Matrix Games Forums

Is it just me, or am i alone in wishing for some smaller simpler computer games?
I must be getting old, but it seems most games nowadays are too big for me to comfortably get my head round.
Is there a category at Matrix called something like 'Smaller Games' that I can browse?

PS- anybody remember SPI's series of 'Folio Games' in the glory days of 1970's boardgaming that had smallish maps and low unit counts that could be played in around an hour?
Are there any equivalent smallish computer games out there nowadays?
Below- just some of the many SPI Folio Games-

A lot of the TOAW (The Operational Art of War) scenarios are small with a low counter count. Mons 1914, Kasserine Pass, Danzig Corridor, Tarawa '43, Arracourt '44, Waterloo 1815, Chinese Farm '73 and a long list of others. There are some monster scenarios too but it's all part of the same package.

Platoonist wrote: Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:32 am A lot of the TOAW (The Operational Art of War) scenarios are small with a low counter count. Mons 1914, Kasserine Pass, Danzig Corridor, Tarawa '43, Arracourt '44, Waterloo 1815, Chinese Farm '73 and a long list of others. There are some monster scenarios too but it's all part of the same package.

Scenario size list:

https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8#p4360528

Curtis Lemay wrote: Thu Mar 28, 2024 2:42 am Scenario size list:
https://www.matrixgames.com/forums/view ... 8#p4360528

Excellent timing! General LeMay is the authority to talk to if you have further questions.

Man I remember as a kid, going into the the various hobby stores and the SPI folo's (or quad game individual modules) were like $5 a piece back then, getting a quad game was a great bargain IIRC like 12 or 16 bucks for four games.

I agree with Spike Milligna - the well known typing error.

I have too many huge games that I am just not going to play.

So, what am I playing;

Small and random scenarios from combat Mission, TOAW (ACOW plays really fast), Advanced Tactics, Sid Meier's Gettysburg.

Command Ops has lots of relatively small missions.

The 500 page WITE2 manual is still being used as a doorstop and the WITP one is a bookend.

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I've heard the AI in the PC version of this game is amazing.

If a Naval game interests you, WDS Wolfpack is a small game.

you could try wargame design studio demoes eg you can play custor and the indians in a demo, they have other small demoes and there free, but the main games are bigger is scope than most

your avator icon looks like squad leader addons i think, cool

Empire Deluxe Combined Edition is a relatively simple and can be small or large as player can define the map size and a number of the features like the number of cities. Battle Academy is a relatively small tactical scale game with simple game mechanics. Likewise Heroes of Normandie and Heroes of Stalingrad look relatively small & simple, though I haven't played them myself. Doesn't mean any of the games are easy.

Links:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/7427 ... d_Edition/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2870 ... e_Academy/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3658 ... Normandie/
https://www.matrixgames.com/game/mark-h ... stalingrad

Got some more. Into the Breach is a small tactical scale mecha action. Seemingly simple game play, but moves need to be considered as carefully as playing Chess.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/5903 ... he_Breach/

Battle for Wesnoth has a sizable number of scenarios, campaigns, and different units. Many scenarios though aren't very big. Game is free, so the only cost is time you spend on it.
http://www.wesnoth.org/

may i add my game to the small games catagory, its free. you will like the chits, there squad keader esqu


https://store.steampowered.com/app/2890 ... ttles_ssp/

i would also look on gog.com stands for good old games. you prob know just incase, you can get games like age of rifles ant wargame construction tanks etc... well worth looking at

Thanks guys, and here's a nostalgic pic of Gaz and me (I'm the hairy freak on the right) with some of the boardgames we played in the early 1980's just before the arrival of the home computer era..-

PoorOldSpike wrote: Sat Mar 30, 2024 1:13 am Thanks guys, and here's a nostalgic pic of Gaz and me (I'm the hairy freak on the right) with some of the boardgames we played in the early 1980's just before the arrival of the home computer era..-

Some of those games are very familiar.

PoorOldSpike wrote: Sat Mar 30, 2024 1:13 am Thanks guys, and here's a nostalgic pic of Gaz and me (I'm the hairy freak on the right) with some of the boardgames we played in the early 1980's just before the arrival of the home computer era..-

In that case, I name MegaMek. It's the most accurate video game adaptation of BattleTech miniature war game. I have wrote an article about it. BattleTech itself is regarded as a beer & pretzel type game, so no biggie. Even if core rule book, Total Warfare, exceeds 300 pages
https://avidwargamer.com/megamek/
https://megamek.org/

Official BattleTech video game adaptation made by Harebrained Schemes is a bit easier to get into. It takes some liberties, but is still a decent game on its own right. Damn, the DLC is pricy! Wait for the sale and go for the Mercenary Collection.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/637090/BATTLETECH/

Found another one: Vae Victis
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2420820/Vae_Victis/

Kuokkanen wrote: Sun Mar 31, 2024 6:50 am Found another one: Vae Victis
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2420820/Vae_Victis/

wow that looks fun

Platoonist wrote: Thu Mar 28, 2024 11:28 am I've heard the AI in the PC version of this game is amazing.


Simple Wargame.jpg

where i can buy this game ?

Battle for Moscow is a free beer and pretzels game that is quite fun.

https://oberlabs.com/b4m/