Top War Board Games of 2025

War is a popular theme in board games, offering exciting and engaging gameplay. The games listed below provide epic battle experiences, ranging from shorter evening sessions to all-day affairs, all emphasizing strategic combat. Gather your friends, prepare some snacks and drinks, and prepare for thrilling gameplay.

For longer games, consider these tips for smoother gameplay: Access a PDF rulebook (often freely available from publishers) for pre-game reading. Encourage players to perform administrative tasks like sorting cards or counters outside their turns. A time limit per turn, with player agreement, can also help maintain pace.

The Best War Board Games

Below is a list of the best war board games, categorized for easy browsing and selection:

Arcs

See it. Arcs masterfully balances action on the board with player negotiation and alliances. Its innovative trick-taking mechanics offer strategic depth, while fast-paced spacecraft battles reward aggression. Despite its features, it offers a complete space empire experience in under two hours, making it ideal for enjoying the brilliant narrative campaign expansion.

Dune: War for Arrakis

See it at Amazon. Distinct from the multiplayer Dune game, *War for Arrakis* is a head-to-head battle between the Atreides and Harkonnen factions. Asymmetric gameplay pits the Atreides' guerilla tactics against the Harkonnen's superior forces. The Harkonnen must balance spice harvesting with military actions. Sharing the same design team as *War of the Ring*, it features high-quality miniatures and an action dice system, ensuring constant strategic reevaluation in a faster-paced game.

Sniper Elite: The Board Game

See it at Amazon. This adaptation features close-quarters action, unlike the video game series. Stealth is crucial for the sniper player against the clock, while German squads search for them. It adds historical context with thematic components and realistic combat. Two boards and various sniper loadouts provide high replayability and tactical choices.

Twilight Imperium IV

See it at Amazon. An epic, all-day sci-fi civilization-building game. Players control unique alien races, research technology, build fleets, and engage in galactic conquest. Diplomacy and in-game political decrees add layers of complexity. The strategic card system enhances gameplay. This edition improves accessibility while maintaining the grand scale.

Blood Rage

See it at Amazon. In *Blood Rage*, players lead Viking clans in Ragnarök, striving for glory and a place in Valhalla. Beneath its violent exterior lies strategic depth. Card drafting, resource management, and blind battle card systems create a blend of tactical challenge and brutality.

Dune

See it at Amazon. Unlike *Dune: War for Arrakis*, this game focuses on political maneuvering and hidden information. Players control factions from the novel, each with unique abilities. The game emphasizes strategic asymmetry and evokes the novel's themes. This edition features refined rules and updated artwork.

Kemet: Blood and Sand

See it at Amazon. *Kemet* depicts a battle between Egyptian gods and creatures. Players use pyramids to customize strategies, and battle cards create mind games. The game emphasizes fast-paced, direct combat.

Star Wars: Rebellion

See it at Amazon. *Star Wars: Rebellion* recreates the conflict between the Rebellion and the Empire. Asymmetric gameplay offers unique challenges for each side. The game blends strategic depth with iconic characters and events from the Star Wars universe.

Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear

See it at Amazon. This tactical wargame balances detail with engaging gameplay. A simple system of action points, dice, and defense values provides excitement and tactical depth. The game expands to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks, offering a complete World War II experience.

Undaunted: Normandy & Undaunted: North Africa & Undaunted: Stalingrad

See it at Amazon. These games use deck-building to simulate infantry combat. Officer cards add units, reflecting orders and supplies. Unit cards move troops on a modular map, engaging in firefights and capturing objectives. Casualties reduce unit effectiveness.

Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right

See it at Amazon. Root is a shorter game featuring asymmetric factions battling for woodland control. Each faction has unique rules and gameplay. The game blends cute aesthetics with brutal strategic gameplay.

Twilight Struggle: Red Sea

See it at Amazon. A streamlined version of *Twilight Struggle*, this game retains core card play while reducing playtime. Players face strategic dilemmas and navigate historical events in East Africa during the Cold War.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

See it at Amazon. This game recreates the political intrigue of *A Song of Ice and Fire*. Only one player can win, requiring alliances and betrayals. The secret order system adds tension and strategic depth.

War of the Ring

See it at Amazon. This game offers a compelling adaptation of Tolkien's work. It features two interwoven games: the epic battle across Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring. The interplay between these two games creates a challenging strategic experience.

Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

See it at Amazon. *Eclipse* emphasizes long-term strategic planning in a sci-fi setting. Smart systems for initiative and technology upgrades encourage forward thinking. The game balances exploration, ship design, and combat.

For more options, explore our selections for the best board games and best board game deals.

What Counts as a Wargame?

The term "wargame" can be subjective. While some define it narrowly as simulations of historical conflicts, others include games simulating potential or fictional conflicts. This list adopts a broad definition, encompassing games exploring conflict from diverse perspectives, including historical simulations and fantasy diplomacy. For those seeking specific types of conflict games, enthusiast websites offer further resources.