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Company of Heroes

Company of Heroes Game Cover
95%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
stability, grinding
95% User Score Based on 7,749 reviews
Critic Score 98%Based on 2 reviews

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About

Company of Heroes is a single player and multiplayer tactical real-time strategy game with warfare, historical and violence themes. It was developed by Relic Entertainment and was released on September 11, 2006. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Company of Heroes: Gold Edition includes: Company of Heroes and the expansion Company of Heroes - Opposing Fronts

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Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
Company of Heroes screenshot
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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 7,749 reviews
gameplay241 positive mentions
stability30 negative mentions
  • Innovative and deep tactical gameplay with squad-based combat, cover system, and destructible environments that emphasize strategic positioning and battlefield control.
  • Engaging and historically grounded single-player campaign with varied missions and compelling storytelling, praised for its immersive audio design and atmospheric presentation.
  • Strong replayability through multiple factions, expansions, active modding community, and still-active multiplayer offering intense and competitive matches.
  • Dated graphics and technical issues including occasional bugs, crashes, and pathfinding problems, especially with vehicle movement and unit responsiveness.
  • Steep learning curve and complex micro-management can be overwhelming; certain missions feel punishing or overly scripted, and balance issues occasionally impact gameplay.
  • Toxic and unwelcoming multiplayer community with cheating problems, matchmaking imbalances, and lack of robust reporting/punishment systems for disruptive behavior.
  • gameplay
    615 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Company of Heroes delivers engaging, tactical real-time strategy gameplay centered on squad-based combat, territorial control, and innovative mechanics like cover and destructible environments. Its gameplay is praised for depth, balance, historical authenticity, and high replayability, with a satisfying learning curve suitable for both newcomers and veterans. While some note occasional bugs and aging technology, the gameplay remains a genre-defining, highly influential classic with well-designed campaigns and competitive multiplayer.

    • “Company of Heroes is a groundbreaking real-time strategy game that revolutionized the genre with its intense tactical gameplay, immersive World War II setting, and innovative mechanics that emphasize strategic positioning, cover, and resource management.”
    • “The gameplay shines in its dynamic combat system, where cover and line of sight are crucial, and every decision can tip the balance between victory and defeat.”
    • “This game marked my childhood; I love its story, graphics, and gameplay. It really is very good and recommended if you like strategy games.”
    • “Additionally your screen will freeze in place mid-gameplay and then your mouse and keyboard will become unresponsive to the game, forcing you to restart the game anyway.”
    • “The mechanics are very badly designed.”
    • “You have no opportunity to actually learn how the resource or base building mechanics work because of this endless onslaught of troops that will tear through all of your stuff; if you try to move out to capture resource points and maybe preempt the attacks on your base you just get attacked immediately from the other side, the sheer volume of enemies makes the previous mission, a dedicated wave defense mission, look like a joke.”
  • story
    510 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Company of Heroes is widely praised for its engaging and historically grounded campaigns that depict various WWII fronts with cinematic voice acting and immersive missions. While the narrative is sometimes seen as simplistic or less emotional, the variety and tactical depth in missions keep players invested, creating a memorable experience despite occasional difficulty spikes and some technical issues. Overall, the storytelling effectively supports the gameplay, delivering a compelling wartime atmosphere that remains influential in the RTS genre.

    • “Company of Heroes proves that RTS games can have cinematic storytelling and deep, meaningful choices.”
    • “Even years after its release, the game holds up incredibly well thanks to its brilliant design, deep strategy, and most importantly, its powerful storytelling.”
    • “The story is supported by impressive voice acting, detailed cutscenes, and authentic sound design, which together create an immersive and cinematic war experience.”
    • “The generic “brothers in arms” campaign story is embarrassingly amateurish.”
    • “In the campaign the game follows a squad of soldiers but instead of telling a story or making an attempt to make them feel relatable, all that happens before each mission is a small cutscene of guys talking about some random things, nothing of relevance to anything.”
    • “The story is typical stereotype reference to the different sides in the war: Americans like heroes, Germans like yelling children and so on, but still 9-10 score for me.”
  • graphics
    455 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Company of Heroes features graphics that were groundbreaking at its 2006 release, with detailed unit models, destructible environments, and realistic physics that still hold up well today despite aging, especially in-game visuals compared to dated cutscenes. While not up to modern standards, the game's gritty, immersive art style and distinctive WWII aesthetic continue to impress and contribute strongly to its atmosphere. Players generally appreciate the graphics as functional, atmospheric, and even beautiful for its era, though some minor technical and optimization issues exist on high settings.

