KEY POINTS

  • "ARMA: Cold War Assault" is free on Steam and GOG
  • The game was previously known as "Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis"
  • "Cold War Assault" is Bohemia Interactive's debut title

Bohemia Interactive is giving away one of its classic games as part of “ARMA’s” 20th anniversary, celebrating the many years of immersive simulations and scenarios enjoyed by military enthusiasts all over the globe.

“ARMA: Cold War Assault” will be free to claim and keep via Steam and GOG until June 25. Previously known as “Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis,” this game is Bohemia Interactive’s debut title from 2001 that eventually spawned the entirety of the “Armed Assault” series of simulation games.

Set in the fictional island of Malden, “Cold War Assault” simulates a large-scale armed conflict between two global superpowers. The game is primarily an open-world sandbox but it also includes a campaign mode and a selection of single missions. Players can make their own scenarios via the game’s built in map editor.

Fans of the modern “ARMA” games will immediately recognize “Cold War Assault’s” gameplay and overall format despite its antiquated appearance. Much like the rest of Bohemia’s games, “Cold War Assault” steers away from the mainstream military FPS tropes and instead focuses on providing realistic experiences.

ARMA 3 features combined arms combat over a large, open world
ARMA 3 features combined arms combat over a large, open world Bohemia Interactive

Players can expect to fight in long engagement distances that mimic real-life battles in open fields, hills and small towns. A single hit can be fatal and players are expected to employ actual tactics and strategies that are normally used by actual armed forces. Battles are often fought with any combination of infantry, heavily-armored vehicles and aerial support based on the availability of forces and player preferences.

The “ARMA” games still enjoys a healthy playerbase due to the game’s high degree of customizability; custom scenarios and player-made mods have greatly increased the shelf lives of these games, providing fresh experiences and multitudes of improvements that tailor each game to the preferences of its audience. “ARMA 3” in particular still sees an average over 10,000 players per month.

Apart from the “Cold War Assault” giveaway, players will also be able to get the newer games in the “ARMA” series at a discounted price for the next 20 days, making this the perfect time to try out this venerable military simulator and find out why it’s dedicated community loves it so much.

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