Top War Board Games of 2025 Revealed

War-themed board games offer an exhilarating experience, capturing the thrill of epic battles and strategic maneuvers. Whether you're in for a quick evening clash or a day-long strategic campaign, these games are designed to immerse you in the intensity of warfare. Gather your friends, stock up on snacks and drinks, and prepare for a thrilling adventure that will test your strategic prowess.

To ensure your longer games run smoothly, consider these tips: Download a PDF of the rulebook (many publishers offer them for free) and encourage everyone to read it beforehand. Suggest that players handle administrative tasks like sorting their cards or counters outside their turns. You might also want to set a time limit for each turn, provided all players agree. With these strategies in place, you're ready to dive into some of the best war board games available.

TL;DR: These Are the Best War Board Games

Arcs
Dune: War for Arrakis
Sniper Elite: The Board Game
Twilight Imperium IV
Blood Rage
Dune
Kemet: Blood and Sand
Star Wars: Rebellion
Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear
Undaunted: Normandy / Undaunted: North Africa
Root
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea
A Game of Thrones: The Board Game
War of the Ring
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
Arcs

### Arcs

0See it
War games often juggle the excitement of on-board action with the intricacies of player negotiations and alliances. Arcs masterfully balances these elements, earning a perfect 10/10 in our review. Its innovative mechanics, inspired by classic trick-taking card games, offer a variety of strategic options. Meanwhile, the game's circular board encourages aggressive play, rewarding bold moves over defensive strategies. Despite its depth, Arcs allows you to build a complete space empire in under two hours, making it an excellent choice for those eager to explore its narrative campaign expansion.

Dune: War for Arrakis

### Dune: War for Arrakis

1See it at Amazon
Not to be confused with the multiplayer negotiation game Dune listed later, War for Arrakis is a head-to-head duel for two players. As the noble Atreides and the sinister Harkonnen vie for control of the precious spice, the game offers a highly asymmetric experience. The Atreides, with their guerrilla tactics, Fremen allies, and summoned sandworms, face off against the larger, wealthier Harkonnen forces. The Harkonnen player must focus on harvesting and shipping spice to maintain their economic edge. With the same design team behind War of the Ring, this game uses quality plastic miniatures and an engaging action dice system that keeps strategies fluid and fast-paced.

Sniper Elite: The Board Game

### Sniper Elite: The Board Game

1See it at Amazon
Fans of the video game series may be surprised by the tabletop adaptation's focus on close-quarters action, but its charm is undeniable. The game retains the stealth elements as the sniper player moves slowly and silently against a ticking clock, while the German player controls roving squads trying to detect them. This setup creates escalating tension, enhanced by historical accuracy and thematic components. With two different boards and various sniper loadouts and squad specialists, the game offers ample replay value and tactical depth.

Twilight Imperium IV

### Twilight Imperium 4th Edition

8See it at Amazon
Twilight Imperium IV is the epitome of epic sci-fi civilization-building. Players control bizarre alien races as they research technology, build fleets, and battle over a galactic hex map. Diplomacy and political decrees play crucial roles, but the game's strategic core remains robust. The strategy card system, allowing each player to choose a special focus each round, is a standout feature. The fourth edition maintains the game's vast scope while streamlining gameplay for better accessibility.

Blood Rage

### Blood Rage

1See it at Amazon
In Blood Rage, you lead a Viking clan during Ragnarök, striving for glory to secure a place in Valhalla. Despite its violent theme and striking components, the game offers deep strategic layers. You draft cards to support your actions, manage a limited supply of warriors and monsters to pillage regions and complete quests. The blind battle card system adds excitement to the competition for glory. Blood Rage is a masterful blend of tactical challenge, thematic immersion, and raw brutality.

The Best Boardgame Deals

Dune

### Dune

7See it at Amazon
Dune, based on Frank Herbert's novel, stands out as a futuristic game with minimal randomness. It hinges on a delicate balance of hidden information and asymmetrical strategies. Each player represents a faction from the book, wielding unique powers. For example, the Atreides can peek at auctioned cards, while the Harkonnen know all secret traitors. This setup brilliantly captures the narrative and political essence of the novel, enhanced by the new edition's clearer rules and stunning artwork.

Kemet: Blood and Sand

### Kemet Blood and Sand

0See it at Amazon
Imagine ancient Egyptian gods and mythical creatures clashing on the desert sands. That's Kemet. The game features tech pyramids that allow you to customize your strategy with special powers, influencing both attack and defense. With identical battle cards for everyone, mind games abound as you try to outguess your opponent's moves. Kemet is all about fast-paced, relentless combat, with a board layout that leaves no room for hiding, ensuring constant action.

