Board games tackle a wide range of themes and game mechanics. You could solve 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:a murder mystery one moment and wage war the next. Such war games are often tense and filled with strategy. Plenty of games in the g꧒enre focus on actual historical events. Other war games will play out fictional wars on far-off planets.
No matter if you want an epic battle that will take the entire game night, or some shorter, fast-paced experiences, there is a war game out there to try. Here is a selection of war game♑s that are well worth checking out, ranging ✅from historical to fantasy.
Updated July 20, 2024 by Vaspaan Dastoor: War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing. But you can't deny that the idea of war makes for excellent strategy board games. Some of the most popular grand strategy board games are based on some kind of war - historical or fictional. We've updated this list with a few more of these war-based games.
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Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition
Best Solo Mode -
Root
Best Faction Mechanics -
Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set
Most Expansive -
Risk
Best Classic War Game -
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)
Best War Game For Beginner Enthusiasts
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Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
Best Space-Faring War Game -
Star Wars: Rebellion
Best Star Wars Game -
Dune: Imperium
Best Deck-Based War Game -
Undaunted: Normandy
Best Historical War Game -
Axis & Allies
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War Of The Ring

Mage Knight: Ultimate Edition
There are tons of cool ways to play this game
This intricate f𓆏antasy game casts the players as powerful magic-users who have decided to conquer and raze the cities of the realm. There are several different ways to play, and countless strategic 🃏decisions to be made as you fight to rule the realm.
- Intricate mechanics
- Multiple modes, including a strong single-player experience
- Incredible strategic depth
- Very, very complex
This highly intricate but correspondingly rich tabletop game casts the playe🌊rs as powerful magic users, using armies of minions, along with their own magical power, to attack and sack various cities on a large board. This game can be played single player, with you alone going up against the cities of the realm, but you can also collaborate with your friends to 🍷conquer together or compete against them to be the most successful conqueror.
There are loads of depth to this game. Learning it will be tough, but it makes for an incredibly rich experience. Every game ends with an exciting climactic encounter with a well-defended final city. W꧑ill you be the realm’s greatest conqueror, or will you be defeated like so many villains before you?
168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Check out this list for more games where you play the bad guy.

Root
The Woodland Alliance is the best faction btw
With a cute aesthetic, this woodland war game casts players as various factions, each with a completely different playstyle, competing for control of the forest. Each faction ඣgives you a compleღtely unique experience, yet they are impeccably balanced against one another.
- Four completely different factions make warfare symmetrical
- Cute cartoon animal aesthetic
- The factions play so differently that learning to play one of them will not help much with the others
Oftentimes, when we say that the different factions of a game play differently, we mean they have a few special abilities or mechanics that make them interesting. Root goes beyond that. The four warring factions in this game play completely differently, almost as differently as if they were from totally separate games. This makes the warfare in this game feel incredibly asymmetrical, and𒈔 yet it is impeccably balanced, with every faction having a fair shot at winning.
The factions each have theirꦜ own lore, and the conflict between them will evolve into an engaging story about groups with different motives and ideologies fighting for control of this forest. This game has incredible replay value, as it’s effectively four different games competing against one another on a common board, and that’s before we count the additional factions added b🦋y the expansions!

Warhammer 40,000 Introductory Set
In the grim ⛄dark future of the 41st… on second thought, not gonna bother. You know how it goes
- Franchise
- 🔯 Warhammer 40K
- Player Count
- 2-4
- Age Recommendation
- 12+
- Length per Game
- ♎ 3𒉰0-60 minutes
- Publishing Co
- ♐ Games Workshop
This dark sci-fi fantasy wargame puts the players in charge of separately purchased and꧟ distinct armies with unique abilities and has them battle against one𒁏 another for control of the galaxy.
- Loads of factions with unique figures to buy and play
- Decades of incredibly intricate lore, including dozens of novels
- You get to paint the minis yourself
- As expensive as it is expansive
- You have to paint the minis yourself
It’s tempting to simply say this game needs no introduction and move on. Warhammer 40,000 is legendary. It is the most popular and influential miniatures wargame, bar none. Unlike some similar games that manage to come in a single box, Warhammer has se🎃parate factions, each purchased separately, with their own abilities. The custom armies you build with these aꦦssets are reminiscent of the custom decks found in trading card games.
One of the most remarkable things about this game is its lore. Games Workshop has spent decades expanding extensively on the stories behind all of the game’s different factions and why they&♒rsquo;re fighting one another. There are dozens of novels in this universe, and the rulebooks for both the wargame and its associated TTRPGs contain tons of🍬 lore themselves. Everything about this game is rich and vast, giving you one of the best warfare experiences out there.

