By Joseph Luster

The Men of War series first kicked off with Soldiers: Heroes of World War II in 2004 and has gone by a few other names since. Fans have eagerly been awaiting the return to its roots in Men of War II, which finally arrived after some delays to take us back to World War II once again.

Regardless of its setting, the Men of War games have always focused on defeating an enemy that greatly outnumbers your own forces while commanding a limited number of troops. Men of War II blends historically accurate campaigns on the Eastern and Western fronts, with two large dynamic campaigns in place to make the player feel like they’re more than a simple field commander. Those who take on the challenge will be leading their own division as part of a detailed war operation, improving and upgrading your army along the way with more enhanced capabilities.

In addition to single-player action, the missions in Men of War II can be tackled with the help of friends via cooperative play that supports up to five players. Each player can call for their own reinforcements during battle, and will have their own personal divisions, from those who command infantry to those who specialize in artillery so they can keep up a constant bombardment to help the squad advance forward. There’s also the option of another player providing tank support, for instance, and missions scale depending on how many friends you end up bringing along for the ride.

Featuring three main factions at launch—including the Allies, the Soviet Union and the Third Reich—and over 300 types of vehicles available, Men of War II is a welcome arrival after a lengthier-than-planned wait. It was originally scheduled to launch in September 2023, but the response from public playtests that were held between March and August of last year led to a delay. Men of War II finally arrived on May 15, 2024, so you can now see how that player feedback helped shape the end result on PC.

Publisher: Fulqrum Publishing
Genre: Simulation Strategy
System: PC
Available: Now

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