review CMO's new DLC, Aegean in Flames! One of

Review

Panzer Corps 2 – A Wargamer’s Review

My review of Panzer Corps 2 from Slitherine and Matrix, the beer-and-pretzels wargame I would hand to anyone starting out.

Review

Libertad o Muerte! Review

The Avid Wargamer's review of Libertad o Muerte, a computer wargame, depicting the Americas' 19th-century struggle for freedom against Spain.

Review

Carrier Battles 4 Guadalcanal Review

I've been itching for a carrier-based naval wargame for some time. The options out there aren't exactly plenty either. So I can't get picky with what I want to play. Lucky for