"We've been walking forever, when does the game actually start?" "What do you mean? This is the game!"
Military games have come a long way since their humble beginnings. Not only do we have a plethora to choose from thanks to countless developers, but modern titles also have the benefit of refinement that only comes with a genre that has constant demand. That being said, it can be incredibly challenging to find one worth playing thanks to the ungodly amount we have to pick from, so we've decided to list our top fifteen war games from across FPS and RTS titles.
15. Battlefield V (PC / PS4 / XBO)
Battlefield V Gameplay
The latest release from the legendary DICE studios, Battlefield V, brings combined-arms combat to World War II. Thanks to the Frostbite 3 engine, teams of 32 can engage each other in total destruction on vast battlefields from all across Western Europe and the Pacific. Tanks, planes, and squads of infantry duke it out in beautiful, cinematic carnage.
There's no A/C in the Desert: And some genius blew a house up… the one thing they could do to make it hotter.
14. PlanetSide 2 (PC / PS4 / XBO)
PlanetSide 2 Gameplay
PlanetSide 2 is a hybrid MMO-FPS where thousands of players fight over vast continents in continuous, dynamic, real-time battles. A true sandbox, PlanetSide 2 lets players choose from three factions and gives them access to a plethora of vehicles, aircraft, loadouts, and gadgets. Released in 2012, PlanetSide 2 still offers regular content updates and passionate developer support.
13. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Blacklist (PC / PS4 / XBO)
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist Gameplay
Splinter Cell: Blacklist is another entry in Ubisoft's stealth-action series about Sam Fisher- legendary spymaster and covert assassin. Player's must be decisive, confident, and quick on their feet to complete objectives while keeping Sam in the shadows. Use firearms, gadgets, and unconventional tactics to quietly decimate your enemies while they're none the wiser.
12. War of Rights (PC)
War of Rights Gameplay
War of Rights is a large-scale Civil War FPS where players take control of individual soldiers from multiple Confederate or Union Divisions. Fully immersive, players have to load their muskets, fall into formation, and listen to commands from officers all manually. Teamwork is vital to keep players moral high and to make sure volleys are perfectly coordinated for maximum damage
Hold the Line! Reinforcements Aren't Always on Time: Our boys in blue will hold off those Graybacks so long as our flag stands in all its glory.
11. Sniper Elite 4 (PC / PS4 / XBO)
Sniper Elite 4 Gameplay
Galivant behind enemy lines as an elite marksman sent to sabotage, assassinate, and harass key Axis objectives across Italy. Perform high-risk missions with perfect accuracy as you sneak and slaughter your way to your firing position to line up the perfect shot.
You Kiss Your Mother With That Mouth? The iconic x-ray kills make a welcome return as they demonstrate the beautiful synergy between physics and mayhem in anatomically correct visuals.
10. Call to Arms (PC)
Call to Arms Gameplay
From the great minds behind the Men of War series, Digitalmindsoft returns with a modern update to the classic formula. Gone are the weapons and battlefields of World War II, replaced by the sleek equipment and arid environments of contemporary combat. A blend of RTS and FPS, Call to Arms now allows players to give orders and take command of individual soldiers should a more precise touch be needed.
Mmm… I Love the Smell of Charred BTRs in the Morning: Going up against elite German Fallschirmjäger? Poor sods never had a chance…
9. War Thunder (PC / PS4 / XBO)
War Thunder Gameplay
War Thunder is a free-to-play vehicle-combat MMO that lets players pick from thousands of different planes, ground vehicles, and warships from dozens of different countries. Going far back as World War II, players can engage each other on huge maps against PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC players all on the same server.
Here Kitty, Kitty: It's best not to approach cats from behind… especially if they happen to have an 88mm cannon.
8. Ultimate General: Civil War (PC)
Ultimate General: Civil War Gameplay
A sequel to 2014's Ultimate General: Gettysburg, Ultimate General: Civil War is an RTS that has players take control over dozens of divisions as they battle it out in America's most brutal conflict. Pitch brother against brother as either the Union or Confederacy. Draw battle-lines, call in reinforcements, and attempt to out-maneuver opponents across dozens of historical battles, including Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and more!
Battle of Shiloh: Although not shown in-game, the streams and fields were drenched in Confederate and Union blood from almost 24,000 casualties across both sides.
