Advance Wars
88PurrfectSadkitty Score
91KitSuperintelligent review
—CriticsOnly 1 so far
83Players140 ratings
Just because this battle fits in the palm of your hand doesn't mean the stakes are small. On the contrary, this all-or-nothing fight will have you accessing guns, grenades, launchers, and weaponry of all sorts. Players assume command of an army that's out to reclaim a world that's been broken up by warring factions. The battle map is essentially a grid, and moving units is like moving chess pieces on a board -- each of the units can move a specific amount of spaces within this grid, and can only attack at a…
Kit's verdict · 9.1/10
The best handheld strategy game ever made.Kit · Sadkitty Games
Loved
- Perfect rules and pacing
- Commanders give each army personality
- Map editor adds endless play
Not so much
- Some late campaign missions are unfair
- Fog of war can be frustrating
Play it if anyone who loves strategy, puzzles or chess.
Skip it if players who hate slow, turn-based combat.
Cheats & codes
No cheat codes
Advance Wars doesn't have cheat codes. The tips and secrets below are the next best thing.
Tips
Play it better
- Capture cities and bases early; income wins wars.
- Infantry are cheap and essential for captures and blocking.
- Use terrain; forests and mountains give defense bonuses.
- Save your CO Power for big pushes or desperate defense.
- Use APCs to supply units deep in enemy territory.
- Don't leave artillery unprotected; it's fragile up close.
Secrets & unlockables
Hidden in plain sight
Tap a secret to reveal it.
Did you know?
Trivia
- Its Japanese release was delayed after the September 11 attacks.
- It was released in Japan in 2004 bundled with its sequel.
- It's part of the long-running Japanese Famicom Wars series.
- A remake, Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp, came out on Switch in 2023.
Member reviews
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