Close Combat series (training use)

Close Combat is a real-time tactical wargame series originally developed by Atomic Games, with its first installment released in 1996. The series was initially published by Microsoft and quickly gained fame for its realistic depiction of squad-level World War II combat.

The games were utilized by the military because they feature complex command friction, line-of-sight mechanics, and psychological models where individual soldiers can panic or become fatigued. Atomic Games leveraged this realistic psychological engine to secure contracts to develop specialized training simulators for the US Marine Corps.

Unlike traditional RTS games that focus on resource gathering and fast-paced clicking, Close Combat focuses on realistic tactical movement and morale management. Players must carefully manage their squads' psychological states, as soldiers will refuse orders, flee, or surrender if they take too much fire.

The mainline series heavily focuses on the European Theater of World War II, with the first four games specifically covering operations from Omaha Beach to the Battle of the Bulge. Later entries and mods expanded the scope to include the Pacific Theater and modern military scenarios.