Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Time to arm up.
Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMtdcVWr1f6k
World War III: Black Gold is a real-time strategy game developed by Reality Pump and originally published by JoWood Productions. It was first released on October 16, 2001 for Windows.
The game is a traditional real-time strategy game. It uses the same engine as the Earth 2150 series of games, and shares many of the same features, such as unit customisation, underground tunnels, and a non-linear tech tree.
In the early 21st century, the United Nations realise that the world's oil reserves will run out in less than twenty years. The UN decides to cease the oil fields of the Middle East, which are controlled by a coalition of Arab countries headed by Iraq. NATO is tasked with securing the oil, and invades Iraq in November 2001. Meanwhile, Russia sets its eyes on the Baku oil fields to save their economy.
World War III: Black Gold has three playable factions: the United States, Iraq, and Russia. The game is more grounded than the Earth games - structures are delivered to the field via helicopter rather than built, all factions mostly use real-life military hardware, and the plot is driven by geopolitics.
The game received mixed to positive reviews. Reviewers noted the game's features, such as high realism and day-night cycle, but also criticised the controls, muddy visuals, and pace.
Time to arm up.
Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMtdcVWr1f6k
World War III: Black Gold is a real-time strategy game developed by Reality Pump and originally published by JoWood Productions. It was first released on October 16, 2001 for Windows.
The game is a traditional real-time strategy game. It uses the same engine as the Earth 2150 series of games, and shares many of the same features, such as unit customisation, underground tunnels, and a non-linear tech tree.
In the early 21st century, the United Nations realise that the world's oil reserves will run out in less than twenty years. The UN decides to cease the oil fields of the Middle East, which are controlled by a coalition of Arab countries headed by Iraq. NATO is tasked with securing the oil, and invades Iraq in November 2001. Meanwhile, Russia sets its eyes on the Baku oil fields to save their economy.
World War III: Black Gold has three playable factions: the United States, Iraq, and Russia. The game is more grounded than the Earth games - structures are delivered to the field via helicopter rather than built, all factions mostly use real-life military hardware, and the plot is driven by geopolitics.
The game received mixed to positive reviews. Reviewers noted the game's features, such as high realism and day-night cycle, but also criticised the controls, muddy visuals, and pace.
