Matrix Games

Forge of Freedom: The American Civil War 1861-1865 combines grand strategy with battlefield tactics in one game, putting you in command at every level of the Civil War, from the mobilization of your nation’s resources to the control of individual brigades during the fury of battle.  Relive the days of America’s greatest struggle: a time of blood, smoke, and glory.

Forge of Freedom is packed with historical detail.  Control the careers of more than 1,000 generals – every general of the Civil War era.  Equip your units with one of more than 50 types of period firearms and artillery.  Field armies containing the Iron Brigade, the Orphan Brigade or 100 other legendary units.  Choose your units’ standards from a collection of over 700 authentic flags.  Allocate resources toward research in order to gain improved technology and logistical support in five different areas of research.  Engage in diplomacy with European powers and in domestic politics with historically accurate state governors.  Command your navy to hunt blockade runners, blockade ports, launch amphibious assaults, and bombard forts. Customize your brigades by adding personnel and equipment: train sharpshooters and Zouaves, equip reconnaissance balloons and horse artillery, deploy raiders and scouts, manage engineers and signal corps, and much more! 

Forge of Freedom allows you to customize the game rules: play with just the amount of complexity that you enjoy.  The turn-based game structure allows you to play at your own pace.  Battles can be resolved quickly or fought on a detailed battle map using a comprehensive system that models fatigue, morale, supply, facing, formation, time of day, reinforcements, command-and-control, weather, and even battlefield smoke. 

Forge of Freedom is a unique game combining strategy and tactics in one design to offer you the chance to grab the reins of history.

Check out this great introductory video on Forge of Freedom to see how much this game has to offer:

• Over 700 authentic flags to customize unit standards
• Over 1,000 historical generals at your command.
• Control the Iron Brigade, the Orphan Brigade or 100 other legendary units
• 50 types of period firearms and artillery
• Train sharpshooters, equip reconnaissance balloons and host of other personal and equipment to customize your brigades.
• Chose between detailed and quick combat to resolve battles.
• Challenging AI
• Customizable complexity

Bovine Conspiracy Review
Everything said; Forge of Freedom is the best Civil War game I have ever played. It perfectly matches a strong strategic game with compelling tactical battles. It simultaneously gives the player depth and options to reduce that depth if desired. Mix in the strong AI and I may have my wargame GOTY.

GamersHall review of Forge of Freedom (auf Deutsch)
Translated: "This game has kept me attached to my computer since Christmas. In contrast to its predecessors all the right improvements were put in place to improve the flow of the game and provide greater flexibility for the player. Also the historical accuracy and play depth are as remarkable as expected from Matrix Games!"

Armchair General (September 2007 issue)
Forge of Freedom re-creates in abundant detail the strategic challenges the Union and the Confederacy faced, including the issues of weapons development, economic management, state politics and elections, and the possibility of international intervention. With so many factors to consider, players’ management skills are thoroughly tested. However, Civil War buffs in particular will appreciate the comprehensiveness of this strategy game of the War Between the States.

Gamer's Info Review
Forge of Freedom appears to do a tremendous job of appeasing the history buff while also providing an opportunity for the rest of us to learn a bit. However, the game never obsesses over detail and emphasizes playability and customization of game experience to suit each person's desire for realism.