    • “For a 2006 game, Company of Heroes still looks amazing thanks to Relic’s Essence engine, which delivers cinematic visuals and realistic physics.”
    • “The graphics were mind-blowing for the time — buildings actually crumble realistically and your units take cover like they've got actual survival instincts.”
    • “One of the standout features of Company of Heroes is its stunning graphics and immersive sound design, which creates a convincing and atmospheric depiction of war-torn Europe.”
    • “❌ Older engine graphics, but atmosphere is divine.”
    • “❌ Aging graphics and UI – while the game was visually impressive at release, its graphics and user interface feel somewhat outdated compared to modern RTS titles.”
    • “The only real limitation is the graphics, but obviously this game is 20 years old now so it will be outdated in this respect.”
  • music
    82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its powerful, orchestral, and immersive soundtrack that effectively heightens the tension and atmosphere of battles, often described as memorable and well-timed. Coupled with authentic sound effects and strong voice acting, the audio design significantly enhances the overall gameplay experience, though some find the soundtrack somewhat generic or repetitive compared to other RTS titles. Overall, the soundtrack remains one of the standout features, contributing greatly to the game's lasting appeal.

    • “This title has one of the best soundtracks among modern strategy games, matching the intensity of its gameplay and improving the atmosphere of each part of the game.”
    • “The soundtrack deserves special mention: epic, well-orchestrated, and always perfectly timed to heighten the tension and weight of each battle.”
    • “The audio design is equally noteworthy, with authentic weapon sounds, battlefield chatter, and a stirring musical score that underscores the tension and drama of combat.”
    • “Music is generic and repetitive; every faction in the campaign almost feels the same except for some different units, and this whole "band of brothers" theme just isn't for me.”
    • “The music is the lowest point; it's alright but nothing groundbreaking.”
    • “My main complaint is the vibe, including music and cutscenes.”
  • replayability
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts outstanding replayability, driven by diverse strategies, multiple campaigns, and a robust multiplayer mode that remains active and competitive. Mod support and mission variety further enhance longevity, making it enjoyable to replay multiple times with different approaches. Overall, it is considered a timeless RTS with virtually infinite replay value.

    • “This mechanic adds significant replayability, allowing players to use different strategies and specialized approaches in combat.”
    • “The multiple single-player campaigns offer hours of entertainment each, have decent replayability with the various tactics and strategies you can take in each mission, and do an amazing job of drawing you into their individual stories.”
    • “When you download mods, such as Europe at War, Modern Warfare, or Blitzkrieg mod, it expands the game into so many other possibilities it makes it almost infinitely replayable.”
    • “Limited replayability, no major differences (same game, different day).”
    • “Not much replay value past the first couple hours.”
    • “But since all of that is now ancient history, just do yourself a favor and get Company of Heroes... its a hell of a fun campaign and the multiplayer/skirmishes provide a lot of replay value, even if there aren't a whole lot of players in multiplayer anymore... as you can play vs. bots if need be.”
  • atmosphere
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Company of Heroes is widely praised for its unparalleled and immersive World War II atmosphere, achieved through exceptional sound design, authentic audio effects, dynamic visuals, and a cinematic soundtrack that powerfully conveys the intensity and chaos of battle. The game's realistic unit interactions, destructible environments, and emotionally impactful narrative further deepen the immersion, making its atmosphere a standout feature that still holds up remarkably well years after release. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a pinnacle achievement in RTS gaming, often regarded as superior to its sequel and peers.

    • “This title has one of the best soundtracks among modern strategy games, matching the intensity of its gameplay and improving the atmosphere of each part of the game.”
    • “The audio design is equally compelling, featuring authentic sound effects, an atmospheric soundtrack, and voice acting that adds personality to units and urgency to the combat.”
    • “The atmosphere and the immersion this brings to the table is unsurpassed; the cries of your dead soldiers will affect you, you will shout with them as they scream at the top of their lungs when, against all odds, a few lonely infantrymen manage to blow up a tank.”
    • “Older engine graphics detract from the experience despite the otherwise divine atmosphere.”
    • “The online multiplayer is in a very poor state today, which undermines the strong atmosphere and solid core mechanics.”
    • “Sometimes it can get a little overwhelming nowadays, especially for older players returning to the genre, affecting the game's atmospheric appeal.”
  • humor
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's humor is praised for its hilarious and varied voice lines, including hidden and situational dialogue that injects personality and levity into intense WWII battles. Players enjoy the comedic banter, quirky unit reactions, and amusing glitches that add charm without undermining the realistic war simulation. While some repetitive speech and certain gameplay quirks may wear thin, the blend of humor and serious strategy creates an engaging and entertaining experience.

    • “The voice acting is just simply colossal; no game can make you feel like you're in war and not only that, along with various lines for multiple situations, they are also funny hidden voice lines when you keep clicking your units.”
    • “Voice lines of characters are so numerous and entertaining you'll catch yourself laughing at something a rank-and-file soldier says that you've never heard before hundreds of hours in.”
    • “Not only is this useful for practical and gameplay reasons, but it also gives units with tons of personality which you wouldn't expect from an RTS game, it can be a bit silly and over the top in places but I like it, it gives the game a good sense of humor (seriously, some of the British lines are hilarious).”
  • optimization
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game generally runs well on older or low-end systems, often maintaining smooth performance even on modest hardware, but it suffers from poor optimization on modern, high-end PCs, including stuttering, crashes, and performance drops especially at higher resolutions. Despite solid gameplay and visuals, many users report frustrating performance issues and bugs that seem to stem from a lack of updates or remastering for current hardware. Overall, while the game performs admirably on weaker machines, its optimization for newer systems is problematic and detracts from the experience.

