In a human colony far from earth, war rages on over the rich soil of the only habitable planet. Command your units through hordes of enemies in this action packed RTS game. Control all territories and you will unlock units. Objective of the game is unlock all territories, to do this, find the enemy`s base and destroy it.
- Steam American Civil War Games
- Steam Multiplayer War Games
- Steam War Games Recent
- Steam Civil War Games
- Top Steam War Games
The war of the 'greatest generation', WW2's allure and appeal has been hyped beyond all reason. Aside from perhaps the ancient world, it is the single most fertile ground for strategy and war games. With so many takes on this globe-spanning conflict, it can be difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.
If you'd prefer less hardware in your wars, we've got some great ancients & medieval war games you can check out!
We’ve tried to get a range of different types of games, from close-up tactical experiences to sweeping strategic overviews. So, without further ado, here's our guide to the best World War 2 strategy & war games. We're a computer wargames website, we can't be wrong!
- Play Steam of War 1. Strike Force Heroes. Strike Force Heroes 2. Dashing Knights. Knightmare Tower. Feed Us 4 Xmas Xpension. Valthirian Arc 2. Feed Us Pirates. Fleeing the Complex. Crystal Story.
- Button Mash The 30+ Best PC War Games on Steam 1 9 1 Total War: WARHAMMER II Creative Assembly. 2 7 1 Civilization V Firaxis Games. 3 8 2 Call of Duty: WWII Sledgehammer Games. 4 8 3 ArmA III Bohemia Interactive. 5 5 2 This War of Mine 11 bit studios. 6 5 3 Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Firaxis.
Wargamer is affiliated with the Paradox Store.
Recent Releases & Hall of Fame
Steam American Civil War Games
Not every game releases gets to take a spot in our 'Best of' lists, and some games that do earn themselves a place get rotated out for newer titles, to keep things fresh. Neither category deserves to be forgotten, so here's a quick summary of recent releases and past 'best' games:
- Battles for Spain - technically Spanish Civil War 1936, but it's got a brilliant design.
- Japan '45 - Old-school JTS style game focusing on a 'what if' invasion of Japan in 1945'.
- Battle for Korsun - One-man band studio offers a 'lite' take on this iconic WW2 Eastern Front campaign. Good entry-wargame.
- Battles of North Africa 1941 - WDS' own creation in Tiller-style, covering the 1941 campaigns.
- Barbarroja - Another Eastern Front wargame, this one is a remarkable indie creations.
Steel Division 2 (Review)
Publisher/Developer: Eugen Systems
Tags: Division-level, Real-Time Battles, Operational, Turn-Based Campaign, Team play, Eastern Front
Purchase:Steam
We had to stop an think about this one before committing it to the list - there's no denying that Steel Division 2 has it's problems. Multiplayer balance is an on-going concern, and generally the new campaign mode is a little bit rough around the edges. Still, we're confident in our assessment that it's overall a better game than its predecessor, and the new campaign mode is one of the finest solitaire wargaming experiences we've ever played.
If you were a fan of the real-time tactical battles in Normandy '44, then you may have trouble warming to this - the operational realities of the Eastern Front and how it's been translated into the game make for some brutal fights, both in SP and MP. If you felt that the first Steel Division game needed more in the campaign space however, we dare you to not be impressed by the new Army General mode. Once Eugen sort out the last of the kinks, this will truly be a war game for the ages.
Hearts of Iron IV
Publisher/Developer: Paradox Interactive / Paradox Development Studio
Tags: Grand-Strategy, Strategic, Global, Real-Time, Divisions, Sandbox
Purchase:Paradox Store, Steam
Hearts of Iron 4 makes it's debut on this list thanks to the recent release of the Man the Guns expansion. This WW2 sandbox game has been going from strength to strength, and while its still got some ways to go Paradox's flagship war game can now finally attempt to stand amongst its contemporaries. Take command of any nation in existence in 1936, and try to guide them through turbulent period leading up to the second world war. With an open-ended nature and three competing ideologies, what form the second world war takes could be different through multiple playthroughs.
