The world of board gaming offers an array of themes, with war games standing out as some of the most engaging and thrilling experiences available. These games immerse players in epic battles, demanding strategic planning and tactical execution. Whether you're looking for a game that wraps up in a single evening or one that takes you through an entire day, the selections below promise a rich, strategic journey. Grab your friends, prepare some snacks and drinks, and get ready for an exhilarating adventure in warfare strategy.
For those planning to dive into longer games, here are some tips to ensure a smooth experience: Consider downloading a PDF version of the rulebook, which is often available for free from publishers, and have everyone read it in advance. Encourage players to handle administrative tasks, like sorting their hands or counters, outside of their turns. You might also want to set a time limit per turn, if everyone agrees. With these preparations in place, let's explore the top war board games:
TL;DR: These Are the Best War Board Games
Arcs
Dune: War for Arrakis
Sniper Elite: The Board Game
Twilight Imperium IV
Blood Rage
Dune
Kemet: Blood and Sand
Star Wars: Rebellion
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
Undaunted: Normandy / Undaunted: North Africa
Root
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
War of the Ring
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
Arcs
### Arcs
0See it
War games designed for more than two players must balance the action on the board with the negotiation and alliances that occur among players. Arcs masterfully blends these elements, as highlighted in our 10/10 review. Its innovative mechanics, inspired by the trick-taking tradition of playing cards, offer multiple strategic options. Yet, it also delivers intense spacecraft battles on a circular board that encourages aggression and discourages defensive play. Remarkably, Arcs allows you to build a comprehensive space empire in under two hours, making it perfect for considering the narrative campaign expansion.
Dune: War for Arrakis
### Dune: War for Arrakis
1See it at Amazon
Don't mistake this for the multi-player negotiation game Dune listed further down - War for Arrakis is a fierce, head-to-head battle for two, pitting the noble Atreides against the nefarious Harkonnen in a fight for the precious spice. This highly asymmetric game features the guerilla tactics of the Atreides, their Fremen allies, and summoned sandworms clashing against the larger, wealthier forces of the Harkonnen. The latter must focus on harvesting and shipping spice to maintain economic superiority. Designed by the same team behind War of the Ring, this game uses quality plastic miniatures and an excellent action dice system that constantly forces you to reassess your strategies, all while offering a faster playtime.
Sniper Elite: The Board Game
### Sniper Elite: The Board Game
1See it at Amazon
Fans of the video game series may be surprised by the close-quarters action of this tabletop adaptation, but its charm should not be underestimated. The stealth elements are preserved as the sniper player maneuvers slowly and silently against the clock, while the German player controls squads trying to detect them. The game adds a layer of historical authenticity that the video game lacks, with thematic components and more realistic combat. With two different boards and various sniper loadout options and squad specialists, it offers significant replay value and tactical depth.
Twilight Imperium IV
### Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
8See it at Amazon
For an epic all-day experience, Twilight Imperium IV is unmatched. This sci-fi civilization-building game features bizarre aliens researching technology and building fleets to vie for control over a dynamic galactic hex map. While diplomacy and political decrees play a significant role, the game is anchored by a solid strategic core. The strategy card system, where players select a special focus each round, is a standout feature. This fourth edition maintains the game's sweeping scope while making it more accessible by trimming unnecessary complexity.
Blood Rage
### Blood Rage
1See it at Amazon
In Blood Rage, you lead a Viking clan into the end times of Ragnarök, aiming to gain glory through rage, axes, and horns. Beneath its violent theme and visually appealing components lies a game of strategic depth. Players draft cards to support their actions each round, carefully managing warriors and monsters to pillage regions and fulfill quests. The exciting blind battle card system adds a layer of tension as you compete for glory. This game masterfully blends tactical challenge, theme, and outright brutality, making it a definitive conflict-based classic.
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Dune
### Dune
7See it at Amazon
Dune offers a unique futuristic experience, distinct from Dune: Imperium. Based on Frank Herbert's novel and first released in 1979, it was ahead of its time. With minimal randomness, the game hinges on hidden information and asymmetrical strategies. Each player embodies a faction from the book, with unique powers like the Atreides' ability to peek at auctioned cards or the Harkonnen's knowledge of secret traitors. This new edition features streamlined rules and stunning artwork, evoking the novel's narrative and political themes.
