Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45 is a free modification

Mod (computer gaming)

Mod or modification is a term generally applied to personal computer games , especially first-person shooters, role-playing games and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public or a developer, and can be entirely new games in themselves, but mods are not standalone software and...

 developed by Jackboot Games (formerly known as The Darkest Hour Team) for Tripwire Interactive

Tripwire Interactive

Tripwire Interactive is an American game development studio and publisher based in Roswell, Georgia, formed by members of the international team that created the acclaimed Unreal Tournament 2004 mod, Red Orchestra: Combined Arms. Red Orchestra won top prize in the nVidia-sponsored Make Something...

's multiplayer first-person shooter

First-person shooter

First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...

 video game Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a tactical first-person shooter computer game based on its predecessor Red Orchestra Mod. After winning the Make Something Unreal contest, the team behind the original Red Orchestra started the game studio Tripwire Interactive...

, It is based on the Western Front

Western Front (World War II)

The Western Front of the European Theatre of World War II encompassed, Denmark, Norway, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and West Germany. The Western Front was marked by two phases of large-scale ground combat operations...

 during World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

 between 1944 and 1945, depicting the conflict between Allied

Allies of World War II

The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...

 and German

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 forces. Several large scale operations are covered including the invasion of Normandy, Battle of the Bulge

Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...

, Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden

Operation Market Garden was an unsuccessful Allied military operation, fought in the Netherlands and Germany in the Second World War. It was the largest airborne operation up to that time....

, and Battle of the Hürtgen Forest

Battle of Hurtgen Forest

The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...

.

Gameplay

Darkest Hour gameplay style is similar to its parent game, Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45

Red Orchestra: Ostfront 41-45 is a tactical first-person shooter computer game based on its predecessor Red Orchestra Mod. After winning the Make Something Unreal contest, the team behind the original Red Orchestra started the game studio Tripwire Interactive...

, although with many expansive changes especially to the armor system, have many features such as the round shatter, overmatch, the ability to break the traverse of the turret, optics, kill tank crew with a penetrating shot, different ammo types such as APDS

Armour-piercing discarding sabot

Armour-piercing discarding sabot is a type of kinetic energy projectile fired from a gun to attack armoured targets. APDS rounds are sabot rounds and were commonly used in large calibre tank guns, but have now been superseded by armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot projectiles in such...

, HVAP, and HEAT

Heat

In physics and thermodynamics, heat is energy transferred from one body, region, or thermodynamic system to another due to thermal contact or thermal radiation when the systems are at different temperatures. It is often described as one of the fundamental processes of energy transfer between...

, tank brew ups and many other features not found in the original game.

Players assume the role of an individual infantryman or tank crew from either the Allied

Allies of World War II

The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...

 or German

Wehrmacht

The Wehrmacht – from , to defend and , the might/power) were the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It consisted of the Heer , the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe .-Origin and use of the term:...

 forces in an online multiplayer environment. Each team then attempts to accomplish objectives varying by the historical battle the game map is based upon. The main type of play consists of an Attack and Defend style, whereby one team has to take objective areas from the opposing team in order to claim victory.

The game features a complete change of content from its parent in the form of entirely new battlegrounds, vehicles, weapons and uniforms. The Allied team players get the chance to play the role of an American, British or Canadian soldier, while the Axis team play as a soldier from the Waffen SS, Fallschirmjäger

Fallschirmjäger

are German paratroopers. Together with the Gebirgsjäger they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army....

 and other German divisions.

Over 20 WWII era firearms can be used including the M1 Garand

M1 Garand

The M1 Garand , was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. Called "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S...

, M1 Carbine

M1 Carbine

The M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S...

, .30-cal

M1919 Browning machine gun

The M1919 Browning is a .30 caliber medium machine gun that was widely used during the 20th century. It was used as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun by the U.S. and many other countries, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War...

, Bren LMG, FG 42

FG 42

The FG 42 was a selective fire battle rifle produced in Nazi Germany during World War II...

, Thompson

Thompson submachine gun

The Thompson is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1919, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals...

, Lee Enfield

Lee-Enfield

The Lee-Enfield bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle was the main firearm used by the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century...