You can create your own Divisions, specialising them for specific tasks. A Battle Planner allows you to draw detailed strategies for your armies that the AI will execute for you, and there's plenty of DLC worth checking out that help elevate the base package into something special.
There is actually an important caveat to add to this entry. While Hearts of Iron 4 is becoming a great WW2-era game, it's not necessarily a great 'WW2 game' in the sense that getting a historical outcome is now only one of many possibilities, and we're not sure if it's the most common one at this point. While plenty of historical events and key decisions are modelled, the course of the war can vary, so if you're an enthusiast who wants a more 'on rails' experience, this may not actually be the game for you.
John Tiller's Campaign Series (West Front Review)
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / Talonsoft
Tags: Bundle, Western Front, Eastern Front, Pacific Theatre, Operational, Hex, IGOUGO, Company scale
Purchase: Direct
Sometimes, the oldies are still the best. Through the nineties John Tiller Studios released a short series of games each looking at a specific theatre of WW2, namely: West Front, East Front & Rising Sun. Today, all three are available via Matrix Games under the 'Campaign Series' label, but despite getting modern adaptations from the fine folks over at Wargame Design Studio, we've found that the 2007 version still holds up just fine, over a decade later.
While our review only looked at West Front specifically, all three games still possess a great breadth of content, tried-and-true 'IGOUGO' mechanics, and some excellent 3D graphics (for the time at least, although they still hold up now). West Front even covers the 1940 campaigns in france, so you really do get a complete package at a really decent price. The only caveat is, unlike WDS' France '40 'Gold' remaster, these still possess all of the warts and aches they did back when they were originally released.
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If you're a fan of the John Tiller style of games, especially their more hex-and-counter affairs, then there have been some other 'recent' releases that may take your fancy. Wargame Design Studio is a small development house that's been working with JTS to remake a lot of their older titles. Recent releases include a 'Gold' edition of El Alamein '42, and then the more 'what if' affair of Japan '45, which deals with the first phases of the planned (but never realised) invasion of mainland Japan.
Strategic Command WW2: World at War (Review)
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / Fury Software
Tags: European Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Global, Grand-Strategy, Turn Based, Hex
Purchase: Direct, Steam
World at War easily supplants it's younger sibling, War in Europe, for the simple fact that while this is in some ways 'more the same', it's 'more the same' on a global level. Our initial concerns that this one might fall prey to the same problems the SC Classic entry Global Conflict suffered turned out to be ill-founded. Fury have learned the lessons of the past and managed to create a compelling grand-strategy sandbox, at scale, that leaves plenty of meaningful gameplay options whether you're in Europe, or the Korean peninsular.
As fun as tactical or even operational level warfare is, there’s something empowering about taking control of a nation’s entire strategic resources; from industry and production to the military assets. Fury Software’s Strategic Command series has been around since at least the early 2000’s and is a great example of grand-strategy wargaming. You command either the Axis or the allied powers (and you can have the AI take over individual nations if you want) and must decide where to invest your nation's production capacity across research, mobilisation, diplomacy and maintaining your armed forces. Units represent Corps, Army Groups, Fleets & Air Groups.
Command Ops 2 (Review)
Publisher/Developer: Lock'n Load Publishing
Tags: Simulation, Operational, Planning, DLC
Purchase: Steam, Direct
Lock'n Load's flagship computer wargame makes its debut on our list of best games. This more recent iteration of the series approaches a very detailed and complex subject with a system of play that is both easy to learn and smooth as silk to play. Mastering play is not easy, but that’s the hallmark of an exceptional product. Other games of this subgenre should take note.
The base version of this game is free, and the download comes with three scenarios that include Return to St Vith, Manhay Crossroads and Greyhound Dash. In this respect LnL has taken the same approach as the World War I flight simulator Rise of Flight, where they charge for additional expansion modules.
Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg
Publisher/Developer: Battlefront
Tags: Tactical, Simulation, Battle of the Bulge, WEGO, 3D
Purchase:Direct
It seems you can't have one of these lists without at least one Combat Mission game. To be fair, they remain at the fore-front of tactical combat simulations and are must-plays for anyone who enjoys the hardcore-end of WW2 games. Combat Mission offers an immersive military experience, with a fully 3D engine and a turn-based/WEGO strategy layer that then plays out in real-time. Units are represented down to individual squads and tanks, however players can play anything from a Company-sized force, to a reinforced Battalion.
You could have a passionate debate about which CM game is the best CM game, but the latest iteration - 2016's Final Blitzkrieg - mightily impressed the late Mr. Cobb with its attention to detail and the general improvements to the legacy of Combat Mission as a whole: 'The series remains the epitome of World War II tactical simulations. Is it too early for a Game of the Year nomination?'. Final Blitzkrieg is set in Europe, 1944-45 and mainly centres around the Battle of the Bulge.
Men of War: Assault Squad 2
Publisher/Developer: 1C Company / Digitalmindsoftau
Tags: Real-Time, Tactics, Simulation, All Theatres
Purchase:Steam
The Men of War series is one with humble (and slightly confusing) origins, but also one that’s grown to become a must-have staple of real-time WW2 tactical combat. For fans of Company of Heroes (see below) wanting a little more bite, this is one of the most immersive experiences you’ll ever have the pleasure of playing. There’s a depth and granularity to combat that you rarely see outside of hardcore turn-based counter wargames, and yet it remains easy(ish) to learn and interact with. It can be brutal and punishing (I don’t think they’ve ever gotten the balance quite right between tanks and infantry), but it is also thrilling.
Assault Squad 2, despite being four years old at this point, represents the pinnacle of the series’ development. The series in general has seen many different iterations and experiments, but all of that learning finally comes to together here. As official support has waned, a dedicated mod-community has arisen to provide scenarios ranging from WW1 to the Cold War. If we ever see a new Men of War game, it will be world-class.
Gary Grigsby's War in the East
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / 2by3Games
Tags: Turn-Based, Operational, Eastern Front, Hex-Based
Purchase: Direct, Steam
No conversion on digital wargaming can exist without starting, ending or at the very least, co-existing with, a nod towards the beast set in the east. Gary Grigsby’s 2010 opus represents what happens when you take traditional hex-and-counter wargaming and use computer software to bring out its maximum potential. No-one ever said it would be accessible or easy to get to grips with– but it is the ultimate military simulation of war in the eastern front of World War 2. To paraphrase the game's official blurb:
Gamers can engage in massive, dramatic campaigns, including intense battles involving thousands of units with realistic and historical terrain, weather, orders of battle, logistics and combat results. Factors such as supply, fatigue, experience, morale and the skill of your divisional, corps and army leaders all play an important part in determining the results at the front line. The game comes with 4 massive campaigns as well as many smaller scenarios all with different strategic and operational challenges. This is not for the feint-hearted.
Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault
Publisher/Developer: SEGA / Relic Entertainment
Tags: Real-Time, Tactics, Strategy, Western Front 1944, Single-Player
Purchase: Steam
One of the most mainstream games on this list, the advent of the Western Front Armies, overhaul of its War Spoils system and years of balance refinement cemented Company of Heroes 2's place as a respectable and enjoyable competitive RTS. With the creation of the Ardennes Assault campaign, Company of Heroes 2 now boasts one of the best replayable single player experiences in modern WW2 strategy games. It's even available as a stand-alone expansion, if you really don't want to get the core game.
Ardennes Assault provides players with a strategic territory-capture meta-game layered over the single-player missions; including semi-random events and time-based objectives that change with each playthrough. You have four Companies to command (of which you can utilize 3 in each campaign run) and hard choices in an Iron Man setting that forces the player to think through each move and live with sub-optimal strategies. If you're looking for something less hardcore, or something with a larger player base, then this is a perfect choice.
