Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943

After suffering a crushing defeat at El-Alamein, the German troops of the Afrika Korps prepared for a counteroffensive in Tunisia, supported by the Italian army. It's up to you to choose your side in this hardcore World War II real-time strategy (RTS) game with an authentic wargame feel. We loved the desert environments, realistic ballistics, and the troops that show real initiative.

If you like gritty, dangerous warfare, you've come to the right place: this campaign set in North Africa in 1943 will definitely scratch that itch. Battle stations!

Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 is far more than just another military strategy sim. It's an immersive odyssey through one of the most pivotal periods in world history, and a realistic experience to boot, where all of your decisions really do count.

There are no bases to build or units to recruit, here: you play your missions with a predetermined number of troops and reinforcements. The missions are interesting and all based on real historical events. You can upgrade your units as the missions progress, and never forget that infantry can capture guns and vehicles.

We liked Theatre of War 2's balanced graphics that faithfully model the vehicles, uniforms, and environments of the day. The exceptional realism of the armour and the range of the weapons brings some real strategic depth to the battle.

But be warned: the gameplay in Theatre of War 2 is known for its tactical complexity. The battles are fully modelled, with each unit being able to fire on anything they can see as long as it is within range. This makes strategically placing your units essential and adds a unique challenge to every mission. Although it does get some criticism for its finnicky controls (for infantry in particular), the game compensates for this by giving units a certain degree of independence.

Our favourite part? The "Morale System" that means soldiers – both yours and the enemy – are susceptible to panic and refuse to follow orders. You can micro-manage a single soldier to pick up a machine gun or man artillery, as well as managing a group of tanks. We loved how you can choose between different views – from third person to a tactical overview – letting you switch between tactical and strategic management of the battle.

A little tip to help you on your way: the game pauses every time a unit dies, just long enough to mourn your soldiers. Some people love it, others hate it. You can uncheck this option in the menus.

A cross between a military sim and a strategy game, Theatre of War 2 strikes a delicate balance between the two. It delivers in-depth realism without delving into the mind-boggling complexity of a true military sim. The real time air support and the realistic combat provide an immersive dimension, transporting the player to the heart of the action. If you like "realistic" RTS, save scumming, and micro-managing the smallest details, then this is the game for you.