, American Bazooka

Bazooka

Bazooka is the common name for a man-portable recoilless rocket antitank weapon, widely fielded by the U.S. Army. Also referred to as the "Stovepipe", the innovative bazooka was amongst the first-generation of rocket propelled anti-tank weapons used in infantry combat...

, British PIAT

PIAT

The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank was a British hand-held anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon, and entered service in 1943.The PIAT was based on the spigot...

 and German Panzerschreck

Panzerschreck

Panzerschreck was the popular name for the Raketenpanzerbüchse , an 88 mm calibre reusable anti-tank rocket launcher developed by Nazi Germany in World War II. Another popular nickname was Ofenrohr ....

. Crewable vehicles include the King Tiger

Tiger II

Tiger II is the common name of a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B,Panzerkampfwagen – abbr: Pz. or Pz.Kfw. Ausführung – abbr: Ausf. .The full titles Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf...

, Jagdpanther

Jagdpanther

The Jagdpanther was a tank destroyer built by Nazi Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. It entered service late in the war and saw service on the Eastern and Western fronts...

, Sherman

M4 Sherman

The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...

, Cromwell

Cromwell tank

Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell ,The designation as the eighth Cruiser tank design, its name given for ease of reference and its General Staff specification number respectively and the related Centaur tank, were one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in the Second...

, M10 Wolverine and Kübelwagen

Volkswagen Kübelwagen

The Volkswagen Kübelwagen was a military vehicle designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Volkswagen during World War II for use by the German military...

.

Other new improvements have been made to increase gameplay realism, such as bullet suppression, wall mantling, supersonic cracks, shell shock, deployable mortars, player/vehicle damage, and a playable radioman class required for calling in artillery strikes.

Vehicle list

German Forces:

• Kübelwagen Scout car
• Opel blitz 2 ton truck
  Opel Blitz
  Opel Blitz was the name given to various German light and middle-weight trucks built by Opel between 1930 and 1975.During the years preceding the Second World War Opel was Germany's largest truck producer...
  
  
• SdKfz 251 Ausf D APC
  SdKfz 251
  The Sd.Kfz. 251 half-track was an armored fighting vehicle designed and first built by Hanomag company during World War II. The largest and best armored of the wartime half-tracks, the Sd.Kfz. 251 was designed to transport the panzergrenadiers of the German mechanized infantry corps into battle....
  
  
• Sdkfz 234/1 reconnaissance vehicle
  SdKfz 234
  The SdKfz 234 was an eight-wheeled armoured car used by the German Army in the Second World War. It broadly resembles the SdKfz 231 .-Design:...
  
  
• Sdkfz 234/2 "Puma" reconnaissance vehicle
  SdKfz 234
  The SdKfz 234 was an eight-wheeled armoured car used by the German Army in the Second World War. It broadly resembles the SdKfz 231 .-Design:...
  
  
• Marder III Ausf M
  Marder III
  The Marder III is the name for a series of World War II German tank destroyers built on the chassis of the Panzer 38. The German word Marder means "marten" in English...
  
  
• Panzer III Ausf M
  Panzer III
  Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
  
  
• Panzer III Ausf N
  Panzer III
  Panzer III was the common name of a medium tank that was developed in the 1930s by Germany and was used extensively in World War II. The official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen III translating as "armoured battle vehicle". It was intended to fight other armoured fighting vehicles and...
  
  
• Stug III Ausf G
• Panzer IV Ausf G (late)
  Panzer IV
  The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
  
  
• Panzer IV Ausf H
  Panzer IV
  The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
  
  
• Panzer IV Ausf J
  Panzer IV
  The Panzerkampfwagen IV , commonly known as the Panzer IV, was a medium tank developed in Nazi Germany in the late 1930s and used extensively during the Second World War. Its ordnance inventory designation was Sd.Kfz...
  
  
• Jagdpanzer IV Ausf F
  Jagdpanzer
  Jagdpanzer , German for "hunting tank", is a name given to German self-propelled anti-tank guns.It typically refers to anti-tank variants of existing tank chassis with a well-armoured casemate fixed superstructure, mounting an anti-tank gun with limited traverse in the front, and usually classed by...
  
