North & South

Wage the American Civil War with a winning mix of map strategy and arcade battles in this charming, comic-inspired classic — North & South costs nothing to start here, puts nothing on your hard drive, and asks for no account. Infogrames' beloved 1989 action-strategy game loads in seconds and blends light turn-based maneuvering with hands-on battles, train raids, and fort assaults. A phone will display it, but ordering cavalry, cannon and infantry means holding a direction and an action key at the same moment, and that combination has no comfortable touch equivalent.

How to Play North & South Online

Getting into the war takes seconds:

1. Use the Play button on this page; North & South opens on its comic-styled title screen.
2. It is a small game and comes up quickly, running in this browser window rather than on your machine.
3. Click inside the game frame so the arrow keys command your troops instead of scrolling the page.
4. Choose your side — the Union (North) or the Confederacy (South) — and a scenario.
5. Move your armies on the map, then fight the battles that result.

North & South mixes strategy and action — maneuver your armies wisely on the map, then win the arcade battles to seize territory.

Controls

North & South is played with the keyboard, across map and battle phases:

In battles you directly control your infantry, cavalry, and cannon — coordinate them, using cavalry charges and artillery fire to break the enemy line.

What Is North & South?

North & South is an action-strategy game developed by Infogrames and released in 1989 for MS-DOS and other platforms, inspired by the Belgian comic series "Les Tuniques Bleues" (The Bluecoats). Set during the American Civil War, it lets you take command of either the Union or the Confederate side, combining a light strategic map game — where you move armies between states and gather resources — with arcade action battles that play out when forces clash, all delivered with a lighthearted, comic tone.

North & South is fondly remembered for its winning blend of accessibility, variety, and humor. The strategic layer is simple and fast, keeping the focus on fun, while the action sequences are the highlight: real-time battles where you directly control infantry, cavalry, and artillery, plus separate mini-games for raiding trains and storming or defending forts. Its mix of light strategy and lively arcade combat, charming presentation, and great two-player mode made it a hit and an enduring favorite, especially in Europe. It's easy to pick up and endlessly replayable.

How the Game Works / Gameplay Basics

The game alternates between a strategic map and action battles. On the map of the United States, you move your armies between territories turn by turn, capturing states, collecting reinforcements and money (via control of regions and incoming supplies), and maneuvering to confront the enemy. The strategy is deliberately simple and quick, setting up the confrontations rather than bogging you down in detail. Random events like weather and Indian or Mexican raids can shake things up.

When two armies meet, the game switches to a real-time arcade battle where you directly command your forces — infantry, cavalry, and cannon — across a side-view battlefield. You charge with cavalry, fire cannons, and advance infantry to wipe out the opposing army, with skillful control often beating a numerical disadvantage. Beyond field battles, special sequences have you raid trains to steal resources or assault and defend forts in their own action mini-games. This variety — light map strategy punctuated by several styles of hands-on action — gives North & South its breezy, replayable appeal, and it's especially fun in its competitive two-player mode.

Beginner Tips

• Maneuver smartly on the map. Position your armies to gang up and cut off the enemy.
• Master the battles. Coordinate infantry, cavalry, and cannon to win fights.
• Use cavalry charges. Fast cavalry can break enemy lines if timed well.
• Aim your cannons. Artillery can thin out the enemy before they reach you.
• Control key regions. Holding territory brings reinforcements and money.
• Practice the mini-games. Train raids and fort assaults reward learning their controls.

Why Play North & South Online?

North & South was a European favourite that never travelled easily, and a browser tab does more for that than any re-release has managed. The two-player mode that built its reputation stops being a logistical exercise as well: no floppy to dig out, no second machine to arrange, just two people either side of one keyboard. Whether you want a single skirmish or a campaign fought state by state, the war sits the same short distance away each time.

No files land on your machine, so the same war is waiting on a work laptop, a family desktop, or whatever happens to be free. Not many strategy games this quick to grasp are also this quick to reach.

Troubleshooting

• Game won't start? Check the screen before assuming it's broken: the game parks on its scenario and side selection and moves nothing until you pick the Union or the Confederacy. A page reload clears anything that has genuinely stalled.
• Keyboard not responding? Both the campaign map and the battles are keyboard-driven, so click inside the frame before you try to move an army.
• Running slowly? Close other browser tabs and heavy applications if the battles, where infantry, cavalry, and cannon are all in motion at once, start to stutter.
• No sound? Cannon fire and bugle calls tell you how a fight is going while your eyes stay on your own units.
• Screen too small? Fullscreen makes the state borders and army markers on the campaign map far easier to tell apart.
• Losing battles? Practice controlling your units and use cavalry and cannon together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North & South free to play online? Yes. Infogrames sold this on floppy across Europe at full price in 1989; the same game now opens in a tab for nothing.

Does anything need setting up before the first battle? No. The whole game is served with the page, so you can be choosing a starting year on the campaign map within moments of arriving.

Can I play North & South on mobile? You can, but the arcade battles move fast, and the campaign map packs state borders and army markers into a small space — both go better with a keyboard and a larger screen.

Is this the original 1989 North & South? Correct. This is the Infogrames game from 1989, not a remake or a later conversion.

What kind of game is North & South? It's a blend of light turn-based map strategy and arcade action battles, including train raids and fort assaults.

Can I save my progress? The game is scenario-based and quick to play, so you tackle campaigns in a session rather than saving a long game.

The Civil War and a nation divided await. Load it up and choose your side.