Cannon Fodder
Cannon Fodder is a 1993 strategy game developed by Sensible Software. It combines action and tactics as players guide small squads of soldiers through overhead-view missions, using a simple mouse-driven interface to direct them to move, shoot, lob grenades and rockets, and commandeer vehicles across jungle, snow, desert, and other varied battlefields.
Beneath its fast, accessible gameplay lay a pointed anti-war message, underscored by the way surviving soldiers gained rank and were remembered by name, so their frequent, permanent deaths, tallied on a grim hill of grave markers between missions, carried genuine weight. Its catchy theme song, "War Has Never Been So Much Fun," and its darkly satirical tone stirred some controversy in the British press, particularly over its box art, while cementing its status as a beloved and thoughtful classic.
Cannon Fodder spawned sequels and remains available through digital storefronts, keeping its blend of frantic action and biting commentary accessible to modern players.
Play it today
Modern alternatives to Cannon Fodder, with the devices they run on and their price. Ordered editorially by how well each one stands in for the original, with community votes weighted in as they accumulate.
Prices, platform availability and Steam Deck compatibility can change at any time. Always check the store page before buying.
| Alternative | Price | Steam Deck | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door Kickers 2: Task Force North Indie | € 24,00 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet |
| Running with Rifles Indie | € 19,99 | Steam Deck Verified | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Door Kickers Indie | € 14,99 | Steam Deck Playable | PC, Mac, Linux |
| Cannon Fodder | € 5,99 | Not on Steam | PC |
| Cannon Fodder 2 | € 5,99 | Not on Steam | PC |
Door Kickers 2: Task Force North Indie
€ 24,00Top-down squad planning where one bullet ends a soldier, as ruthless as Cannon Fodder was.
Door Kickers 2: Task Force North runs on PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet. Not available on Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Running with Rifles Indie
€ 19,99An indie top-down tactical squad-warfare game.
Running with Rifles runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Door Kickers Indie
€ 14,99An indie real-time tactics game of directing small squads.
Door Kickers runs on PC, Mac, Linux. Not available on iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Cannon Fodder
€ 5,99The classic action-strategy game, packaged for modern PCs.
Cannon Fodder runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
Cannon Fodder 2
€ 5,99The direct sequel, more missions in the same darkly funny war, running on modern Windows.
Cannon Fodder 2 runs on PC. Not available on Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch.
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