The Company of Heroes franchise is a series of World War II real-time strategy video games released exclusively on the PC since 2006. There are a total of eight titles including main releases, expansion packs, and major downloadable content packs. All of them have been well received by both real-time strategy fans and critics alike.

The games offer multiple gameplay modes and options, including single-player campaigns, competitive multiplayer games, and community created maps. The single-player campaigns cover a wide range of battles and operations from both the Western Front and Eastern Front of the European Theater. Playable nations include different armies from the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Germany. To date, there hasn’t been a Company of Heroes game or expansion that includes and battles or forces from the Pacific Theater.

Here’s what you need to know about the games in this series.

Company of Heroes

Release Date: Sept. 12, 2006Genre: Real-Time StrategyTheme: World War IIGame Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

  • Amazing visuals.

  • Well-designed tactical and strategic content.

  • Step-by-step tutorial.

  • Default difficulty setting is challenging.

  • Gory scenes and strong language.

  • Difficult to keep track of everything going on.

The first Company of Heroes game released in 2006 and includes both a single-player campaign and competitive multiplayer game modes. The single-player campaign puts players in control of American forces as they battle through the D-Day landings in June 1944 and ends with the Battle of the Falaise Pocket in August 1944. The multiplayer portion includes two playable factions, the United States and Germany. They are then divided into different companies or doctrines, respectively, each with a unique set of units and special abilities.

Gameplay for both the single-player and multiplayer modes is basically the same; each map is divided into different resource areas with players needing to gain control of each area in order to collect the different kinds of resources required to build new units. The three resources include fuel, manpower, and munitions. Each is used to not only build units but also for various upgrades to units and buildings.

Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts

Release Date: Sept. 24, 2007Genre: Real-Time StrategyTheme: World War IIGame Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

  • Expansion pack includes two new campaigns and two new fronts.

  • Excels in multiplayer mode.

  • Doesn’t require the original Company of Heroes game.

  • Single-player mode is not as polished as multiplayer mode.

  • Weak plot line.

Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts is the first expansion pack for the original Company of Heroes game. It’s a stand-alone expansion, which means it doesn’t require the base game to play, but it also doesn’t include any of the factions or campaigns found in the base game. Opposing Fronts adds two new single-player campaigns: a British campaign and a German campaign. They feature a total of 17 missions, with the British campaign covering Liberation of Caen by British and Canadian forces and the German campaign covering the German defense and pushback during Operation Market Garden.

The expansion pack adds two new factions, the British 2nd Army and German Panzer Elite, each with three distinct doctrines or areas of expertise. Another new feature is a system for dynamic and real-time weather effects during gameplay. It’s also fully compatible in multiplayer play with players of both Company of Heroes and Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts.

Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor

Release Date: Apr. 9, 2009Genre: Real-Time StrategyTheme: World War IIGame Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

  • Gameplay is as impressive as the original game.

  • Fun multiplayer modes.

  • Novice-friendly intro to Company of Heroes.

  • Solo campaigns are over in a couple of hours.

  • No new factions or campaigns.

Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor is the second and final expansion pack released for Company of Heroes. Like its predecessor, it’s a stand-alone expansion that doesn’t require players to own or have the original game installed. It doesn’t include any new factions but does introduce new units for each faction, three new single-player episodes, additional maps, and new multiplayer game modes. Those new multiplayer game modes include Assault, which is a battle arena mode similar to Dota 2; Stonewall, where up to four players must defend a small town against wave after wave of enemies; and Panzerkrieg, which is another battle arena type mode with tanks.

Company of Heroes Online

Release Date: April 2010Genre: MMO RTSTheme: World War IIGame Modes: Multiplayer

  • Free-to-play version.

  • Offers customization, Hero units, and a way to add to armies.

  • In-app purchases needed to unlock some features.

  • Game is no longer available.

Company of Heroes Online was a free massively multiplayer online RTS game that released into open beta in South Korea before it was cancelled in March 2011. The game had no compatibility with the original Company of Heroes multiplayer modes, but it did have the same familiar gameplay. However, one big difference is that units, factions, and hero units needed to be unlocked or purchased through microtransactions.

Company of Heroes 2

Release Date: Jun. 25, 2013Genre: Real-Time StrategyTheme: World War IIGame Modes: Single-player, multiplayer

  • Visuals are outstanding.

  • Fast-paced gameplay with intense action.

  • Many improvements for multiplayer mode.

  • High learning curve for newbies to the franchise.

  • Menus are confusing.

Company of Heroes 2 was released in 2013 after Sega acquired developer Relic Entertainment. It focuses on the Eastern Front and includes major conflicts/battles such as Operation Barbarossa, Battle of Stalingrad, and the Battle of Berlin. The base game features two factions: the Soviet Red Army and the German Army. The story-based campaign includes 18 missions total, some of which can be played cooperatively. The game’s resource-gathering element is revised a little so now every territory produces some fuel and munitions, with a select few producing more fuel or more munitions.

The game received some backlash from Russian critics and gamers upon release for what they claimed was the brutal portrayal of the Red Army and historical inaccuracies.

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies DLC

Release Date: Jun. 24, 2014Genre: Real-Time StrategyTheme: World War IIGame Modes: Multiplayer

  • Lots of entertaining and dramatic battles.

  • Maps and factions focused on multiplaying mode.

  • Good entry point for people new to the franchise.

  • No new campaign in this expansion unit.

  • Some features require in-app purchases.

  • Lacks additional story elements.

Company of Heroes 2: The Western Front Armies was the first major DLC released for Company of Heroes 2. It introduces two new factions, U.S. Forces and German forces (known as Oberkommando West). Each has their own unique units, commanders, and abilities. This DLC only contains a multiplayer component, and much like the expansion packs for Company of Heroes, it’s a stand-alone game. Factions in The Western Front Armies can take part in multiplayer games with factions controlled by players who only own Company of Heroes 2.

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault DLC

Release Date: Nov. 18. 2014Genre: Real-Time StrategyTheme: World War IIGame Modes: Single-player

  • Great combination of personal, tactical, and strategic aspects of war.

  • Focus is on the single-player mode.

  • Nothing for the multiplayer mode.

  • Basic controls are confusing.

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault is the second DLC released for Company of Heroes 2 and is the single-player component of The Western Front Armies DLCs. It features the same two factions introduced in that content. The story takes place during the Battle of the Bulge from December 1944 to January 1945 and features 18 new non-linear and historical-based missions.

The U.S. Forces in the single-player campaign of Ardennes Assault are unique and not available in any multiplayer mode.

Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces DLC

Date: Sept. 3, 2015Genre: Real-Time StrategyTheme: World War IIGame Modes: Multiplayer

  • British forces are a fun addition to the game.

  • Excellent sound effects and voice acting.

  • New maps look a little drab.

  • Difficult to win in one-on-one battles.

Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces DLC is a standalone multiplayer expansion featuring a new British forces faction complete with its own technology tree, units, commanders, and special abilities. Like the previous multiplayer expansions, new players have access to all of the existing Company of Heroes 2 multiplayer maps and can battle against factions from Company of Heroes 2 and The Western Front Armies.

The expansion adds eight new multiplayer maps, 15 new units, and six commanders. It also introduces an upgrade to Company of Heroes 2 and all other expansions that tweaks game balance as well as graphics and animation.

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