Sub Battle Simulator

Sub Battle Simulator is a submarine simulator from the late 1980s that, unlike competing titles, lets the player command not only an American submarine but also a German U-boat, offering a chance to experience the underwater war from both sides of the World War II front. The player plans patrols, hunts for convoys, and leads torpedo attacks, with the game emphasizing relatively accessible controls compared to the more complex simulators of the same era, making it a good entry point for less experienced genre fans who didn't want to immediately grapple with the lengthy manuals and dozens of instruments offered by the more elaborate competing simulators from major publishers like MicroProse or Sierra.

The combat system builds on the classic model of calculating angle of approach and target speed, complemented by the risk of retaliation with depth charges when, after firing torpedoes, the submarine must dive quickly and wait for the enemy to lose the trail. The graphics are simple, with a schematic display of the deck and instruments, but thanks to their clarity they let the player get oriented quickly even without a long learning curve, which was an advantage at the time over more complicated competing titles. The option to choose sides also gives the game a degree of replay value, since each side has differently set priorities and risks, from aggressive convoy hunting to cautious defense of one's own routes.

Sub Battle Simulator wasn't as widely discussed at release as the genre's flagship titles from MicroProse, but thanks to its accessibility and the option to play as either side of the conflict, it found its place among fans of DOS submarine simulators. Today it's interesting mainly as an alternative take on a theme other titles approached from just one side of the front, and as a reminder that the genre also had simpler, more accessible entries that could offer fun without requiring hours of studying a manual, without unnecessarily oversimplifying the subject of undersea warfare.

Why play it: For players who want to try submarine warfare from both sides of the front without hours of studying a manual — a more accessible, simpler alternative to MicroProse's flagship simulators.