Ultimate General™: Gettysburg in IOS

Strategy

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

90/100

Ultimate General: Gettysburg is a masterclass in tactical strategy design. It manages to be incredibly deep without being bogged down by the 'spreadsheet' feel of many wargames. The standout feature is the control scheme: instead of clicking individual units, you draw lines to set troop movements and flanking maneuvers. This feels organic and allows you to focus on the high-level flow of the battle rather than micromanaging every soldier.

The AI is genuinely impressive, often reacting to your movements with calculated retreats or aggressive flanking rather than following a scripted path. Combined with a morale system that factors in fatigue, cover, and high ground, the game creates a realistic simulation of Civil War combat. The hand-painted art style for the maps is beautiful and provides clear feedback on the terrain's tactical advantages. It’s a must-play for strategy fans who value historical accuracy and smart gameplay mechanics.

Reviewed on: Sat Sep 14 2024
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

This is what I’m talking about. Ultimate General: Gettysburg is a rare gem on mobile. It respects the player's intelligence. There are no 'clash' buttons or gems to buy. It’s just you, your brigades, and the topography of Pennsylvania. The control scheme—drawing lines to move troops—is the most intuitive way I've ever seen an RTS handled on a touch screen. It feels natural, allowing you to focus on the tactical situation rather than fighting the UI.

As a history buff, I appreciate the attention to detail. Morale matters. Elevation matters. Cover matters. The AI is actually impressive; it will try to flank you, and it will retreat when bloodied. My only complaint is the limited scope—it's *only* Gettysburg. I would love to see this engine applied to the entire war. But for what it is, it’s a sophisticated, mature experience that stands head and shoulders above the usual mobile 'strategy' garbage. It’s a bit short, but it’s quality over quantity.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Revolutionary touch control movement
  • Challenging and fair tactical AI
  • Deep historical accuracy and atmosphere
  • Relatively short campaign length
  • No multiplayer support
  • Visuals can be tiny on smaller phone screens

Technical Report

Performance: Very stable. Zooming into large battles is smooth on modern hardware.

Accessibility:
  • Tactical Pause
  • Variable Game Speed

Audience Fit

Buy if: You are a history enthusiast or an RTS fan who wants actual depth.

Skip if: You want fast-paced action or base building.

Similar Games:
  • Civil War Battles
  • Total War: Medieval II

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun
  • Hardware: iPad Pro
  • Playtime: 12 hours
  • Status: Finished both Union and Confederate campaigns

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 1.14Sat Jun 24 2017

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

- Improve of night mission

- Support of the latest iOS version


A Tactical Wargame that allows you to command thousands of soldiers as a Union or Confederate General during the Battle of Gettysburg. The strategy game features unique hand drawn map, complex morale, innovative controls and smart AI.

Ultimate general: Gettysburg is a critically acclaimed indie wargame with one of the highest user ratings for strategy games on Steam and Metacritic.

KEY FEATURES

==============

**Campaign

The campaign is split into 10 historical missions from the first engagements to the famous “Pickett’s charge”. Missions present different levels of complexity that will give you hours of gameplay.

**Unique Controls & Unit Self-Awareness

The game plays in real time, but you can pause at any time to plan your strategy and give orders to units. Drag simple movement arrows to command large forces as if you are drawing them on the tactical map. Units do not need micromanagement, able to act on their own: re-aligning, switching targets, withdrawing and forming battle lines without player input.

**Smart AI

The AI commanders are able to evaluate and gain tactical superiority in real time, reacting to your actions; fighting aggressively or defensively replicating actions of a competent human player. The game will provide the significant challenge on higher difficulty levels.

**Detailed Map of Gettysburg

We used satellite images and historical maps, recreating important locations, houses, ridges and hills that are depicted as accurately as possible within the game’s unique art style. If you are an American Civil War enthusiast, you will be happy to notice the amount of precision and information that the map provides. Not only will you be able to better understand the historical layout of the map, but also you will be able to use of each location and landmark in battle, thanks to the simulation of cover, concealment, terrain and high ground in the game.

**Advanced Line of Sight

Elevation and obstructions will affect unit visibility realistically. Units will use concealment and cover to survive artillery barrages, stage ambushes and more, but beware – the AI will attempt to do the same.

