Heroes of Normandie
Heroes of Normandie
Game
Game2015
Battle of the Bulge
Developer Shenandoah Studio
Battle of the Bulge is an iOS historical wargame developed by American studio Shenandoah Studio and released on December 13, 2012. A PC version was published by Slitherine Software in 2015. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
187 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Oct 20, 2026 · last updated Oct 20, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
70
Fresh
83 positive · 35 negative
95% range 62–78%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 83 | 35 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 12 | 1 | 48 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
89 of 124 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
71% recommend · 86 yes, 35 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 121 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (124 of 171 positive).
Players praise the game's simplicity and accessibility, calling it a great entry point for wargaming. [1][2][3] Some reviewers find the AI challenging and competent, while others criticize it as terrible. [1][4][5] A few players note the game's limited content, such as only one map and few unit types. [4][6][7]
Liked
Representative posts
- [5]
Despite the simplicity and generally appealing look, this game fails to deliver. - The AI is terrible, absolutely terrible, regardless what 'personality' or which scenario is chosen. It doesn't hold good ground, it has no idea how to buy time or build for a counterattack, and on the attack it has no idea how to prosecute an offensive. Choosing the Axis side in 'Bitter End' should be brutally hard, but by …
- [1]
Simple, easy to learn and fun but also frustrating because of the challenging AI. Battle of the Bulge is a simplistic turn-based wargame with only 3 different unit types (infantry, armored cav and tanks), only a few scenarios but an AI that actually proves to be very challenging no matter what general (different scripting and difficulty) you choose to fight against. Let's just say that it is literally waiting for …
- [3]
The most accessible WW2 wargame I've ever come across. Hardcore grognards may scoff at the "streamlined" nature of the affair, but for those of us just looking to move some tanks around and dip our toes in, this is a must-buy, particularly given the discount price. I've played about eight rounds of the first scenario today, which is several more times than I've played most other wargames at all. Highly recommended!
- [4]
Careful, the game is quite short (be aware there is only ONE map to play at this point of time), the game is pleasant and quite different from anything I know. Port from mobile platform doesn't feel too awkward. It seems at first that Unity of Command would be the most similar wargame I know of, but the feeling is quite dissimilar and the scope as well. Playing with the same reflexes will get you defeated sharpish. …
- [2]
I am a huge fan of this series on iPad. I've probably logged 100+ hours with each one of them. But every time I would play on that small screen, I wished that I could be playing on my giant PC screen. Well today my wish came true! Played through the game once as the Germans, and the graphics and gameplay look terrific. I encountered no bugs, and the AI looked solid. If you like beer and pretzels wargaming or any …
Summarised from 34 of the 188 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
71% of the 121 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Battle of the Bulge. The complaint that keeps coming up: only one map available at launch. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The game has a Metacritic rating of 85% based on 13 critic reviews. The PC version received a positive review from 4Players.
From the “Critical reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 187 · most liked firstFacing massive casualties at the Battle of the Bulge, the Army asked Black supply troops to volunteer for the front. The catch? Black NCOs had to voluntarily demote themselves to Private just to fight. Carter didn’t hesitate. He gave up his stripes to get in the game. (cont)
neutral · AI labelView post →Simple, easy to learn and fun but also frustrating because of the challenging AI. Battle of the Bulge is a simplistic turn-based wargame with only 3 different unit types (infantry, armored cav and tanks), only a few scenarios but an AI that actually proves to be very challenging no matter what general (different scripting and difficulty) you choose to fight against. Let's just say that it is literally waiting for you to make mistakes and will not hesitate to capitalize upon it. The game itself…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Vintage Battle of the Bulge from Avalon Hill at the club tonight with an enlarged version for the vintage players. Only managed a couple of turns but it was a learning game. Some nice mechanisms and a good high level command game. It's all about frustrating the enemy movement and bogging them down.