  
• Jagdpanzer IV Ausf J
  Jagdpanzer
  Jagdpanzer , German for "hunting tank", is a name given to German self-propelled anti-tank guns.It typically refers to anti-tank variants of existing tank chassis with a well-armoured casemate fixed superstructure, mounting an anti-tank gun with limited traverse in the front, and usually classed by...
  
  
• Panther Ausf G
• Jagdpanther Ausf A
  Jagdpanther
  The Jagdpanther was a tank destroyer built by Nazi Germany during World War II based on the chassis of the Panther tank. It entered service late in the war and saw service on the Eastern and Western fronts...
  
  
• Tiger I Ausf E
  Tiger I
  Tiger I is the common name of a German heavy tank developed in 1942 and used in World War II. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E, often shortened to Tiger. It was an answer to the unexpectedly formidable Soviet armour encountered in the initial months of...
  
  
• Tiger II Ausf B
  Tiger II
  Tiger II is the common name of a German heavy tank of the Second World War. The final official German designation was Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. B,Panzerkampfwagen – abbr: Pz. or Pz.Kfw. Ausführung – abbr: Ausf. .The full titles Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf...
  
  
• Jagdtiger
  Jagdtiger
  Jagdtiger is the common name of a German tank destroyer of World War II. The official German designation was Panzerjäger Tiger Ausf. B. The ordnance inventory designation was Sd. Kfz. 186. It saw service in small numbers from late 1944 to the end of the war on both the Western and Eastern Front...
  
  

Allied Forces:

• US army Jeep
  Willys MB
  The Willys MB US Army Jeep and the Ford GPW, were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. These small four-wheel drive utility vehicles are considered the iconic World War II Jeep, and inspired many similar light utility vehicles. Over the years, the World War II Jeep later evolved into the "CJ" civilian...
  
  
• M5 Half track
  M3 Half-track
  The Carrier, Personnel Half-track M3 was an armored vehicle used by the United States, the British Empire and the other Allies during World War II and the Cold War. Nearly 43,000 were produced, and supplied to the U.S...
  
  
• GMC 2.5 ton truck
  GMC CCKW
  The GMC CCKW is a 2½ ton 6X6 U.S. Army cargo truck that saw service in World War II and the Korean War, often incorrectly referred to as a "Deuce and a Half" or "Jimmy"...
  
  
• Universal carrier
  Universal Carrier
  The Universal Carrier, also known as the Bren Gun Carrier is a common name describing a family of light armoured tracked vehicles built by Vickers-Armstrong. Produced between 1934 and 1960, the vehicle was used widely by British Commonwealth forces during the Second World War...
  
  
• M8 Greyhound
  M8 Greyhound
  The M8 Light Armored Car was a 6x6 armored car produced by the Ford Motor Company during World War II. It was used by the U.S. and British troops in Europe and the Far East until the end of the war. The vehicle was widely exported and as of 2006 still remains in service with some third world...
  
  
• M5 Stuart
• M4A1 Sherman 75 mm
  M4 Sherman
  The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
  
  
• M4A1(W) Sherman 76 mm
  M4 Sherman
  The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
  
  
• M4A3 Sherman 75 mm
  M4 Sherman
  The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
  
  
• M4A3(W) Sherman 76 mm
  M4 Sherman
  The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
  
  
• M4A3E2 Sherman Jumbo
  M4 Sherman
  The M4 Sherman, formally Medium Tank, M4, was the primary tank used by the United States during World War II. Thousands were also distributed to the Allies, including the British Commonwealth and Soviet armies, via lend-lease...
  
  
• Sherman VC Firefly
  Sherman Firefly
  The Sherman Firefly was a World War II British variant of the American Sherman tank, fitted with the powerful British 17 pounder anti-tank gun as its main weapon...
  
  
• Cruiser Mk VIII Cromwell (A27M)
  Cromwell tank
  Tank, Cruiser, Mk VIII, Cromwell ,The designation as the eighth Cruiser tank design, its name given for ease of reference and its General Staff specification number respectively and the related Centaur tank, were one of the most successful series of cruiser tanks fielded by Britain in the Second...
  
