We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more The battle rages from the lands, seas, and skies of planet Earth to the remote corners of the galaxy on the planet Arrakis. You are sent back in history to fight some of the most devastating wars mankind has known, and immerse yourself in the abstract warfare of Root, only to find yourself in one of the most epic fantasy epopees in War of the Ring. This and more awaits on our list of the best war board games.
We have played through, summarized, and reviewed each entry on our list, bringing you insight into why these are considered the best war board games. This list is not just for those of you who love lots of minis on the ap, but also for those who appreciate abstract warfare, with all of these experiences marked by a deeply tactical element. Let’s find what makes these war board games so special.
List of Best War Board Games
- Dune Imperium
- Undaunted Normandy
- War of the Ring
- Mare Nostrum: Empires
- Commands and Colors Ancients
- Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
- Twilight Imperium
- Risk
- Axis & Allies
- Twilight Struggle
- Hannibal & Hamilcar
- Space Empires 4X
- The US Civil War
- Memoir ‘44
- Game of Thrones
- BattleLore
- Air, Land & Sea
- Here I Stand
- Root
- Mythic Battles
1. Dune Imperium
- Designers: Paul Dennen
- Players: 1-4
- Play Time: 60-120 Min
- Age: 14+
- Complexity: 3.03/5
Dune Imperium by Dire Wolf is perhaps one of the best war board games not just on this list – but also in the entire franchise. Although the combat is a little more abstract here, Dune Imperium successfully recreates the richness of the macabre commerce planet of Arrakis, which is source of interstellar travel for the universe. Intrigue, influence, and combat are necessary to survive the universe of Dune Imperium. In terms of gameplay the game uses card play resolution, tech tree, delayed purchase, and abstract combat, along with area of control which changes dynamically throughout the game. In the game, you will feel like you are trying to forward the cause of one of the Great Houses, whether you choose to fight for the Duke Leto or the insidious Baron Harkonnen. The Bene Gesserit, young Paul Atreides, and other popular figures emerge in this captivating war board game set in the poignantly beautiful universe of the Dune franchise. The game is remarkably light to get into and play, making it a great and accessible war game.
2. Undaunted Normandy
- Designers: Trevor Benjamin, David Thompson (I)
- Players: 2 players
- Play Time: 45-60 minutes
- Age: 14+
- Complexity: 2/5
What distinguishes Undaunted Normandy from other war board games is its sense of authenticity, as it is heavily inspired by war stories and combat actions shared by David Thompson’s grandfather. The game is made for two players, which take on the roles of either the 30th US Infantry Division or Nazi Germany and will have to fight each other in conflicts that were crucial for the outcome of World War II. A deckbuilding game at its core, Undaunted Normandy will have players build unique decks over the 12 different scenarios the game provides. They can further be linked together to make for a unique campaign experience. Leadership is crucial for success, and any tactical errors will result in grievous losses, so the game is not for the faint of heart.
3. War of the Ring
- Designers: Roberto Di Meglio, Marco Maggi, Francesco Nepitello
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 120 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4
There is a lot of pressure on any developer that dares to make a board game based on a critically acclaimed franchise, especially if it’s The Lord of the Rings. In the case of War of the Ring, the pressure turned potential coal into a diamond. Described as nothing short of a masterpiece, this game combines dice rolling, card management, timed card play, troop management, and careful quest planning in a beautiful splice of game engines to form a smooth action-packed experience that makes it unique in the world of war board games. Action Dice provide various options for players to utilize – from various actions to powerful events that can easily change the course of the game. War of the Ring is suitable for any Lord of the Rings fan or any war game enthusiast.
4. Mare Nostrum: Empires
- Designer: Serge Laget
- Players: 3-5 players
- Play Time: 90-120 minutes
- Age: 13+
- Complexity: 4/5
Mare Nostrum: Empires is a game of many layers, as there are many paths to achieving victory – via militaristic terms, trade, and commerce, hero purchasing, advancement tracks completion, or building the costly Pyramids. This practically guarantees replayability, as players are incentivized to try testing different strategies to see what fits them best. The pyramids are particularly interesting aspects of Mare Nostrum because they practically act as timers. If players can’t win by other means, it only takes an accumulation of 12 gold in order for any player to build them. This civilization-building element is perhaps what best distinguishes Mare Nostrum from other war board games. Furthermore, it prevents games from taking too long to complete, which tends to be a problem for many games of this particular genre.
