What Combat Mission Black Sea is
Combat Mission Black Sea is a tactical wargame set in a fictional 2017 conflict between Russian and Ukrainian forces, with NATO rapid deployment forces drawn in as the invasion unfolds. You command American, Ukrainian, and Russian units at battalion scale and below — mech infantry, motor rifle, Stryker and armored formations among them — and you take charge of individual vehicles, teams and squads rather than a faceless blob on a map.
The simulation models what happens between the orders: morale, experience and leadership shape how troops behave, spotting and line of sight decide what you can actually see, and command and control limits what your units hear in time. Physics and ballistics are handled realistically, and weather and lighting conditions change how well your forces fight. Modern battlefield systems appear as mechanics, including active protection systems intercepting incoming threats, UAVs feeding intelligence, precision guided artillery, and electronic warfare that can disrupt all of the above.
How a group plays it together
Play is available real time or in WeGo, where turns are issued and then resolved — useful if your group prefers to talk things through between commands. Steam lists Online PvP and Remote Play Together, so friends can face each other over a connection or join one session locally. Play By Email is also supported for matches spread across days. Head to head play covers both competitive and cooperative arranging, depending on how your group sets the match up.
Before you start
Four campaigns, 22 standalone scenarios, and a range of Quick Battle maps are included, with Quick Battles set up deliberately or randomized to your specifications. A full editor covers maps, scenarios and campaigns if anyone in the group wants to build something for the rest to play. Expect a dense simulation: fog of war, spotting delays and command friction mean information arrives late and plans fall apart, so patience and clear communication across your side matter more than reflexes. The title is supported with patches, upgrades and expansions.