  
• M10 Wolverine
  M10 Wolverine
  The M10 tank destroyer, formally 3-inch Gun Motor Carriage, M10 was a United States tank destroyer of World War II based on the chassis of the M4 Sherman tank. It was numerically the most important U.S...
  
  
• M18 Hellcat
  M18 Hellcat
  The 76 mm Gun Motor Carriage M18 was an American tank destroyer of World War II. The manufacturer, Buick, gave it the nickname "Hellcat" and it was the fastest tracked armored fighting vehicle during the war with a top speed up to 60 mph. Hellcat crews took advantage of the vehicle's...
  
  
• M10 Achilles
• M36 Jackson
  M36 Jackson
  The M36 tank destroyer, formally 90 mm Gun Motor Carriage, M36, was an American tank destroyer used during World War II. American soldiers usually referred to them as TDs for 'tank destroyers'...
  
  

Weapons List

German forces:

• Luger P-08
• Walther P38
• Mauser C96 M712 schnellfeuer
  Mauser C96
  The Mauser C96 is a semi-automatic pistol that was originally produced by German arms manufacturer Mauser from 1896 to 1937...
  
  
• Mp40
  MP40
  The MP 38 and MP 40 , often called Schmeisser, were submachine guns developed in Nazi Germany and used extensively by paratroopers, tank crews, platoon and squad leaders, and other troops during World War II.-Development:The MP 40 descended from its predecessor, the MP 38, which was in turn based...
  
  
• K98k
• Gewehr 43
  Gewehr 43
  The Gewehr 43 or Karabiner 43 is an 8x57mm IS caliber semi-automatic rifle developed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
  
  
• Fallschirmjägergewehr 42 type I
• Sturmgewehr 44
  Sturmgewehr 44
  The StG 44 was an assault rifle developed in Nazi Germany during World War II and was the first of its kind to see major deployment, considered by many historians to be the first modern assault rifle...
  
  
• Maschinengewehr 34
• Maschinengewehr 42
• Panzerfaust 60
  Panzerfaust
  The Panzerfaust was an inexpensive, recoilless German anti-tank weapon of World War II. It consisted of a small, disposable preloaded launch tube firing a high explosive anti-tank warhead, operated by a single soldier...
  
  
• Raketenpanzerbüchse 54/1
  Panzerschreck
  Panzerschreck was the popular name for the Raketenpanzerbüchse , an 88 mm calibre reusable anti-tank rocket launcher developed by Nazi Germany in World War II. Another popular nickname was Ofenrohr ....
  
  
• Granatwerfer 42
  Granatwerfer 42
  The Granatwerfer 42 was a mortar used by Germany during World War II....
  
  

Allied forces:

• Colt 1911
• Enfield No. 2 Mk I Revolver
  Enfield revolver
  Enfield Revolver is the name applied to two totally separate models of self-extracting British handgun designed and manufactured at the government-owned Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield; initially the .476 calibre Revolver Enfield Mk I/Mk II revolvers , and later the .38/200 calibre Enfield No...
  
  
• M1 Carbine
  M1 Carbine
  The M1 carbine is a lightweight, easy to use semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. It was widely used by U.S...
  
  
• M1A1 Thompson
• M3 Grease gun
  M3
  M3, M-3 or M03 may refer to:* M3 , a measure of the money supply* Metribolone* M3, a metric screw size- Science :* Cubic meter , a unit of volume* Messier 3 , a globular cluster in the constellation Canes Venatici...
  
  
• Sten
  Sten
  The STEN was a family of British 9 mm submachine guns used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and the Korean War...
  
  
• M1 Garand
  M1 Garand
  The M1 Garand , was the first semi-automatic rifle to be generally issued to the infantry of any nation. Called "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S...
  
  
• M1903 Springfield
• Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk. 1
  Lee-Enfield
  The Lee-Enfield bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle was the main firearm used by the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century...
  
  
• B.A.R A2
  Browning Automatic Rifle
  The Browning Automatic Rifle was a family of United States automatic rifles and light machine guns used by the United States and numerous other countries during the 20th century. The primary variant of the BAR series was the M1918, chambered for the .30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge and designed...
  