5. Commands & Colors: Ancients
- Designers: Richard Borg
- Players: 2 players
- Play Time: 60 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
If you’ve ever wanted to relive battles from ancient times, then Commands & Colors: Ancients is the game for you. A cult classic among war board games, the game is set in the dawn of military conflicts (3000 BC) all the way to the Dark Ages (400 AD). There are 15 different scenarios you can play, which are perfectly depicted in a special booklet included inside the game box. To win a game of Command & Colors: Ancients, players will have to collect a set number of Victory Banners depending on each scenario. They can be obtained either by eliminating units or by objective or terrain capture, which are once again scenario dependent. If you are looking for a more thematic experience, Commands & Colors has a wide array of expansions themed around various ages, while also adding new units to the mix.
6. Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy
- Designer: Touko Tahkokallio
- Players: 2-6 players
- Play Time: 60-200 minutes
- Age: 14+
- Complexity: 4/5
Eclipse: Second Dawn for the Galaxy is a true embodiment of the 4X war board games mechanic style, which means it’s centered around exploring, expanding, exploiting, and finally – exterminating. Players take control of one of seven highly advanced civilizations that strive for dominance over all others. Each one has unique traits to help you achieve this goal, but players will find the focus of the game is focused less on exterminating, and more on the other three core aspects of a 4X game. Combat is there, and is still significant, but the game wants you to play it to its full capacity, which is what makes it stand out from its competitors. To add further, the game is incredibly streamlined, making it an engaging experience that is extremely replayable and enjoyable every time.
7. Twilight Imperium
- Designer: Christian T. Petersen
- Players: 2-6 players
- Play Time: 240 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
Another fine example of the space-faring war board games genre, Twilight Imperium is a game that puts players in control of a highly-advanced civilization. Following the popular theme, each one is focused on a specific key element of the game – some are excellent warriors, and others focus on farming, science, politics, and other means of dominance. There are a ton of elements to the game, but perhaps the most notorious is the Political Cards, which add certain laws to the game that everyone must vote on. If a law is passed, its effects are permanent and all players must obey it. You can see how if you have six players, these cards are sure to provide intrigue and an extra layer of tactics to the game. There are many paths to victory, but whoever gets his civilization all the way to Imperium Rex is declared the winner.
8. Risk
- Designers: Albert Lamorisse, Michael I. Levin
- Players: 2-6 players
- Play Time: 120 minutes
- Age: 10+
- Complexity: 2/5
Despite the play time listed by the publisher, anyone who has ever played a game of Risk can attest that this critically acclaimed title from the war board games niche can last for hours on end due to its dynamic nature and the fact that it is incredibly combat-focused. There is never a dull moment in a game of Risk, a fact that its later versions and expansions improve upon greatly – and there are a myriad of them to choose from. A popular addition is the Mission Cards, which add objectives to the game, which makes it that much more interesting. Players aim to control as many territories as possible while being under constant threats from their opponents. Territorial change is frequent and encouraged, so it’s not a good idea to grow attached to a specific piece. The rules are incredibly simple and streamlined, ensuring that players jump right into the action without much delay.
9. Axis & Allies
- Designers: Larry Harris, Jr., Mike Selinker
- Players: 2-5 players
- Play Time: 240 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 3/5
As the name suggests, this classic among war board games presents World War II on a global scale. Players can either choose to stand on the side of the Axis or the Allied forces and will be taking the leadership of a specified country and its resources. If there are more than two participants, they have to form teams in order to play. Using infantry, bombers, battleships, aircraft carriers, and other war machines, players aim to invade and occupy enemy territories, while using resources to research new technologies that can turn the tides of the war very quickly. However, the latter might be a risky maneuver, as the research’s success is not guaranteed – if it fails, the resources are lost. This adds a risk element to the game, which adds a certain flair to the overall gameplay, and adds a fun way to get an advantage over the enemy forces.
