War Footing features an official hard mode challenge tied to its Cold War Gone Hot scenario, accompanied by a dedicated Steam achievement. While the game challenges players to balance ministerial procurement, budgets, and operational deployments, community testing indicates that current AI pacing allows defensive infantry and anti-air setups to hold the line effectively against enemy assaults.
Hard Mode Scenarios and Achievements
War Footing includes 8 distinct scenarios, each featuring different starting budgets, equipment access, and enemy force configurations. While scenarios like Mass Assault, Iron Curtain, and Air Menace present standard difficulty parameters, the official achievement list specifically tracks a dedicated high-difficulty variant:
| Scenario / Objective | Associated Steam Achievement |
|---|---|
| Any Scenario | Win any scenario |
| All Scenarios | Win all 8 scenarios |
| Cold War Gone Hot | Win the Cold War Gone Hot scenario |
| Cold War Gone Hot (Hard) | Win the Hard Mode: Cold War Gone Hot Scenario |
Winning the hard mode variant unlocks one of the game's 16 base Steam achievements.
Player-Tested Hard Mode Build
According to community feedback on the Steam forums, the current balance allows players to counter hard mode offensives reliably without heavily investing in costly mechanized armor. A tested meta strategy reported by players relies on Russian procurement and heavy garrison deployment:
- Procure Russian hardware to stretch available procurement funding across high-value categories.
- Mobilize 12 garrison units to lock down defensive sectors, taking advantage of strong defensive stats relative to low equipment requirements.
- Add 3 special forces units to bolster high-priority engagements and tactical flexibility.
- Deploy 8 rotary-wing support units (helicopters) to provide responsive ground-attack capabilities across active sectors.
- Secure airspace with 3 surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries and 1 to 3 fighter planes to neutralize incoming hostile sorties.
Player discussions indicate that infantry garrisons currently outperform mechanized alternatives because infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and main battle tanks offer lower returns on investment during short, intense invasion phases.
Enemy AI Behavior in Hard Mode
Forum testers report that the primary challenge in hard mode comes down to resource preparation rather than facing coordinated enemy battle groups. Players have observed key operational tendencies in the opposing forces:
- Scattered Air Sorties: Hostile air power often arrives piecemeal rather than in concentrated strikes. Players report seeing isolated groups of Alpha Jets or individual flights of Fulcrums, which dedicated SAM batteries and light fighter escorts can intercept without suffering heavy losses.
- Lack of Massed Armor Breakthroughs: Opposing armies rarely concentrate combined-arms formations—such as four tank battalions paired with mechanized infantry, rotary wings, and air squadrons—into a single sector. As a result, entrenched defensive lines holding the center sector can stabilize the frontline.
- Abstract Sector Resolution: Because combat resolves sector by sector and week by week without local terrain penalties (such as flat open ground favoring tanks over infantry), dismounted defensive garrisons remain viable throughout the entire engagement.
Technical Specifications and Accessibility
War Footing is developed and published by Strategist's Den Games. If you are preparing an extended run on hard mode, the game includes several accessibility and quality-of-life features:
- Save Anytime: Strategy decisions are turn-based (one turn equals one week), allowing you to review procurement choices and save at your own pace.
- System Requirements: Requires Windows 10 (64-Bit), a Dual-Core 2.0 GHz processor, 4 GB RAM, integrated graphics, and 500 MB of available storage space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which scenario in War Footing has an official hard mode?
The game specifically tracks Hard Mode for the Cold War Gone Hot scenario, which has its own dedicated Steam achievement titled "Win the Hard Mode: Cold War Gone Hot Scenario."
Are tanks necessary to win hard mode?
According to Steam player reports, tanks and mechanized units are currently not required to clear hard mode. Players report greater cost efficiency by massing defensive garrisons, SAMs, and attack helicopters.
What enemy aircraft appear during the invasion?
Community reports on hard mode playtests note occasional deployments of Alpha Jet strike groups and Fulcrum fighters.
