Fields of Valour: Normandy is a turn‑based WW2 strategy game set during the 1944 campaign, placing you in command of British forces on a detailed hex‑grid battlefield. Each turn demands careful positioning, smart use of terrain and decisive tactical choices as you manoeuvre infantry, armour and support units across historically inspired maps.

Built in GameMaker LTS, the game blends accessible controls with meaningful strategic depth. Passing aircraft such as the Spitfire and Messerschmitt add atmosphere, while upcoming bonus cards will introduce powerful, situational abilities that can shift the momentum of battle when played at the right moment.

Deployment is the first major step in every battle, and understanding the order and placement of your units is essential to gaining an early advantage. Each player begins with 12 units: 5 infantry, 3 artillery, and 4 tanks. These are deployed in a fixed sequence to ensure a structured opening phase.

Infantry are placed first. As the most flexible units on the board, they form your initial defensive line and establish early control of key terrain. Artillery follows, positioned to support your infantry and provide ranged pressure as the battle develops. Tanks are deployed last, allowing you to anchor your armoured strength where it will have the greatest impact once the fighting begins.

Terrain plays a crucial role in how effective your deployment is. Woods, hills, towns and other features offer defensive bonuses, so placing units carefully can significantly increase their survivability. A well‑positioned infantry unit in cover can hold a line far more effectively than one exposed on open ground.

The British always deploy first, placing their forces across the middle section of the hex board. This creates an immediate contest for central ground and sets the tone for the opening turns, with both sides needing to think carefully about positioning, protection and early momentum.

During battle, each unit type has access to a unique bonus ability that can be activated to improve its effectiveness on the field. These bonuses are determined by throwing a dice, and when applied, an icon appears above the unit sprite to show the active effect. Bonus icons are displayed in the bottom‑left of the screen and remain valid only for a set number of turns, so timing is crucial.

Infantry can dig in, increasing their defensive strength and making them far harder to dislodge from key positions. Tanks can deploy smoke, providing temporary cover that reduces incoming damage and helps shield advancing units. Artillery can hide using camo netting, making them more difficult for the enemy to target while they prepare or reposition.

These bonuses add an extra layer of tactical decision‑making. Choosing when to activate them — and ensuring they are used in combination with terrain advantages — can significantly influence the outcome of an engagement.

Movement in Fields of Valour: Normandy is straightforward but tactically important, as each unit type can only travel a limited number of hex tiles per turn. Infantry, artillery and tanks all have different movement allowances, so planning your route and positioning ahead of time is essential.

To move a unit, right‑click on the hex tile you want it to travel to. If the destination is within that unit’s movement range, it will advance immediately. Terrain affects how exposed or protected your units are once they move, so choosing safe, defensible positions can make a significant difference to their survival.

Attacking is handled separately. When an enemy unit is within range, left‑click on that enemy to target it. If your unit is able to fire, the attack will be carried out instantly, resolving damage based on unit type, positioning and any active bonuses.

Attacking enemy units is a core part of combat in Fields of Valour: Normandy, and understanding how damage is applied will help you make better tactical decisions. When you target an enemy unit, damage may or may not be inflicted, depending on factors such as range, terrain, bonuses and unit type.

Every unit has two key values: Hit Points (HP) and Damage Points. HP represents the unit’s overall health, while Damage Points indicate its current combat effectiveness. Both values reduce when the unit is successfully attacked.

A unit becomes vulnerable when its Damage Points reach 0. At this stage it is severely weakened, and a further successful attack may destroy it entirely. Managing your units so they avoid reaching this state, and capitalising on enemy units that do — is central to gaining the upper hand.

Objectives play a decisive role in Fields of Valour: Normandy, offering each side a powerful opportunity to recover strength and shift momentum at exactly the right moment. Both armies have a marked objective on the hex board, represented as a munitions point. Capturing an objective is more than a territorial gain, it provides an immediate and substantial boost to your fighting capability.

If the British reach the German objective, every unit on the British side has its Attack and Defend points fully replenished. This can transform the flow of battle, allowing weakened units to return to full effectiveness and enabling a fresh offensive push. Securing the objective at the right moment can give you the upper hand, especially in tightly contested matches where both sides are fighting to hold ground.

The Germans have the same opportunity. When they reach the British objective, all German units regain their Attack and Defend points, restoring their strength and allowing them to launch a renewed assault. German forces will actively hunt for this objective when the timing is right, so players must stay alert and protect their key positions to prevent a sudden enemy resurgence.

Objectives introduce a strategic focal point on the battlefield. Capturing one at the critical moment can be the difference between holding the line and turning the entire match in your favour.

A battle in Fields of Valour: Normandy concludes when one side is completely defeated, leaving no remaining units capable of fighting. Victory often comes down to the final exchanges, with both players pushing their last surviving forces to hold ground, exploit weaknesses and deliver decisive blows. It is very much a last‑man‑standing finish, where every move in the closing turns matters and a single well‑timed attack or bonus card can determine the outcome.