10. Twilight Struggle
- Designers: Ananda Gupta, Jason Matthews
- Players: 2 players
- Play Time: 120-180 minutes
- Age: 13
- Complexity: 4/5
An area control board game at heart, Twilight Struggle is a game depicting actual events from the Cold War period and their effects on the world and its people. The game is made for only two players, who take on the roles of the United States of America and the USSR respectively and will look to expand their influence as much as possible. A game of Twilight Struggle plays over the course of 10 turns and will force players to place their focus on several aspects, such as the space race, toppling hostile states via coups, and decreasing the influence of the opposing power from a region. This might sound boring at first glance, but the game is actually very intense and strategic, which is why Twilight Struggle is considered a clash among war board games.
11. Hannibal & Hamilcar
- Designers: Mark Simonitch, Jaro Andruszkiewicz
- Players: 2 players
- Play Time: 40-200 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
The Punic Wars were a critical time in the history of Rome, and Hannibal & Hamilcar will put players in the shoes of the two greatest military leaders of that time. As generals, they will have to be mindful of several aspects of war, including winter attrition, public subjugation, elephant charges, city sieges, and many, many more. Hannibal & Hamilcar is largely driven by cards that have different effects, and dice rolls in certain situations. Sieges are particularly interesting in their realism, as they reduce the population of the besieged city over time, giving players a sense of urgency to get creative in defending the area. There are 13 different scenarios included in the game, with some of them paying special attention to naval warfare and including additional rules. You would definitely want a copy of Hannibal & Hamilcar in your war board games collection.
12. Space Empires 4X
- Designer: Jim Krohn
- Players: 1-4 players
- Play Time: 60-240 minutes
- Age: 14+
- Complexity: 3/5
Space Empires follows the previously described 4X system of war board games – exploring, expanding, exploiting, and exterminating. It’s no surprise, then, that the game offers many ways of victory and strategic depth. It offers a solo mode, but Space Empires shines in its unique multiplayer modes, which include a 2 vs 1 game mode. Players have 10 different classes of warships at their disposal, and 50 different technologies to develop. Using those tools, they will have to colonize unexplored worlds and mind the terrain, as it affects movement and battles, making terraforming a crucial aspect of the game. Scenarios are also highly customizable, allowing for varying lengths of play depending on the time players are willing to invest, which is a great feature.
13. The US Civil War
- Designer: Mark Simonitch
- Players: 2 players
- Play Time: 150-360 minutes
- Age: 14+
- Complexity: 4/5
Having the longest play time among the war board games on this list by far, Mark Simonitch’s The US Civil War is also one of the most well-researched games ever made. Every single piece is done with the time period in mind, which adds a great deal of immersion to the overall gameplay experience. In terms of combat, players will be forced to use their strategic thinking in naval battle scenarios, fort combat, and even protect themselves from raiding parties. The US Civil War was a time of great leaders, which this board game uses to perfection. There are a ton of ways to use them – promoting them, demoting them, or removing them entirely, so that better ones can take their place. This is one of the game’s most praised aspects that also provides a fun strategic factor to the combat mechanics.
14. Memoir ‘44
- Designer: Richard Borg
- Players: 2-8 players
- Play Time: 30-60 minutes
- Age: 8+
- Complexity: 2/5
What distinguishes Memoir’ 44 from other World War II-themed war board games is its simplicity and more casual gameplay nature. Despite the rulebook being extensive (36 pages long), the game is incredibly easy to dive into. There are 16 different scenarios in Memoir 44, each of which depicts an engagement in northern France between June 6 -December 22, 1944. In a nice niche, players are also provided with a slight historical context for extra immersion. Scenarios are usually won by eliminating enemy units, obtaining a certain number of medals, or taking a key scenario objective. Players can also take advantage of Overlord play, which requires multiple copies of the game and provides a larger combat terrain, as well as a special set of rules.
15. A Game of Thrones
- Designers: Christian T. Petersen, Kevin Wilson
- Players: 3-5 players
- Play Time: 180 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4/5
In Game of Thrones, players take on the roles of one of the Great Houses from George R.R. Martin’s critically acclaimed series A Song of Ice and Fire. From turn one, players will have to deal with various random events that will affect gameplay in varying capacities. Those include wilding attacks, resource, and supply adjustments, mustering new troops, and bidding on positions of power, among others. After these are done, players place their orders. Once all players finish with their order placements, they may proceed with executing them. At the end of turn 10, or when a certain number of strongholds have been taken, the game ends. While it sounds easy on paper, the random events make it that much harder. A Game of Thrones is one of those war board games that is best played with the maximum number of players in order to truly shine, while also bringing the struggle for the Iron Throne on full display.