Kemet: Blood and Sand
### Kemet Blood and Sand
0See it at Amazon
Imagine ancient Egypt's gods and mythical creatures descending into the desert to battle fiercely. That's Kemet. The game's tech pyramids allow you to customize your strategy with special powers for attack and defense. The shared battle cards lead to mind games as you try to predict your opponent's moves. With its unique board layout, there's no hiding, and the action moves at a breathtaking pace, emphasizing out-and-out violence.
Star Wars: Rebellion
### Star Wars: Rebellion
14See it at Amazon
Star Wars: Rebellion creatively recreates the beloved franchise on your table. As the Rebellion player, you're the underdog, trying to survive while winning planets over to your cause. Meanwhile, the Empire uses its vast military might to crush dissent. This asymmetric struggle is populated by iconic characters and events, but the narrative unfolds based on your choices. The game's strategic depth ensures each turn is filled with challenge and variety.
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
### Conflict of Heroes: Awakening The Bear
0See it at Amazon
Tactical wargames focusing on squad or individual soldier actions can be complex. The Conflict of Heroes series strikes the perfect balance, using a simple system of action points, dice, and varying front and rear defense values to deliver excitement, realism, and tactical challenge. Starting simple, it expands to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks, providing a full World War 2 experience. The command point system, allowing extra actions during your opponent's turn, adds a layer of strategic brilliance.
Undaunted: Normandy & Undaunted: North Africa
### Undaunted: Normandy
5See it at Amazon
### Undaunted: North Africa
3See it at Amazon
### Undaunted Stalingrad
1See it at Amazon
The Undaunted series uses deck-building mechanics to simulate infantry combat with just a few rules. Officer cards allow you to add new units to your deck, representing orders and supplies to soldiers. Unit cards move matching troop counters on a modular map, engaging enemies and seizing objectives. As casualties mount, your deck thins, reflecting morale erosion. These games offer an accessible and engaging way to experience pivotal moments of the Second World War.
Root
### Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
18$59.99 save 25%$44.99 at Amazon
Root is a shorter game that boldly emphasizes asymmetry. Four factions vie for control of a woodland realm, each with unique rules and feel. The Marquise de Cat and the Eyrie play standard conquest games, while the Woodland Folk engage in guerrilla warfare. The Vagabond acts as a lone trickster-hero. Despite its cute theme and quirky art, Root is a game of brutal strategy that poses big questions about politics and governance.
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
### Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
0See it at Amazon
The original Twilight Struggle is renowned, but its complexity and lengthy playtime can be daunting. Twilight Struggle: Red Sea retains the compelling card-play and dilemma-filled gameplay but reduces the playtime to about an hour. A new scoring mechanic heightens the excitement, and history buffs can explore the Cold War's East African theater, with real historical events simulated through the game mechanics and a book of designer's notes.
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
### A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
2$64.95 save 21%$50.99 at Amazon
This game captures the conniving and backstabbing of the books and TV show, borrowing from Diplomacy with only one winner and no single player having enough resources to win alone. Alliances and eventual betrayals are inevitable, kept tense by a secret order system. The game adds strategic elements from the world of Westeros, making it a must-play for fans.
War of the Ring
### War of the Ring 2nd Edition
2$89.99 save 22%$70.36 at Amazon
This game is the best adaptation of Tolkien's work to the board. It features two intertwined games: the epic clash of armies across Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring. The design brilliantly interweaves these elements, presenting players with a challenging tactical balance.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
### Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for The Galaxy
3$207.00 at Amazon
While Twilight Imperium focuses on warfare and diplomacy, Eclipse emphasizes long-term strategic planning in sci-fi civilization-building. Its systems for initiative and technology upgrades demand forward-thinking as you explore the galaxy, design ships, and engage opponents. This game combines tactical depth with the thrill of cosmic exploration, relying more on strategy than luck.
If you like these, be sure to check out our picks for the overall best board games and the best board game deals.
What Counts as a Wargame?
In gaming circles, "wargame" is a term with varied interpretations. Traditionally, it refers to games that simulate historical conflicts, often involving detailed research and commanding high prices due to their complexity. Examples from our list, like Awakening the Bear and Twilight Struggle: Red Sea, represent the more accessible end of this genre.
However, the term also encompasses games that simulate potential or fictional conflicts, like a Cold War turning into World War 3, or games like Undaunted that use historical settings without aiming for simulation. There are also games that simulate entirely fantastical or sci-fi scenarios. The definition of a "wargame" can be subjective, but we've adopted a broad view, including games that explore conflict from various perspectives. For enthusiasts interested in specific types of conflict games, there are numerous resources and communities available online.
