The Best War Board Games 2025

War is a popular theme in board games, and for good reason: they offer thrilling, strategic battles. The games below deliver epic combat experiences, some wrapping up in an evening, others stretching across an entire day, but all demanding strategic prowess. Gather your friends, prepare snacks and drinks, and prepare for an intense gaming session.

To ensure smoother gameplay, especially with longer games, consider these tips: Obtain a PDF rulebook (many publishers offer free downloads) and have everyone read it beforehand. Designate players to handle administrative tasks like sorting components outside their turns. If agreeable to all players, implement a time limit per turn.

The Best War Board Games

Below are some of the best war board games available. Click the images to learn more!

Arcs

Arcs masterfully balances action on the board with player negotiation and alliances. Its innovative trick-taking mechanics provide diverse strategic options, while still delivering intense spacecraft battles. Despite its depth, a full game can be completed in under two hours, making it ideal for shorter gaming sessions and its brilliant narrative campaign expansion.

Dune: War for Arrakis

A head-to-head duel between the Atredies and Harkonnens for control of spice. Highly asymmetric gameplay pits the Atredies' guerilla tactics against the Harkonnens' superior resources. The excellent action dice system ensures constant strategic reevaluation. From the same designers as *War of the Ring*, it features high-quality miniatures and a faster playtime.

Sniper Elite: The Board Game

A close-quarters stealth game where the sniper player must evade German squads. The game features a punishing clock, adding tension to the gameplay. It also boasts a historical setting, thematic components, and realistic combat, alongside multiple boards and sniper loadouts for high replayability.

Twilight Imperium 4th Edition

An epic, all-day sci-fi civilization-building game. Players control unique alien races, research technology, build fleets, and engage in galactic conquest. Features diplomacy, political decrees, and a strategic card system. This edition streamlines the original, enhancing accessibility.

Blood Rage

Control a Viking clan in the Ragnarök era, vying for glory in Valhalla. Features strategic card drafting, resource management, and blind battle card system. A blend of tactical challenge, theme, and brutal combat.

Dune

A game based on Frank Herbert's novel, featuring asymmetric factions with unique powers. Emphasizes hidden information and strategic depth, offering a compelling political and narrative experience. The new edition boasts improved rules and artwork.

Kemet: Blood and Sand

Fast-paced combat game set in ancient Egypt, where players control gods and mythical creatures. Features strategic pyramid powers, battle cards, and intense close-quarters combat.

Star Wars: Rebellion

An asymmetric struggle between the Rebellion and the Empire. Features iconic characters and events, with strategic gameplay and a dynamic narrative.

Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear

A tactical wargame focusing on squad-level combat during World War II. Uses a simple system of action points, dice, and defense values to offer engaging gameplay and tactical depth. Includes artillery, vehicles, and tanks.

Undaunted: Normandy / Undaunted: North Africa / Undaunted Stalingrad

Deck-building games simulating infantry combat during World War II. Officer cards add units, reflecting real-world command and supply. Casualties thin the deck, impacting unit effectiveness. Offers tense firefights and pivotal moments.

Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right

An asymmetric game where four factions vie for control of a woodland realm. Features unique faction rules, strategic depth, and a blend of conquest and guerrilla warfare.

Twilight Struggle: Red Sea

A streamlined version of Twilight Struggle, focusing on the Cold War in East Africa. Retains the core card-play and strategic dilemmas of the original, but with a shorter playtime. Includes historical events and designer's notes.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

A game of political intrigue and backstabbing, mirroring the themes of the books and TV show. Only one player can win, forcing alliances and betrayals. Features a secret order system and thematic elements from Westeros.

War of the Ring 2nd Edition

A game based on Tolkien's works, featuring two interwoven games: the epic battle across Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest. The two halves interact, creating a complex strategic balance.

Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

A sci-fi civilization-building game emphasizing long-term strategic planning. Features advanced systems for initiative and technology upgrades, requiring foresight and tactical depth.

For more great board game options, check out our selections for the best board games overall and the best board game deals.

What Defines a Wargame?

The term "wargame" is often debated within gaming communities. Some strictly define it as simulations of historical conflicts, often featuring detailed maps and counters. Others broaden the definition to include games simulating potential conflicts or those set in fantasy or sci-fi settings. This list uses a broad definition, encompassing games exploring conflict from diverse perspectives.