This 10-game list comes from a July 7, 2023 SlashGear feature, so it is a dated set of recommendations—not a current 2026 ranking or confirmation that every game is still sold or supported. Its range is the useful part: command a nation, design a warship, pilot a tank, lead a squad, or try to keep civilians alive.
Use the entries below to find the kind of military game you want. Platform details are included only where the 2023 feature named them; check current availability for your device before buying.
Which military war game fits your play style?
| Game | Your role | Style and pace | Setting | Play emphasis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NavalArt | Warship designer | Build-and-test sandbox | Naval combat | Single-player missions and multiplayer |
| Call to Arms | Squad and vehicle controller | Real-time tactics | Modern setting; the Gates of Hell expansion offers a WWII option | Solo and multiplayer |
| War Thunder | Vehicle crew | Arcade combat or more realism-oriented simulation | Aircraft, tanks, and naval vessels | Vehicle battles |
| Hearts of Iron IV | National leader | Complex grand strategy | World War II, from the late 1930s through 1948, as described in the 2023 feature | National-scale planning |
| Battlefield 2042 | Soldier in large battles | Multiplayer shooter with vehicles and control points | Near future | Multiplayer; the 2023 feature described no single-player campaign |
| Hell Let Loose | Squad member | Team-focused tactical shooter | World War II | Squad roles and command structure |
| Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 | Long-range sniper | Slow, methodical stealth | Modern setting in fictional Kuamar | Mission-based solo play |
| This War of Mine | Civilian survivor | Survival strategy | Besieged fictional city | Shelter management and scavenging |
| Arma 3 | Infantry soldier or vehicle crew | Large-scale, simulation-oriented combat | Military setting | Single-player campaign and large matches |
| World of Tanks | Tank crew | Team-based vehicle combat | Armored warfare | Team battles with capture or elimination objectives |
The game descriptions and release-era details here are attributed to Nathan P. Gibson’s SlashGear feature, published July 7, 2023: 10 Of The Best Military War Games To Play In 2023. The table is a quick way to narrow the field; the entries explain what each game asks you to do.
War games built around vehicles and equipment
NavalArt
Choose NavalArt if designing a combat vessel sounds more appealing than simply being assigned one. The PC sandbox lets players assemble warships, place weapons and equipment, then test their designs in single-player missions or multiplayer. SlashGear says it first released in 2018 and describes a large modding community; that description is from the 2023 feature, not a current count of active mods or players.
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#1 Best Overall
- Streamlined Strategy Gameplay: Command the major powers of WWII in 1941 and make decisive military and economic choices that determine the outcome of the conflict
- 160 Detailed Plastic Miniatures: High-quality figures with resealable bags ensure organized storage and help you visualize every battle on the map
- Updated Rules for Modern Players: Refined rulebook incorporates community feedback and errata documents to eliminate confusion and ensure smooth gameplay
- Perfect for 2-5 Players: Engaging war game designed for groups and families that plays in one to three hours, fitting any game night schedule
- Legacy Board Game Reimagined: The respected Axis & Allies franchise returns with improved components and updated box design for serious strategy enthusiasts
War Thunder
War Thunder covers tanks, aircraft, and naval vessels, making it the broadest vehicle-combat choice in this group. The 2023 feature contrasts its Arcade mode, which is more accessible, with Simulator mode, which is more realism-oriented. SlashGear reports an official launch in 2013. Its free-to-play label does not by itself describe every current purchase or progression option.
World of Tanks
World of Tanks focuses on piloting one armored vehicle in team battles rather than directing an entire army. The 2023 feature highlights a range of tanks with different armor and speed trade-offs, plus objectives based on capturing or eliminating opponents. It calls the game free-to-play, but its platform claims are time-sensitive; check the current listing for the platform you use.
Rank #2
- Change the Course of History: Command both military forces and wartime economy as one of five major powers in this classic WWII strategy board game designed for 2-5 players
- Updated Rulebook and Components: Second Edition features refined rules based on community feedback, double-sided punchboard tokens, and resealable storage bags for durability
- Oversized Playing Area Immerses You: The 40-inch by 26-inch game board creates an engaging tactical landscape where every decision shapes the outcome of global conflict
- Perfect Family Strategy Experience: Ages 12 and up can enjoy three to four hours of intellectually stimulating gameplay that bonds groups through shared strategic decision-making
- Authentic Historical Gameplay: Lead Germany, Japan, UK, Soviet Union, or United States in spring 1942, the historical peak of Axis expansion, exploring tactical alternatives to actual events
Command squads, soldiers, or an entire nation
Call to Arms
Call to Arms is a real-time tactics game set in a modern conflict. Its central appeal is moving between the view of a commander and direct control of soldiers or vehicles, while managing resources and using terrain and destructible environments. SlashGear also points to the Gates of Hell expansion for players who want a WWII setting. The feature describes both solo and multiplayer play.
