War is a popular theme in board games, and for good reason: they offer thrilling, strategic battles. The games below deliver epic combat experiences, some concluding in an evening, others stretching throughout the day, but all demanding strategic prowess. Gather your friends, prepare snacks and drinks, and prepare for an intense gaming marathon.
To ensure smoother gameplay for longer games, consider these tips: access a PDF rulebook (many publishers offer free downloads) for pre-game reading; encourage players to perform administrative tasks (like sorting cards or counters) outside their turn; and, with mutual agreement, implement turn time limits.
TL;DR: 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
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Multi-player war games must balance board action with player negotiation and alliances. Arcs masterfully blends these elements. Its innovative trick-taking mechanics provide strategic depth alongside intense spacecraft battles on a circular board that rewards aggression. Despite its rich features, a game takes less than two hours, making its brilliant narrative campaign expansion easily accessible.
Dune: War for Arrakis
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Distinct from the multi-player Dune game (listed below), *War for Arrakis* is a fierce two-player battle between the Atreides and Harkonnen for control of spice. Highly asymmetric, it pits the Atreides' guerilla tactics and Fremen allies against the Harkonnen's superior forces. The Harkonnen must balance spice harvesting and shipping with military actions. Sharing the same high-quality miniatures and action dice system as *War of the Ring*, it offers constant strategic reevaluation but plays much faster.
Sniper Elite: The Board Game
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Fans of the video game will find the close-quarters action surprisingly engaging. Stealth is crucial for the sniper player against a relentless timer and pursuing German squads. Unlike the video game, it offers a historical veneer with thematic components and realistic combat. Two boards and varied sniper loadouts and German squad specialists provide high replayability and tactical depth.
Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
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This all-day sci-fi civilization-building game is undeniably epic. Players control bizarre alien races, research technology, build fleets, and fight for galactic control. Diplomacy is important, but a strong strategic core is essential. The strategic card system, where players choose a focus each round, is a standout feature. This edition maintains the scope while improving accessibility.
Blood Rage
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In *Blood Rage*, players lead Viking clans into Ragnarök, vying for glory and a place in Valhalla. Beneath its violent exterior and stunning components lies strategic subtlety. Players draft cards to support actions, manage warriors and monsters, pillage regions, and complete quests. The blind battle card system adds excitement to frequent player conflicts. It’s a masterful blend of tactical challenge, theme, and brutality.
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Dune
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Unlike *Dune: Imperium*, this game (based on Frank Herbert's novel) is a unique futuristic experience. Low randomness favors a fascinating balance of hidden information and asymmetric strategy. Each faction possesses unique powers (e.g., the Atreides peek at auctioned cards, the Harkonnen know secret traitors). This new edition features refined rules and improved artwork.
Kemet: Blood and Sand
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Imagine the gods and creatures of ancient Egypt battling for supremacy. *Kemet* delivers this chaotic experience. Players use pyramids to tailor strategies, engage in mind games with battle cards, and engage in intense, fast-paced combat. The board design ensures constant, close-quarters action.
Star Wars: Rebellion
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*Star Wars: Rebellion* faithfully recreates the franchise. The Rebellion fights for survival and planetary support against the Empire's overwhelming forces. This asymmetric struggle features iconic characters and events, but the narrative unfolds through player choices within a tightly structured strategic framework.
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
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Tactical wargames simulating squad-level combat can be complex. *Conflict of Heroes* achieves a perfect balance. Its simple system of action points, dice, and defense values delivers excitement, realism, and tactical challenge. The game expands to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks, and the command point system adds a strategic layer.
Undaunted: Normandy & Undaunted: North Africa & Undaunted Stalingrad
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These games cleverly use deck-building to simulate infantry combat. Officer cards add units, reflecting real-world orders and supplies. Unit cards move troops on a modular map, engaging in tense firefights. Casualties reduce a deck's effectiveness, simulating morale loss. These offer an accessible and engaging way to experience World War II.
Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
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A shorter game, *Root* emphasizes asymmetry. Four factions—the Marquise de Cat, the Eyrie, the Woodland Folk, and the Vagabond—fight for woodland control, each with unique rules. Despite its whimsical theme, it’s a strategically brutal game exploring themes of politics and governance.
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
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While the original *Twilight Struggle* is complex, *Red Sea* retains its core card-play but reduces playtime. Players navigate dilemmas and trigger events while managing their cards. A new scoring mechanic enhances excitement. History buffs can explore the Cold War in East Africa, with historical events simulated through game mechanics.
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
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This game captures the political intrigue of *A Song of Ice and Fire*. Only one player can win, necessitating alliances and inevitable betrayals. A secret order system adds tension. Westeros-themed elements enhance strategic depth.
War of the Ring 2nd Edition
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This is the best board game adaptation of Tolkien's work. It cleverly intertwines two games: the epic battle across Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest. The interplay between these two creates a challenging strategic balance.
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
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Unlike *Twilight Imperium*, *Eclipse* prioritizes long-term strategic planning in sci-fi civilization-building. Initiative and technology upgrade systems require foresight. Exploration, ship design, and combat are all integral, but success depends on technology and unit selection rather than luck.
For more options, explore our selections for the best board games and best board game deals.
What Counts as a Wargame?
The term "wargame" is debated among hobbyists. Some restrict it to simulations of historical conflicts, often featuring detailed map sheets and counters. *Awakening the Bear* and *Twilight Struggle: Red Sea* represent the more accessible end of this genre. However, the definition is fluid. Some games simulate hypothetical conflicts (like a Cold War escalation), others use historical settings without strict simulation, and others focus on fantasy or sci-fi scenarios. Whether these qualify as "wargames" is a matter of perspective. Ultimately, the broadest definition encompasses games exploring conflict from diverse angles, from historical simulation to fantasy diplomacy. Specialized enthusiast sites can provide further exploration of specific subgenres.
