Ground of Aces has a new demo

I could write about the new teaser for the new ZA/UM game, which we have so little detail on. Sadly, it could be called a politician’s policy for how direct and well-explained it is. Or I could talk about one of those games I mentioned in my sections of our article on what upcoming games we’re most excited about here at the site. Developed by First Strike, First Strike: Classic, Airheart, and Stellar Commanders Swiss-based Swiss-Polish developer Blingflug Studios announced something about its next game, Ground of Aces. Set in World War II, Ground of Aces is a strategic management/building game about an airfield.

Revealed alongside a new trailer yesterday, Ground of Aces and Blindflug shunned the Steam Next Fest as the only time to release/update a demo. Studio co-founder and executive producer Moritz Zumbühl said of the demo: “The demo is a first glimpse into the world of Ground of Aces. Starting with a small British airfield, players will get to experience the thrill of building and commanding a wartime air base, taking care of iconic World War II aircraft[s], and making tough strategic choices regarding missions from HQ. We can’t wait to hear the player feedback and continue shaping and expanding the game together with our community.“

I’ve had Ground of Aces on my wishlist for two years now and its style and setting are so refreshing. Not only for the Franco-Belgian-inspired art style that was made famous by the likes of The Adventures of Tintin or (fittingly) Buck Danny, that being a play on Ligne Claire, but also the fact we’re talking about a World War II-based management title. If you grew up somewhere within the UK (or most of Europe), chances are you know more about both World Wars than the atrocities your country committed before, during, or after them. In the UK, in particular, the RAF is hugely important.

A piece of history that’s often ignored, even in Scotland when talking about World War II, is that the first Nazi German air raid against the UK was the Battle of the River Forth. This occurred on October 16th, 1939. Less than 15 miles away from where I’d be born several decades later, and more important to gaming history, this took place not far over the real-life inspiration for that strange red railway bridge connecting San Fierro and the Tierra Robada regions of the GTA: San Andreas map. Beyond regularly walking on what was once a local RAF base during the war, to say Ground of Aces hits home sells it rather short.

As for what to expect with Ground of Aces, the press release notes: “Ground of Aces will offer players a unique view into World War II, highlighting the challenges faced by air bases and their crews, including historic events such as the Battle of Britain.” It goes on to list inspirations, including Rimworld, Going Medieval, Hearts of Iron IV, and (of course) mentions the art style and its inspirations, such as Biggles and Buck Danny. While there is no release date as of yet for Ground of Aces, the new demo is available now on Steam, and the release window is noted as 2025.