In this addition to our new series ‘Gamifying History,’ we will be covering the Battle of Kursk. This was a decisive battle between the Soviets and Germany. It’s well known for being one of the largest tank battles of World War 2, lifting the Soviets into a power play after the successful counterattack of Stalingrad. Within the historical gaming genre, many games don’t lay into exploring this conflict. There are very few that even choose to build a game around it, but those that do are often met with a mixed reception. With how in-depth this engagement was, there are ways though to successfully adapt it into many gameable formats. Historical Background After the victory from the Battle of Stalingrad, Soviet forces traversed south in Operation Little Saturn. This was a course of military campaigns that lasted from December 12, 1942, to February 18, 1943. By near the end of the operation in January, a gap had formed between two remaining German army groups, with the Soviet armies advancing to cut them off. Eventually, after the ongoing pressure, the Soviets retook Kursk and several other pivotal locations. In response, German field marshall Erich von Manstein would request complete control over operational freedoms. Hitler would approve of this and later assign Manstein to commit a counteroffensive against the Soviet forces. German forces would reorganize and resupply themselves, separating from north to south within the region. Manstein would soon then utilize his armies to progress in a series of counterstrokes into the backline of Soviet armored formations. This was made with the intent of breaking these divisions as well as beginning to retake Kharkiv and Kursk. Eventually, as the indecisive and pyrrhic Third Battle of Kharkiv began and concluded, both sides fell back in their reach. Now, a Soviet line of weakness...