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Play OverviewPlay Overview

Advance Wars (2001) is a classic turn-based strategy game re-released as Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp on Nintendo Switch. You take charge of an army in strategic, turn-based combat. With land, air, and naval units across the battlefield, you work to take down enemy squads and capture towns and bases to secure victory and keep the peace.

The reboot offers game-changing terrain and weather as you lead units across two campaigns from the original Advance Wars and Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising games.

Advance Wars, was originally based on a Gameboy game from the 80s. It became popular when it arrived on Gameboy Advance:
  • Advance Wars (2001) on Game Boy Advance and on Wii U via Virtual Console.
  • Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising (2004) on Game Boy Advance and on Wii U via Virtual Console.
  • Advance Wars: Dual Strike (2005) on Nintendo DS and the added ability to have two commanders.
  • Battalion Wars 2 (2007) on the Nintendo Gamecube and Nintendo Wii as a spin-off from the main series.
  • Advance Wars: Days of Ruin / Dark Conflict (2008) Nintendo DS with more troops and story modes.

Advance Wars By Web is an unofficial version of the original game that added online multiplayer modes but had no single-player mode.
  • Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp (2021) on Nintendo Switch

Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Advance Wars 4 years ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 12 weeks ago.
Too complex for your family? There are lots of games similar to Advance Wars (Series). Here are some easier younger-rated games:

Play StylePlay Style

This is a Battle, Sequencing and Strategy game with Narrative, Shooting, Stealth and Traversal elements. You can play with 1 to 4 players in the same room or as a 4-player online game. The time to beat these games varies and is extended by the battle maps played against a computer or human opponent to achieve a high score. Advance Wars: Dual Strike offers a two-player game on two systems, with just one cartridge via the Download Play feature.

 
You can play this game in the following styles:

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 14 hours and 20 hours to complete.

BenefitsBenefits

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is rated PEGI 7 for mild violence that lacks any apparent harm or injury to human-like characters. Most of the game is shown from a distant perspective. However, when one unit attacks another, the game zooms in allowing a closer view of the violence. The violence and reactions to the violence are cartoon-like and unrealistic in nature. Characters and vehicles look similar to toys and simply fly off-screen when defeated. There is no visible harm or sight of injuries.

The original Advance Wars games were rated PEGI 7 for violence.
Advance Wars: Dark Conflict is rated PEGI 12 for violence and language.
 
Users Interact: The game enables players to interact and communicate with each other, so may expose players to language usually associated with older rated games.

Skill Level

10+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Younger players need to be able to plan ahead, consider the efficiency of moves and be able to cope when you make a mistake.

Account Rating

  • You need be 18-years-old to subscribe to Nintendo Online, but can then create accounts for children of any age to play online with Nintendo Switch.

CostsCosts

Advance Wars usually costs £6.29 to £49.99.
 
You can only play this on older systems (Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 2DS|3DS, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo Wii U) but can usually find it second hand on eBay.

Advance Wars

Switch Store Wii U £6.29 Unavailable On Digital Store

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Switch Store Switch £49.99

Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising

Switch Store Wii U £6.29 Unavailable On Digital Store

Advance Wars: Dual Strike

Switch Store Wii U £8.99 Unavailable On Digital Store
Switch Store 2DS|3DS £8.99 Unavailable On Digital Store
There are the following additional costs associated with this game:
  • You need a subscription to play online:
    • You need to purchase a Nintendo Online subscription to play online with Nintendo Switch.
 
It's important to set up your accounts and devices appropriately. More information is on our Financial Resources page.
 

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 10/09/2001, updated in 2023

Out Now: 3DS and 2DS, DS, GBA, Switch, Wii and Wii U

Skill Rating: 10+ year-olds

Players: 1-4 (4 online)

Genres: Battle, Sequencing, Strategy (Narrative, Shooting, Stealth and Traversal)

Accessibility: 20 features

Components: 2D Overhead and Grid

Developer: Nintendo (@Nintendo)


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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