Fit check
Is Headquarters: World War II worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Turn-based strategy players who want World War II campaigns across three factions
- Tactical players who enjoy positioning units around armor facing, cover, and elevation
- Groups of up to four players looking for competitive skirmish battles
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking a slow, abstract strategy game rather than fast-paced battles with many positioning rules
- Players who prefer simple unit management without crew losses, terrain effects, or destructible structures
- Players looking for a setting outside the Normandy period of World War II
Our take on Headquarters: World War II
Rather than treating units as single pieces with uniform losses, the game makes individual crew members part of battlefield management. Their removal can alter attacks or mobility, adding personnel consequences to its turn-based tactical structure.
What is Headquarters: World War II?
Headquarters: World War II is a turn-based strategy game set during the Normandy landings.
It includes three campaigns covering the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, with nine operations in each campaign. Battles use directional armor, terrain bonuses, line-of-sight rules, elevated ground, destructible buildings, obstacles, and wrecked vehicles that can provide cover. Units can be upgraded, leveled, and assigned heroes with special abilities between battles. Each unit has a crew whose losses create different penalties, such as fewer attacks or reduced movement. Six skirmish maps offer varied victory conditions against AI opponents. Multiplayer supports battles for up to four players, including 2x2 teams, real-time connections, and Slitherine's CombatHQ system. An Editor tool supports creating and sharing skirmish and multiplayer maps.
How Headquarters: World War II plays
- 01Three Campaigns
- The United States, United Kingdom, and Germany each have a campaign containing nine operations.
- 02Directional Armor
- Front, side, rear, and top armor make a unit's facing relevant during attacks.
- 03Variable Battlefield Cover
- Terrain, fences, wrecks, buildings, and elevation affect protection, visibility, and combat effectiveness.
- 04Crew Consequences
- Losing specific crew members can reduce a unit's attacks, mobility, or other capabilities.
- 05Unit Progression
- Units can be changed, upgraded, leveled up, and paired with heroes that grant special abilities.
- 06Four-Player Multiplayer
- Battles support real-time matches for up to four players, including 2x2 team games and CombatHQ connections.
- 07Map Editor
- Custom skirmish and multiplayer maps can be created and shared with the community.
Headquarters: World War II compared to similar games
Xenonauts also uses turn-based military strategy, but focuses on small persistent squads defending Earth from an alien invasion and recovering technology. Headquarters: World War II instead covers the Normandy landings through three national campaigns, vehicle combat, destructible buildings and other large battlefield objects, crew penalties, and multiplayer battles.
Headquarters: World War II: platforms & release
Is Headquarters: World War II worth it?
It is worth it if: turn-based strategy players who want World War II campaigns across three factions. Skip it if: players seeking a slow, abstract strategy game rather than fast-paced battles with many positioning rules.
Where can I download Headquarters: World War II?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Headquarters: World War II's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Headquarters: World War II on?
Windows only.