Risk
It's stood the test of time
Risk is one among the most renowned war g🃏ames, serving as a template for many others. This strategic game has players manage the distribution of their armies, forcing them to choose when to prioritize taking new territory and when to defend what they already have.
- Easy to understand, hard to master
- Rewarding for players of all skill levels
Risk is a classic war game that casts you as the head of an army as it attempts to seize control of the entire world. You'll roll dice to determine the outcome of each battle, deciding when to hold back and when to strike.
Because of how old and popular this game is, there are several different versions of it. The edition linked here has four gameplay modes, and add additional options, such as Legacy, where each game is framed as a continuation of those prior to it, creating the sense of a single, living world with an ongoing history. Risk's mechanics are simple, letting you quickly pick up the basic rules, but there are loads of strategic depth to it!

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game (Second Edition)
Not as wide-scale, just as bloody
- Franchise
- Game of Thro𓂃nes
- Original Release Date
- 2011-00-00
- Player Count
- 🍒 3-6 players
- Age Recommendation
- 14+
- Length per Game
- ꩲ ꧋ 120-240 minutes
This war game sets you in control of one of Westeros' Great Houses, and charges you with waging war against the others. It isn't as complex as some otherꦫ war games, which makes it easier for beginners to handle.
- Blends war game mechanics with board game styles
- Easier for new players to grasp
- Features the Houses of Westeros
There are quite a few 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Game of Thrones board games, but this one is our favorite. It casts you in the role of one of the Great Houses of Westeros right before the briꦜnk of war, and treats you to a long, epic battle that can last more than four hours.
We stated multiple times above that this game is relatively simple. To be clear, that's in comparison to other miniatures wargames like Warhammer 40,000. The Game of Thrones board game is far more complicated than Risk or Chess. There are a lot of intricacies to wrap your head around. It isn't only about combat, with plenty of other ways to gain influence and power across the realm. Ready yourself to betray your friends, deceive your allies, and deliver cutthroat justice to the players who are standing between you and the Iron Throne.
For more fantasy-themed games, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:check out this list!

Twilight Imperium: Fourth Edition
Technology, Politics, Diplomacy - Warfare
- Type of Game
- 🥀 4X Strategy Board Game 🎐
- Age Recommendation
- 14+
- Game Duration
- 🐠 🐽 240 - 480 minutes
- What's Included
- Faction Sheets, Command Sheets, Ti🦋les, Cards, Dice, Tokens, Plastic Units 🌳
- Number of Players
- 💟 3-ꦜ6 players
Twilight Imperium sets up to six players in charge of their own space-faring civilization. With seventeen civilizations to choose from, different mechanics to maste🧸r and highlight, and countless hours of gameplay, no two sessions will ever turn ✃out the same.
- Long-form war game
- Great for sci-fi and space enthusiasts
- Extremely complex, making mastering the title rewarding
- Games can last up to eight hours
In Twilight Imperium, you choose one of seventeen civilizations vying for domination over the galaxy. The galaxy is different each time you play, filled with different planets to fight over and asteroid fields to avoid, a fact which gives this game a lot of replay v𝔉alue.
As with Game of Thrones above, there are multiple paths to success in this game. There are mechanics here for martial, diplomatic, and economic domination, and each of them is a viable path to success. The faction you play will have its own unique abilities that nudge you toward certain play-styles. You'll make decisions for the grand council and fly your spaceships across the galaxy until someone reaches ten victory points. Twilight Imperium is a vast, sprawling adventure that is unique every time you play. If you want something with an epic scope, this game is for you!
For more sci-fi tabletop games,168澳洲幸运5开奖网: check out this list!

Star Wars: Rebellion
Mandatory to play to the Imperial March
- Franchise
- Star Wars
- Original Release Date
- 2016-00-00
- Player Count
- 2-4
- Age Recommendation
- 14+
- Length per Game
- 3-4 hours
Star꧑ Wars: Rebellion lets you choose between the Rebels or the Empire. Wage a guerrilla war as the outgunned Rebels, or play as the Empire and crush the rebeꦑls and strengthen your hold on the galaxy.
- Choose between the Rebels or Empire
- The two factions are genuinely asymmetric
- Dynamic, shifting gameplay depending on your side
If you're not tired of sci-fi wargaming, or are looking for something a little quicker, you can dive into the world of Star Wars with this game. There are plenty of great Star Wars titles out there, but for those who prefer a tabletop experience, you want to try Star Wars Rebellion. Set during the original trilogy, this game has you play as the Galactic Empire or the Rebel Alliance and struggle with the other for control over the galaxy.
The best thing about this game is how different the two sides are. It's not quite like Root, where they're practically playing different games, but they still feel very distinct and asymmetric. The Galactic Empire has a vast army that sprawls across the board, while the Rebels have fewer resources, but loads of sneaky tactics and a hidden base to operate from.

