War board games offer an exhilarating blend of strategy and excitement, capturing the essence of epic battles across various themes. Whether you're looking for a quick evening clash or an all-day strategic marathon, these games won't skimp on the thrill of battle strategy. Gather your friends, stock up on snacks and drinks, and prepare for a thrilling adventure.
To ensure longer games run smoothly, consider these tips: Obtain a PDF of the rulebook (many are available for free) and have everyone read it beforehand. Encourage players to handle administrative tasks like sorting their hands or counters outside their turns. You might also want to agree on a time limit per turn to keep the game flowing. Now, let's dive into some of the best war board games out there!
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
0See it War games involving more than two players often juggle the action on the board with the negotiation and alliances between players. Arcs masterfully balances these elements, earning a perfect 10/10 in our review. Its innovative mechanics, inspired by traditional trick-taking card games, provide multiple strategic options. Despite the strategic depth, the game maintains intense spacecraft battles on its circular board, rewarding aggression and minimizing defensive play. Remarkably, Arcs allows you to build a full-fledged space empire in under two hours, making it perfect for those considering its narrative campaign expansion.
Dune: War for Arrakis
1See it at Amazon Not to be confused with the multiplayer negotiation game Dune listed later, War for Arrakis is a head-to-head battle for two players, pitting the noble Atreides against the wicked Harkonnen in a fight for the precious spice. This highly asymmetric game showcases the guerrilla warfare of the Atreides, their Fremen allies, and summoned sandworms against the larger, wealthier Harkonnen forces. The Harkonnen player must also focus on harvesting and shipping spice to maintain economic advantage. Designed by the same team behind War of the Ring, this game features quality plastic miniatures and an engaging action dice system that keeps strategies dynamic and fast-paced.
Sniper Elite: The Board Game
1See it at Amazon Fans of the video game series might be surprised by the close-quarters action in this tabletop adaptation, but it's filled with charm. The stealth mechanics are intact, with the sniper player moving slowly and silently against a ticking clock, while the German player controls roving squads trying to detect them. The escalating tension is complemented by a historical veneer, featuring thematic components and more realistic combat. With two different boards and various sniper loadouts and squad specialists, the game offers substantial replay value and tactical decision-making.
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
8See it at Amazon This all-day epic of sci-fi civilization building is as grand as it gets. It encompasses everything from bizarre alien races researching technology and building fleets to fighting over a random galactic hex map. While diplomacy and political decrees are integral, the game's solid strategic core, especially the strategy card system where players pick a special focus each round, provides a challenging and engaging experience. The fourth edition streamlines the game, making it more accessible without losing its sweeping scope.
Blood Rage
1See it at Amazon In Blood Rage, you lead a Viking clan into the end times of Ragnarök, striving to gain rage, axes, and horns to secure glory and a place in Valhalla. Beneath its violent exterior and stunning components lies a game of strategic depth. You'll draft cards to support actions each round, carefully managing your warriors and monsters to pillage regions and fulfill quests. The blind battle card system adds excitement to the frequent clashes with other players. This game blends tactical challenge, theme, and brutality into a definitive conflict-based classic.
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Dune
7See it at Amazon This futuristic game, distinct from Dune: Imperium, is based on Frank Herbert's novel and was revolutionary when first released in 1979. With minimal randomness, Dune relies on a balance of hidden information and asymmetrical strategies. Players assume roles of factions from the book, each with unique powers, such as the Atreides' ability to peek at auctioned cards or the Harkonnen's knowledge of secret traitors. The new edition features cleaner rules and impressive artwork, evoking the narrative and political themes of the novel.
Kemet: Blood and Sand
0See it at Amazon Imagine ancient Egyptian gods and mythical creatures engaging in fierce combat on desert sands. Kemet offers tech pyramids for tailoring your strategy with special powers across attack and defense. Everyone starts with the same battle cards, leading to intense mind games as you try to outguess your opponent. The game's fast pace and open board layout mean there's no hiding, ensuring constant action and strategic violence.
