Three classic WW2 strategy games are coming to Steam with major upgrades

At one point in time, it seemed like every other videogame was set during the Second World War. The 2000s were dominated by huge FPS series like the early Call of Duty and Battlefield games, Medal of Honor, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein. There were also strategy giants like Company of Heroes and action hybrids such as Red Orchestra and Brothers in Arms. One series from that era that's not as well remembered is Combat Mission, which is about to change now that its first three entries — Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord, Combat Mission 2: Barbarossa to Berlin, and Combat Mission 3: Afrika Korps — are set to relaunch with improved versions on Steam very soon.

All the way back in 2000, Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord launched as a novel take on the strategy game genre. Set across different fronts in WW2, it and its 2002 and 2004 followups are notable for a system dubbed "we-go," where unit movements are planned out on a paused screen before playing out in real-time once the action kicks off.

They're also renowned for featuring a vast range of unit types, expansive battlefields, and a general concentration on historical detail. There are hundreds of infantry types and vehicles, drawn from many of the nations involved in the war fronts represented in-game, and an enormous number of locations and scenarios to deploy them in.

The new Steam launch sees a variety of improvements and fixes brought to the three Combat Mission games. Each will include support for modern monitor resolutions, provide a host of updated features, and fan-made mods and campaign scenarios, accessible from within the official games themselves.

The first three Combat Mission games will launch on Steam on Wednesday September 10, 2025. You can find the pages for Combat Mission: Beyond Overlord here, Combat Mission 2: Barbarossa to Berlin here, and Combat Mission 3: Afrika Korps right here.

If you're looking for something to play in the meantime, check out our choices for the best simulation games and best war games already out on PC.

You can also find a community of other players to chat strategy games with through our community Discord server.