Deal | Back to the roots: RTS classic focuses on pure tactics and costs less than $4 on Steam

Released in June 2004, Codename Panzers – Phase One is now considered a true strategy classic. Developed by Stormregion, the RTS takes players to the battlefields of World War II, where they command small Axis and Allied combat units. The campaigns lead through Poland, France, Russia, the Ardennes and other historic theaters of war. Instead of base-building and resource gathering, the focus is on tactical battles with infantry, tanks, artillery and air support.

Despite its age, Codename Panzers still runs smoothly on modern systems. The Steam version includes all official patches, supports higher screen resolutions and features a newly implemented online multiplayer mode. That makes the current discount more than just a nostalgia offer: it is also an easy way to get back to the roots of RTS gaming. Codename Panzers – Phase One is 75% off on Steam until June 25 and costs $3.74 instead of $14.99. According to SteamDB, this matches its all-time low, which was last reached in early May. On the Steam Deck, the title is rated “Playable.”

German gaming magazine 4Players tested Codename Panzers – Phase One at launch and particularly praised its gripping battles and varied campaigns. The presentation and technical side were also well received, although more than 20 years later they naturally no longer feel up to date. Criticism was aimed at the sometimes overly passive enemy AI, annoying pathfinding issues and the rather thin story. Despite these shortcomings, the title still earned a strong score of 9 out of 10. The Steam community’s verdict is similarly positive: 91% of more than 480 user reviews recommend the game. Metacritic lists Codename Panzers – Phase One with a Metascore of 81 and a User Score of 8.8.

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