7. Hearts of Iron IV (PC)
Hearts of Iron IV Gameplay
As grand as grand-strategy gets, Hearts of Iron IV puts players in control of entire nations during World War II. Focusing less on tactical battles, Hearts of Iron IV instead puts an emphasis on managing your economy, industry, population, and political cabinet to achieve control during one of the bloodiest conflicts in world history. Switch your civilian factories to wartime production, raise and equip divisions and make shrewd political maneuvers, lest your nation crumbles at the hands of the Axis… or Allies.
6. Arma 3 (PC)
Arma 3 Gameplay
More a combat-simulator than a video game, Arma 3 rides the fine line between intense, fun, firefights, and the punishing realism of war often glossed over in other games. An incredibly complex FPS -sandbox, Arma 3 gives players one of the most authentic experiences due to it's full-suite of mission-editing tools to create any scenario players desire. Arma 3 also boasts one of the most dedicated communities who labor out of love to build hundreds of hours worth of custom game modes, assets, and missions.
Ambush! Relatively one of the more simple scenarios, a handful of players takes up defensive positions after an IED takes out the lead vehicle. The best part is that this scenario is entirely "homegrown" – altogether player designed and operated, though it could opened up to include hundreds of units should the editor wish.
5. Hell Let Loose (PC)
Hell Let Loose Gameplay
Hell Let Loose is an incredibly realistic, tactical World War II FPS. Instead of running around at full sprint, guns blazing, players follow their squad leaders, deploy smoke, move cautiously, and make coordinated attacks on enemy objectives. Unlike other shooters, one man does not make an army, and deaths are severely punished. You're not a hero, you're a soldier – a single cog in a vast, bloody, hopefully, well-oiled machine.
A Lone Tank is a Dead Tank: Just as in real-war, pushing up with armor and no infantry support is a surefire way to catch a Panzerfaust up the tailpipe.
4. Insurgency: Sandstorm (PC / PS4 / XBO)
Insurgency: Sandstorm Gameplay
Insurgency: Sandstorm is a high-risk, tactical FPS that occupies a niche somewhere between Call of Duty and Hell Let Loose. It offers fast-paced, close-quarter engagements with small teams while also using realistic damage models, weapon handling, and punishing respawns. Modeled after our modern conflicts, Sandstorm is full of tense (arguably stressful) and highly-kinetic firefights where split-second decisions are the difference between your enemy's brains on the wall or yours.
BRRRRRRRRT: Insurgency: Sandstorm mimics the asymmetry of war – some people have A-10 Warthogs and some people end up as red paste in the dirt.
3. Company of Heroes 2 (PC)
Company of Heroes 2 Gameplay
A classic RTS in the hearts and minds of many, Company of Heroes 2 still stands as one of the hallmarks of military RTS wargames. Set during the backdrop of World War II, players take control of Axis or Allied powers to explore the map, exploit resources, expand their territory, and exterminate the enemy.
Five Rounds. HE. Firing for Effect: While blobbing may have worked for the Red Army IRL, the tired doctrine stands no chance against concentrated artillery in the hands of a half-decent commander.
2. Post Scriptum (PC)
Post Scriptum Gameplay
Another tactical, large scale FPS, not unlike Hell Let Loose. Post Scriptum follows a similar formula also set amidst World War II all across the European theater. Stick together, communicate, and move as a unit lest you be blown to bits by a more cohesive enemy.
Ahh… France: Come for the food and beauty. Stay because you got your legs blown off.
1. Squad (PC)
Squad Gameplay
A hardcore, tactical FPS set across huge maps that span kilometers. It bridges a gap between Mil-Sims and modern FPS shooters. It offers the high-stress combat found in games like Insurgency or Post-Scriptum without the overwhelming complexity of games like Arma 3. Work together with your team to utilize devasting modern weaponry to its fullest potential,
You Don't Have to Fight Alone: And you shouldn't. I mean, why even bring a .50 cal. If you don't have anyone to shoot it?
While there are obviously more than fifteen good military-themed games, we wanted to simplify things to give you guys a better feel for what's out there. There are also many bad games out there too, wasting people's time. These gems deserve to stand out from the rest, and hopefully, you've found something worth investing into.
