Countryballs at War is a grand strategy game that includes turn-based mechanics and real-time combat elements. The main goal is to elevate your country to global superpower status by building and maintaining powerful armies, managing tax policies, boosting citizen happiness, and upgrading your country's infrastructure and resources. Players must strategize carefully to expand their influence while managing internal and external challenges.
During gameplay, players can engage in diplomatic and military actions such as declaring wars, forming alliances, sending requests for support, signing peace treaties, offering peace terms, and puppeteering weaker nations. Diplomacy requires strategic decision-making because enemies will frequently attempt to reclaim territories and destroy players’ armies. Failing to effectively control your country may lead to rebellions, which can result in significant territorial and military losses, undermining your efforts to dominate.
Each turn begins with a set number of attack and diplomacy points, which are required to perform various actions. Attacking a territory consumes an attack point, while diplomacy actions use diplomacy points. These points are reset after each turn, but players can upgrade their limits by investing in academies. This system encourages thoughtful planning, as players need to decide when and how to allocate their points to maximize both offensive and diplomatic capabilities.
Combat involves sending units from various military structures such as Barracks and Artillery Depots to cross enemy borders and secure victory. Building a formidable army requires unlocking new units and upgrading them using resources. Countries possess unique units, and additional units are planned for future updates. The game also features dynamic events like pirate invasions, which can threaten territories with seaports, adding an extra layer of strategic challenges. Unlocking secret countryballs adds an exploration element, with hints provided to help discover hidden characters, enhancing gameplay intrigue and replayability.