Deal | Band of Brothers as an RTS: Cinematic strategy classic for under $4 on Steam

In Company of Heroes, players take command of Allied troops during the invasion of Normandy. Locations such as Omaha Beach, Carentan and Cherbourg serve as backdrops for tactical battles involving infantry, paratroopers, tanks and artillery. While base building is included, the focus is clearly on positioning, cover and control of strategic sectors. The Opposing Fronts expansion adds two campaigns: a British campaign centered on the liberation of Caen and a German campaign from the perspective of the Panzer Elite. Both factions are also playable in multiplayer. Tales of Valor further expands the package with three short single-player episodes, new multiplayer modes, additional maps and bonus units.

Gameplay revolves around intense battles on destructible battlefields. Houses can collapse, cover can be blown apart and entire streets can come under artillery fire. Resources are not generated automatically, but earned by holding key sectors of the map. This creates a dynamic flow of attacks, counterattacks and organically shifting frontlines. At the same time, units gain experience, achieve veteran status and become increasingly valuable over time.

When it launched in September 2006, the strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment was praised above all for its cinematic presentation. German gaming magazine PC Games repeatedly compared it to HBO’s Band of Brothers and highlighted its believable story, impressive graphics and excellent sound design. Criticism focused on the somewhat short 15-mission campaign and the limited number of multiplayer factions – weaknesses later addressed by the expansions. The editorial team ultimately awarded the game a score of 9 out of 10.

On Metacritic, the strategy game holds a Metascore of 93 and a User Score of 8.5. The Steam community’s verdict is even more impressive: 94% of more than 18,300 user reviews are positive. On the Steam Deck, the title is classified as “Playable.” However, the controls are clearly designed for mouse and keyboard, which can make gameplay somewhat fiddly on the handheld.

80% discount on Steam

On Steam, Company of Heroes normally costs around $20. An 80% discount lowers the price to $3.99 until May 31. According to SteamDB, the current deal matches the lowest recorded price, which was last seen at the beginning of April. The Complete Pack, which includes all released DLCs, is also discounted by 80% and currently costs $7.39.

Player numbers remain solid, especially considering the game’s age. In the last 24 hours, 1,678 users were online at the same time. For RTS fans who have not yet played Company of Heroes, now could be a good opportunity to jump in – both for the multiplayer and the excellent campaigns.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.