Star Wars: Rebellion
14See it at Amazon Star Wars: Rebellion brings the iconic franchise to your table with a focus on the asymmetric struggle between the underdog Rebellion and the powerful Empire. The Rebellion player must survive and win planets over to their cause, while the Empire aims to crush dissent with its vast armies. The game weaves familiar characters and events into a narrative that players control, offering strategic depth and variety in every turn.
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
0See it at Amazon Tactical wargames depicting action at the squad or individual level can be challenging to execute without becoming overly complex. Conflict of Heroes strikes the perfect balance with its action point system, dice, and differing front and rear defense values. Starting simple, the game 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 and excitement.
Undaunted: Normandy
5See it at Amazon
Undaunted: North Africa
3See it at Amazon
Undaunted: Stalingrad
1See it at Amazon These games cleverly use deck-building mechanics to simulate infantry combat with minimal rules. Officer cards allow you to add new unit cards to your deck, representing the issuance of orders and supplies. Unit cards move troop counters on the modular scenario map, engaging in combat and seizing objectives. Casualties thin your deck, reflecting morale erosion under fire. These games offer an accessible and engaging way to refight the Second World War, filled with tense firefights and pivotal moments.
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 the woodland realm, each with unique rules and gameplay. The Marquise de Cat and the Eyrie engage in traditional conquest, while the Woodland Folk act as guerrilla fighters, and the Vagabond plays the lone trickster-hero. Despite its charming theme and art, Root is a game of brutal strategy that raises questions about politics and governance.
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
0See it at Amazon The original Twilight Struggle is renowned as one of the best board games, but its complexity and lengthy playtime can be daunting. Red Sea retains the compelling card-play mechanics, where players face dilemmas about triggering key events for their opponents, but shortens the playtime to about an hour. A new scoring mechanic adds excitement, and the game delves into the Cold War's lesser-known East African theater, with historical events simulated through game mechanics and a book of designer's notes for historical context.
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
2$64.95 save 21%$50.99 at Amazon This game captures the political intrigue and backstabbing of the books and TV show, borrowing from Diplomacy where only one player can win, but no one can do so alone. Alliances and betrayals are inevitable, keeping players on edge. The secret order system adds suspense, as intentions remain hidden until it's too late. The game includes strategic elements from the world of Westeros, making it a must-have for fans of the franchise.
War of the Ring 2nd Edition
2$89.99 save 22%$70.36 at Amazon For Tolkien enthusiasts, this is the ultimate board game adaptation. It features two interconnected games: the epic clash of armies across Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring. The game masterfully intertwines these elements, creating a challenging tactical balancing act for players.
Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for The Galaxy
3$207.00 at Amazon While Twilight Imperium focuses on warfare and diplomacy, Eclipse emphasizes strategic planning in sci-fi civilization-building. Its systems for initiative and technology upgrades require foresight as you expand into the galaxy. The tactical depth enhances the feeling of exploration, ship design, and combat, making it essential to have the right technology and units.
If you enjoy these games, be sure to explore our selections for the best overall board games and the best board game deals.
What Counts as a Wargame?
In gaming circles, the term "wargame" often refers to games simulating historical conflicts, a niche that requires detailed research and can result in high-priced products with maps and counters. Examples from our list, like Awakening the Bear and Twilight Struggle: Red Sea, fall into this category but are more approachable.
The definition, however, includes grey areas. Some games simulate conflicts that might have happened, such as a hypothetical World War 3 during the Cold War. Others, like Undaunted, use historical settings without aiming for simulation. A smaller group focuses on realistic scenarios in fantasy or sci-fi settings. The term "wargame" can encompass all these, depending on the perspective, from historical simulation to fantasy diplomacy. Enthusiast sites are available for those interested in exploring specific subgenres of conflict games.
