This article explores the best war board games, offering a diverse selection catering to different preferences and play styles. The games listed provide epic battle experiences, ranging from shorter, faster-paced conflicts to extensive, multi-hour campaigns. Prepare for strategic challenges, intense combat, and captivating narratives. For longer games, consider pre-reading the rules and implementing time limits per turn for smoother gameplay.
TL;DR: Top 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 / Undaunted: Stalingrad
- Root
- Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
- A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
- War of the Ring
- Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
### Arcs
Arcs masterfully blends strategic gameplay with intense spacecraft battles. Its innovative trick-taking mechanics offer multiple strategic avenues, while the open board encourages aggressive play. Despite its depth, it boasts a playtime of under two hours, making it accessible for various schedules.
### Dune: War for Arrakis
A head-to-head duel between the Atreides and Harkonnen factions, this game features asymmetric gameplay and intense combat. The Atreides utilize guerilla tactics, while the Harkonnen focus on resource management. High-quality miniatures and an action dice system enhance the strategic depth and replayability.
### Sniper Elite: The Board Game
This adaptation of the video game series emphasizes close-quarters stealth action. The sniper player must remain undetected against the clock, while the German player commands roving squads. The game includes multiple boards and loadout options, offering significant replay value.
### Twilight Imperium 4th Edition
An epic, all-day sci-fi civilization-building game. Players control diverse alien factions, research technology, build fleets, and engage in galactic conquest. Diplomacy and in-game political decrees add layers of strategic complexity.
### Blood Rage
Players command Viking clans vying for glory in the Ragnarök. Strategic card drafting, resource management, and blind battle mechanics create a thrilling blend of tactical challenge and thematic immersion.
### Dune
Based on Frank Herbert's novel, this game emphasizes asymmetrical strategies and hidden information. Each faction possesses unique powers, leading to complex political maneuvering and strategic depth.
### Kemet: Blood and Sand
A fast-paced game of brutal combat set in ancient Egypt. Players control powerful gods and mythical creatures, engaging in intense battles using unique powers and strategic card play.
### Star Wars: Rebellion
An asymmetric conflict between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. The game features iconic characters and events from the Star Wars universe, offering a dynamic and engaging narrative experience.
### Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
A tactical wargame focusing on squad-level combat during World War II. The game utilizes a streamlined system of action points and dice rolls, offering a balance of realism and accessibility.
### Undaunted: Normandy
### Undaunted: North Africa
### Undaunted Stalingrad
These deck-building games cleverly simulate infantry combat using a simple yet engaging system. Officer cards add units to your deck, while unit cards control troop movements on the map.
### Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right
A shorter game featuring asymmetric factions vying for control of a woodland realm. Each faction has unique rules and gameplay, resulting in a strategic and politically charged experience.
### Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
A streamlined version of the classic Twilight Struggle, this game retains the core card-play and strategic dilemmas, but with a shorter playtime. It focuses on the Cold War in East Africa.
### A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
This game captures the political intrigue and backstabbing of the A Song of Ice and Fire universe. Alliances and betrayals are crucial for success, creating a tense and unpredictable experience.
### War of the Ring 2nd Edition
A highly-rated adaptation of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, this game features two interwoven campaigns: the epic battle for Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring.
### Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
This sci-fi civilization-building game emphasizes long-term strategic planning and technological advancement. Players explore the galaxy, design ships, and engage in interstellar conflict.
What Constitutes a Wargame?
The definition of "wargame" is debated within the hobbyist community. While some strictly define it as a simulation of historical conflicts, a broader interpretation includes games that explore conflict across various settings and perspectives, from historical simulations to fantasy diplomacy. This article adopts the broader definition, encompassing the diverse range of games presented.