16. BattleLore
- Designer: Richard Borg
- Players: 2 players
- Play Time: 60 minutes
- Age: 10+
- Complexity: 3/5
BattleLore is a fantasy board game of tactical complexity, where players get to use their tactical prowess in order to test themselves against each other in a re-imagined Hundred Years War. Players choose between playing as the English or French, with both factions being supplemented with Goblins, Dwarves, Giant Spiders, and Earth Elementals. Players also get the benefit of choosing specialized commanders dubbed Warmasters to aid them in defeating their foes, ranging from Warrior, Commander, Cleric, Rogue, Wizard, Creature, and Guest. They all have unique powers, so choosing the correct one can be crucial to winning a game of BattleLore – a mechanic that distinguishes it from other war board games. Now, the thing is that you are not very likely to find a copy of this otherwise polished war game gem.
17. Air, Land & Sea
- Designer: Jon Perry
- Players: 2
- Play Time: 15-30
- Age: 14+
- Complexity: 1.72/5
Air, Land & Sea is the ultimate card game that brings a massive warfare to the tabletop. The unfolding battles take place over air, land, and sea, and they rage with fatalistic determination in this two-player game by Jon Perry and Arcane Wonders. The game boils down to both players trying to secure control over two of the theaters of war and ensure that they vanquish their opponents on at least two fronts. As you battle, you will have to choose whether you want to play a Battle cards to penetrate your opponent’s defense line or lay clever tactical ploys that can help you turn the tide in one fell swoop. Played in 15-20 minutes, Air, Land & Sea does feel like an epic war unfolding before you in a concise but rewarding and engaging way. One of the best war board games on our list, we recommend this pocket-sized delight to all the gamers who love the genre.
18. Here I Stand
- Designer: Ed Beach
- Players: 2-6 players
- Play Time: 180-360 minutes
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 4
Set in the time of the great Christian movement called the Reformation, Here I Stand features a deep and unique system focused on politicking and deal-making. As such, it is best played with 6 players to maximally emphasize this unique feature and enjoy the game to its fullest extent. As a game focused on religion, players will take on the roles of religions major players, like the Ottomans, the Hapsburg, the English, the French, the Papacy, and the Protestants. Here I Stand uses a card-driven system that the game uses to its full capacity, making it one of the top card-driven war board games ever made.
19. Root
- Designer: Cole Wehrle
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 60-90 minutes
- Age: 10+
- Complexity: 4
Root is a very deceptive game. It fools the players into letting their guard down with its fun, colorful, and lighthearted aesthetics, luring them in with the impression that it will be easy and unengaging. Behind this seemingly soft exterior, however, lies one of the most vicious war board games ever made. All four factions – the Cats, the Eyrie, the Alliance, and the Vagabond have different playstyles, mechanics, and agenda. Root’s asymmetric design is also highly praised and allows for a unique gameplay experience with each session. It is undoubtedly one of the best games of the genre, instantly hooking players with simple, but rewarding gameplay that makes them only want more with each playthrough. Root is one of these rare cases where players claim that 90 minutes just aren’t enough.
20. Mythic Battles
- Designer: Benoit Vogt
- Players: 2-4 players
- Play Time: 45 minutes
- Age: 14+
- Complexity: 3/5
Benoit Vogt’s Mythic Battles’ most prominent distinction among other war board games is the use of an innovative system called Building Battle Board, which combines various elements of card games, traditional board games, and miniature board games to offer a never-before-seen gameplay experience to its players. Set in Mythical Greece, players will take on the roles of mighty generals of either Athena or Hades, who have engulfed the land in brutal warfare. Once you’ve had enough of that particular scenario, you can take advantage of the game’s many expansions, which will have various improvements and different scenarios. The BBB system uses all aspects of the board game world – cards, dice rolls, and miniature combat – to satisfy the need of every player.