A World War II strategy game built on deception
R.U.S.E. is a real-time strategy game set in World War II where reading your opponent matters as much as moving your army. The IRISZOOM engine lets you zoom from a close look at individual units all the way out to a wide, board-game-style view of the whole battlefield. The Definitive Edition includes all DLCs and Steam Deck support.
Playing together in multiplayer
Multiplayer matches support 2 to 8 players on maps inspired by real World War II theaters. Before the match you pick the map, the game mode, and how players are distributed, either as teams or free-for-all. Steam lists Online Co-op and Online PvP for playing with or against your group. Ranked Mode puts you against strategists worldwide with a global leaderboard to climb.
RUSE cards and how battles are won
RUSE cards are the core of the game. You play them at any moment to reveal information through decryption or espionage, hide your plans with radio silence or camouflage, create decoys like dummy units and false offensives, or change unit behavior with blitz and terror. Combining these cards lets you set up feints and traps while reading what your opponent is doing.
Victory comes either by destroying all enemy bases and units or by holding more points when the time limit runs out. Every enemy unit you destroy earns points, so aggressive plays pay off.
Modes and factions
Classic Mode gives you all units from the start based on the era you choose: 1939, 1942, or 1945. Total War unfolds in three phases across those same years, unlocking new bases and units as it goes. Nuclear Mode is a race to produce and deploy nuclear artillery first.
Each faction plays differently: the United States brings versatility and industrial might, Germany quality and firepower, France resilience and defense, the United Kingdom air power and artillery, the USSR quantity and durability, and Italy speed and mobility. Pick one that fits how you like to play.
Single-player content
The campaign follows Major Joe Sheridan from the deserts of North Africa to the plains of Western Europe, mixing strategy with story and plot twists. Operations are standalone tactical challenges in extreme situations, and Skirmish vs. AI lets you customize matches against reactive, versatile opponents to practice before facing your group.