Cossacks: European Wars is a classic 2001 Real-Time Strategy game set in 17th and 18th-century Europe, featuring sixteen unique nations. The core loop involves resource gathering, base construction, and managing historical conflicts like the Thirty Years' War. Its defining feature is the ability to control a massive, virtually unlimited number of military units simultaneously, shifting focus to large-scale army management. The game also includes an in-game encyclopedia for historical context.
The gameplay loop centers on traditional RTS mechanics blended with large-scale military engagements. Players must gather essential resources to sustain their growing populations and military forces. Strategic depth is introduced through nation-specific advancements, allowing players to tailor their development path to suit their chosen faction. The isometric perspective offers a clear view of the developing battlefield and burgeoning settlements.
The strategic focus is heavily weighted toward large-scale military operations. Unlike many contemporaries, this game is renowned for allowing players to command a seemingly unlimited number of units on screen simultaneously. This mechanic fundamentally shifts the scale of combat, demanding macro-level management of massive armies rather than small, squad-based tactics.
A notable feature that sets this title apart is its commitment to historical context. Beyond the gameplay scenarios based on real historical conflicts, the game includes a comprehensive encyclopedia. This resource allows players to delve into the history, units, and technologies present during the game's setting, offering an element of historical learning alongside the strategic challenges.
The game is distinguished by its capacity to support massive unit counts in battles, a feature that significantly differentiates its approach to RTS warfare compared to other titles of its era.
As a main game released in 2001, this title does not feature any official Downloadable Content (DLCs) or official expansions released after its initial launch. It has, however, received one remake since its debut.
The content of this game is suitable for persons aged 12 years and over only. It contains: Realistic looking violence.

Cossacks 3 is the third main game in the long-running historical real-time strategy series. This entry is described as a remake of the concept of the original games and it has a mix of different elements such as base building, resource gathering and the production of raw materials, a technology tree and a full economy, but also the large-scale battles with up to 10,000 units on a single battlefield in full 3D similar to the Total War series. Battle elements include a limited supply of weapons, the impact of the landscape, and the use of tactical formations. The game is based on history of the 17th and 18th century and contains twelve nations, 70 different unit types, more than 140 historical buildings and 100 research opportunities. Battles are done on land as well as on sea using a full armade of ships. The single-player portions consists of five campaigns and multiplayer is supported for up to eight players on a single map. Randomly generated maps can be used to challenge computer opponents.

Back to War is the second expansion pack, and it can be played as a standalone. Cossacks: Back to War adds two new nations (Switzerland and Hungary) to the choices from Cossacks: European Wars and Cossacks: Art of War because of their influence on European history. There are also new maps, a tutorial campaign and a map-editor. It adds several units to various countries, new cannon types and alters some parameters such as building time, upgrade and building costs.

Cossacks: The Art of War – continues the history of the great battles of XVII–XVIII centuries, and introduces five new campaigns, two nations, some new units and much more.