War-themed board games offer thrilling experiences that can captivate players for hours or even an entire day. These games immerse you in epic battles, challenging your strategic thinking and keeping you engaged throughout. Whether you're looking for a quick skirmish or a marathon session, these games won't disappoint. Grab your friends, stock up on snacks and drinks, and prepare for an intense gaming adventure.

To ensure smooth gameplay during longer sessions, consider these tips: Download a PDF of the rulebook if available and have everyone review it beforehand. Encourage players to handle administrative tasks like sorting cards or counters during other players' turns. You might also want to set a time limit for turns if everyone agrees. Now, let's dive into the best war board games on the market.

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 accommodate more than two players often struggle to balance action on the board with the negotiations and alliances that occur between players. Arcs achieves this balance remarkably well, as highlighted in our 10/10 review. Its innovative mechanics, reminiscent of trick-taking card games, provide multiple strategic options while maintaining intense spacecraft battles on a circular board that encourages aggression. Despite its complexity, you can build a full-fledged space empire in under two hours, making it ideal for exploring its brilliant narrative campaign expansion.

Dune: War for Arrakis

### Dune: War for Arrakis

1See it at AmazonDon't confuse this with the multiplayer negotiation game Dune further down the list. War for Arrakis is a head-to-head battle for two players, pitting the noble Atreides against the wicked Harkonnen in a fight for control of the precious spice. The game is highly asymmetric, featuring guerrilla warfare from the Atreides, their Fremen allies, and summoned sandworms, clashing with the larger, wealthier forces of the Harkonnen. The Harkonnen player must focus on harvesting and shipping spice to maintain economic advantages. With quality plastic miniatures and an excellent action dice system, this game offers constant strategy reassessment and is much quicker to play than its counterpart, War of the Ring.

Sniper Elite: The Board Game

### Sniper Elite: The Board Game

1See it at AmazonFans of the video game series might be surprised by the close-quarters action in this tabletop adaptation, but it's packed with charm. The stealth elements are well-preserved, as the sniper player moves slowly and silently against the clock, while the German player controls roving squads trying to detect them. The escalating tension, combined with a historical veneer and realistic combat, sets it apart from the video game. With two different boards and various sniper loadouts and squad specialists, the game offers ample replay value and tactical decision-making.

Twilight Imperium IV

### Twilight Imperium 4th Edition

8See it at AmazonThis game epitomizes epic sci-fi civilization building, offering a full-day experience with everything you could want from the genre. Bizarre aliens research technology and build fleets to battle over a random galactic hex map. Inter-player diplomacy and in-game political decrees add depth, but it's the rock-solid strategic core that challenges players. The strategy card system, where each player selects a special focus each round, is a mechanical highlight. The fourth edition retains its sweeping scope while trimming unnecessary elements, making it more accessible.

Blood Rage

### Blood Rage

1See it at AmazonIn Blood Rage, you lead a Viking clan into the end times of Ragnarök, aiming to gain glory through rage, axes, and horns to secure a place in Valhalla. Beneath its violent exterior and visually appealing components lies a game of strategic depth. You'll draft cards to support your actions, carefully managing your warriors and monsters to pillage regions and fulfill quests. The blind battle card system adds excitement as you vie for glory against other players. This game seamlessly blends tactical challenge, theme, and brutality, making it a definitive conflict-based classic.

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Dune

### Dune

7See it at AmazonDune offers a different kind of futuristic experience, distinct from Dune: Imperium. Based on Frank Herbert's novel and first released in 1979, it was ahead of its time. The game relies on a balance of hidden information and asymmetric strategies. Each player controls a faction from the book, with unique special powers. The Atreides can peek at auctioned cards, while the Harkonnen know all secret traitors. This new edition features cleaner rules and stunning art, brilliantly capturing the narrative and political themes of the novel.