Star Wars: Rebellion

### Star Wars: Rebellion

14See it at Amazon
Star Wars: Rebellion brings the beloved franchise to your tabletop with an asymmetric struggle. The Rebellion player, as the underdog, must survive and win over planets, while the Empire player uses overwhelming force to crush dissent. Featuring iconic characters and events, the game allows players to shape the narrative. With tight strategic gameplay, each turn is filled with challenges and variety.

Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear

### Conflict of Heroes: Awakening The Bear

0See it at Amazon
Tactical wargames can be complex, but Conflict of Heroes strikes the right balance. Using a simple system of action points, dice, and differing defense values, it delivers excitement, realism, and tactical challenges. Starting simple, the game expands to include artillery, vehicles, and tanks for a comprehensive World War 2 experience. The command point system, allowing extra actions during your opponent's turn, adds strategic depth.

Undaunted: Normandy & Undaunted: North Africa

### Undaunted: Normandy

5See it at Amazon
### Undaunted: North Africa

3See it at Amazon
### Undaunted Stalingrad

1See it at Amazon
The Undaunted series masterfully uses deck-building mechanics to simulate infantry combat. Officer cards let you add new units to your deck, representing field orders and supplies. Unit cards control troop movements on the modular scenario map, engaging in combat and seizing objectives. As casualties mount, your deck thins, reflecting morale erosion. These games offer an accessible and engaging way to relive the Second World War.

Root

### Root: A Game of Woodland Might and Right

18$59.99 save 25%$44.99 at Amazon
Root is a shorter game that embraces asymmetry. Four factions vie for control of a woodland realm, each with unique rules and gameplay. The Marquise de Cat and the Eyrie engage in traditional conquest, while the Woodland Folk employ guerrilla tactics, and the Vagabond acts as a lone trickster-hero. Despite its charming theme and art, Root is a strategic game that delves into real-world politics and governance.

Twilight Struggle: Red Sea

### Twilight Struggle: Red Sea

0See it at Amazon
Twilight Struggle: Red Sea condenses the complex gameplay of the original Twilight Struggle into a one-hour experience. It retains the compelling card-play mechanics, where players face dilemmas about triggering events that could benefit their opponent. A new scoring mechanic heightens the excitement. This version also explores the lesser-known Cold War events in East Africa, providing historical context and depth.

A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

### A Game of Thrones: The Board Game

2$64.95 save 21%$50.99 at Amazon
This game captures the political intrigue and backstabbing of the A Song of Ice and Fire series. Inspired by Diplomacy, it ensures that only one player can win, necessitating alliances and eventual betrayals. The secret order system adds tension, as players can't predict opponents' moves until it's too late. With elements from the world of Westeros, it offers strategic depth and is a must-play for fans of the franchise.

War of the Ring

### War of the Ring 2nd Edition

2$89.99 save 22%$70.36 at Amazon
War of the Ring is the ultimate board game adaptation of Tolkien's works. It features two interwoven games: the epic battle for Middle-earth and the Fellowship's quest to destroy the One Ring. The genius lies in how these elements interact, challenging players to balance military strategy with the Ring's journey. This game is a must for fans of the source material.

Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy

### Eclipse: 2nd Dawn for The Galaxy

3$207.00 at Amazon
Eclipse focuses on strategic sci-fi civilization-building, emphasizing long-term planning over the Twilight Imperium series' emphasis on warfare and diplomacy. Its initiative and technology upgrade systems require players to think ahead as they expand into the galaxy. This tactical depth enhances the exploration and combat experience, making success dependent on strategic preparation rather than luck.

If you like these, be sure to check out our picks for the overall best board games and the best board game deals.

What Counts as a Wargame?

In gaming circles, the term "wargame" is often used to describe a niche genre that simulates historical conflicts. These games require extensive historical research, resulting in detailed components and higher prices. Examples from our list include Awakening the Bear and Twilight Struggle: Red Sea, which are more accessible entries in this genre.

However, the definition of a wargame can be broader, encompassing games that simulate potential conflicts, like a hypothetical World War 3, or those that use historical settings without aiming for simulation, such as Undaunted. There are also games that simulate conflicts in fantasy or science fiction settings. While some enthusiasts might debate what qualifies as a wargame, we use the term to describe games that explore conflict from various perspectives, including historical simulations and fantasy diplomacy. If you're interested in a specific type of conflict game, enthusiast websites can guide you further.