At first glance, this project may immediately bring games like Into the Breach to mind, thanks to its small grid-based maps. In reality, though, we’re looking at an indie strategy game that recreates the machinery and atmosphere of the 1940s without necessarily following real-world events.
Ghost Creative Studio’s project takes place in Asteris, a fictional world caught in a conflict between four nations.
The project draws inspiration from Advance Wars, XCOM, and other turn-based tactical games, but it is not intended to become an extremely complicated military simulator. According to the developer, success should depend primarily on the commander’s decisions rather than chance.
A Battlefield That Can Change During Combat
Battles unfold across grid-based maps where firing angles, distance, cover, and line of sight all influence an engagement. Moving a unit into range is only part of the problem. Commanders also need to consider what that unit can see, which enemies may be waiting beyond the fog of war, and whether the surrounding terrain can be used, or altered, to create an advantage.
Buildings can be demolished to open new firing lanes, potentially allowing artillery or armored units to attack positions that were previously protected. Bridges and defensive structures may also be restored with repair vehicles.
Weather and visibility introduce further complications. During nighttime operations, for example, flares can illuminate concealed areas and expose enemy ambushes. The usefulness of a road, structure, or defensive position may change as the battle develops.
The enemy is also being designed to act aggressively. Opposing forces can reportedly protect themselves, identify valuable targets, and adjust their tactics instead of waiting passively for the player to advance.
Four Nations at War
The campaign follows Green Frontier, a relatively young and prosperous country drawn into a wider conflict. Three other factions complete the current political landscape: the ambitious Crimson Dominion, a diminished former empire; the Azure Federation, formed by four states with different ideologies; and the Golden Republic, one of Asteris’ oldest surviving nations.
Although the setting is deliberately reminiscent of World War II, the fictional backdrop allows Ghost Creative Studio to develop its own alliances, rivalries, and military history.
The main narrative will be accompanied by supplementary missions, while the playable forces cover several battlefield roles. Scouts can move quickly and gather information, supply trucks support an advancing army, and heavier options include tanks and long-range artillery.
Commanders will also have access to special abilities capable of influencing critical moments. Outside individual missions, a broader progression system will unlock additional abilities, maps, and other content.
The developer has compared this layer to Hachi’s Shop from Advance Wars, suggesting progression that expands the available options without turning individual soldiers into RPG-style characters.
Campaign and Local Skirmishes
Alongside its story campaign, Combat Orders ’42 is planned to include a Skirmish mode with several match types and support for the four factions. These battles can be played against the AI or locally with other people, with maps supporting as many as four participants.
An online mode and map editor have been discussed as possibilities, but neither is currently part of the confirmed scope.
The immediate priority is completing and refining the central tactical experience, so those additions should be treated as potential post-launch developments rather than promised components.
The terrain interaction is currently the part that stands out most. Destroying a building to expose a target, repairing a bridge to restore an advance route, or using a flare to uncover an approaching force could give individual maps a welcome sense of movement.
Combat Orders ’42 is in development for Windows and Linux. Ghost Creative Studio has not announced a release date, and the game is currently listed as “Coming soon” on Steam.