Kemet: Blood and Sand

### Kemet Blood and Sand

0See it at AmazonImagine ancient Egyptian gods and mythical creatures battling on the desert sands. That's Kemet. The game's tech pyramids allow you to tailor your strategy with special powers, enhancing both attack and defense. Everyone starts with the same battle cards, leading to intense mind games as you try to outguess your opponent's moves. The unique board layout ensures constant action, with no place to hide, making for a fast-paced, violent experience.

Star Wars: Rebellion

### Star Wars: Rebellion

14See it at AmazonStar Wars: Rebellion offers a fresh take on the beloved franchise. The Rebellion player, as the underdog, must survive military threats while winning over planets. Meanwhile, the Empire wields massive armies to crush dissent. The asymmetric struggle is enriched with familiar characters and events from the movies, but the unfolding narrative is yours to shape. Strategic elements ensure each turn is filled with challenge and variety.

Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear

### Conflict of Heroes: Awakening The Bear

0See it at AmazonTactical wargames focusing on squads or individual soldiers can become overly complex. Conflict of Heroes strikes the perfect balance with a simple system of action points, dice, and varying defense values, delivering excitement, realism, and tactical challenge. Starting simple, it soon expands to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks, offering a comprehensive World War II experience. The command point system, allowing extra actions during your opponent's turn, adds 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 cleverly use deck-building to simulate infantry combat with just a few rules. Officer cards allow you to add new units to your deck, mimicking field orders and supplies. Unit cards move corresponding troop counters on the modular scenario map, engaging enemies and capturing objectives. As casualties mount, your deck thins, reflecting eroding morale under fire. With tense firefights and pivotal moments, these games offer an accessible and engaging way to refight the Second World War.

Root

### Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right

18$59.99 save 25%$44.99 at AmazonRoot is a shorter game that boldly emphasizes asymmetry. Four factions vie for control of a woodland realm, each with unique rules and themes. The Marquise de Cat and the Eyrie engage in standard conquest, while the Woodland Folk fight as guerrillas. The Vagabond acts as a lone trickster-hero. Despite its cute theme and quirky art, Root is a strategic game that raises questions about real-world politics and governance.

Twilight Struggle: Red Sea

### Twilight Struggle: Red Sea

0See it at AmazonThe original Twilight Struggle is renowned for its complexity and length, but Red Sea retains the compelling card-play while reducing playtime to about an hour. Players face tough decisions on whether to trigger key events that could benefit their opponent, navigating their hand of cards. A new scoring mechanic adds excitement to the shorter game. History enthusiasts can explore the Cold War in East Africa, with real historical events simulated through the game mechanics and a book of designer's notes providing deeper context.

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 intrigue and betrayal of the books and TV show. Borrowing from classic Diplomacy, only one player can win, but no one can do so alone, making alliances and treachery inevitable. A secret order system adds suspense, revealing opponents' intentions only at the last moment. The game is enriched with elements from the world of Westeros, offering strategic depth and making it a must-play 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 adaptation of Tolkien's work, featuring two intertwined games on the same board. One is the epic clash of armies across Middle-earth, while the other follows the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring. The genius lies in how these two halves interact, creating a challenging tactical balance for players to master.

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 strategy in sci-fi civilization-building. Its systems for initiative and technology upgrades require players to plan several steps ahead as they expand into the galaxy. The tactical depth enhances the feeling of exploration and combat, making success dependent on the right tech and units rather than just luck.

If you enjoy these games, check out our picks for the overall best board games and the best board game deals.

What Counts as a Wargame?

In gaming circles, the term "wargame" often refers specifically to games that simulate historical conflicts, a niche interest with many titles released each year. These games, like Awakening the Bear and Twilight Struggle: Red Sea, often require detailed historical research. However, the definition extends to games simulating potential conflicts, like a Cold War turning into World War 3, or those with historical settings but less focused on simulation, such as Undaunted. Even games with fantastic or sci-fi scenarios can be considered wargames. We've adopted a broad definition, encompassing games that explore conflict from various perspectives, from historical simulations to fantasy diplomacy. For enthusiasts interested in specific sub-genres, there are dedicated sites to explore further.