Do anyone know of a tactical naval warfare game? Specifically in WW2, handling both surface combat and air / carrier combat? (Perhaps an old DOS game?)
For example, something that recreates Leyte Gulf at the level of individual ships, submarines, air squadrons, etc. I suppose Pacific Storm or Battlestations Midway / Pacific do this, though in a very arcadey fashion. I was thinking of realistic equipment, numbers, ranges, etc. though certainly time-accelerated.
It would be especially interesting to see something like this in a WITP-like strategic framework; sounds vaguely like the planned Carrier Force. This would be like Forge of Freedom or the Total War series.
EDIT: Based on the feedback below, here is what we have.
- Action Stations! (1991, DOS): This is a mostly text-based simulator covering surface combat from 1922 to 1945, in great detail.
- Task Force 1942 (1992, DOS): Surface and air combat in the Guadalcanal campaign in the South Pacific. A recent review can be found here.
- Carrier Strike (1992, DOS): Carrier-centric combat in the South Pacific, with a look-and-feel similar to Gary Grigsby's Pacific War.
- Great Naval Battles: North Atlantic 1939-1943 (1992, DOS): Surface combat in the North Atlantic.
- Great Naval Battles Vol. II: Guadalcanal 1942-43 (1994, DOS): Surface and air combat in the South Pacific.
- Great Naval Battles Vol. III: Fury in the Pacific, 1941-1944 (1995, DOS): A continuation of the previous title, covering the entire Pacific theater.
- Great Naval Battles Vol. IV: Burning Steel, 1939-1942 (1995, DOS): Similar scope as the first GNB game, with some alternate history scenarios.
- Great Naval Battles V: Demise of the Dreadnoughts: 1914-18 (1996, DOS): As the name implies, this covers WW1. This was only available as part of a GNB package.
- Reviews of the first GNB game and the rest of the series.
- Fighting Steel: World War II Surface Combat 1939-1942 (1999, Windows): A successor to the GNB series, focusing solely on surface combat. This has been extensively enhanced by NWS as described here; they also sell the game itself.
- Carriers at War (2007, Windows): Most of you know about this one, but it bears mentioning: carrier-centric combat across the Pacific theater, focusing on finding and striking opposing task forces. It was preceded by two DOS titles in 1991 and 1993, by the same team. Long live SSG!
- Distant Guns and Jutland (2006, 2008, Windows): These cover the Russo-Japanese War and WW1 (respectively), though apparently they have some pretty restrictive DRM (see below).
- Navy Field (2006, Windows): A multiplayer online game developed by a South Korean company. Encounters consist of several player-controlled ships which can gain experience in battle and be upgraded. Very unrealistic (by design), but free to play with premium (paid) content available.
- Pacific Storm and Pacific Storm: Allies (2007, 2008, Windows): These cover the entire Pacific theater with a strategic layer and tactical combat resolution, similar to the Total War series. They are not very polished or realistic, but fun and only $15 for both on Steam.
- Battlestations Midway and Pacific (2007, 2009, Windows): Real-time naval and air combat in the Pacific in WW2. You direct several ships and planes, but can directly "jump into" individual units and control them directly. Quite unrealistic, but fun.
The DOS games are hard to find, but do run on modern machines in DOSBox. If you are interested in getting any of the DOS titles here, send me a PM and I can try to help. What is especially nice about the old games is their manuals: there are generally filled with interesting history and technical specifications. I have the manual for GNBNA, and it is almost 200 pages. Check out replacementdocs.com for some manuals.