**Tactics matter

In Ultimate General: Gettysburg, you will realize that army units are not “machines” that blindly follow orders, but need to conserve strength and courage for decisive battle actions. Every basic tactical element that is expected from a strategy game is important for winning battles. Unite morale is affected by multiple factors including flank or rear attacks, casualties, volley shocks, artillery fire and fatigue.

**Historically Accurate Forces and Leaders

Ultimate General: Gettysburg includes the full order of battle for the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Command famous brigades like the Iron Brigade, Louisiana Tigers, 1st Vermont, Bucktail Brigade, Gibraltar Brigade, Excelsior Brigade and many more.

**Differences with the PC version

The game was redesigned from the ground up to provide good usability and playability on tablets. If you have played the game on the PC, the major change is in the campaign flow and in the user interface. The tactical combat and its features were tuned only slightly. You will be able to experience the same depth and challenge on iPad.

Retina display ready


Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

A Tactical Wargame that allows you to command thousands of soldiers as a Union or Confederate General during the Battle of Gettysburg. The strategy game features unique hand drawn map, complex morale, innovative controls and smart AI.

Ultimate general: Gettysburg is a critically acclaimed indie wargame with one of the highest user ratings for strategy games on Steam and Metacritic.

KEY FEATURES

==============

**Campaign

The campaign is split into 10 historical missions from the first engagements to the famous “Pickett’s charge”. Missions present different levels of complexity that will give you hours of gameplay.

**Unique Controls & Unit Self-Awareness

The game plays in real time, but you can pause at any time to plan your strategy and give orders to units. Drag simple movement arrows to command large forces as if you are drawing them on the tactical map. Units do not need micromanagement, able to act on their own: re-aligning, switching targets, withdrawing and forming battle lines without player input.

**Smart AI

The AI commanders are able to evaluate and gain tactical superiority in real time, reacting to your actions; fighting aggressively or defensively replicating actions of a competent human player. The game will provide the significant challenge on higher difficulty levels.

**Detailed Map of Gettysburg

We used satellite images and historical maps, recreating important locations, houses, ridges and hills that are depicted as accurately as possible within the game’s unique art style. If you are an American Civil War enthusiast, you will be happy to notice the amount of precision and information that the map provides. Not only will you be able to better understand the historical layout of the map, but also you will be able to use of each location and landmark in battle, thanks to the simulation of cover, concealment, terrain and high ground in the game.

**Advanced Line of Sight

Elevation and obstructions will affect unit visibility realistically. Units will use concealment and cover to survive artillery barrages, stage ambushes and more, but beware – the AI will attempt to do the same.

**Tactics matter

In Ultimate General: Gettysburg, you will realize that army units are not “machines” that blindly follow orders, but need to conserve strength and courage for decisive battle actions. Every basic tactical element that is expected from a strategy game is important for winning battles. Unite morale is affected by multiple factors including flank or rear attacks, casualties, volley shocks, artillery fire and fatigue.

**Historically Accurate Forces and Leaders

Ultimate General: Gettysburg includes the full order of battle for the Union Army of the Potomac and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. Command famous brigades like the Iron Brigade, Louisiana Tigers, 1st Vermont, Bucktail Brigade, Gibraltar Brigade, Excelsior Brigade and many more.

**Differences with the PC version

The game was redesigned from the ground up to provide good usability and playability on tablets. If you have played the game on the PC, the major change is in the campaign flow and in the user interface. The tactical combat and its features were tuned only slightly. You will be able to experience the same depth and challenge on iPad.

Retina display ready


Ratings & Reviews

4.6 out of 5 with 3215 Counts
Age Rating 9+

Screenshots

Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 1Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 2Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 3Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 4Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 5Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 6Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 7Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 8Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 9Ultimate General™: Gettysburg screenshot 10

Ultimate General: Gettysburg allows you to lead the Union or Confederate army in the most famous battle of the American Civil War. Featuring an accurately created map, complex morale systems, and unit self-awareness, this game redefines mobile strategy with a focus on command and tactics over micromanagement.

Features

1

Innovative 'line-drawing' control scheme

2

Advanced AI that adapts to player tactics

3

Historically accurate maps and troop numbers

4

Morale, fatigue, and line-of-sight simulation

5

Branching campaign based on your performance

Tips

Promotion Videos

Ultimate General: Gettysburg Launch Trailer - YouTube

Related Videos

Gameplays

Q&A

Yes, you can choose to command either the Union Army of the Potomac or the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia.

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