Games that pit multiple factions against each other in an epic battle, whether it’s set in modern times, the medieval ages, or even in a fantasy futuristic setting, are considered war games. This genre boils down to violent conflict. You could be a modern-day soldier in an army, a Roman emperor protecting his domain, or a Viking warrior waging war against his enemies.
War games are a loose subgenre of the strategy video game genre and are often rooted in a strategic warfare approach; There’s a battlefield, an enemy, and an objective. Three elements for players to work toward, and each one is a hard-earned strategic battle.
Some war games forgo the strategic touch in favor of unstructured PvP, in which the most skilled fighter emerges victorious. Other games, like RTS (real-time strategy) games, blend warfare and strategy for a unique battle commander experience.
Command armies or small specialized units alongside your fellow warriors, fight your way through the battlefield, achieve your objective, and outsmart your opponents in some of the best war games on the market.
Still have some questions about war games? Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from other gamers.
While fighting and conflict are important parts of war games, not all are overly graphic and violent. Some games go the extra mile to make sure that players have the option to reduce effects like blood, injuries, and other details that gamers might want to see less of.
The most accurate war games are the ones that try to capture:
It depends on the game. Not all games offer a cooperative (commonly known as co-op) experience. Some war games offer a single-player experience, while some offer an exclusively PvP (player vs. player) experience. Do some research on co-op war games and watch trailers to see which ones are a good fit.
War games can realistically depict many different aspects (era, timeline, geographical inspiration) and utilize different gameplay mechanics (turn-based, real-time, Co-op). For example, some war games are FPS (first-person shooter) games, while others are TBS (turn-based strategy) games.
Here are a few types of war games, defined by their unique themes and mechanics:
Since war games include an element of strategy, the biggest challenge will likely be getting accustomed to the pace and approach. This is a natural process for any beginner, and mastering the game’s basics (playing the tutorial, reading guides, watching gameplay footage) is the key to getting past the beginner barrier.