The Great Battles is a historical turn-based combat series. Players control one of three military commanders depending on the title, Alexander, Hannibal, and Caesar. Alternatively, players can also control the corresponding aggressors of each military commander, such as Darius or Pompey, and fight against them. Combat in game is turn based, and players choose from a variety of militants, weapons, and strategic formations to compete with. There are over 30 historical engagements across the franchise that can be simulated.[2]
According to Computer Games Strategy Plus, the Great Battles games were "very well received by wargamers", and were successful enough that Interactive Magic worked with Erudite Software again to produce the wargame North vs. South.[8] Alan Dunkin of GameSpot likewise called the series a "relative success".[7]
The Great Battles Collector's Edition won the 1998 Charles Roberts Award for "Best Pre-Twentieth Century Computer Wargame".[9]