Soldiers: Heroes of World War II

Watch Trailer

Genre:: RTS

Release date:: 29 June, 2004

Publisher:: Codemasters, 1C Company

Developer:: Best Way

Age Rating:: PEGI Rating 12+

Engine:

Rating:

Metacritic: 77
Steam: 85

Home
Games
Soldiers: Heroes of World War II

The first game in the legendary tactical series by Best Way, Soldiers: Heroes of World War II, set a new quality benchmark for real-time World War II strategy games.

Each battle in Soldiers: Heroes of World War II is a test of tactical thinking and careful planning. This hardcore strategy offers a deep and intense experience of commanding special forces units from the USA, Great Britain, the USSR, or Germany while carrying out the most challenging combat missions.

Players will experience 32 historical missions and over 100 authentic units, including vehicles, armored transports, and artillery. Control can be exercised both as a strategist viewing the battlefield from above or through the Direct Control system, taking command of any available unit: a soldier, gun, tank, vehicle, or even a boat.

Commanding a small squad requires thoughtful use of cover, vehicles, and weaponry. The environment in the game is almost completely destructible, allowing players to change the course of battle in real time. Resources are limited, reinforcements will not come, and only tactical mastery leads to victory.

A New Life for a Legendary Strategy

In January 2025, thanks to a large-scale update, Soldiers: Heroes of World War II – Enhanced Edition, the game received full support for modern operating systems, widescreen monitors, and resolutions up to 4K. Integration with Steam services was added: multiplayer, mod workshop, achievements, and Steam Community items.

Soldiers is back in action, technically updated, and ready for new battles!

Best Foreign Game

KRI Awards 2003

#39 Most Discussed PC Game of 2004

Metacritic Awards & Rankings

#53 Best PC Game of 2004

Metacritic Awards & Rankings

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II is a very good game that should appeal primarily to hardcore strategy fans thanks to its challenging gameplay and excellent presentation.

GameSpot

The realistic physics of Soldiers, detailed locations, and non-standard enemy AI behavior lead to such unexpected and chaotic situations that you can only watch in confusion and amusement as events unfold

Games Radar

Soldiers: Heroes of World War II is an excellent and challenging game that doesn’t just copy what others have already done.

IGN

Tactical Gameplay with Direct Unit Control

The player commands a small group of soldiers, and even the loss of a single one can be critical.
The unique Direct Control system allows you to personally aim, fire, and operate military vehicles.

Interactive and Fully Destructible Environment

The game world in Soldiers: Heroes of WWII is interactive and fully destructible. Any object in the scene, from bushes, fences, and stone walls to large buildings, engineering structures, and armored vehicles, can serve as temporary cover or be destroyed in battle. This creates an ever-changing combat environment that forces players to adapt tactics in real time

Realistic Combat and Ballistics Simulation

Every bullet and shell follows a unique ballistic trajectory determined by ammunition type, distance, speed, and angle. The realistic firing simulation governs projectile behavior in a dynamic environment.

Component-Based Vehicle Damage System

The damage model accounts for impact angle, armor thickness, and vulnerable zones.
The player can disable individual vehicle components, altering the tactical situation on the battlefield in real time.

Individual Inventory and Strategic Resource Management

Each unit has its own inventory of weapons and ammunition. Resources are finite: during battle, ammo may run out. Replenishing supplies is done by looting fallen soldiers, crates, or wrecked vehicles. This system enhances tactical depth, increases replayability, and encourages flexible decision-making under resource constraints.

Vehicle Capture and Repair

Abandoned or damaged combat vehicles can be repaired, refueled, resupplied, and returned to battle.

Extensive Arsenal

The game features over 25 types of weapons, from pistols, submachine guns, and machine guns to flamethrowers, grenades, and anti-tank weapons. Each type has unique characteristics that influence gameplay situations.

Vast Vehicle Fleet

Over 100 combat machines: tanks, armored personnel carriers, artillery, engineering and transport vehicles, as well as aircraft and ships. All models are based on historical prototypes and function within a unified physical system.

Advanced Enemy AI

The game’s AI takes into account not only visual contact but also sound stimuli and movement. Enemy units use cover, set ambushes, and change behavior depending on the scenario.

Multiplayer Modes: Co-op and PvP

Cooperative campaign play is supported (up to 4 players). PvP modes are available for up to 16 simultaneous participants. A large selection of maps is available for various multiplayer formats.