Fullname is Decisive Campaigns : Barbarossa. An innovative historical wargame developed together with Cameron Harris It covers the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941.
It blends the latest evolution of the Decisive Campaigns engine with a dynamic and semi-random decision system and rpg-like people management gameplay.
For buying DC:Barbarossa or for more information on its features and its 300 page hardback manual please visit our publishers product page over at Matrix Games.
Important Pages:
Barbarossa Modding Page
Barbarossa Manual Errata Page
Podcast:
On Three Moves Ahead, “You need to play this game”.
Interview:
On RockPaperShotgun
On Reviews:
On Softpedia 8.5 out of 10, “VR Designs has created a true gem”.
On WargamesPlayer 8 out of 10, “It’s got me hooked!”.
On Wargamer “A highlight in the progress of serious computer war gaming”.
On GameReactor.fi 9 out of 10, “One of the best games of the year”.
On GamersHall.de 88%, “Brings fresh air into the strategy genre”.
On FinalBossFight.co.uk “The AI is smart – actively encircling and withdrawing.”
On A Wargamers Needfull Things “Exciting, immersive and all round bloody marvellous wargame experience”.
Player Feedback:
If not marked otherwise the quotes are from the Matrix Forums
It has been ages since I’ve seen such a fine manual.
-Hot lead and dirty talk, Grogheads.com: Re: Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa
I have to chime in. The more I play, the more I admire its design and I have to say, I LOVE the game. I always liked the series, but this is a platinum award. From beginning to end pure pleasure.
-kosmoface, RE: Congratulations ! – 12/14/2015 10:32:23 PM
very good (soviet) AI, also out-of-the box
-Franciscus, Congratulations ! – 12/13/2015 3:00:20 PM
rarely have I bought a game that felt so polished and well-tested out of the box. I have not encountered yet any meaningful bug or weirdness.
-Franciscus, Congratulations ! – 12/13/2015 3:00:20 PM
calling it a manual just doesn’t do it justice. Man is it nice.
-budd, Grogheads.com, Re: Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa, 6 dec
The tutorial videos do cover pretty much everything for this game. A nice surprise bonus.
-JasonPratt, Grogheads.com: Re: Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa, 7 dec
Had this game for 2 days and am totally immersed with it. I’m a regular boardgamer with 75% of my gaming on the eastern front–I played them all. Very rarely do I play computer games but this one has me hooked.
-bennythejet, RE: Easily best wargame i played in years – 12/8/2015 3:09:41 AM
Easily best wargame i played in years. It’s immersive, manageable, with a lot of depth under the hood. I’ve been playing it for 3 days almost non-stop and I feel like I’m sitting inside a kubelwagen near Minsk.
-HanBarca, Easily best wargame i played in years – 12/7/2015 2:58:43 PM
A war game that’s actually fun. It’s been a very long time.
-Queeg, RE: Easily best wargame i played in years – 12/8/2015 3:17:56 AM
DC3 is great because it reduces the number of counters, and adds in the command decision tree of operational war
-Barthheart, RE: DC1/2 vs DC3 – 12/3/2015 12:19:48 PM
Loving DC3 so far. Viewed the tutorials and now I’m starting my first Campaign as Axis. Loving all the reports and role play stuff. Just assigned my Focus and Artillery cards. Now it’s time to move!
-Speedy, RE: DC1/2 vs DC3 – 12/6/2015 8:36:57 PM
Is certainly a keeper …… Go ahead and make the plunge …. you shan’t be disappointed …..
-Scout1, RE: DC1/2 vs DC3 – 12/6/2015 8:36:57 PM
The AI is good, even very good
-ChuckBerger, Thoughts after first full game – 12/6/2015 2:34:04 AM
easily one of my top 10 war games, easily.
-rs99z28, RE: Thoughts after first full game
I echo what is said. I’ve been looking for a truly immersive game, particularly Eastern Front, for quite some time. So far, this game has exceeded all expectations.
-pensfan, RE: Thoughts after first full game – 12/6/2015 10:19:03 AM
I’ve said it before, but I’ll happily say it again: this unique approach to war gaming by simulating operational command using historical personalities, relationships, events, decisions, etc, really deserves to be applied to more scenarios… it will soon be time to think about a Kickstarter to fund development of a successor game with even more great innovations
-gunnergoz, This gem of a game demands more expansions – 12/3/2015 2:51:55 PM
I had high expectations for the manual based on the screenshots; the real thing blew all that away. A must have for even casual wargame collectors.
-willgamer, Just received the physical manual… WOW! – 12/3/2015 7:09:18 PM
I did find the game challenging, with new ideas giving a fresh new look and feel on Barbarossa. If you’re a micro-manager type person like me, you may not grow fond of this game, but if you like a challenging AI and a more streamlined approach to operational tempo, I am comfortable recommending this game to you.
-Grauwolf80, Not my cup of tea, but with positives – 12/1/2015 5:41:16 PM
I am engrossed with this game that has done the best job ever, IMHO, of modelling the linkage between performance on the battlefield and the whims of superiors.
-Delaware, Unique Experience!!! – 11/28/2015 2:18:18 AM
A work of genius.
-wodin, RE: Unique Experience!!! – 11/28/2015 2:13:37 PM
This game is precisely the kind of war game that I’ve wished for for a long time. I chose “Moscow or Bust!” during the opening turn, only to be faced next turn with a decree by the Führer that focus should be directed against Leningrad and Rostov. It’s certainly interesting to not be omnipotent for a change.
-Kronolog,RE: Unique Experience!!! – 11/28/2015 3:44:59 PM
The historic mod, the RPG, the eerie background music – Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa just manages to touch me emotionally.
