In the Close Combat series, the player takes control of a small unit (platoon or company sized) of troops and leads them in battles of World War II from a top down 2D perspective.

The five original Close Combat games were real-time computer wargames, with a top-down perspective and two-player capabilities.

Although viewed from a top-down perspective, the later games modelled terrain elevation, and included buildings with multiple floors and viewable sides.

The overall tone emphasised realism, and modelled the emotional or physical state of the soldiers and equipment which included, panicked, berserk, burning, incapacitated, pinned and many others.

Effective management, such as keeping teams near their officers, not sending green recruits on assaults and maintaining fire discipline so as not to run out of ammunition were also necessary for the player to prevail.

Infantry assault require support from machine guns, tanks, and mortars, to suppress enemy fire.

[2] In the United States, Close Combat III sold 45,438 copies during 1999,[3] and was the year's best-selling wargame.