Release Date: July 10th 2025

Developer: Blindflug Studios AG

Genre:  Simulation, Strategy, Early Access

Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2308690/Ground_of_Aces/

Every so often, a game comes along that surprises you in the best way, and for us, that’s Ground of Aces. Developed by Blindflug Studios AG, this WWII airbase management game is already shaping up to be something special. After several hours building our base, we walked away genuinely impressed, not just by the attention to detail, but by how immersive the world feels to us

If you’re a fan of management sims, history, or just a lover of new, unique games, we highly recommend reading ahead to find out if Ground of Aces is for you!

The Basics – What Is Ground of Aces?

Set during the early years of WWII, Ground of Aces puts you in charge of an airbase, where you must:

✅ Build and optimise your base layout.
✅ Manage resources, aircraft repairs, and pilot morale.
✅ Strategically deploy your planes for missions while keeping your crew alive.

There’s a clear inspiration from colony management games, but with a strong focus on WWII-era aviation details, which is a unique and creative combination that we think really needed to be explored

The art style pops immediately, with bright, bold colours and incredibly well-designed aircraft models that look fantastic even zoomed out. I can’t stress this point enough; the team has done an excellent job with these designs.

What’s Working So Far?

1. The Aircraft Are Stunning

Each plane feels incredibly well-crafted, and aviation fans will have a a seriously great time spotting historical details. Managing their upkeep feels meaningful. Every time you send a plane out, you can really feel the tension of whether it’ll return intact.

2. Building Feels Strategic (and Personal)

Unlike some base builders where you can just throw buildings down randomly, here, the layout matters, the choices you make at the beginning have longer effects on your gameplay, and it’s crucial to use some planning to ensure your base is optimal.

It also gives your base character, after a few hours, your airfield feels like your airfield, the decoration you can add is charming, and has a genuine effect on your crew’s attitude.

3. The Crew Stories Add Humanity

Pilots and crew have individual personalities and needs, which makes every loss sting. One of my saddest moments was when my first pilot passed away during an attack on my base. I felt the loss heavy in my heart; he had won so many missions for me, and it’s these moments that draw you into the game, and keep you returning for more.

Things to keep in mind (It’s Early Access, After All)

The Learning curve can feel steep

It’s not a huge surprise to learn that the game has many mechanics, balancing different resources, design choices, keeping your people happy and completing missions, whilst incredibly fun, it is a lot to wrap your head around. It doesn’t hold your hand for long, but the sense of satisfaction when you figure it out is highly rewarding.

Limited Mission Variety… For Now

Early missions can feel limited, but the roadmap promises more diverse objectives, which could expand on this so quickly and easily.

The roadmap suggests a lot of content planned, which only makes things that extra bit exciting!

Should You Jump In Now?

Ground of Aces isn’t just a promising game; it’s already a fantastic experience for strategy and history fans, even at this early stage. The mix of management, unique personality, and love for aviation history makes it feel unique, and we truly can’t wait to see how it grows.

If you’re even a little curious about WWII strategy or base-building games, we highly recommend jumping in, and when you do, you should check out their official Discord for more details on what’s yet to come, and leave any suggestions for the team!

Have You Tried It Yet?

We’d love to hear what you think. Drop your thoughts in the comments or join the XO Discord to chat with us about your own airbase stories!