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Box Art
Windows 95/98Turn-Based StrategyWar

The Operational Art of War: Volume 1 (1939-1955)

Developer: TalonSoft · Published by TalonSoft · 1998
The most detailed wargame ever made, for those who think hexes are a way of life.
Deep SimulationExtensive EditorHundreds of UnitsGrognard ApprovedComplex UIWeak AI
4.0
out of 5.0
Excellent
POCG VERDICT
An obsessive, detail-packed wargame that grognards will worship, with an AI that sometimes forgets to fight back.
The Operational Art of War is the most detailed turn-based wargame I've ever played. If you're not a veteran of hexes and supply lines, the sheer depth will bury you.
Read Full Review →How to Play Today
About This Game

The Operational Art of War: Volume 1 (1939-1955) is a turn-based computer wargame developed and published by TalonSoft in 1998 for Windows 95/98. Designed by veteran wargame designer Norm Koger, it simulates ground combat in World War II and the Korean War, offering a staggering level of detail. Players command units ranging from individual companies of 25 men up to corps of over 40,000, across hex-based maps where each hex can represent 2.5 to 25 miles. Every unit is modeled with statistics for strength, experience, readiness, supply status, combat quality, and equipment, making each engagement a complex calculation. The game includes fifteen historical scenarios, a full-featured scenario editor, and support for both 2D and 3D viewing modes. A 160-page printed manual accompanies the software, explaining hundreds of gameplay concepts. The Operational Art of War is widely regarded as one of the most detailed and realistic computer wargames ever released, aimed squarely at experienced grognards who demand deep simulation over flashy presentation.

POCG ReviewOriginal: October 6, 1999 · Restored: June 14, 2026
4.0
Excellent
Review Verdict
Private: The Operational Art of War: Volume 1
The Operational Art of War is the most detailed turn-based wargame I've ever played. If you're not a veteran of hexes and supply lines, the sheer depth will bury you.
By ManiacReviewed October 1999Restored June 14, 2026Read Full Review →
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How to Play TodayYour options for running this game in 2026
Original Hardware
Original CD-ROM release for Windows 95/98. Requires a Pentium processor, 32 MB RAM, and a 4X CD-ROM drive. Installation is straightforward; the massive printed manual is essential.
POCG Score
4.0
Excellent
Game Info
PlatformWindows 95/98
DeveloperTalonSoft
PublisherTalonSoft
GenreTurn-Based Strategy, War
Players1 Player
ReviewedOctober 6, 1999
RestoredJune 14, 2026
Original PC Specs
OSWindows 95/98
CPUPentium or compatible
RAM16 MB (32 MB recommended)
GPU / Display16-bit High Color SVGA, DirectX compatible
StorageMinimal, CD-based
Drive4X CD-ROM
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