Wars (series)

The Wars series is a franchise of turn-based strategy video games, primarily developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo. The series is characterized by its accessible gameplay, charming aesthetic, and strategic depth. Gameplay typically involves commanding an army across a grid-based map, capturing cities and factories to generate resources, and engaging in combat with enemy units. Unit types often include infantry, tanks, artillery, and aircraft, each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and movement capabilities. Victory is usually achieved by eliminating all enemy units or capturing the enemy headquarters.

The Wars series has a long and varied history, with titles appearing on numerous Nintendo platforms. One of the earliest entries, Famicom Wars, was released in Japan in 1988 for the Famicom. Western audiences were first introduced to the series with Advance Wars for the Game Boy Advance in 2001. This game, and its sequel Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising, were critical and commercial successes, solidifying the series' popularity outside of Japan.

A key element of the Wars series is the inclusion of Commanding Officers (COs), each with unique abilities that can influence battles. These CO abilities can range from passive buffs to powerful active skills that can turn the tide of combat. Choosing the right CO for a particular map and strategy is a crucial aspect of gameplay.

The series has also explored different settings, with Battalion Wars on the GameCube and Wii offering a more action-oriented real-time strategy experience in a 3D environment. While retaining some of the core strategic elements of the Wars franchise, Battalion Wars offered a distinct gameplay style.

While the series saw several successful iterations, including Advance Wars: Dual Strike and Advance Wars: Days of Ruin on the Nintendo DS, it experienced a period of dormancy. A full remake of the original Advance Wars, titled Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, was released on the Nintendo Switch in 2023, bringing the series back to a modern audience and rekindling interest in its turn-based strategy gameplay.