-Templer, Stalingrad – 11/28/2015 11:58:57 AM
I’m loving it, but then all of us DC owners knew it was going to be good game.
-WilliePete, RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/26/2015 4:26:33 PM
This is the only wargame to really grab my interest in quite some time. The other recent offerings just seem like some variation of the same old thing
-Queeg, RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/26/2015 5:11:33 PM
Simply THE best game out of many many I have bought over the last few years.
-devoncop, RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/26/2015 6:49:19 PM
Very good game. Love the decisions and role playing elements. Only problem is that I know it’s going to end in early 42 even though I’m not even two months in.
-Kumppi,RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/26/2015 8:31:19 PM
A great game and it requires you to think hard – no easy walking over the AI
-Haudrauf1962, RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/27/2015 6:57:27 PM
Very good game with a strong historical background.
-pierreoza2001, RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/27/2015 7:45:12 PM
Strong recommend so far. Well worth the money.
-Raskal67, RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/27/2015 7:53:49 PM
Bought it. Instant classic. Genious on board. Hooked. Gaming like living in the OKH in 1941. Will buy any new game, whatever the price.
-Surface, RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/27/2015 8:41:56 PM
This is an epic game. I have bought and played all of VR’s games (except the first DC game) and really like the play mechanics.
-demjansk, RE: So who’s happy with their purchase? – 11/28/2015 11:00:04 AM
Three hours later… Forgot my tea. Forgot to take any pain meds. Forgot to let our dogs in
-michaelspotts,It’s Really Got Me Going… – 11/26/2015 9:17:21 AM
Thanks so much Vic and Cameron. Thanks so very, very much for this work of art of a wargame masterpiece that has years and years of your sacrifice and labors of love behind it. I honestly have been quite down of late and you’ve given me that kid at Christmas wargamer’s buzz like I haven’t felt in years.
-michaelspotts,It’s Really Got Me Going… – 11/26/2015 9:17:21 AM
This game is awesome! I created a forum account just to make this statement.
-Iceking, This game is awesome – 11/25/2015 4:27:26 PM
This game is amazing with the decision tree, and finally a WW2 east front game with ethical choices. I am very impressed.
-NotOneStepBack, RE: This game is awesome – 11/25/2015 5:16:43 PM
I expected it to be good, but…WOW. What VR Designs has done here is simply amazing.
-demiller, RE: masterpiece – 11/25/2015 3:38:56 AM
The operational layer and interactions are a real breath of fresh air to the genre.
-MechFO, RE: masterpiece – 11/25/2015 11:59:08 AM
The command decisions layer and RPG-like elements of this game are fantastic. This is the direction I have always wanted to see computer wargames head into.
-mekjak, RE: masterpiece – 11/25/2015 3:39:03 PM
The game cannot be recommended enough. One word…..Immersion.
-dvoncop, RE: masterpiece – 11/25/2015 4:26:56 PM
I have watched two tutorials and I do have DC2 South. This is what should be included in every game produced.
-demjansk, Tutorials – NICE – 11/25/2015 4:07:33 PM
Really like the succinctness of the videos…
-bushybonbon, Chirpy tutorial videos – 11/24/2015 6:03:36 PM
Excellent tutorials!
-elmo3, RE: Chirpy tutorial videos – 11/24/2015 7:58:24 PM
The Manual is a first class quality publication.
-riflebrigade, RE: Physical manual – 12/1/2015 10:22:06 PM
My DC3 manual arrived. What a beautiful book!
-Webizen, RE: Physical manual – 12/3/2015 10:46:58 PM
I received mine today. It greatly exceeded my expectations. The manual and physical copy disc was money well spent.
-stormbringer3, RE: Physical manual – 12/5/2015 1:43:50 AM
Got my physical manual and dvd today. First-class quality and great product. Also, a pretty darn good game to top things off.
-curious, RE: Physical manual – 12/5/2015 2:27:45 AM
Previews:
On Grogheads.
On RockPaperShotgun.
On Wargamer.fr.
On SugarFreeGamer.com.
Trailer:
Screenshots:
For me, the most difficult part of this game, Barabarossa, by far is handling the fatigue and judging when to rest divisions, panzer groups, ect. Also when to take armies out of Blitzkrieg mode. Inevitably my troops end up too pooped to do much. Advice or suggestions welcome.
Great game, but I prefer the old style air unit over the new more abstract version.
Imho more was lost in this move than was gained.
I’m an old school air power enthusiast and like more tangible units and direct control.
Keep up the good work – DC4 is an instabuy.
Good game, but I prefer DC CB. Have more direct control, use of air power and better overall feel.
While only playing a few times up to about end July, I got the 2nd Army bug (cost me lots of PP) even tho having the 1.05 update. Also, some decisions are tedious. And the fuel thing seems more of a gimmick then anything. My Pz Divs have barely moved….
Will give it one more chance, then back to DC CB, WITE or WITP.
R
Hi
Thanks for a great game.
I have problem with replacements though, it seems I never get them to the troops. I can see the request but when I examine if any units got anything its akways zero…. is there a special way to get replacemet to the units or do I something wrong?
Cheerrs
Hi Mike,
Not sure which turn you are at or which side your playing, but the Germans get a replacement wave every 10 round and the Soviet (due to their priority to raise new units) never get replacements (even if their units would really really like to get them).
Best wishes,
Vic
Hi Vic
Thanks for your answer. I was playing german side and as you said replacements show up every 10 rounds, my mistake.
Cheers
Hi
I tried to add some pictures on units in the editor and saved them but they dont show up in the game, the old ones are still there but it looks ok in the editor. Im I doing something wrong or?
Cheers
I am trying to download “MODPLUS2barbarossa.dc3” that has the enhanced graphics for units by Sotomonte.
I don’t see the download info.