When you think of World War II, it’s likely the M4 Sherman comes immediately to mind. The most widely used tank among the US and Allied Powers, it was a reliable, mass-produced powerhouse that acted as the backbone of the armed forces, supporting infantry across multiple fronts. Sherman Commander brings together tank simulation and tactical RTS elements to encapsulate the M4’s importance in the conflict, allowing you to both sit in the commander’s seat and direct operations at a grander scale.
Sherman Commander comes from developer Iron Wolf Studio, which you might know as the creator of oceanborne warfare sim Destroyer: The U-Boat Hunter. The team’s new WW2 game plants itself firmly on dry land, and has just launched following several playtests that “surpassed our expectations by far,” according to developer Artur Salwarowski. In response to feedback from those tests, Iron Wolf has further emphasized the presence of in-tank action, and implemented more autonomy for your accompanying forces.
Salwarowski says the goal with Sherman Commander was to strike a balance between a sense of realism and a game that’s “approachable and easy to understand.” As a tank platoon leader battling across many of the most famous conflicts in the European theater of war during World War II, you’re given the freedom “to blow stuff to bits, as well as exercise your gray matter over multiple ways of achieving your objectives.”
“When we first sat down to discuss how to go about creating a Sherman tank game, we thought about its battlefield role and identity,” Salwarowski explains. Battlefield awareness and coordination with allied infantry and armor are key to success in Sherman Commander, whether you’re fighting in Normandy, across German cityscapes, or through the vast Ardennes Forest. “Tanks without infantry support would become immensely vulnerable, and vice versa. These two elements always had to cooperate with each other to achieve their full battlefield potential.”
While the Sherman is relatively flexible, you’re still operating a bulky, weighty machine, and that requires some careful thought before rushing into the fray. Fortunately, you’ve got its explosive power on your side, and the extensive building destruction allows you to create opportunities for both you and your troops by blasting opportunities through the rubble.
Sherman Commander is out now on Steam, with a 10% launch discount available through Saturday March 28. Expect to pay $26.99 / £19.79. You can get it here if you’re ready to lead the charge across the battlefield.
While there’s a lot to love here for WW2 enthusiasts, early Steam reviews caution that the initial release is struggling somewhat on the performance side, along with mentioning a few balancing frustrations. You’ll find plenty of praise for the core concept and execution, but there are complaints about the camera controls, the strength of some weapons, and some crashes or frame rate stuttering. The team also notes that “some parts of the soundtrack and minor voiceline grunts have been created or enhanced using AI.” Keep that in mind before you climb into the driver’s seat.