Hearts of Iron 4 has a fresh challenger in new WW2 game promising "month-long battles" with "unparalleled realism"

Hearts of Iron 4 hasn't budged from its position as one of the best WW2 games on Steam for many years, and with good reason. But Paradox's tactics titan might have some serious competition on its hands from publisher Slitherine. Having already brought us the likes of Headquarters: World War II and Panzer Corps 2, it's just given us a proper look at Battleplan. Developed by Foolish Mortals, this new historical strategy game simulates "massive, month-long battles with hundreds of thousands of troops, second by second, day by day," and puts you right at the top level of command.

Our in-depth look at Battleplan starts with the mission briefing, which establishes the historical context and key information about the relative strengths of the forces. Once the action begins, each day opens with a planning phase where you draw out your goals on the map, and lay out the proposed movements of your troops. With hundreds or even thousands of troops in play, you can't micromanage everything, so you'll need to make smart decisions at the top level to make the most of what you have. "In Battleplan, you don't just play a general, you feel like a general," Foolish Mortals says.

You're much more likely to want to approach objectives during the daytime, although you'll still need high ground to establish clear sight lines. But move at night and you can set up a dawn raid under the cover of darkness; just consider that your opponent might be plotting something similar. Careful use of artillery fire or carpet bombing can destabilize enemy strongholds at the perfect moment for an offensive push.

The goal here is to capture the heavily fortified town of Caen, which sits a little way beyond the frontlines. "The Germans have dug in deep, and their defenses are strong." Your forces move based on your initial plans, allowing the majority of them to all push simultaneously while others wait in reserve to exploit any weak spots that appear. You're able to deploy emergency planning contingencies to adapt to problems that arise, and continue the assault until night falls.

As the fighting dies down, you can assess the situation and determine how to adjust your tactics for tomorrow. "Some battles may take days, even weeks, to complete," Foolish Mortals explains. "Success in Battleplan doesn't come from a single push, but from persistence, adaptation, and learning from every engagement." Perhaps you'll succeed in surrounding your foe and cutting off supply lines, but that won't always result in instant surrender.

Once a mission is over, you'll find yourself totting up the casualties and assigning veterancy bonuses. Troops and officers can grow stronger, with a range of passive and active specializations and bonuses, so take care of your best men and ensure that you don't send them into danger unprepared. You're able to hire premade divisions, such as the notorious "Big Red One," or create your own custom-built options.

The full campaign includes ten missions, with a focus on the Western front from 1944 onward. This includes famous encounters like the Battle of the Bulge, the Normandy breakthrough, and the final push into Germany. You're able to step into the role of a British, American, or Canadian leader, although you're able to recruit troops from all available nations.

We don't have a Battleplan release date yet, but you can wishlist it on Steam if you like what you've seen here. While it certainly feels good to drill down to the individual unit level, there's something particularly rewarding about taking a commander's perspective and managing things on a broader scale. Knowing that you can't control every single soldier directly makes a winning strategy taste all the sweeter.