The Best War Board Games 2025

This article explores the best war board games, offering a diverse range of themes and gameplay experiences. From intense head-to-head battles to sprawling, multi-player conflicts, these games cater to various preferences and skill levels. The article provides concise descriptions, highlighting key features and mechanics for each game.

Here are some of the best war board games, categorized for easier selection:

Intense Two-Player Conflicts:

• Dune: War for Arrakis: A highly asymmetric battle between the Atredies and Harkonnens for control of spice, featuring excellent miniatures and dice mechanics.
• Sniper Elite: The Board Game: A tense, stealth-focused game where one player controls a sniper against roving German squads.

Grand Strategy and Multi-Player Conflicts:

• Twilight Imperium IV: An epic, all-day affair of sci-fi civilization building, featuring alien races, technology research, fleet building, and political maneuvering.
• Blood Rage: A Viking-themed game where players draft cards, marshal warriors, and battle for glory in the end times of Ragnarök.
• Star Wars: Rebellion: An asymmetric struggle between the Rebellion and the Empire, featuring iconic characters and events from the Star Wars universe.
• A Game of Thrones: The Board Game: A game of political intrigue and backstabbing, mirroring the themes of the books and TV show.
• War of the Ring: A two-part game recreating the epic struggle between the Free Peoples and Sauron in Middle-earth.
• Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy: A sci-fi civilization-building game emphasizing strategic planning and technological advancement.
• Arcs: A fast-paced space empire-building game with innovative trick-taking mechanics.
• Kemet: Blood and Sand: A fast-paced game of violent conflict set in ancient Egypt, featuring unique god powers and tactical combat.
• Dune: A complex, asymmetrical game based on Frank Herbert's novel, focusing on hidden information and strategic maneuvering.

Tactical Warfare and Historical Simulations:

• Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear: A tactical wargame simulating squad-level combat during World War II.
• Undaunted: Normandy / Undaunted: North Africa / Undaunted: Stalingrad: Deck-building games simulating infantry combat during World War II, offering accessible yet engaging tactical experiences.

Unique and Asymmetrical Gameplay:

• Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right: A game featuring four asymmetrical factions battling for control of a woodland realm.
• Twilight Struggle: Red Sea: A streamlined version of Twilight Struggle, focusing on the Cold War in East Africa.

This list provides a starting point for exploring the vast world of war board games. The article also discusses the nuances of the term "wargame" and encourages further exploration based on individual preferences.