gaming
Machine Games/DICE/Ubisoft Montpelier
By: Daniel Horowitz
Published Mar 29, 2024
War games have long been a popular genre in video games, as they allow players to experience strategic thinking and combat in immersive simulated environments. Series like Call of Duty and Battlefield have become staples that showcase the first-person shooter style of war games. With their cutting-edge graphics and online multiplayer modes, these franchises continue to attract new fans with each release.
However, war games encompass more than just the blockbuster FPS titles. In this list, we'll highlight some of the best from that AAA tier, while also highlighting some less mainstream war games across other genres. Whether you prefer real-time strategy, squad-based tactics, or historical simulations, there are compelling war games that capture warfare from unexpected angles. While Battlefield and Call of Duty deserve their place in the pantheon, the best war games will immerse you in the experience of war and not only show its thrilling adrenaline-fueled elements that translate well to video games but also their darkness and moral dilemmas as well.
1. Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Valiant Hearts: The Great War puts the emotional toll of war front and center. This puzzle-adventure game takes players through relatable stories of soldiers, medics, and civilians caught in the devastation of World War I. Beautiful hand-drawn art creates an engaging backdrop as you help guide the game's heroes across bloody battlefields and quiet villages. Throughout, Valiant Hearts explores poignant themes like duty, family bonds, and the ethical dilemmas forced upon ordinary people in times of war. It's a thoughtful look at the very human perspectives often lost amid battlefield strategy and glory.
2. This War of Mine
This War of Mine provides a gripping look at the impact of war not on soldiers, but on civilian populations left vulnerable and desperate. As you control a group of survivors stranded in a besieged city, every day becomes a tense struggle to meet basic needs for food, medicine, and shelter. With its gritty black-and-white art style and despairing backdrop of war-torn streets, This War of Mine captures the pain and loss of those caught helplessly in the crossfire. It's a powerful war game that eschews combat and glory for a grounded look at degradation, fear, and the emotional toll of conflict. Few games convey the horror of war as vividly from a civilian point of view.
3. Spec Ops: The Line
Spec Ops: The Line reinvented the military shooter by bringing the grim reality of war front and center. What begins as a standard mission to save civilians in post-disaster Dubai soon descends into an odyssey questioning the sanity and morality of leading men into combat. With its provocative storytelling, visceral action, and thought-provoking critique of battlefield glory, Spec Ops channels the complexity and horrors of war like few in its genre. It leads players to question calls of duty, chains of command, and their own complicity in war, blending tight third-person shooting mechanics with a layered narrative that scrutinizes war by deconstructing its impact.
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
The Call of Duty series has long established itself as the premier FPS experience, but 2019's Modern Warfare took the franchise to new heights by capturing the intensity of today's ambiguous battlefields. Players are thrust into tense scenarios ranging from nighttime raids to escaped terrorist manhunts that highlight the gritty realities of special operations. Combined with best-in-class gunplay and audio design, Modern Warfare meticulously recreates the sensation of modern engagements, where threats lurk in plain sight and split-second decisions carry grave consequences. It marks a high point for the series with improved mechanics and a campaign that eerily mirrors actual scenarios faced by today's armed forces.
5. Company of Heroes 2
As the definitive entry in the acclaimed Company of Heroes series, Company of Heroes 2 delivers a peerless real-time strategy experience focused on Eastern Front warfare in WWII. From the frozen expanses around Stalingrad to the Soviet counteroffensive driving toward Berlin, players command armies through meticulously rendered environments based on actual battlefield conditions. Company of Heroes 2 excels at squad-based tactics, demanding expert management under relentless pressure. Between visual flourishes like trailing footprints in the snow and sophisticated unit abilities, Company of Heroes 2 provides unparalleled battlefield immersion wrapped in competitive multiplayer leagues. Though the series continues with Company of Heroes 3, this second installment, as well as its expansions, remains the crown jewel—portraying the staggering scale of war with panache and strategic depth that sets the RTS standard for war games.
6. Battlefield 1
As the Battlefield series has grown into a multiplayer juggernaut, Battlefield 1 marked a triumphant return to form by capturing the sights and sounds of WWI. DICE's frostbite engine is in full force, recreating epic battles from the Somme to the Alps with a level of chaos and grit unmatched in previous series entries. Whether you take to the skies as a fighter pilot or drive across no man's land in a tank, Battlefield 1 surrounds you with the weapons and vehicles that defined the Great War. Combined with the series' celebrated conquering of capture points, Battlefield 1 melds gorgeous rendering, fluid movement, and booming audio into a showcase event for 64-player online warfare. With refined mechanics and an arsenal of vintage firearms at your fingertips, Battlefield 1 firmly established itself as the definitive current-gen World War 1 conflict simulator.
7. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
As one of the forefathers of cinematic warfare in games, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault brought Saving Private Ryan-esque intensity to gamers back in 2002. Landing on Omaha Beach to the blistering crack of machine gun fire helped pioneer harrowing D-Day recreations that still set standards today. From sniping behind enemy lines at the Battle of the Bulge to infiltrating U-boats, Allied Assault captured WWII's iconic battles with grit and visceral action that inspired future franchise juggernauts like Call of Duty. Though very dated by today's photorealistic graphics standards, Allied Assault's smooth FPS gunplay, heroic single-player campaign, and blistering multiplayer cemented it as a landmark shooter. It honored the men who fought through the most massive battles in history while pioneering gameplay concepts that turned war games into an immersive mainstream spectacle.
8. Wolfenstein: The New Order
Wolfenstein: The New Order breathed new life into the iconic Wolfenstein franchise by blending over-the-top alt-history sci-fi with a surprisingly impactful storyline. As stalwart protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz, players wake from a coma to find the Nazis won WWII and now rule the entire planet with twisted super-technology. What follows is a globe-spanning one-man guerilla war against these high-tech invaders. Wolfenstein: The New Order modernized the series with slick gunplay and cover mechanics while retaining old-school run-and-gun sensibilities. Peppered with emotionally grounded scenes between firefights, it succeeds at making B.J. more than just a robotic Nazi killer. This reimagining of Wolfenstein united addictive first-person action with clever world-building and characters you truly cared about.
9. Call of Duty: WWII
After futuristic escapades, Call of Duty: WWII marked a triumphant homecoming for the juggernaut franchise by revisiting the most iconic setting in war game history—the European theater of World War II. Developer Sledgehammer Games captures the gritty sights and sounds that define wartime battlegrounds like the Normandy beaches and snowy Belgian forests. Combined with a standout campaign recounting the exploits of the 1st Infantry Division and a rejuvenated focus on boots-on-the-ground multiplayer, Call of Duty: WWII felt like a nostalgic celebration of the series' roots. Superior graphics bring scenarios like the D-Day landings to life with an unrivaled level of visceral realism that upholds the legacy of those who fought there. For longtime fans, Call of Duty: WWII scratches that classic military itch in bombastic fashion.
10. Battlefield 4
Battlefield 4 is the apex of DICE's seminal Battlefield series, perfecting the ambitious, large-scale warfare the franchise is renowned for. As the definitive entry in the franchise, Battlefield 4 flaunts best-in-class graphics, animations, and sound design to immerse players in the hardware of modern war - from the recoil of a M416 rifle to the earth-shaking blast of tank shells. Coupled with urban combat across intricately designed maps harboring land, air, and sea vehicles, Battlefield 4 captures the towering scale yet precise chaos that makes the Battlefield series special. Whether coordinating a squad in the multiplayer sandbox or sabotaging enemy warships in the campaign, Battlefield 4 is a technical and gameplay marvel that keeps raising the bar for multiplayer war games. Even years later, it remains the standard-bearer for strategic sandbox combat.
11. Hell Let Loose
Hell Let Loose has carved out a niche for itself by emphasizing coordination and teamwork within large-scale WWII battlefield recreations. Focusing solely on multiplayer, Hell Let Loose throws players into pivotal skirmishes like Omaha Beach and the Battle of Carentan as one of 14 distinct soldier classes across armies. The result is an intensely strategic experience requiring communication and roleplaying mastery amid moving troop formations. Hell Let Loose minimizes the lone-wolf theatrics typical of the genre, instead cultivating a satisfying interdependence between participants to capture the rigors of WWII squad tactics. For those seeking hardcore battlefield simulations, Hell Let Loose’s deliberately paced and cerebral tactics are a good fit.
12. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War propels the iconic series into the 1980s with an engrossing single-player campaign that explores conspiracy and subterfuge in the shadow of the Cold War. The ambitious globe-trotting story visits flashpoint locations like Vietnam, East Berlin and Soviet KGB headquarters. A particular standout is the Vietnam level, where Treyarch's graphics showcase the hellish conditions of jungle warfare in vivid, terrifying detail. Between booby traps tripping along muddy trails and air support bombarding Viet Cong tunnels, Black Ops Cold War plunges you into the chaotic nexus where covert operatives and proxy militias vie for power behind the scenes. With multiplayer and zombies also baked in, Black Ops Cold War hits the bullseye as an action-oriented war game fixated on those pivotal years when the world held its breath.
13. Rising Storm 2: Vietnam
As the preeminent tactical military shooter centered on the Vietnam War, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam accurately simulates the brutality of asymmetric jungle warfare in the 1960s. The devs at Antimatter Games and Tripwire Interactive focus on extreme authenticity from period weaponry like M60s to detailed recreations of notorious battles around Hue City and the Mekong Delta. Match these painstaking tactical sandbox maps with mechanics promoting teamwork like squad spawning and officer roles, and Rising Storm 2 becomes a grueling test of coordination under oppressive fire against a cunning opponent. Dripping with atmosphere from the undergrowth of elephant grass to the distinctive Vietnam-era soundtrack, Rising Storm 2 is a hardcore war game that punishes the slightest tactical mistake, rendering Vietnam as a hellscape fine-tuned to wage virtual war.
