The allure of war board games lies in their diverse themes and the thrill of epic battles they offer. Whether you're looking for a quick evening skirmish or an all-day strategic conquest, these games promise deep engagement and tactical complexity. Perfect for a gathering with friends, armed with snacks and drinks, these games ensure a thrilling experience that stretches over hours.
To ensure longer games run smoothly, consider these tips: Download a PDF copy 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 their turn. If all players agree, setting a time limit per turn can also keep the game moving. Now, let's dive into some of the best war board games available.
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 at Amazon
War games with more than two players often juggle the action on the board with negotiations and alliances. Arcs masterfully balances these elements, as highlighted in our 10/10 review. Its innovative mechanics, inspired by traditional trick-taking card games, offer multiple strategic options, yet it maintains intense spacecraft battles on a dynamic circular board that rewards aggression. Despite its depth, you can build a space empire in under two hours, making it perfect for exploring its narrative campaign expansion.
### Dune: War for Arrakis
1See it at Amazon
Distinct from the multi-player negotiation game Dune listed later, Dune: War for Arrakis is a fast-paced, head-to-head battle for two. As the noble Atreides or the wicked Harkonnen, you fight for control of the precious spice. This highly asymmetric game features guerrilla warfare, with the Atreides and their Fremen allies using sandworms to challenge the larger, wealthier Harkonnen forces. The Harkonnen player must manage spice harvesting and shipping to maintain economic superiority. Designed by the same team as War of the Ring, it uses high-quality plastic miniatures and an engaging action dice system that requires constant strategic reassessment.
### Sniper Elite: The Board Game
1See it at Amazon
Adapted from the popular video game series, Sniper Elite: The Board Game surprises with its focus on close-quarters action. The game retains the stealth elements, challenging the sniper player to move slowly and silently under a tight time constraint while evading German squads. It offers a historical depth missing from the video game, with thematic components and realistic combat. With two different boards and various loadout options and specialists, the game boasts significant replay value and tactical depth.
### Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
8See it at Amazon
Twilight Imperium IV is the epitome of epic sci-fi civilization building, offering a day-long experience filled with alien technology research, fleet construction, and battles over a galactic hex map. The game includes inter-player diplomacy and political decrees, yet it's built on a robust strategic foundation. The strategy card system, where players select a special focus each round, is particularly innovative. This fourth edition maintains the game's grand scope while streamlining rules for greater accessibility.
### Blood Rage
1See it at Amazon
In Blood Rage, you lead a Viking clan into Ragnarök, striving to gain glory through rage, axes, and horns. Beneath its violent theme and impressive components lies a strategically nuanced game. Players draft cards to plan their actions, carefully managing warriors and monsters to pillage regions and complete quests. The game's blind battle card system adds excitement to the competition for glory, blending tactical challenge, theme, and brutality into a conflict-based classic.
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### Dune
7See it at Amazon
Dune, not to be confused with Dune: Imperium, is based on Frank Herbert's novel and was revolutionary when first released in 1979. This game minimizes randomness, focusing instead on hidden information and asymmetrical strategy. Each player controls a faction from the book, with unique abilities like the Atreides' card peeking or the Harkonnen's knowledge of traitors. The new edition offers refined rules and stunning artwork, capturing the novel's political and narrative themes.
### Kemet: Blood and Sand
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Kemet: Blood and Sand immerses players in ancient Egyptian mythology, where gods and creatures battle on desert sands. The game's tech pyramids allow for strategic customization across attack and defense, integrating seamlessly into board play. With identical battle cards for all players, mind games abound as you try to predict opponents' moves. The game's unique board layout ensures fast-paced, relentless combat.
### Star Wars: Rebellion
14See it at Amazon
Star Wars: Rebellion recreates the iconic franchise with an asymmetric struggle between the underdog Rebellion and the powerful Empire. The Rebellion must survive and win over planets, while the Empire aims to crush dissent with its vast armies. Featuring familiar characters and events, the game's narrative unfolds based on player decisions, woven together with strategic gameplay that keeps each turn engaging and challenging.
### Conflict of Heroes: Awakening The Bear
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Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear excels in tactical wargaming, balancing detail with simplicity through its action point system, dice, and varied defense values. Starting simple, the game grows to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks for a comprehensive World War II experience. The command point system, allowing extra actions during an opponent's turn, adds a layer of tactical depth and urgency.
### 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 officer cards adding new units to your deck, mimicking field orders and supply. Units move on a modular scenario map, engaging in firefights and capturing objectives. As casualties mount, your deck thins, affecting unit morale and effectiveness. These games offer an accessible yet engaging way to refight World War II battles.
### Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
18$59.99 save 25%$44.99 at Amazon
Root stands out with its bold asymmetry, featuring four factions with unique rules fighting for control of a woodland realm. From the conquest-focused Marquise de Cat and Eyrie to the guerrilla Woodland Folk and the lone Vagabond, each faction offers a distinct strategic experience. Despite its whimsical theme, Root is a deep, strategic game that explores real-world political and governance issues.
### Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
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Twilight Struggle: Red Sea distills the essence of the original Twilight Struggle, known for its complexity and length, into a more accessible format. Players navigate card-based dilemmas and strategic decisions in a condensed playtime, with a new scoring mechanic adding excitement. This version explores the Cold War in East Africa, blending real historical events with engaging gameplay.
### A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
2$64.95 save 21%$50.99 at Amazon
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game captures the political intrigue of the books and TV show, using a secret order system reminiscent of Diplomacy. With alliances and betrayals at its core, the game keeps players on edge, enriched by strategic elements from the world of Westeros. A must-play for fans of the franchise.
### War of the Ring 2nd Edition
2$89.99 save 22%$70.36 at Amazon
War of the Ring offers the best adaptation of Tolkien's universe, with two intertwined games: the epic clash of armies across Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring. This design brilliantly balances both aspects, creating a challenging tactical game for fans of the source material.
### Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for The Galaxy
3$207.00 at Amazon
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy focuses on long-term strategic planning in sci-fi civilization-building, with systems for initiative and technology upgrades. Players must plan ahead as they explore the galaxy, design ships, and engage in battles, relying more on strategy than luck.
If you enjoy these, check out our picks for the overall best board games and the best board game deals.
What Counts as a Wargame?
In gaming communities, the term "wargame" often refers to games simulating historical conflicts, requiring extensive research and often featuring detailed maps and counters. Examples from our list include Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear and Twilight Struggle: Red Sea, which represent the more approachable end of this genre.
However, the definition extends to games that simulate hypothetical or fictional conflicts, such as those set in the Cold War or science fiction universes. Games like Undaunted offer historical settings without focusing on simulation, while others explore entirely fictional scenarios. The broadest definition includes games that explore conflict from various perspectives, from historical simulation to fantasy diplomacy. Enthusiast sites can provide deeper insights into these subgenres if you're interested in exploring further.