The Operational Art of War IV (Review)
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / Talonsoft
Tags: Operational, Turn Based, Scenarios, Various Theatres, Hex-and-Counter
Purchase: Direct
The world’s secret best wargame of all time, it’s surprising The Operational Art of War hasn’t made all other hex-based wargames obsolete by now. Infinitely flexible, this game has the potential to contain all other wargames inside… a bit like Google and the internet, I guess? The fourth iteration of the series may have only offered a modest amount of improvements, but it keeps the series in place as one of the best titles for deep, operational level warfare. While the 300+ scenarios span everything from WW1 to the Korean War, there are plenty of meaty WW2 scenarios for players to enjoy, and the easy-to-use (ish) editor means that you can add plenty more. From Bill's review:
Trust me it’s worth it. Whether you have all the previous editions as I do, or you are a newcomer just starting out, this game is a must buy. Now toss in over 300 included scenarios, online play not to mention a Jim-dandy scenario editor, and plunking down a few shekels is an even easier decision to make. Yes, I know, most film sequels are never as good as the original, so what are the odds here? They’re pretty good actually. This latest TOAW edition has indeed made an almost perfect classic even better, well deserving a five star rating if not an entire constellation. Two thumbs up for a job very well done.
All it needs now is a WEGO option, and then it’d be damn-near perfect.
Panzer Corps
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / Flashback Games
Tags: Turn-Based,
Purchase: Direct, Steam
Many have tried to claim the throne left by Panzer General, but few have succeeded. The current successor to that classic’s legacy has to be Panzer Corps. Developed by Flashback Games and published by Matrix Games, it provides abstracted, operational-level warfare with a focus on big armoured formations sweeping across maps representing large swathes of Europe. At it’s worst, it could be described as something more akin to a ‘puzzle wargame’, but Panzer Corps has yet to fail to offer a compelling experience to all who’ve taken on its challenge.
Countless DLCs put in you in charge of various nation's armies, from scenarios of the historical to the fantastical. Neat campaign dynamics also add a sense of persistence and drama to every campaign. Official support for the game is pretty much at an end now as work ramps up on Panzer Corps 2, but the original title still stands strong as a turn-based wargame.
Unity of Command (Review)
Publisher/Developer: 2x2 Games
Tags: Turn-Based, Eastern Front, Operational, Logistics
Purchase: Steam
A truly ‘modern’ wargame, Unity of Command strikes the perfect balance between deep, operational level gameplay, and modern sensibilities like accessible interfaces, easy-on-the-eye visuals and recognising that NATO counters aren’t the be-all and end-all of everything. Specialising in supply and logistics, Unity of Command’s turn-based warfare featured a challenging AI, and really made you stop and think about what you were doing. The only downside to Unity of Command is that it’s not Unity of Command 2, which is looking amazing.
This game is easy to get into, yet one of those wargames that challenges you in a way to not make you walk away, but to make you sit up straight and huff some steam out of your nose and say, 'Alright, lets try that again!' The AI in some of the harder scenarios can definitely put some of the more experienced wargamers through some heated moments, but not in a cheating fashion.
Close Combat Series
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / Various
Tags: 2D, Tactics, Real-Time, Series, Various Theatres
Purchase: GOG.com, Steam
Steam Multiplayer War Games
No WW2 list would be complete without the father of modern WW2 tactical strategy games. Close Combat struck the perfect balance between ‘grog’-like wargaming tradition and mainstream strategy design. Depending on which title you played, it manged to straddle the line between hardcore and mainstream with remarkable grace. The one I played the most was Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far - it what made me fall in love with the idea of persistence forces and armies, and I don't think I ever completed it.
There are mixed opinions regarding the ‘Matrix-era’ of Close Combat games, but the series in general remains a shining example of WW2 videogame heritage. Thanks to GOG, you can now legally purchase the original classics once more, and the series is striking out in a bold new 3D direction with the new upcoming entry, Close Combat: The Bloody First.
Hall of Fame
- IL-2 Sturmovik
- Order of Battle WW2
- Graviteam Tactics
What would your list of favourite WW2 wargames look like? Answers on a post card, let the battle commence!