Underplayed Gems

1943 Deadly Desert (2018)

1943 Deadly Desert cover
Developer
HandyGames
Platforms
Windows
Genres
Indie, Strategy
Rating
3.2 of 5, 112 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 4.5 hours
Where to get it
Steam

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The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A tense, methodical hex-grid wargame where you command troops in deliberate, action-packed desert battles.

turn-based tacticaldeliberate pacingmilitary simulationdesert settingstrategic planningreplayablemoderate challengehistorical feel

What players say

Players praise the supply line mechanics and tactical depth but warn it is a mobile port with rough edges. There is no way to save mid-mission, the mouse scrolling is broken, and enemy units ignore fuel limits, making several scenarios feel unfair. Long-time fans compare it to Panzer General and say the difficulty scales steeply because you cannot grind for gold like on mobile.

Screenshots

1943 Deadly Desert screenshot 11943 Deadly Desert screenshot 21943 Deadly Desert screenshot 31943 Deadly Desert screenshot 41943 Deadly Desert screenshot 51943 Deadly Desert screenshot 6

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More by Embracer Group

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.