It's been nearly four decades since the highly trained special mission force codenamed "G.I. Joe" defended freedom against Cobra, the ruthless terrorist organization determined to rule the world. Now that fight for freedom continues on mobile devices in G.I. Joe: War on Cobra. Players build bases to defend resources from other players' attacks, while also recruiting and training units to send into battle in their own attacks on others. Rather than mixing Joe and Cobra forces or locking players into one side or the other, War on Cobra lets players switch factions on the fly, maintaining the progression of each while keeping them separate from one another. Being able to shift between the two sides acts almost like playing two different accounts, with separate rewards, events, etc. earned for each.

Gameplay in War on Cobra is a simple experience, though it's a bit of a grind. Once units are deployed, they essentially operate on autopilot. They attack the nearest structures unless directed to another target, and activating special abilities is just a matter of pointing and clicking when available. On the defense side of things, there's even less direct interaction. Players simply collect resources and use them to place/upgrade base defenses. Bases and structures don't actually take damage from attacks; instead, players just lose some resources. It's quick, fun action that's faithful to the franchise's fanbase, but the grind to earn more powerful characters and the wait to generate resources can be frustrating. While in-game ads constantly promote special purchases to jumpstart players' progress, it's important to know they're not a requirement to enjoy the game. And as any Joe will tell you, "Knowing is half the battle."