positive · AI labelView post →I am a huge fan of this series on iPad. I've probably logged 100+ hours with each one of them. But every time I would play on that small screen, I wished that I could be playing on my giant PC screen. Well today my wish came true! Played through the game once as the Germans, and the graphics and gameplay look terrific. I encountered no bugs, and the AI looked solid. If you like beer and pretzels wargaming or any flavor of historical strategy game, then you will very likely enjoy this game.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I supported the original Kickstarter and played a TON of this and the excellent sequels 'Drive on Moscow' and 'Alamein'. The new version with cross platform PBEM support is so good I didn't mind a bit paying to buy the game again on a second platform. Simply put, this is a serious wargame boiled down to what is vital with the fluff removed or abstracted into the system. You are faced with the crucial decisions of the campaign but have none of the tedious bits to worry about. If you are a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →well, i m still only into the second day of the campaign but so far i d say this game is excellent. clear tutorial, simple but good game mechanics, clear interface, nice graphics, fun and thought provoking gameplay. i particularly like the fact that you can only move units from one region only per turn. means you have to think very carefully about your priorities. also, the full campaign has an option for initial random distribution of units thus adding to replay value. its early days but so…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Democrats have had YEARS to endorse anyone who was born after the Battle of the Bulge. With the election less than 4 months away, it is WAY too late to pick Biden's successor. They need to come with a campaign message that shows ordinary people why Biden is a better choice than Trump, which should be the easiest g*ddamn thing in the world.
neutral · AI labelView post →Recommended as an enjoyable strategy game, that retains the strategic and historical depth of much more expensive wargames, while being very approachable and fun to play. Given the quality and the price, I would rate this a must buy for wargamers, history buffs or anyone who enjoys a fun and challenging diversion that might actually teach you a little something into the bargain :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been wargaming for about 30 years. So I'm kinda used to how turn base play is supposed to go. Being only able to control one sector per turn is so limiting it's comical. It's like this game was programmed by a jr high computing class. Only 1 hour in and I'm going to delete it. Wish I could get my money back on this stinker.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Despite the simplicity and generally appealing look, this game fails to deliver. - The AI is terrible, absolutely terrible, regardless what 'personality' or which scenario is chosen. It doesn't hold good ground, it has no idea how to buy time or build for a counterattack, and on the attack it has no idea how to prosecute an offensive. Choosing the Axis side in 'Bitter End' should be brutally hard, but by singlemindedly advancing on Verviers, Liege and Namur you can permanently cripple the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The most accessible WW2 wargame I've ever come across. Hardcore grognards may scoff at the "streamlined" nature of the affair, but for those of us just looking to move some tanks around and dip our toes in, this is a must-buy, particularly given the discount price. I've played about eight rounds of the first scenario today, which is several more times than I've played most other wargames at all. Highly recommended!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →First Impressions Video: https://youtu.be/1TyfuH8JQi0 Battle of the Bulge is a turn-based strategy game where the player take control of either the Allied or the Axis powers in the famous and bloody Battle of the Bulge. How does is play? The game is divided into turns which represent the passage of time. Every turn you activate all of your units in one region and move them. If you move them into a space with enemy units there is a battle. Easy, right? Well, to make things more interesting,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Our video review for Ardennes ’44: The Battle of the Bulge from @gmtgames.bsky.social theplayersaid.com/2025/01/05/v...
neutral · AI labelView post →Battle of the Bulge is a strategy game quite similar to Risk (the boardgame) in a sense. Removing the luck factor, the player must move armies across the map and capture territories in order to fulfill certain objectives. You can't produce your own units, but every other turn or so each side might get reinforcements depending on the scenario. Thus, the game offers limited resources for each "mission", but this forces the player to come up with creative and meaningful decisions in order to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Happy #LetterboxdFriday! What's YOUR #LastFourWatched? Hudson Hawk Real Steel Battle of the Bulge Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows All rewatches this week. Hudson Hawk an old favorite. And Real Steel exceeded my expectations.
neutral · AI labelView post →NOTE: I DID PAY FOR THIS GAME. I have no idea how many times the Battle of the Bulge has been recreated by boardgames and videogames, but I think it’s safe to say there are at least 40 different options out there. This one is a new take on it, it has very little in common with the terms simulation or even wargame and is closer to a glorified game of chess with the added luck factor. There are only three kinds of units (tanks, infantry and mechanized infantry). Supply is pretty basic: you need…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →First time I've seen infantry being able to overrun armour across open terrain, in a wargame claiming to be historically correct. That aside, there are a lot of things done right, but in the end it's not something to write home about if compared to boardgames like Ardennes '44, The Last Blitzkrieg or even Enemy Action: Ardennes and FAB The Bulge, of which Battle of the Bulge borrows heavily from. If you're into something easy and amusing for an evening or two, you can do worse and from that…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Wow, nice deep beer and pretzels game! Hope I see more of these games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Played this 1983 Battle Of The Bulge game with a friend today. Has a built in circuit for combat resolution. Took less than 30mins for a good lunchbattle. 3rd pic is the final turn: my Yanks kept the Jerries from breaking thru, but lost on points. Bugger.