    • “It's fun and easy to run on low-end laptops or PCs with Intel HD graphics, and it runs smoothly at 720p.”
    • “The gameplay is solid, performance is great, and the graphics hold up well against today's standards.”
    • “Perfectly optimized, 60 FPS+ in-game.”
    • “This game used to be my favorite RTS of all time. They made it right the first time; it is way better than COH2 and definitely better than COH3 in my opinion. It would still be up there only if I could play it, but for some reason I can only play it once after install, and after that, it just won't start again, which is frustrating. I guess this game is poorly optimized for newer computers. It seems the devs have forgotten about it, and that is a big shame because this is a great game if it were to work.”
    • “The UI feels clunky, and performance on modern hardware is surprisingly bad—cutscenes stutter at 10-15 fps, and general gameplay isn’t as smooth as it should be.”
    • “10/10 imo, however this game and the second one have huge optimization problems and some annoying bugs that will probably never be fixed.”
  • stability
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game generally holds up well in terms of stability, running smoothly on modern machines, but is plagued by frequent bugs, glitches, and occasional crashes, especially in older campaigns and saving systems. Issues like buggy AI behavior, pathfinding problems, freezing during saves, and graphical glitches persist, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these technical drawbacks, many users still find the gameplay enjoyable when it functions properly.

    • “Runs great on any modern machine, easy to mod, and also comes with access to the many fun mini campaigns.”
    • “It still looks and runs great.”
    • “Mostly bug free and seems to hold up over the years.”
    • “It freezes when one attempts to issue a save command.”
    • “So i bought this game expecting amazing game play... i was wrong, you have to buy 2 different versions of the game to even unlock all the campaign, and 6 hours into playing this, my screen completely bugs out, the men stop showing, and whenever you zoom in or out your game goes absolutely buggy. Out of all this is a 4/10.”
    • “The game is nice to play, the missions are awesome, but why does it cause problems? It just freezes up the screen and does not work. It is totally useless; I like playing it but it just didn't work properly.”
  • grinding
    28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users generally find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, often feeling more like work than fun. While some missions offer a sense of accomplishment through combat, prolonged resource farming and repetitive tasks can detract from the overall experience. However, the game's focus on actual gameplay rather than excessive grinding is appreciated by some.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding (goodbye social life!).”
    • “I find it often boring and tedious, it feels more like work than playing.”
    • “Focus on the actual gameplay, the combat instead of half an hour of farming some obscure resources where you watch numbers go up for 30 minutes and then build the bigger army of zerglings to then run down your enemy with the 200 unit spam of single type armies until the blob of biomass is strong enough to kill the enemy's base.”
  • monetization
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users consistently praise the absence of microtransactions in the game, appreciating its fair monetization model with only two DLCs and no pay-to-win elements. In contrast, they express strong frustration with later series entries and similar titles that rely heavily on aggressive microtransactions and cash grabs. Overall, the game is valued for delivering a complete, balanced experience without intrusive monetization.

    • “Also, there are only two DLCs and no microtransactions.”
    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “Back playing the Steam CoH version and still amazing: the game still looks great, the maps are interesting, tanks have real impact, no microtransactions and no annoying HQ rebuilding.”
    • “I did not like quite a few of the changes made in COH2 as it seemed like Relic made decisions based on Sega's greedy monetization practices it enforces on developers under them (THQ prior to going under before they resurfaced years later was originally the one who handled COH, Sega took control afterwards).”
    • “The game was turned into a cash grab DLC simulator when it was released because the deadly alliance between amateur developers who had learnt how to be greedy from COH Online experience and Sega, known to spam DLC one after another (Total War titles), was putting the game to its grave.”
    • “I have a feeling COH3 will be ruined by dumb decisions and microtransactions like COH2 was.”
  • emotional
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game delivers a well-crafted, historically grounded campaign that emotionally engages players by highlighting the brutality and sacrifices of war, fostering strong connections with soldiers and their stories. While not universally cinematic, its narrative and tactical depth evoke genuine emotional responses, making it memorable and impactful in the RTS genre.

    • “The single-player campaign is well-crafted, offering a compelling narrative that is both emotional and historically grounded.”
    • “✔️ A D-Day-inspired campaign with emotionally engaging missions.”
    • “One awesome game I've played many times, probably one of the first strategy games on WWII that shows the brutality of war. The first time you play it, it hits you emotionally and shows you what people sacrificed in that war (on both sides) as well as showing the war from a German perspective too.”
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98%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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51h Median play time
239h Average play time
19h Main story
82h Completionist
30-190h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Company of Heroes is a tactical real-time strategy game with warfare, historical and violence themes.

Company of Heroes is available on PC, Phone, iPad, iPhone and others.

The main story can be completed in around 19 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 82 hours to finish. On average players spend around 239 hours playing Company of Heroes.

Company of Heroes was released on September 11, 2006.

Company of Heroes was developed by Relic Entertainment.

Company of Heroes has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players and overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Company of Heroes is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Company of Heroes 2, Men of War, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, Sudden Strike 4, Men of War: Assault Squad and others.