The last really good World War I video game I played, I believe, was Battlefield 1 way back in 2016.
Making a video game set in the Great War requires a finesse that too many studios lack. The interesting thing about WW1 games is that they are working with technology from a literal century ago. This is limiting in terms of design potential, but it also makes a really good WW1 game feel incredibly cohesive. The devs must stick to design aesthetics that feel true to a specific era in history; any deviation from that breaks the illusion.
There are also certain aesthetics one expects from the setting, such as tons of fog, trenches, and windmills.
So I have a lot of hope for Beyond the Wire, a first-person shooter set in World War I and featuring massive 50-vs.-50-player battles (as well as fog, trenches, and windmills). According to a recent press release:
Beyond the Wire is a large-scale multiplayer first-person shooter immersing players in the frantic and bloody Western Front of the Great War. In battles with up to 100 real-world combatants, players will have to contend with large open maps and tight claustrophobic trenches. Utilizing both period-appropriate guns and a more tactical close-quarters melee combat system, the action in Beyond the Wire is more comprehensive than anything seen in a WW1 game to date.
This all sounds fantastic. If developer Redstone Interactive has the chops to pull off exactly what’s stated in this paragraph, then they might really have a stew cooking here.
If you want to test it out for yourself, Beyond the Wire is currently in Early Access, with a full release planned for later this year. You can head over to Steam right now and pick up a copy (and, at the time of this writing, it’s on sale for 50% off).
Honestly, I’m really hopeful that this game can scratch that very specific WW1-combat itch. I’ve been hoping for something like this for several years now, and all signs seem to be pointing toward something truly special.
I guess we’ll find out soon!
In the meantime, you can check out the Early Access trailer for Beyond the Wire below.
