Board games are a great way for families to spend time together. Whether you're looking for strategy-based board games or party games that everyone can join in on, there is something available for every age and group size.
One type of board game that appeals to many people is war games. These generally focus on strategy rather than luck, making them popular with adults. War board games come in a variety of types, from two-person duels to complex multiplayer versions with multiple factions battling it out over territories and resources.
War board games vary widely in complexity, so you should find one that suits your play style and the number of players you have available to join in on the fun. Some are quite simple while others require strategic thinking and fast reflexes as the turns go by quickly.
How We Choose
We've rounded up the best war board games so you can find a battle worth joining. Whether you're into historical strategy or fantastical battles, there's a game on this list for you. Discover your new favorite game below.
The Game of Kings and Presidents is a slightly different take on the world-domination game, as it's not based around military strength. Instead, you're trying to gain influence over the other countries through trade deals, treaties and alliances.
As with all of Avalon Hill's games, there are plenty of bits for you to unpick before each game - so this one does take some time to set up properly. It helps that this is one of the better-designed sets out there too - everything fits together nicely and feels sturdy enough to last a few plays (or just one really intense match).
The game itself isn't hugely complicated or deep though: if you've ever played Risk then this will be familiar territory but with extra intrigue thrown in thanks to your ability to negotiate deals between your friends. There's quite a bit of luck involved too: whether or not an enemy nation chooses their move wisely could make or break your chances at victory.
Axis & Allies 1942 Second Edition WWII Strategy Board Game, with Extra Large Gameboard
The Axis and Allies World War II game is a very large board with lots of parts, so it's not ideal for travel. However, if you have the space to set up your own games table this is one of the best WWII strategy board games out there.
There are lots of different bits that come together to recreate the conflict that raged across Europe during the Second World War. As well as having all of the different units represented by their plastic figurine equivalents, this game also has cardboard markers to place on top of these figurines to represent specific buildings or other locations in real life such as military bases.
Each player takes control of one side in this war – each representing either Germany, Russia, Britain or Japan – and must use their army cards and resource cards strategically to build up an advantage over your opponent. If you can't win through warfare then you could attempt to take over cities by moving into them physically with your armies - but be aware that doing so will cause those cities' resources to be captured from under you! The Axis and Allies World War II game includes a large gameboard which will allow multiple players to play at once if necessary too.
Axis & Allies Pacific 1940 Second Edition WWII Strategy Board Game, with Extra Large Gameboard
The Avalon Hill Axis & Allies Pacific 1940 board game is a well-made and highly detailed game that takes the basic gameplay of the original Axis & Allies game, but adds another 20 years of history to it.
As such, you won't just be playing as U.S., Japanese, Chinese or Australian forces in this game – you'll also get to fight alongside French and New Zealand forces too. And while the miniatures included are all made up of plastic components, they're still impressive sculpts which add a lot to the feel of each army in play.
The large map on offer certainly helps bring this part of World War II's conflict to life too. It even comes with a stand-alone version of the original Axis & Allies European 1940 tabletop game so you can get started straight away if you want to jump right in without reading any instructions first!
The Risk Legacy board game is a massive, immersive experience that puts you in command of the whole world. It's a cooperative game where everyone plays an equal role to decide how their world evolves through conflict and cooperation.
Each turn you'll make important choices for your civilization, like expanding into new territories or building new military units. You can also recruit heroes to help defend against invading armies and influence the future by playing cards that alter the past.
The cards are randomly dealt out each round, but they're not randomized so you'll have an idea of what your options will be when they come up. There are over 275 plastic figures in this game too, which means it's got plenty of variety as well as providing lots of fun for all players involved in a Risk-style battle to see who survives longest on the board game version of Earth!
The Risk game is a little bit different from some of the other games featured on this list because it's not so much about strategy as it is about luck. Players will have to roll the dice to see if they can defeat the dragon, but whether or not you succeed will largely depend on how lucky you are. The result is that you need to balance between trying to conquer territories and attacking your enemies in order to build up an army.
This makes for a fast-paced game that may feel like more of a slot machine than chess, but it also means the risk token can often be used by players as cover so that they can attack their enemies without fear of retribution. That said, there are no real rules in place for when this occurs, which makes things slightly less fair than they should be. If you're fine with that though, then we highly recommend checking out this classic board game.
Best War Board Games FAQs
It's time to get your game face on. You've been invited to a war game night with some friends but you have no idea where to start.
There are hundreds of different war games out there, and it can be tough knowing which ones are the best for you. We're here to help! Here is a curated list of the most Frequently Asked Questions about war board games so that you can make an informed choice when picking up a new game or gift for your friend or loved one!
What Is The Best War Strategy Board Game?
Without a doubt, the best war strategy board game is Twilight Struggle. It's considered by many to be the greatest board game of all time and it's certainly one of our favorites.
Twilight Struggle simulates the Cold War as it unfolded from 1945 to 1989. Players take turns representing either the United States or Soviet Union, with access to only part of their resources and having to deal with events like coups and assassinations. The game places equal emphasis on both diplomacy and military action, which makes for some very dynamic gameplay that feels like a chess match in its back-and-forth nature.
Twilight Struggle is an excellent simulation of history and has received numerous awards over the years.
Conclusion
The best war board games offer players a unique gaming experience unlike any other. Whether you want to command an army in ancient Greece or fight alongside the Federation against Romulans, there is a war game out there that will fit your preferences perfectly. With so many options available, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. Consider things like theme, complexity of rules and cost when making your decision – then get ready to wage war!
Leave a Comment