Play Decisive Battles of the American Civil War, Vol. 2 Online

Game Overview

Ever wanted to rewrite history from your keyboard? Decisive Battles of the American Civil War, Vol. 2 is one of those old MS-DOS war games that somehow still holds up—if you can get past the pixelated battlefields and text-heavy menus. At first glance, it looks like just another dry strategy sim, but give it a few turns and you’ll notice the little things: how terrain actually matters, how cavalry charges feel risky but satisfying, and how supply lines can make or break your entire campaign.

You pick either the Union or Confederacy and dive into historically accurate battles where positioning and timing are everything. The interface takes some getting used to (this is a '90s DOS game, after all), but once you figure out how to flank enemy brigades or hold a defensive line with artillery support, it clicks. There’s something weirdly immersive about watching tiny regiments shuffle across a grid while you stress over whether to commit your reserves.

Fair warning: it’s not flashy, and the learning curve is steep if you’re new to hex-based wargames. But if you’ve got patience for methodical strategy and a soft spot for history, this one’s worth the effort. Just don’t blame me when you lose track of time trying to salvage Pickett’s Charge.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".