With the recent announcement of Company of Heroes 3, the latest entry in the long-running strategy game franchise expands upon the beloved gameplay with the addition of not only real-time battles with boots on the ground but with a commander role overseeing the entire campaign in Europe. It’s a massive undertaking, but one that Relic Entertainment will likely handle with grace and ease.
But for now, while you’ve got that strategy gaming itch, let’s explore a few other strategy games like Company of Heroes!
Iron Harvest
With the same basic formula as Company of Heroes 2, albeit set in an alternate universe in which the first World War exploded in scale through the use of mechanized combat vehicles, Iron Harvest is one of the newest games to grace our list.
Featuring a lengthy single-player campaign that many lauded as “perfect,” along with extensive multiplayer and cooperative game modes and maps to choose from, Iron Harvest offers RTS fans a lot of content straight out of the box. And now, with the recent release of Operation Eagle, which introduces America, along with new units and missions to enjoy, you’ll have plenty to do while waiting on Company of Heroes 3.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
What better way to enjoy the gameplay of Company of Heroes without playing Company of Heroes than with another real-time strategy game from Relic Entertainment?
Yeah, I know, I’ve heard it all before. But Goblin, the first Dawn of War is infinitely better than the follow-up titles.
To that, I say, bah. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 is an exceptional strategy game that brings the W40K world to life with a bang.
With brutal action, a non-linear campaign, and an extensive multiplayer mode, complete with cooperative skirmishes and missions to enjoy, this is one hell of a package deal. On top of the excellent strategy mechanics and gameplay, you’ve got the Waaagh Boyz, so what’s not to love there?!
Men of War: Assault Squad 2
If you’d prefer a little less science fiction in your real-time strategy games but still want the same formula as our previous two entries, then look no further than Men of War: Assault Squad 2.
We’re talking about single-player skirmishes set on the frontlines of World War 2, cooperative gameplay, 65 multiplayer maps, more than 250 vehicles, over 200 soldiers with unique equipment to wield, and five factions to choose from. All of that for $30 at full price and even less on sale.
What sets Men of War apart from other Company of Heroes-style games is the fact that players can directly control each unit. Let’s say you have a piece of artillery positioned in overwatch along the main road, and then a battle tank rolls its way in your sights. You can take full control of your cannon, direct its aim, and let loose with a tank-busting round.
World in Conflict
If you love the idea of extensive wargames, like Wargame: Red Dragon, but want more concentrated yet frantic gameplay similar to Company of Heroes, then World in Conflict should have been on your radar by now.
But here’s the thing about World in Conflict; developer Massive Entertainment and publisher Ubisoft abandoned this one many years ago.
Still, you can find it cheap on GOG, and it features the expansion, World in Conflict: Soviet Assault. For a few dollars, this is a strategy game that is guaranteed to hold you over until Company of Heroes 3 launches.
So, what’s included? A single-player campaign set in real-life towns and cities throughout America, Europe, and the USSR. Four separate command groups, including Air, Armor, Infantry, and Support. Plus, if that wasn’t enough, the expansion includes six new missions, new weapons, and explosions galore!
Hearts of Iron IV
If you know anything about strategy games, you’ll likely wonder why I’ve included Hearts of Iron IV in my list of games like Company of Heroes.
It’s the setting, right? Yes, it is.
Hearts of Iron IV is, in my eyes, the epitome of World War 2 strategy gaming. It features a fully realized world that allows you to control a nation from the early days before the war to, with mod support, well into the present day.
If you want to stick to World War 2, which no one will blame you for, prepare to dive headfirst into a complex grand strategy game that simulates everything down to the rifle your infantry fire on the frontlines.
If Company of Heroes isn’t quite scratching that WW2 itch, then Hearts of Iron IV will fill the void in your life and allow you to live out your fantasies of controlling Nazi Germany or leading the Allies to victory.
Are you as excited as I am for Company of Heroes 3? You can bet I’ll be on the battlefield on day one!