Hearts of Iron IV
Hearts of Iron IV is for players who want to plan a war at national scale, not aim a weapon in the middle of a firefight. You lead a country and manage diplomacy, research, production, and armed forces. SlashGear characterizes it as deep rather than casual and gives its historical span as the late 1930s through 1948; that is the feature’s description of the game’s scope. It reports the game launched in 2016.
Rank #3
- Four armies, each with their own unique figures
- Advanced rules, Enhanced combat, Elite army units, and New Team gameplay variant
- Country of Origin: China
- Product Type: Board Game
Arma 3
Arma 3 combines infantry combat, vehicles, and a single-player campaign with large multiplayer environments. SlashGear describes it as simulation-oriented, emphasizing ballistics and weather as part of its character. That is an editorial characterization, not a new technical assessment. Mod support is another reason it may suit players who want to shape their own experience.
Squad shooters and patient stealth
Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 2042 is the near-future multiplayer option: large battles, vehicles, control points, and user-created maps or modes. The July 2023 feature says it has no single-player campaign and notes its 2021 launch. Those are article-era details rather than a current audit of modes or features, so consult the game’s current listing if a specific mode matters to you.
Rank #4
- Strategic Commander Selection: Choose from 24 legendary WWII leaders including Eisenhower, Rommel, and Yamamoto, each with unique basic and expert abilities that fundamentally reshape how Axis & Allies unfolds
- Hidden Advantages Change Everything: Secretly select your commander at game start to gain hidden powers that create unpredictable strategies, surprising outcomes, and fresh competitive dynamics every single game
- Premium Historical Artwork & Components: Features double-sided commander tiles with museum-quality original portraits of famous generals and admirals from nine nations plus two WWI Supreme Commanders with authentic military aesthetics
- Compatible With Any Axis & Allies Version: Works seamlessly with every Axis & Allies core game edition without changing fundamental rules, adding variable commander mechanics to existing gameplay you already know
- Strategic Depth Without Complexity: Integrate powerful commander abilities into standard games through intuitive secret selection mechanics that enhance replayability while maintaining accessibility for all player experience levels
Hell Let Loose
Hell Let Loose puts players in WWII squads where defined roles and a command structure make communication central to the match. It is the strongest fit here if you want a coordinated team battle rather than a solo power fantasy. SlashGear’s July 2023 feature lists PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S and says it was released in 2021. Those platform and release details are dated to that article; confirm current availability before choosing a platform.
Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2
This is the list’s deliberate, stealth-focused alternative to close-quarters shooters. Missions reward planning and patience as you line up long-range shots; SlashGear describes some as exceeding a thousand meters. It is set in the fictional country Kuamar. Choose it if carefully preparing a shot is more appealing than reacting to a fast-moving multiplayer battle.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsBest Value
- Brand New in box. The product ships with all relevant accessories
- Includes gameboard, armies with 4 Infantry, 12 Cavalry, and 8 Artillery each, deck of 56 Risk cards, 1 card box, 5 dice, 5 cardboard war crates, and game guide.
- PLAY USING ALEXA SKILL: Players have the option of playing this Risk game using Alexa. (Alexa device sold separately. ) Note: sound comes from paired Echo device.
- DRAGON TOKEN: This Risk game includes a dragon token. Players must destroy the dragon before it destroys their troops. A lucky roll can subdue the dragon and get it out of a player's territory
A war game about civilians, not soldiers
This War of Mine
This War of Mine shifts the perspective from combatants to civilians trying to survive a besieged city. Its day-and-night loop separates shelter management and crafting from nighttime scavenging, with moral choices foregrounding the civilian cost of war. If you want a survival strategy game rather than a military power fantasy, this is the clearest change of perspective on the list.
Quick Recap
How to choose from the ten
- Want to build or operate vehicles? Pick NavalArt for ship design, War Thunder for multiple vehicle types, or World of Tanks for tank-centered team matches.
- Want command decisions? Try Call to Arms for squad tactics, Arma 3 for infantry-and-vehicle combat, or Hearts of Iron IV for national strategy.
- Want coordinated multiplayer? Hell Let Loose emphasizes squad roles and communication; Battlefield 2042 is the near-future large-battle option described in the 2023 feature.
- Want a slower solo experience? Sniper Ghost Warrior Contracts 2 favors stealth and preparation; This War of Mine replaces combat with civilian survival choices.
- Need a specific platform? The platform details in the source date to July 2023. Check the game’s current store page for your console or PC before purchasing.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
