One of the earliest successful examples of the real-time strategy genre is 1998’s Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines which became the best-selling Spanish-made game of all time. Numerous sequels ensued, and now German studio Kalypso Media have taken control of the series with this prequel. In Commandos: Origins, players take control of an elite squad of WWII soldiers who must stealthily infiltrate enemy maps, secure objectives and escape. It employs an isometric viewpoint which can be rotated to reveal obstructions (and obscured enemies), and it’s essential to use the environment to keep your soldiers hidden from view at all times. Specialists can lure enemies using various gadgets such as a noisy radio or a whistle, before taking them down quietly and dealing with their foe out of sight.

Just like the earlier games, Origins is very hard but not unfair. While it’s possible to see an enemy’s vision cone (albeit only one at a time), most maps position guards that oversee one another, and some guards will resolutely not leave their posts. Fortunately, copious trial and error is encouraged and players are urged to regularly save their progress before attempting anything tricky.

It’s just a shame that the quick-load function isn’t instantaneous, taking a few seconds and requiring a further click of the mouse/controller to get back into the action. That might not sound like a long time but it happens a lot. The game’s environments are nicely varied and full of detail, and the audio is wonderfully atmospheric. Origins is a really tense, challenging game and a great revival of this much-loved series.

Commandos: Origins is out now on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.