Eastern Front (1941)

Eastern Front (1941)
Cartridge version box cover
Developer(s)Chris Crawford
Publisher(s)Atari Program Exchange
Atari, Inc.
Platform(s)Atari 8-bit
ReleaseAugust 1981: APX
1982: Atari
Genre(s)Computer wargame, Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single-player

Eastern Front (1941) is a computer wargame for Atari 8-bit computers created by Chris Crawford and published through the Atari Program Exchange (APX) in 1981. A scenario editor and assembly language source code for the game were also sold by APX as separate products.

Recreating the Eastern Front during World War II, Eastern Front covers the historical area of operations during 1941–1942. The player commands German units at the corps level as they invade the Soviet Union in 1941 and fight the computer-controlled Russians. The game simulates terrain, weather, supplies, unit morale, and fatigue.

A killer app for Atari computers, Eastern Front was among APX's best selling games, selling over 60,000 copies. It was widely lauded in the press and was Creative Computing's Game of the Year in 1981. In 1982, it was licensed by Atari for distribution on game cartridge, then rereleased in 1988 in XEGS styled packaging.