neutral · AI labelView post →22 December 1944 – WW2 – "80 Years Ago" – Germans demand surrender of US troops at Bastogne “Nuts!” reply from General Anthony C. McAuliffe, US Army 'The Battle of the Bulge' – 1965 Avalon Hill Game Company Release
neutral · AI labelView post →Excellent board game style turn based strategy. Lots of ways to play and win. Plenty of game modes and a massive variety of win conditions plus regular tournaments on the Slitherine home page. PVP and PBEM++ makes it incredibly durable playing quick games with friends or across time zones. Highly Recommended. 9\10 https://store.steampowered.com/curator/29446660-Priority-One-Gaming/
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very good game. What I like is the simplicity. You can play this game immediately and have a good game with the AI wrapped up in 30-60 minutes. The real enjoyment is verus other players and PBM. It is a cross of chess and a traditional board wargame. The game is well balanced and both sides will be on offense and defense for roughly half the game. You do need to know the nuances of the rules but they are not overly complex. I hate when I play games that are about say Operation Barbarosa and you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Careful, the game is quite short (be aware there is only ONE map to play at this point of time), the game is pleasant and quite different from anything I know. Port from mobile platform doesn't feel too awkward. It seems at first that Unity of Command would be the most similar wargame I know of, but the feeling is quite dissimilar and the scope as well. Playing with the same reflexes will get you defeated sharpish. AI is quite competent, and you can choose the personality and style of your…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A great intro-level wargame capturing the events of one of the shortest and most daring offensives of WWII, with side disbalance capturing the tactical and situational differences between German and American forces. Very good replayability, innovative turn system, simple, accessible mechanics and sleek interface. It's fast-paced, it's fun, and it is a great study of how each side of the battlefield had to cope with completely different problems. Unfortunately, not without downsides. The AI is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Weekly Crowdfunding Roundup: February 2, 2025. Credits to u/Perkelton ## What is this? This is a weekly roundup of board game crowdfunding projects, featuring new launches from the past week and campaigns ending in the coming week. The information is sourced from Kickstarter, Gamefound, and Backerkit. The list is curated through a combination of automated data collection and manual review, so occasional errors or omissions may occur. If you notice a missing project, feel free to mention it…
neutral · AI labelView post →This is the future of wargaming. I love hex-and-counter tabletop wargames, but I'm often disappointed by their digital cousins. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that John Butterfield has created an absolute gem of a game that really combines the best of both worlds. Battle of the Bulge plays exactly like a tabletop game, only better. It has the simplicity of form that is such an important part of the appeal of tabletop wargames, and which is also the key to their success as historical…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Weekly Crowdfunding Roundup: January 12, 2025 | 8 ending soon ("Hyperstar Run") & 17 new ("⚡ MICRO HERO: Hercules", "Foxpaw - A Magical Worker Placement Board Game", "Hyperstar Run"). OC of @danielpervan, I take no credit except for reposting. ## What is this? ::: spoiler spoiler This is a weekly roundup of board game crowdfunding projects, featuring new launches from the past week and campaigns ending in the coming week. The information is sourced from Kickstarter, Gamefound, and Backerkit.…
neutral · AI labelView post →I’ve been a war gamer for while from starting out on Panzer and Allied General to Time of Wrath, Unity of Command to Hearts of Iron, Frontline Longest Day and CoH. Battle of the Bulge doesn't work for me around the movement of your troops. In general it seems to force you to commit your move on each individual section and then advances the time clock. Normally both in turn based games and to reflect real life over a set period of time all your units should be able to move at the same time…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nice and challenging . Not the type you finish without putting any thinking into it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →On Wednesday I played Gavin and his Battle of the Bulge themed British in the ruins of Stalingrad! My Panzer 38 (t) was taken out by a Wolverine in turn 1, but I managed to grab a draw Great game and a wonderful opponent #Warmongers #BoltAction
positive · AI labelView post →It’s an effing football game. Not the Battle of the Bulge.
