Scorched Earth (video game)

Scorched Earth is a turn-based artillery game released in 1991 for MS-DOS. Often considered the "Mother Of All Games" (a tagline prominently displayed in the game), it allows players to engage in tactical combat utilizing a wide array of weapons to destroy opposing tanks.

Gameplay focuses on adjusting tank angle and power to launch projectiles across a 2D landscape, accounting for wind conditions. The goal is to eliminate all other players' tanks. Strategic use of terrain, weapon selection, and shielding is crucial for survival and victory.

A notable feature of Scorched Earth is its extensive customization options. Players can modify virtually every aspect of the game, including:

• Economy: Adjusting starting money, repair costs, and weapon prices.
• Weapon Selection: Enabling or disabling specific weapons, affecting the available arsenal.
• Physics: Modifying gravity, wind speed, and other environmental factors.
• AI Difficulty: Customizing the behavior and skill of computer-controlled opponents.
• Visuals: Changing color schemes and backgrounds.

The game supports multiple players, both human and AI, and allows for various game modes and scenarios. Scorched Earth became popular due to its addictive gameplay, customizable nature, and shareware distribution model, leading to its wide dissemination and influence on subsequent artillery games. It is often cited as a predecessor to games like Worms and Pocket Tanks. Despite its simple graphics, its strategic depth and customization made it a lasting classic within the artillery game genre.