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WWI Tank Games

World War One was the point at which tanks were introduced to modern warfare, and the effectiveness of these armored units was a cause of fear and wonderment for many people across the globe. The First World War has provided the context for a multitude of games over the past several decades, many of which focus on either aerial combat or tank combat. Some of these tank-based games are still popular in many circles.

History of Tank Board Games
- Games focused on tank warfare did not become truly popular until after the Second World War, when tank production had become well established. Board games were released that combined historical accuracies (in the form of statistics and model information) with strategy gameplay in a World War Two setting. Eventually, the Second World War became an exhausted genre, and the creators of the board games turned to the First World War for new scenarios.
Tank Board Games
- There have been several Tank board games that focus on the First World War. "Maneuver" was a simple tank-based strategy game that was released in the 1970s (with subsequent re-releases through the 90s), and consisted of simple movement-based gameplay in a one-on-one match. A player would have to move his tanks into his enemy's territory, and each piece was capable of moving, turning, or shooting. The game had only a few, simple rules, and was largely dependent on creative strategy and deception.
  
  Though the First World War eventually became a more popular subject for strategy based games, World War II holds the majority share of tank-based games. For example, "Tank Battle" was a hallmark for tank-based strategy, though it was based on the Second World War. It was released in 1975, and was more complex than "Maneuver," utilizing features such as ammunition, fuel, and artillery support.
History of Tank Video Games
- In the 1980s, mainstream tank games began to appear. "Battlezone" -- one of the most popular tank games of the '80s -- was released and captured the imagination of young gamers with wireframe 3D environments. With the rise of PC gaming, Real Time Strategy (RTS) games became very popular, with a focus on 20th century warfare.
WW1 Tank Video Games
- The most popular video games that include tank warfare have used WWII as a primary scenario. The popular "Blitzkrieg" games -- turn-based strategy games that take place in the Second World War -- also include WWI scenarios as extra content. "1914: The Great War" is a strategy game released on PC in the 2002 that is not focused on tank warfare specifically, but includes tanks as deployable units. There are a multitude of popular WWI Flash games, the most popular of which is "Warfare 1917," which focuses on trench combat and employs tanks as an advanced weapon.

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