neutral · AI labelView post →The game was completely unplayble at release, since I suffered from the endlessly scrolling map bug. The new beta patch fixed that, after a month. I managed to go through the first two steps of the tutorial (moving two of your units), and then the game decided I'd had enough fun, and the tutorial just stopped moving forward. Also, I can't scroll the map with my keyboard, there are no options for this, and the mouse scrolling is hopelessly sluggish, and there are no options for this either.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lanzerath Ridge is a tower defence style game set during the Battle of the Bulge. From DVG’s and @djackthompson.bsky.social the game is full of agonising decisions and highlights the incredible history of this little known chapter of WW2. #boardgames #history #imhavingmyonepodcast
positive · AI labelView post →Hmm, lets see. I enjoy boardgames and given the mechanics of this game, it felt promising. It's simple and enjoyable, not too stressful either. Music is cool, the effect are nice and I personally can hold the immersion. So far, I've lost to the AI so to me its challenging. I'm not really a master of strategy games, but I do enjoy them. This game makes a good add to your library with its lower price. - Haven't tried multiplayer yet. - The extra history you learn is amazing and interesting. -…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pretty lame. nothing new or interesting or novel here. Glad i only blew $10.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Waffen SS and US Army will play *together* in tonight’s Battle of the Bulge Softball Game — which they say helps keep the little bipartisanship left in the western front alive “We all have to do hard things,” one lawmaker said, “like ignoring literal Nazis killing millions of innocent people”
neutral · AI labelView post →Grant shares a progress report on the 2024 Shelf of Shame Dust-Off Event as we were able to play Ardennes ‘44: The Battle of the Bulge from GMT Games and check off this fantastic Bulge game. theplayersaid.com/2024/02/13/2...
neutral · AI labelView post →I have enjoyed this game a lot more than I initially thought I would. It seems simplistic at first, but succeeds in simulating a desperate situation for the axis at the time of the war. Elements like running out of fuel and the commando actions to delay units is well done. Maintaining your supply lines is the lifeblood of keeping your units fighting, which is the way it should be in war games. Accurate historic representation of units, and it does reflect in battle as long as one man army…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I usually only write reviews when I have something to say that it seems that everyone else is leaving out of their reviews. In the case of this game, nobody is pointing out that this game is NOT a realistic simulation of a World War II battle. It is not even close to a realistic simulation. I recommend this game only because it is a good strategy game, the same as I would recommend chess to someone, but this is not a World War II battle simulation. I played other war games on my main…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Superficial approach to the operational level strategy gaming. Not recommended.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →That's a shame to sell this game at 9,99.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →To me this game is a bit too "abstract" . . . not enough information available in game for each unit. You'll have to look it all up in the manual. It is aethstetically pleasing, but overall the game play is a bit boring to me, even considering the price. There are a very limited number of units available, and not really much to do during your turn. Choose a unit, move it, attack with it . . . it all ends up being very limited in strategy and game play.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Awesome little game for a nice price. After the tutorial was over, I was thinkiing "this seems easy". Ha ! The simple game mechanics and seemingly abstracted unit types are deceiving, The game requires some thinking, planning and prioritizing. I have played twice so far, and lost twice as the Axis. The area based activation and movement system with its imposed limit of one area only per turn makes the decision making a tense affair. I have read the odd criticism of the turn system…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Veteran Dominick Critelli 104-year-old World War II veteran Dominick Critelli, who fought at Normandy and in the Battle of the Bulge, wowed the crowd by performing the National Anthem on his saxophone at a New York Islanders game. youtu.be/ebH1gyL0gxk?...
