The best board games come in many themes, but war games stand out for their thrilling and strategic depth. Whether you're looking for an evening's entertainment or an all-day epic, these games promise intense battles and complex strategies. Gather your friends, prepare some snacks and drinks, and get ready for an unforgettable gaming experience.
For longer games, here are a few tips to keep things running smoothly: If possible, download a PDF of the rulebook (many publishers offer them for free) and encourage everyone to read it beforehand. Have players handle administrative tasks like sorting their hands or counters outside their turns. Consider setting a time limit per turn, if all players agree. Now, let's dive into the best 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 itWar games that involve more than two players must balance the action on the board with the negotiations and alliances that occur among players. Arcs masterfully blends these elements, earning a perfect 10/10 in our review. Its innovative mechanics, inspired by the classic trick-taking of card games, offer multiple strategic options, while still delivering intense spacecraft battles on its unique, circular board. This game rewards aggression and discourages defensive play, allowing you to build a full-featured space empire in under two hours. It's also a great fit for the narrative campaign expansion.
Dune: War for Arrakis
### Dune: War for Arrakis
1See it at AmazonThis game should not be confused with the multiplayer negotiation game Dune further down the list. War for Arrakis is a head-to-head battle for two, featuring the Atreides and Harkonnen fighting for control of the precious spice. It's highly asymmetric, with the Atreides employing guerrilla tactics and their Fremen allies and summoned sandworms, while the Harkonnen rely on their larger, wealthier forces and must 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 an excellent action dice system that requires constant strategy reassessment, but is much quicker to play.
Sniper Elite: The Board Game
### Sniper Elite: The Board Game
1See it at AmazonFans of the video game series may be surprised by the close-quarters action in this tabletop adaptation, but its charm is undeniable. The game retains the stealth elements, with the sniper player moving slowly and silently against a ticking clock, while the German player controls roving squads trying to track them down. The escalating tension, combined with a historical veneer and realistic combat, adds depth. With two different boards and various sniper loadouts and squad specialists, it offers significant replay value and tactical challenges.
Twilight Imperium IV
### Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
8See it at AmazonThis epic all-day game of sci-fi civilization-building offers everything you could want from the genre. Aliens research technology and build fleets to fight over a random galactic hex map, engaging in diplomacy and voting on in-game political decrees. The strategy card system, where each player selects a special focus each round, is particularly innovative. This fourth edition maintains its sweeping scope but is more streamlined and accessible.
Blood Rage
### Blood Rage
1See it at AmazonIn Blood Rage, you lead a Viking clan into Ragnarök, seeking glory through rage, axes, and horns to secure a place in Valhalla. Beneath its violent and visually appealing exterior lies a game of strategic depth. You'll draft cards to support your actions, carefully manage your warriors and monsters to pillage regions and fulfill quests for glory. The blind battle card system adds excitement to the tactical challenge, making this a definitive conflict-based classic.
The Best Boardgame Deals
Dune
### Dune
7See it at AmazonDune, inspired by Frank Herbert's novel and first released in 1979, offers a futuristic experience distinct from Dune: Imperium. It features minimal randomness, focusing on a balance of hidden information and asymmetrical strategies. Each player assumes the role of a faction with unique powers, such as the Atreides who can peek at auctioned cards or the Harkonnen who know all secret traitors. This game beautifully captures the narrative and political themes of the novel, with the new edition featuring refined rules and stunning artwork.
Kemet: Blood and Sand
### Kemet Blood and Sand
0See it at AmazonImagine ancient Egyptian gods and mythical creatures battling on the desert sands. Kemet offers this thrilling scenario with tech pyramids that allow you to customize your strategy across attack and defense. With everyone starting with the same battle cards, mind games abound as you try to outguess your opponents. The game's fast pace and unique board layout ensure constant action, making it a high-energy experience.
Star Wars: Rebellion
### Star Wars: Rebellion
14See it at AmazonStar Wars: Rebellion recreates the beloved franchise on your table, with the Rebellion player as the underdog trying to survive and win planets over, while the Empire wields massive armies to crush dissent. It's an asymmetric struggle filled with familiar characters and events, yet the narrative unfolds based on your choices. The game's strategic elements ensure each turn is challenging and engaging.
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
### Conflict of Heroes: Awakening The Bear
0See it at AmazonTactical wargames depicting squad-level or individual soldier action can be complex, but Conflict of Heroes strikes the perfect balance. It uses a straightforward system of action points, dice, and differing defense values to deliver excitement, realism, and tactical challenge. Starting simple, it expands to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks for a comprehensive World War II 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 AmazonThese games use deck-building mechanics to simulate infantry combat with just a few rules. Officer cards add new unit cards to your deck, mimicking orders and supplies, while unit cards move troop counters on the modular scenario map, engaging in combat and capturing objectives. As casualties thin your deck, units become less effective, creating tense firefights and pivotal moments. It's an accessible and engaging way to refight World War II.
Root
### Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
18$59.99 save 25%$44.99 at AmazonRoot, one of the shorter games on the list, boldly embraces asymmetry with four factions vying for control of a woodland realm, each with unique rules and gameplay. The Marquise de Cat and the Eyrie engage in standard conquest, while the Woodland Folk fight guerrilla warfare, and the Vagabond operates as a lone trickster-hero. Despite its cute theme and quirky art, Root is a strategic game that delves into real-world politics and governance.
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
### Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
0See it at AmazonThe original Twilight Struggle is renowned as one of the best board games, but it's complex and time-consuming. Red Sea retains the compelling card-play mechanics, where players navigate hand dilemmas, but reduces playtime to about an hour. A new scoring mechanic adds excitement, and history buffs can explore the Cold War in East Africa, with real events simulated through game mechanics and a designer's notes book.
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
### A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
2$64.95 save 21%$50.99 at AmazonThis game captures the political intrigue and betrayal of the books and TV show, borrowing from Diplomacy where only one player can win, but no one can win alone, making alliances and treachery inevitable. The secret order system keeps players guessing, while elements from Westeros add strategic depth. It's essential for fans of the franchise.
War of the Ring
### War of the Ring 2nd Edition
2$89.99 save 22%$70.36 at AmazonThis game is the best attempt to board-game Tolkien's world, featuring two interwoven games on the same board: the epic clash of armies across Middle-earth and the quest of the Fellowship to destroy the One Ring. The genius lies in how these two halves interact, creating a challenging tactical balancing act for players.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
### Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for The Galaxy
3$207.00 at AmazonWhile Twilight Imperium focuses on warfare and diplomacy, Eclipse emphasizes long-term strategic planning in sci-fi civilization-building. Its initiative and technology upgrade systems require players to think several steps ahead as they explore the galaxy, design ships, and engage in combat. The game combines the thrill of exploration with the need for strategic foresight.
If you enjoy these, be sure to explore our selections for the best board games overall and the best board game deals.
What Counts as a Wargame?
In gaming circles, the term "wargame" often refers to games that simulate historical conflicts. These games, like Awakening the Bear and Twilight Struggle: Red Sea, are detailed and often expensive due to the extensive historical research involved. However, the term also encompasses games that simulate potential or fictional conflicts, such as the Cold War escalating into World War 3, or games like Undaunted, which use historical settings but aren't strict simulations. Even games set in entirely fantastic or sci-fi scenarios can be considered wargames by some.
Ultimately, our definition is broad, encompassing games that explore conflict from various perspectives, from historical simulation to fantasy diplomacy. If a specific type of conflict game interests you, enthusiast sites can provide further exploration and resources.
