Play The Ancient Art Of War Online

The Ancient Art of War is a real-time strategy game released in 1984 for MS-DOS. Developed by Evryware and published by Broderbund Software, it presents a historical battle simulation set in pre-gunpowder warfare. The game is viewed from a top-down perspective and focuses on the core military elements of unit types, formations, and relative strength.

Players command armies composed of three basic combat units: fast but lightly armored barbarians, slow but heavily armored knights, and ranged archers. A fourth non-combatant spy unit is available under specific campaign rules. The primary objective is to achieve victory across various scenarios, each with distinct geographical settings, difficulty levels, visibility conditions, and win conditions. Players directly control troop movements and formations in real time, managing the strategic interplay between unit types to overcome opposing forces.

Progression is structured through a selection of scenarios where players face one of eight computer opponents. These include historical and fictional commanders such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Geronimo, Sun Tzu, the goddess Athena, and a commander named Crazy Ivan, each employing a different strategic style. The game also includes a construction set that allows players to create custom campaigns. This editor provides tools for writing stories, setting rules, designing maps, and adjusting default troop formations to the player's preference.