  
• Bren LMG
• M1919 Browning machine gun
  M1919 Browning machine gun
  The M1919 Browning is a .30 caliber medium machine gun that was widely used during the 20th century. It was used as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun by the U.S. and many other countries, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War...
  
  
• PIAT
  PIAT
  The Projector, Infantry, Anti Tank was a British hand-held anti-tank weapon developed during the Second World War. The PIAT was designed in 1942 in response to the British Army's need for a more effective infantry anti-tank weapon, and entered service in 1943.The PIAT was based on the spigot...
  
  
• M1A1 "Bazooka"
• M2 Mortar
  M2 Mortar
  The M2 Mortar is a smoothbore, muzzle loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used by U.S. forces in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War for light infantry support.-Description:...
  
  

Battle locations (Official Maps)

The following maps were available as of the latest official release:

• Juno Beach
  Juno Beach
  Juno or Juno Beach was one of five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. The sector spanned from Saint-Aubin, a village just east of the British Gold sector, to Courseulles, just west of the British Sword sector...
  
   – Canadians storming the beach in D-Day-style action.
• Carentan
  Battle of Carentan
  The Battle of Carentan was an engagement in World War II between airborne forces of the United States Army and the German Wehrmacht during the Battle of Normandy. The battle took place between 10 and 15 June 1944, on the approaches to and within the city of Carentan, France.The objective of the...
  
   – The US 101st Airborne
  101st Airborne Division (United States)
  The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
  
   assaults the town shortly after D-Day.
• Brecourt
  Brécourt Manor Assault
  The Brécourt Manor Assault during the U.S. parachute assault of the Normandy Invasion of World War II is often cited as a classic example of small-unit tactics and leadership in overcoming a larger enemy force.-Objective:...
  
   – 101st Airborne attempt to put a key German artillery battery out of commission behind the beaches.
• Vieux
  Marvaux-Vieux
  Marvaux-Vieux is a commune in the Ardennes department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
  
   – Vast, sweeping armored combat as the British attempt to break out during Operation Goodwood
  Operation Goodwood
  Operation Goodwood was an attack launched on 18 July 1944, during the Second World War, by the British army to the east of the city of Caen...
  
   in Normandy
  Normandy
  Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
  
  .
• Ginkel Heath (near Ede, Netherlands
  Ede, Netherlands
  ' is a municipality and a town in the center of the Netherlands, in the province of Gelderland.- Population centres :Community :* Bennekom: 14.749* De Klomp: 508* Deelen: 50* Ede : 67.812* Ederveen: 3.167* Harskamp: 3.464...
  
  ) – British paratroopers drop into a hotly contested landing zone at the start of Operation Market-Garden.
• Wacht-am-Rhein
  Battle of the Bulge
  The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
  
   – German armor attempts to seize critical roadways from an American armored unit in the opening hours of the Ardennes Offensive.
• Stoumont
  Stoumont
  Stoumont is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. On January 1, 2006 Stoumont had a total population of 3,006. The total area is 108.45 km² which gives a population density of 28 inhabitants per km²....
  
   – American infantry and armor try to hold back SS PanzerGrenadiers in the streets of a demolished Ardennes town.
• Bois Jacques
  Ardennes
  The Ardennes is a region of extensive forests, rolling hills and ridges formed within the Givetian Ardennes mountain range, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France , and geologically into the Eifel...
  
   – Americans in trench-style defense against a combined German tank and infantry force in the forests between Bastogne and Foy, Belgium.
• Foy
  Foy, Belgium
  Foy is a village in Belgium, near Bastogne.-Battle of the Bulge:In World War II, Foy was occupied by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. The American 101st Airborne Division held the Bois Jacques just outside of town. After being relieved by George S. Patton's Third Army, the 101st retook...
  