Dune: Imperium
The Spice Must Flow
- Original Release Date
- 2020-00-00
- Player Count
- 1-4
- Age Recommendation
- 14+
- Length per Game
- 🧜 60-120 minutes
- Publishing Co
- Dire Wolf
Dune: Imperium marries deck-building and wargame mechanics, helping to enhance the former and simplify the latter. It's perfect for fans of the Dune franchise who want to get into war games but are intimidated by their🐎 size.
- Great for Dune fans
- Good opening to Dune Uprising: Imperium
- Deck-building mechanics help to simplify war game mechanics
Dune has been a landmark franchise for decades, but with the recent release of the Denis Villeneuve films, it's surged in popularity with new generations of fans. If you're a tabletop gamer looking for a war something set in the Dune universe, Dune: Imperium is one of the best titles you'll find.
Another item that's simple-for-a-war-game, Dune Imperium uses deck-building mechanics to simplify other aspects of the genre. It'll also have you build an economy with worker placement mechanics and arrange your troops in a way that will help you fend off other players.
For more games set in the Dune universe, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:check out this list!

Undaunted: Normandy
Short straw plays the Nazis
- Player Count
- 2
- Age Recommendation
- 14+
- Length per Game
- 🧔 4🎀5-60 Minutes
- Publishing Co
- ꦉ ꦉ Osprey Games
- Number Of Cards
- 108 Cards
Fans of historical action and war games can co🎃me together with Undaunted: Normandy. With this WWII-th𝓰emed classic, you'll use your tactical knowledge to secure a win for the Allies or the Axis.
- Great for fans of historical battles
- Somewhat simplified gameplay due to deck mechanics
- Well-structured mission-based gameplay
- Someone has to play the Nazis
Undaunted: Normandy is 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:an incredible two-player game. You will play ༒as either the American or German forces during World War Two. The game once again mixes deck building with🐷 war strategy. Each turn, you will have a limited number of cards with which to control your troops, as you battle for territory.
There are multiple scenarios to play through, and they vary in complexity. The game slowly introduces more features, such as snipers. No two battles are the same. There is an excellent balance of luck and strategy. Turns are simple, which keeps the game moving quickly. If you are eager for more scenarios, Undaunted: North Africa and Undaunted: Reinforcements each provide additional options. The Undaunted series is simple to learn and a joy t🅷o play.

Axis & Allies
Humanity's darkest hour
World War II has been the inspiration for countless movies, books, video games, and even board games. Axis & Allies is one such grand strategy board game that tasks players with acheiving a particular win condition, depending on the faction🧸 they've chosen.
- Great introduction to grand strategy.
- Separate win conditions means differant tactics.
- Multiple versions from across different theaters of WWII.
- Some players may feel uneasy playing as the Axis powers.
The thing that sets Axis & Allies apart is the unique win conditio💯ns for each faction. While victory can be achieved by military might, economic and devel🔴opmental progress will also aid in your victory.

War Of The Ring
The great battle of our time
Middle-earth has seen many wars, but the ones💖 we all remember are from The Lord of the Rings. Not only will players have to command the armies of the Free Peoples and Sauron, but you'll also have to ensure the Fellowship destroys the One Ring, or the Nazgul cap🐎ture it and deliver it to their master.
- Players can separately controll the Fellowship and the Nazgul.
- Great for fans of The Lord of the Rings.
- Miniatures modelled after characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium.
The Lord of the Rings has featured in tabletop games of all manner, but not all of them let you control the armies as well as the Fellowship. While the war wages on, you must ꦦalso ensure the Fellowship completes its task, while thew Nazgul relentlessly hunt for the One Ring.
FAQ
Are War Board Games Complex?
Depends on the title. The term "wargame" usually refers to a specific genre of tabletop game that uses moving miniatures and relatively complex rules to simulate battle, but games about war🐻 ca🌺n be significantly simpler.
How Long Do War Board Games Take?
Whatever play time you're hoping for, there's a game out there to suit you! For a quicker game, we recommend deck-building or board-game-style war games. For long-form war games, titles like Risk, Warhammer, and Undaunted are good. If you're looking to spend all day gaming, Twilight Imperium has you covered.
Are There Any Good War-Themed TTRPGs?
Yep! 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:We made a whole list about them!

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