Brothers in Arms (video game series)
Tactical WWII shooter series by Gearbox Software, with mobile entries by Gameloft.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Brothers in Arms is a tactical shooter series created by Gearbox Software, with eight to nine titles in total depending on counting methods. The main trilogy consists of three first-person shooters: *Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30* (2005), *Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood* (2005), and *Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway* (2008). These games take place during the Allied liberation of Western Europe in World War II. The series has been released on Windows and macOS, as well as sixth- and seventh-generation consoles and some mobile devices.
The first game, *Road to Hill 30*, was built with Unreal Engine 2 and marked Gearbox's first original project after years of creating expansions and ports for titles like *Half-Life*. Critics gave it very positive reviews. *Earned in Blood* followed about seven months later and also received positive reviews, though the PlayStation 2 version got more mixed feedback. *Brothers in Arms: D-Day* (2006) was a third-person shooter for the PlayStation Portable. *Brothers in Arms DS* (2007) was a third-person shooter for the Nintendo DS, developed by Gameloft and published by Ubisoft.
*Hell's Highway* (2008), the third main installment, used Unreal Engine 3 and was released on PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, earning positive reviews. *Brothers in Arms: Art of War* (2008) is a top-down shooter with 13 missions across three campaigns, including Operation Market Garden. Also in 2008, Gameloft released a mobile version for the N-Gage service, which was a port of *Brothers in Arms DS* and a full 3D third-person shooter. *Brothers in Arms: Double Time* (2008) compiled the first two games for the Wii and macOS, featuring levels set during the Battle of Normandy.
*Brothers in Arms: Hour of Heroes* (2008) was the series' first iOS title, published by Gameloft. *Brothers in Arms 2: Global Front* (2010) was a first-person shooter for iOS and Android, also set in World War II. *Brothers in Arms 3: Sons of War* (2014) was a third-person shooter for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone. A planned entry called *Furious 4* was originally part of the series but was later canceled and reworked into a separate intellectual property, not part of Brothers in Arms.
In 2023, Zen Studios released *B
- developer
- Gearbox Software (main series); Gameloft (Brothers in Arms DS)
Lore & Background
The Brothers in Arms series began in 2005 with Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30, developed using Unreal Engine 2. It was Gearbox's first original game after a series of expansions and ports to other games, such as Half-Life, and received highly positive reviews. Later that year, the second installment, Brothers in Arms: Earned in Blood, was released about seven months after the first, earning positive reviews, while the PlayStation 2 version received average to positive reviews. The third core installment, Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway (2008), was made using Unreal Engine 3 and also earned positive reviews.
Reader's Guide
The Brothers in Arms series is significant as Gearbox Software's first original game franchise after years of developing expansions and ports for other titles. It established a tactical shooter approach within a World War II setting, focusing on squad-based combat and historical authenticity. The series spans multiple platforms, from PC and consoles to mobile devices, and includes a variety of gameplay styles, including first-person, third-person, and top-down shooters. Its legacy includes a planned television series announced in April 2020, with the first season to be developed around Exercise Tiger. As of September 2021, Gearbox's CEO Randy Pitchford affirmed that a new Brothers in Arms game is in development, though no details have been shown. The series also inspired a virtual pinball adaptation, Brothers in Arms: Win the War Pinball, released in 2023 as part of Pinball FX.
Did You Know?
- Brothers in Arms: Road to Hill 30 was Gearbox's first original game.
- Brothers in Arms DS was developed by Gameloft, not Gearbox Software, and is a third-person shooter.
- Brothers in Arms: Double Time reuses levels from the first two games, totaling more than 30 levels.
- Furious 4 was canceled and later reworked into a separate project, not part of Brothers in Arms.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Brothers in Arms and who developed it?
Brothers in Arms is a ten-game tactical shooter franchise created by Gearbox Software, debuting in 2005. It blends first-person, third-person, and squad-tactical gameplay across its titles.
What are the three games in the main Brothers in Arms trilogy?
The core trilogy is Road to Hill 30 (2005), Earned in Blood (2005), and Hell's Highway (2008), all depicting the Allied push to liberate Western Europe during World War II.
What platforms can I play Brothers in Arms on?
Titles in the series have appeared on Windows, macOS, sixth- and seventh-generation consoles, and select mobile devices, though availability varies by specific game.
What makes Brothers in Arms different from other WWII shooters?
Rather than casting you as a lone hero, the series puts you in charge of a small squad, emphasizing coordinated cover, flanking maneuvers, and tactical positioning. The 2005 debut title was built on Unreal Engine 2 and served as Gearbox Software's first major published game.
How many games are in the Brothers in Arms franchise in total?
There are ten titles across the franchise, spanning tactical, first-person, and third-person shooter genres, though most fans focus on the original three-game trilogy as the definitive entries.
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