Play Steel Panthers Online

Steel Panthers is a turn-based strategy wargame released for MS-DOS in 1995. Developed by Strategic Simulations, Inc. and published by Mindscape, Inc., the game simulates tactical combat during World War II. Players command combined arms forces, including tanks, infantry, and various support units, on a battlefield represented by a hexagonal grid. The game was designed by Gary Grigsby, a noted figure in wargame design.

In Steel Panthers, the player controls military units ranging in size from individual squads up to entire brigades. The core gameplay involves planning and executing tactical maneuvers across a hex-based map to achieve objectives such as capturing territory or eliminating enemy forces. Players manage detailed aspects of their units, including ammunition supply, morale, positioning, and command structure. Progression is offered through several modes, including standalone historical battles, multi-battle campaigns that can be linear or branched, and hypothetical scenarios. The game also includes a battle generator for creating random engagements and supports play-by-email for asynchronous multiplayer.

A significant feature is the included scenario editor, which allows players to design custom battles by selecting units, defining terrain, and setting specific victory conditions. The game provides a wide selection of national forces from the World War II era, with distinct unit types for different military branches such as the US Army and US Marine Corps. An in-game encyclopedia offers factual information and images of the historical equipment represented. These systems collectively provide a detailed simulation focused on tactical command and historical unit management.