Platoon Commander combines real-time tactical battles with a turn-based campaign map. Players will take command as platoon leaders in some of the most significant battles of World War II. The goal for German forces is to breach Moscow before winter conditions make further progress impossible, while the Red Army must push back the invaders.

The campaign covers the territory between Germany's border and Moscow, featuring 20 immersive maps, each presenting unique tactical challenges and conditions. To advance,  players must organize their forces, choosing from over 40 unit types across the Wehrmacht and the Red Army in a squad-based system.

The depth of the tactical RTS gameplay is remarkable, incorporating elements such as the psychological state of soldiers, destructible environments, detection systems, smoke screens, and much more. You can make decisions about the pace of the advance, switch to defensive strategies when necessary, and manage your army, considering weather conditions and the passing of time.

Will you lead the Wehrmacht to Moscow before winter closes the door, or rally the Red Army to hold the line until reinforcements arrive?

The Platoon Commander demo presented at this year’s Steam RTS Fest offers a significant experience of Platoon Commander’s first mission, where players step into the role of a German commander during the autumn of 1941. Tasked with capturing and holding a Soviet village, players will customize their platoons by choosing a mix of infantry, armor, and artillery to defend against the inevitable Soviet counterattack.

"Slitherine is making a major commitment to the RTS genre," says Marco A. Minoli, Director of Publishing. "Over the past two years, we've launched three successful titles—Starship Troopers: Terran Command, Terminator: Dark Fate - Defiance, and ICBM: Escalation—each pushing the boundaries with innovative elements while staying true to core strategy gameplay. It's significant that three of our top five bestsellers last year were RTS games, marking a notable shift for a company with deep roots in turn-based wargames. With the upcoming release of Broken Arrow, we're poised to deliver another RTS hit and solidify our position in this exciting genre."

Key Features

• 20 immersive maps: the campaign features the region leading to Moscow, with a selection of varied maps each presenting a unique tactical challenge and diverse conditions.
• 40+ Units types to Lead: Organize your forces with a squad-based system for a personalized and efficient fighting force. Wehrmacht forces include units like the Panzerbüchse 1939 anti-tank rifle, the StuG III B assault gun, and the Sd.Kfz. 222 armored vehicle. On the Red Army side, you can deploy iconic troops and machinery such as assault troopers armed with PPSh-41 submachine guns, as well as the T-34 Model 1940 and KV-1 L-11 tanks.
• Psychological State of Soldiers: Morale is influenced by various factors, such as heavy losses from enemy fire, the presence of enemy tanks nearby, the support of friendly tanks, or being under machine-gun fire. Sometimes a unit may lose a battle simply due to fear.
• Realistic Weather and Time of Day Effects: Battles can occur during daytime, dusk/dawn, or at night. The weather may include clear conditions, rain, or snow.
• Destructible Environment: Heavy artillery fire can destroy any structure on the map and even clear out forest patches.
• Buildings as Strongholds for Infantry: Buildings provide excellent cover for infantry. Units garrisoned within buildings become almost invisible and gain significant protection from enemy fire. Furthermore, infantry stationed on upper floors have improved sightlines.
• Advanced Line of Sight and Detection System: Various types of vegetation, like bushes, tall grass, and forests, offer different levels of concealment. If a forest is destroyed by bombing, its visibility properties will dynamically change, for an ever-shifting tactical experience where players have to react to dynamic conditions.
• Smoke Screens: You can deploy smoke screens to conceal troop movements. That combined with shifting line of sight depending on a dynamic weather system, it makes for a compelling and fresh tactical experience.
• Support Options: If logistics and weather conditions permit, both sides can call in heavy artillery or air support to target enemy concentration of units.
• Playable Factions: You can command either the Wehrmacht or the Red Army. In both cases, you are assigned a narrow front that either pushes toward or retreats from Moscow.
• Weather as a Weapon: Rain, snow, and frost aren’t just visuals; they directly impact troop fatigue, visibility, and combat effectiveness.
• Asymmetrical Campaign: Initially, the Wehrmacht benefits from better supply lines and higher-quality troops, while the Red Army is battle-worn and plugging gaps with militia forces. However, the faster the Germans advance, the more strained their logistics become, making it harder for them to receive reinforcements. Conversely, as the Red Army moves closer to Moscow, it gains more troops and better supplies.

Platoon Commander is in development for PC (Steam).