Armoured Commander

Tanks were a quintessential part of the second World War, probably because both sides managed to hit the technological sweet point when it came to battlefield performance. Hence, whether you are referring to the Sherman, the Tiger or the T-34, all of them had a great impact on many of the most violent battles of the war.

Armoured Commander is a unique roguelike in which you play the role of a tank commander, which means that you are in charge of the rest of the crew as well. Unlike most roguelikes, this one is as gritty and hardcore as it gets, because survival is indeed a tough goal when the battlefield is crawling with thousands of enemies. Patience comes in handy, as does caution and the ability to avoid dangerous situations at all costs.

You start by creating and naming your commander, while the rest of the crew is randomly generated. The whole tank is operated by a gunner, a loader, a driver and an assistant driver, plus the commander, who tells everyone else what to do. However, it’s also your responsibility to load the tank with the desired ammunition, which includes multiple types of shells.

The shells range from High Explosive, commonly used to disperse infantry and advance, all the way to armor penetrating and white phosphorous, each one of which has specific uses. Although you can resupply along the way, it’s vital that you choose a good mix of shells to start with. Hence, smoke rounds are very important if you want to pass by unnoticed or retreat, and you should do both as often as possible.

Survival is key, and there’s usually no epic reward for defeating an enemy unit. Risk and exposure are your only rewards, so you’re much better off staying off the radar and picking your targets with care. In the same regard, the game is almost text-based as well, so you won’t get to see any flashy explosions and realistic landscapes in the meantime either.

In the end, Armoured Commander is tough with anyone, regardless of any previous with the genre. Bravery and heroism have no effect on your ability to win battles, so the experience is about as close to the real thing as it gets.