Charge Over the Top: FSE's Brutal WW1 Shooter
One of the Best World War One Shooters to Date
Ladies and gentlemen of the GØÄT GÄNG, it's time for a little return to origins—today I'm bringing you a game I was fortunate enough to get on the playtest for: Over the Top WWI.
If you're a fan of massive, muddy multiplayer mayhem set against the grim backdrop of the Great War, keep your eyes peeled on this one. Developed by the indie powerhouse Flying Squirrel Entertainment, this upcoming third-person shooter (with first-person option) promises to plunge players into the heart of World War I trench warfare like never before. Brothers, you can literally get your shovel out and dig trenches with the boys while the bullets are flying. And with 200 players per battle, there's A LOT of bullets to be concerned about.
Flying Squirrel Entertainment is a small but dedicated team. It's like four dudes developing this absolute unit of a game. I lust for their drive (or whatever unholy amount of caffeine they're mainlining). They aren't new to historical combat sims. If you're familiar with Mount & Blade: Warband, they are the people who churned out the Napoleonic Wars mod. It let players command massive line battles across Europe—which is huge in a game like that. Now, they're scaling up for the trenches with Over the Top, published by GG Publishing and already wishlist-ready on Steam. Go visit the page and tell your mom to stock the fridge with ice-cold Dew or we’re not inviting her to the next playtest.
Massive Battles in the Mud: 200 Players, Total Destruction
At its core, Over the Top: WWI delivers brutal real-time combat on fully destructible battlefields. Picture this: up to 200 players (or bots for single-player action) clashing in chaotic, mud-soaked arenas inspired by the Western Front. Charge over the top with rifles, hop into rumbling tanks, call in artillery barrages, rain hate with your own mortar, or dig in with machine guns—every inch of ground can be torn apart, creating dynamic trenches and craters on the fly.
Choose from eight specialized classes, each tailored for WW1 authenticity: riflemen for that classic WWI bolt gun experience, engineers for creating trench networks and fighting position masterpieces, or heavy gunners for laying down suppressive fire while your buddies charge into the fray. There are even seasonal changes—spring mud pits, autumn fog, winter snow—that completely alter tactics and visuals. This game is ambitious as hell, it is near pure chaos, and few games out there offer this level of multiplayer battle landscape change/player modification on the fly. When this game drops, don't call me—I won't be touching grass for weeks.
Factions are expanding too. Start with British and German forces in authentic uniforms, weapons, and tanks (like the iconic German A7V), and now the French faction joins the fray in the latest playtest—complete with new rifles and gear.
Play Now: Join the December Playtest Trenches
You don't have to wait for full release to experience the fun. Flying Squirrel has been running frequent free playtests on Steam, refining gunplay (recently overhauled), adding new weapons, and incorporating player feedback via detailed Google forms. The next one kicks off December 10-14, 2025—sign up via the Steam page and dive into the chaos with the fresh French update.
Modes include Instant Battle for quick skirmishes, Build a Battle for custom setups, and a Campaign Mode where rounds evolve across seasons. Multiplayer or solo vs. bots—it's all here, with crazy gore, destruction, and that signature WWI grit.
Why Over the Top Stands Out in the Shooter Crowd
In a sea of WWII and modern shooters, Over the Top: WWI fills a serious gap: large-scale, authentic WWI multiplayer. Forget arcade run-and-gunners—this game emphasizes realism with period-accurate gear, vehicles, weapons, and environments. I had an absolute blast (pun intended) playing the last playtest. The chaos is insane. One moment the battlefield looks fairly clean. The next, shells are landing in your trench, and you just watched five dudes get turned into hamburger—and the enemy decided to put on a charge. They already have proto-mustard gas, I'm excited to see how that plays out. Some maps also feature tanks and airplanes. It is complete mayhem, and I loved every second of it. The ragdolls are so violent you’ll see a dude get artillery’d into low orbit and clip through the map. 10/10 comedy.
Most shooters give you one death animation. Over the Top gives you like 47 different ways to become red mist while your homie screams ‘MEDIIIC’ directly into the void. Bro the voice chat is just 200 dudes with British/German/French accents all yelling ‘GAS GAS GAS’ and ‘WHERE’S THE BLOODY OFFICER’ while someone’s playing La Marseillaise on proximity chat. Peak cinema. I'm pretty sure I bumped into Henry West just before a charge. I lost him, but not before hearing that absolute mad-lad embodying the peak British officer essence while screaming 'CHARGE!'
Make sure you check out the official trailer or gameplay footage to see tanks rolling through shell craters and squads storming barbed wire. Get ready to dig, scream, cry, laugh, and claim victory with the homies.
Until then, here's some more grabs from one of my streams.
Enlist Today—History Awaits
Over the Top: WWI is shaping up to be the definitive digital trench warfare experience. With a passionate dev team iterating rapidly and a community already buzzing from playtests, the full release can't come soon enough. Wishlist it on Steam now, join the Discord, and prep for the December playtest (again, Dec. 10-14). Gear up, brøthers—the Great War is calling.
Follow Flying Squirrel on X for updates, and check their site for more. Photo credits: FSE, Over the Top WWI Steam page, and Over the Top WWI gameplay. Rébél told my mom to tell your mom that the Apothecary sling is still in stock and your grandma’s life savings are looking real spendable right now. Also I’m bringing dino nuggies, two 24-packs of Code Red, and a dream. Tell your mom to leave the front door unlocked, we’re sieging your living room on the 10th.