   – German forces defend against attacking American Airborne troopers deep in the Ardennes.
• Noville -
• DogGreen - D-Day 0600hrs -Omaha Beach: Dog Green Sector
• Raids - A British Airbourne unit, backed by Cromwell tanks, attempts to take a French town from dug in German troops.
• La Monderie - This is a fictional tank battle taking place in September of 1944 somewhere in the country side of France.
• Freyneux and Lamormenil - This map closely models the actual terrain of the Freyneux-Lamormenil area of Belgium in December 1944.
• La Chapelle - In this scenario, US infantry forces supported by a section of tanks must seize the village from a Germany Infantry force.
• Hurtgenwald
  Battle of Hurtgen Forest
  The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...
  
   - While the Hurtgen Forest attracts tourists today because of its forested hills, lakes, and rivers, in 1944 and 1945 it was the site of the longest and bloodiest battles in the history of the U.S. Army.
• Vieux Recon - Commonwealth recon forces run into their German counterparts just north of Caen in the early dawn hours.
• Carentan Causeway
• Cambes-en-Plaine
  Cambes-en-Plaine
  Cambes-en-Plaine is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
  
   - British armor encounters elements of the 12.SS Panzer Division
  12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend
  The 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend was a German Waffen SS armoured division during World War II. The Hitlerjugend was unique because the majority of its junior enlisted men were drawn from members of the Hitler Youth, while the senior NCOs and officers were generally veterans of the Eastern...
  
   on D-Day +1.
• Caen
  Battle for Caen
  The Battle for Caen from June-August 1944 was a battle between Allied and German forces during the Battle of Normandy....
  
  
• Poteau Ambush
• Hill 108
• Hill 400
• Kommerscheidt
  Battle of Hurtgen Forest
  The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...
  
  
• Simonskall
  Battle of Hurtgen Forest
  The Battle of Hürtgen Forest is the name given to the series of fierce battles fought between U.S. and German forces during World War II in the Hürtgen Forest, which became the longest battle on German ground during World War II, and the longest single battle the U.S. Army has ever fought...
  
  
• Lutremange
• Bridge Head
• Gran
  Esztergom
  Esztergom , is a city in northern Hungary, 46 km north-west of the capital Budapest. It lies in Komárom-Esztergom county, on the right bank of the river Danube, which forms the border with Slovakia there....
  
  

Additionally, unofficial community-made maps are widely hosted on Darkest Hour's multi-player servers.

History

Development on the game started in November 2006 and was first released publicly on June 6, 2008 as Darkest Hour: Normandy 1944 (to coincide with the 64th anniversary of D-Day). The original Darkest Hour development team, known as Darklight Games, amassed dozens of contributors prior to the game's first release. For the subsequent second and third releases the entire team was downsized to "provide an efficient core team of multi-skill leads with a network of contributors who help whenever they can".

After several members of the original development group departed following the second release, the Darklight name was dropped in favor of the more general, Darkest Hour Team. In order to reach a broader audience, this consolidated group, comprised of remaining original members along with new talent, produced a substantially overhauled version of the game culminating in an acclaimed re-release through Steam in June 2009 under its current title, Darkest Hour: Europe '44-45.

In the intervening years, three more updates to the game have been released via Steam, adding additional maps, vehicles, weapons, and game features.

The developers plan to provide official support for Darkest Hour in its current incarnation through the Autumn of 2011. The final version is tentatively scheduled for release in late-October 2011.

Future

A "spiritual" successor to Darkest Hour is planned and in the works, as of Fall 2011. Title and details to be announced. The remaining Darkest Hour Team members legally incorporated as Jackboot Games, LLC in August of 2011.

Reception

Darkest Hour made it into ModDB's

Mod DB

Player's Choice*Best Indie Game: Tremulous*Best Released Mod: Point of Existence 2*Best Unreleased Mod: Black Mesa*By genre-2005:*-2004:*-2003:*-2002:*- External links :* *...

 top 100 unreleased mods of 2007. Egames.de, a prominent German gaming website, featured the game upon its release.

Name etymology

"The Darkest Hour" is a phrase coined by British

British people

The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...

 prime minister Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...

to describe the period of World War II between the fall of France in 1940 and the German invasion of Russia in 1941, when the British Commonwealth stood alone against Germany and the Axis Powers in Europe.

External links

• Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45 Official Website
• Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45 at Steam
• Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45 at Facebook
• Darkest Hour: Europe '44-'45 at YouTube
• Darkest Hour ModDB page