neutral · AI labelView post →Rose Bowl Game nicknames: The Granddaddy of Them All The Old Bowl Game The War of the Roses The Seven Years War The Siege of Constantinople The Battle of the Bulge The Raid on Entebbe The Taking of Pelham 123
neutral · AI labelView post →Born in 1981, Avalon Hill's The Battle of the Bulge steps out of a taxi and slowly makes his way into the Bulge Off '23 Training Camp. It is the fourth oldest game in the event. "You think I'm old? Wait till you see my brother." #wargaming #boardgames
neutral · AI labelView post →I like it. But please take a little time to understand the game. If you just jump in and start moving units frustration builds quickly. You really need to read the user guide before you make up your mind. Buy it, read the guide, play the first scenario, switch sides, play again (see how the computer plays against you). That sold me on the game. It's a game, not a simulation. Enjoy it as a game. If you still don't like it, you will be within the limits for a refund. Again, it uses a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Activate a zone Move units Kill enemies Get surrounded by the AI Lose horribly 10/10!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very enjoyable strategy game. It's pretty easy to learn as the tutorial is clear and the mechanics are fairly straightforward and easy. However these simple mechanics are extremely deceiving (found myself in a pickle in the first game after the tutorial, thinking that it will be very easy). I'm on my second campaign and I can say that the AI is nicely done and challenging. The feature that I absolutely love in this game is the mechanic that makes you move units from only one area per…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Our interview with Matt White designer of Until the Bitter End – Tanks – Battle of the Bulge Print ‘n Play currently on Kickstarter. theplayersaid.com/2025/01/28/i...
neutral · AI labelView post →Duration 5 hours - First time Played This is a nice little John Butterfield wargame. It reminds me a bit of the boardgame "FAB: The Bulge" with less complexity. There is one full scenario (The Bulge) and smaller scenarios: Race to the Meuse and Endgame (which is the battle for Bastogne) which fit into the same map and timeframe. I played a few times until I won and managed victory as both Axis and Allies. I think the game could be fun as 2-player, and definitely is quick enough to play IGO…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's good. I got shown this at a friends place. Proceeded to then buy it on Steam for myself. Just note this: This is not a wargame per se, as soon as you can look beyond that, it becomes much better. For me, being a wargamer this was a hurdle. But once you figure out what it is it becomes a very deep experience. So what is it then if not a wargame? Well... It's a puzzle game. It is like a mix of "area activation" euro style board games and a logic puzzler. The theme is more…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is the first game of the genre I play, it was recommended to me by a friend, but I enjoy it. I really like the historical accuracy and the atmopshere that was implemented in the game. It is easy to understand what is going on, the tutorial does a good job for this purpose, and the game mechanics are quite straightforward. However, there are some details which are harder to get from the beginning (like how supplies work, isolated units, attacking a forrest tile etc), which I think give the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →An excellent homage to the Battle of the Bulge and is fast, frantic for a turn based strategy title. So dive in to this awesome title that is priced superbly. Fight on either side with vastly different objectives. Be careful of your moves as any wrong one can come back to bite you later in the day or the following day. The game is easy to pick up and play but very difficult to master. Check out more here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDRns5jUNyU
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →At first the low price made me a bit suspicious of this title. However I had promised myself that I would purchase it when it came out and am I ever glad I did! This game is very well balanced, has great atmosphere and is very well scaled. The mechanics are simple like chess but the game itself is hard to master. You will keep coming back for more trying out new strategies and new plans. When all is said and done you will have an intimate knowledge of the Battle of the Bulge…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#wargaming Battle of the Bulge time. Why not take a coffee break at the office, grab this postcard game, and feel the cold and urgency at keeping those troopers alive ? hethwill.itch.io/they-won-a-w...
positive · AI labelView post →Leaning on a cane, Avalon Hill's 1965 Battle of the Bulge limps into the Bulge Off '23 Training Camp. At 58 years old, it's the oldest Bulge game in the event. "Pfft. Step loss systems, ZOC bonds, all this new fangled techo-wizardry. Who needs it? I have nostalgia!" #wargaming #boardgames
neutral · AI labelView post →I am a big fan of Worthington's '1944 Battle of the Bulge'. It's quick playing, has interesting objectives, and is a beautiful package. I also enjoyed 'The Deadly Woods' from Ted Racier. Beefy game, but it allows you to play the attack and counter attack in one game. Highly recommend both.
positive · AI labelView post →Won all three of the main axis starts easily, ai is weak and axis has it too easy imo. Haven't tried the allied campaign yet but it doesn't seem that appealing.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is an excellent game for the wargamer, the AI can be frustrating but in a worthy opponent sort of way.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.