A new multiplayer shooter set during the First World War has launched on Steam, aiming to recreate the scale and chaos of historic battlefield assaults. Titled Over The Top: WWI, the game is developed by indie studio Flying Squirrel Entertainment and focuses on large scale combat built around trench warfare, destructible environments, and unusually high player counts.
Set on battlefields inspired by the Western Front, the game places players in sprawling conflicts where infantry, tanks, aircraft, and artillery all collide in real time. One of its defining features is the scale of its multiplayer matches, which can support up to 200 players at once, creating enormous clashes that attempt to mirror the intensity of major WWI offensives.
Players can choose to fight for several of the major powers involved in the conflict, including Britain, France, and Germany. Each faction features multiple classes designed for specific battlefield roles. Frontline troops carry rifles and machine guns, engineers are responsible for building and maintaining defensive structures, and officer classes can call in powerful support abilities such as artillery barrages.
Combat revolves around period inspired weaponry including bolt action rifles, early machine guns, explosives, and flamethrowers. Vehicles also play a significant role in battles, with early war tanks and aircraft appearing during matches. Some vehicles require multiple players to operate effectively, encouraging coordination among teammates during large scale assaults.
A major gameplay element is the destruction system, which allows the battlefield to change during the course of a match. Trenches can be damaged or reshaped by explosions, buildings can collapse under heavy bombardment, and defensive positions can be destroyed or rebuilt. As a result, the layout of the battlefield can evolve as combat progresses, forcing players to constantly adapt their tactics.
Beyond its multiplayer focus, the game also includes additional features such as cooperative gameplay modes, a level editor, and Steam Workshop support, allowing players to create and share custom maps or scenarios with the wider community.
With its emphasis on massive player counts and evolving battlefields, Over The Top: WWI offers a different approach to historical shooters. Rather than focusing purely on strict simulation, the game leans toward large scale sandbox warfare, aiming to deliver chaotic First World War battles where the frontline can shift dramatically from moment to moment.
