Over half a million soldiers fought at Leipzig in 1813, while fewer than three hundred held the Alamo. Each round shows two battles from roughly the same period, with the numbers hidden. Tap the one where more soldiers fought, both sides together. The longer your run, the closer the two armies get. One wrong call ends the game. After each answer you see both numbers, the strength of each side and links to the full stories.
Which Battle Was Bigger?
Frequently asked questions
Where do the numbers come from?
From the fact tables of our battle articles, which cite their sources. We add up the strength of both sides. Where the sources give a range, the game keeps the whole range.
Ancient armies are disputed. Is that fair?
Yes. A pair of battles only appears if the bigger one is more than 25% larger than the smaller one across the whole range of estimates. Figures that our articles dismiss as exaggerated are left out completely.
How long is a game?
Until your first mistake, or a perfect campaign of 25 in a row. The pairs start up to three times apart and get closer as your run grows. You get one pass per game to swap a pair you have no idea about.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. Tap the bigger battle. On a computer you can also press 1 or 2, or the left and right arrows.
Battle honors of your homeland
The turning points of history
Marathon, Gaugamela, Cannae, Constantinople, Waterloo, Stalingrad: the days the world changed course.
Relive the battles
Echoes of Battle brings 40 of history's greatest battles to life, scene by scene, with a real-time tactical mode in the works. Enlist below and we will send word to your inbox the day it launches.