14. Arma 3
One of the best war games out there, Arma 3 offers an unparalleled sandbox of true combined arms warfare across air, land, and sea. Its vast, open-world maps based on real-world locations allow you to approach objectives with creative flexibility using over 300 highly detailed vehicles and weapons. From coordinating aviation and artillery strikes to clearing compounds room-by-room, Arma 3 strives for rigorous authenticity while opening up endless tactical possibilities. Coupled with diverse multiplayer modes and a built-in editor to customize missions, Arma 3 sets the stage for emergent moments of battlefield glory. While obtuse controls provide a steep learning curve, those willing to master Arma 3's intricacies will discover the most fully-featured and customizable modern combat experience available.
15. War of Rights
As one of the only games to capture the scale and savagery of the American Civil War, War of Rights shows special promise even in its current Early Access state. Its action exclusively focuses on the bloodiest conflict ever fought on American soil, with battlefields painstakingly modeled off historical skirmishes like Antietam and Gettysburg. Regiments of players from firing lines, cavalry charges, and artillery batteries that assault objectives with coordination emphasizing squad-level cohesion. With bayonet melee and cannon barrages perfectly recreating mid-19th century warfare technology, War of Rights delivers a visually stunning, emotionally authentic Civil War game diverse in tactical possibility. Though still rough around the edges pending final release, War of Rights' narrow focus on a neglected historical subject already sets it apart as a diamond in the rough for armchair generals.
16. Squad
As one of the premier tactical military shooters, Squad strikes the perfect balance between hardcore realism and accessible teamwork. Matches unfold across expansive maps based on real-world locales allowing up to 50 players to battle as customizable soldiers belonging to conventional and special forces. Squad emphasizes communication-driven coordination of infantry, armor, and air units along combined arms objectives. Lean damage modeling and the absence of crosshairs or kill feeds ensure a grounded experience where situational awareness and spatial sound are key. Whether gingerly breaching compounds in night vision goggles or providing long-range sniper overwatch, Squad immerses through both life-like audio effects and the rapport between players cooperating amid the fray. For those seeking a lethal yet cerebral middle ground between arcade shooters and impenetrable sims, Squad’s camaraderie and thinking man’s warfare make it among the best war games.
17. Six Days in Fallujah
Six Days in Fallujah has been enveloped in controversy since its inception over a decade ago. Originally announced in 2009 before being dropped by publisher Konami due to its realism depicting the Second Battle of Fallujah in Iraq, this tactical shooter is finally in Early Access after years in limbo. Developed in conjunction with war veterans who experienced the intense urban combat firsthand, Six Days in Fallujah aims for an unprecedented level of authenticity recreating house-to-house fighting that defined one of the Iraq War's bloodiest chapters. With advanced AI and armor/ballistics modeling, the game's fidelity and sensitive subject matter sets a new standard for realism across war games. For better or worse, Six Days in Fallujah seems destined to ignite debate over what constitutes acceptable video game combat when inspired by modern frontline tragedy.
18. Starship Troopers: Extermination
Though set in the fictional bug-hunting universe of the Starship Troopers film franchise, Starship Troopers: Extermination succeeds at mirroring the frenetic danger and camaraderie of infantry combat. Landing on alien planets teeming with insectoid foes in missions paralleling Vietnam's jungle quagmires, players must carefully utilize squad commands to suppress and outflank the enemy through diverse environments. While further exploring the Starship Troopers lore, Extermination carved out a niche as an arcade-style war game translating the movie's gung-ho attitude into hectic ground battles. It proves you don't need realism to evoke the stress and exhilaration of combat within cleverly designed levels, weaving exaggerated yet effective action that carries real wartime lessons despite its fictional wrapper and Early Access status.
19. Enlisted
As a rare foray into MMO-inspired war games, Enlisted offers sprawling battles across iconic WWII fronts highlighted by player progression tied to squad management. Matches feature teams of dozens each controlling customizable squads advancing through large-scale conflicts from Normandy to Berlin. FPS gunplay requires aiming skill, but the real draw is leveling up individual soldiers under your command, and unlocking new gear that carries between matches. Combined with equipment captured mid-battle allowing you to switch weapon roles, Enlisted incentivizes playing smart to enable your AI-led crews. For those daunted by hardcore shooters but still seeking ambitious WWII gameplay, Enlisted cleverly hybridizes modern multiplayer hooks with a slick rendering of history's greatest armed conflict. Its novel mix of depth, challenge and bite-sized action makes for war gaming at its most addictive.
20. World of Tanks
As one of the most popular free-to-play combat MMOs, World of Tanks dominates a niche catering to armchair tank enthusiasts. Allowing players to pledge allegiance to historic American, German, Soviet, or British armored divisions before contributing to team-based 15v15 tank battles, World of Tanks nails the fantasy of commandeering steel behemoths across WWII battlefields. Unlockable tanks run the gamut from nimble scouts to lumbering heavies, and each has distinct roles to master across rolling hills or urban grids. Combined with custom shell types and upgrade trees tailored for diverse playstyles, World of Tanks delivers a robust test of tactical prowess, making it one of the best war games out there. Its sheer wealth of historically-modeled tanks and huge growth from eSports curiosity to globe-spanning phenomenon cements World of Tanks as a juggernaut in 20th-century armored warfare.
