War-themed board games offer an immersive experience, blending strategy, negotiation, and epic battles into a thrilling gameplay session. Whether you're looking for a quick skirmish or a day-long saga, these games are sure to deliver on the excitement and strategic depth. So, gather your friends, prepare some snacks and drinks, and get ready for an intense gaming experience.
To ensure your longer games run smoothly, consider these tips: Download a PDF of the rulebook, available from most publishers, and have everyone read it beforehand. Encourage players to handle administrative tasks like sorting cards or counters outside of their turn. You might also want to set a time limit for each turn, if all players agree. Now, let's dive into the best war board games that promise epic battles and strategic challenges.
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 often struggle to balance the action on the board with player negotiations and alliances. Arcs masterfully blends these elements, earning a perfect 10/10 in our review. Its innovative mechanics, inspired by trick-taking card games, offer multiple strategic options, while the circular board encourages aggressive space battles rather than defensive play. Despite its rich features, Arcs allows you to build a space empire in under two hours, making it perfect for those who want to explore the narrative campaign expansion.
Dune: War for Arrakis
### Dune: War for Arrakis
1See it at Amazon
Don't mix this up with the multiplayer negotiation game Dune further down the list. War for Arrakis is a head-to-head battle for two players, where the noble Atreides and the wicked Harkonnen fight for control of the valuable spice. This game is highly asymmetric, with the Atreides using guerrilla tactics and their Fremen allies, while the Harkonnen focus on harvesting and shipping spice to maintain their economic edge. Designed by the same team behind War of the Ring, it uses quality plastic miniatures and a dynamic action dice system that keeps you constantly reassessing your strategy, all in a much shorter 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 in this tabletop version, but don't let that deter you. The stealth mechanics are preserved, with the sniper player needing to move slowly and quietly against a ticking clock, while the German player controls roving squads trying to locate them. Beyond the escalating tension, the game offers a historical feel that the video game lacks, with thematic components and realistic combat. With two different boards and various sniper loadouts and squad specialists, it offers plenty of replay value and tactical choices.
Twilight Imperium IV
### Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
8See it at Amazon
If you're looking for an epic all-day game, Twilight Imperium IV is unparalleled. This sci-fi civilization builder includes everything from bizarre alien races researching technology to building fleets for galactic conquest. The game features inter-player diplomacy and political decrees, but its strategic core is robust. The strategy card system, where players choose a special focus each round, is particularly brilliant. The fourth edition maintains its scope while being more accessible by trimming unnecessary elements.
Blood Rage
### Blood Rage
1See it at Amazon
In Blood Rage, you lead a Viking clan into Ragnarök, aiming to gain glory through rage, axes, and horns to secure a place in Valhalla. Despite its violent theme, the game offers strategic depth. You'll draft cards to support your actions, manage your warriors and monsters to pillage regions and complete quests. The blind battle card system adds excitement to the conflicts. This game is a perfect blend of tactical challenge, theme, and outright brutality, making it a standout in conflict-based games.
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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, it was revolutionary when first released in 1979. With minimal randomness, the game relies on hidden information and asymmetrical strategies. Each player represents a faction from the book, with unique powers. For instance, the Atreides can peek at auctioned cards, while the Harkonnen know all the secret traitors. This edition has streamlined rules and stunning artwork, capturing the novel's narrative and political themes beautifully.
Kemet: Blood and Sand
### Kemet Blood and Sand
0See it at Amazon
Imagine ancient Egyptian gods and creatures battling in the desert sands. That's Kemet. The tech pyramids allow you to customize your strategy with special powers, while everyone starts with the same battle cards, leading to intense mind games. The board layout ensures constant action, with no place to hide, making it a fast-paced, violent experience.
Star Wars: Rebellion
### Star Wars: Rebellion
14See it at Amazon
Star Wars: Rebellion brings the iconic franchise to your table with an asymmetric struggle between the Rebellion and the Empire. The Rebellion must survive and win over planets, while the Empire uses its vast military to crush dissent. The game features familiar characters and events, but the narrative unfolds through your choices, supported by a tight strategic framework.
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
### Conflict of Heroes: Awakening The Bear
0See it at Amazon
Tactical wargames can be complex, but Conflict of Heroes strikes the perfect balance. Its simple system of action points, dice, and differing defense values offers excitement, realism, and tactical challenge. Starting simple, it expands to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks for a comprehensive World War 2 experience. The command point system, allowing extra actions during your opponent's turn, adds a layer of strategic depth.
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 to simulate infantry combat, with officer cards adding new units to your deck and unit cards moving troops on the board. Casualties thin your deck, affecting morale and action capabilities. These games offer an accessible yet engaging way to experience World War 2 battles.
Root
### Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
18$59.99 save 25%$44.99 at Amazon
Root is a shorter game with bold asymmetric design, featuring four factions with unique rules fighting for control of a woodland realm. From the conquest-driven Marquise de Cat and Eyrie to the guerrilla Woodland Folk and the trickster Vagabond, each faction offers a different strategic experience. Despite its cute theme, Root is a game of brutal strategy, touching on real-world 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 length can be daunting. Red Sea maintains the compelling card-play mechanics while reducing playtime to about an hour. It's full of tough decisions, with a new scoring mechanic adding excitement. For history buffs, it explores the Cold War in East Africa, with real events simulated through game mechanics and detailed 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 political intrigue of the books and TV show, borrowing from Diplomacy's concept of alliances and betrayal. Governed by a secret order system, it keeps players guessing until the last moment. With elements from the world of Westeros, it's a must-play for fans of the franchise.
War of the Ring
### War of the Ring 2nd Edition
2$89.99 save 22%$70.36 at Amazon
The best board game adaptation of Tolkien's works, War of the Ring features two interwoven games: the epic clash of armies and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring. This design requires players to balance both aspects, creating a challenging tactical experience.
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 planning in sci-fi civilization-building. Its systems for initiative and technology upgrades require strategic foresight as you explore the galaxy. This tactical depth enhances the feeling of cosmic exploration and combat.
If you enjoy these games, explore our picks for the best board games and the best board game deals.
What Counts as a Wargame?
In gaming circles, "wargame" often refers to games simulating historical conflicts, requiring extensive research. Examples from our list include Awakening the Bear and Twilight Struggle: Red Sea, which are approachable yet detailed. However, the term also encompasses games about hypothetical conflicts, historical settings with less focus on simulation, and even fantasy or sci-fi scenarios. We've used a broad definition, including games that explore conflict from various perspectives. If you're interested in a specific type of conflict game, enthusiast sites can provide further exploration.
