Long March: 25,000 Li is a turn-based tactics game about the Central Red Army’s Long March of 1934–1935.
The main campaign follows the route from Yudu in Jiangxi to Wuqi Town in northern Shaanxi. Battles are drawn from real historical events, and historical figures appear under their real names. The campaign begins with the Battle of Wenfang before the march and concludes with the Battle of Zhiluozhen after the army reaches northern Shaanxi.
The March and the Campaign
Travel between battles on a campaign map, revealing each stage of the route and tracking the distance covered. Missions include breaking through blockades, holding defensive positions, forcing river crossings, and maneuvering between enemy forces. Each scenario is designed around the circumstances of the historical operation.
The game is currently in development. The following campaign outline is provisional; content and mission structure may change during development.
Prologue: Wenfang — Learn the basic controls in battle, followed by the strategic withdrawal and assembly at Yudu.
The First Blockade — Break through fortified positions near Xinfeng, secure crossing points, and cover the Central Column and its baggage train as they cross the Tao River.
The Second and Third Blockades — Capture the bridge at Chengkou in a night raid, then hold off enemy forces at Jiufeng Mountain while the column passes.
Daozhou and the Xiang River — Cross the Xiao River and fight through the Xiang River campaign, with missions focused on blocking actions, rearguard defense, and breaking out.
Crossing the Wu River and Taking Zunyi — Cross under fire, then use disguise and surprise to capture the city.
Tucheng and the First Chishui Crossing — Respond to enemy reinforcements, adjust deployments, and cover the army’s withdrawal.
The Second Chishui Crossing and the Zunyi Campaign — Fight for Loushan Pass, attack Zunyi, and engage enemy reinforcements.
The Third and Fourth Chishui Crossings — Use feints, diversionary forces, and maneuver to draw enemy formations away and find a route out of encirclement.
Crossing the Jinsha River — Divert enemy forces, secure the crossing, and organize the army’s passage in successive groups.
Forcing the Dadu River — Launch the crossing from Anshunchang and provide covering fire for the troops on the river.
Taking Luding Bridge — Make a forced march along the Dadu River, reach the bridgehead, and launch the assault.
The Tianquan River and Jiajin Mountain — Break through river defenses, hold off pursuers, and cross the snow-covered mountain.
The Grasslands — Navigate marshes, manage dwindling supplies, and rescue troops who have fallen behind.
The Battle of Baozuo — Fight alongside the Fourth Front Army, assault fortified positions, and intercept reinforcements.
Lazikou Pass — Combine a frontal diversion with a flanking climb to overcome the narrow mountain pass.
Liupan Mountain and Wuqi Town — Strike enemy cavalry, cross Liupan Mountain, and confront pursuing forces after reaching Wuqi Town.
Finale: The Battle of Zhiluozhen — Join forces with the Fifteenth Army Corps, encircle the enemy, and hold off relief forces.
Combat
Each unit represents a body of troops led by a commander. Unit strength is measured in personnel, and casualties affect its ability to continue fighting.
Enemy weapon ranges form overlapping fields of fire. Moving through them can trigger interception fire. Before committing to a move, inspect enemy coverage and the risks along the planned route, then choose your path and order of actions.
Use woods, villages, and fortifications for cover. Combine suppression, return fire, overwatch, and different troop types to approach enemy positions, then choose between shooting and close combat.
Camp and Commanders
Replenish units, recruit troops, and organize equipment at camp before the next battle. Supplies support both marching and combat, so their allocation matters throughout the campaign.
More than twenty commanders join as the campaign progresses, each with their own strengths. Use the roster to inspect their attributes, skills, equipment, and formations, allocate merit earned in battle, and develop different troop classes.
Their stories follow the course of history, and some do not survive to the end. Dialogue and personnel records introduce their experiences during the Long March.
Historical Archive
The in-game archive covers historical figures, battles, places, military formations, and terminology. Entries unlock as the campaign progresses and include source references.
Follow links between related entries, explore the Long March timeline, and consult organizational charts to understand the sequence of events and relationships between formations.
Characters and events are adapted from historical sources. Some scenes and battle details have been dramatized for gameplay.
The game is currently in development. Translations into multiple languages are planned for a later stage.