Our experts have prepared for you the list of top rated best wargames and the most popular war board games. First, let’s answer the question: “What are wargames?”
Best War Board Games — TopIQBoardGames
Hannibal & Hamilcar (2018) — the best war board game for two players
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«Hannibal & Hamilcar» (2018) is the anniversary reissue of the best wargame of all time “Hannibal: Rome vs. Carthage”, released in honor of the 20th anniversary of the first edition. This is an improved version of the original edition. Asymmetric duel military strategy is one of the best board games for two players of all time.
The two-way map will allow the players to participate in the First and Second Punic Wars on the side of Rome or Carthage. Excellent dynamic gameplay. In the board war game “Hannibal & Hamilcar” any battle is not always the best solution. Proper manoeuvres, proliferation and retention of political influence are sometimes more important than constant battles. You, being a strategist and commander, will participate in the battles only in case you really need or have to do this.
«Hannibal & Hamilcar» is a deep historical military strategy. After all the gameplay nuances are learnt in practice you will get a lot of fun and true impressions from the game. You really get used to the role of a great ruler in the ancient powerful state. You are really concerned about the destiny of your commanders and military me and the political situation on the map. We recommend it to connoisseurs of deep strategies and direct conflict confrontations.
War of the Ring (Second Edition, 2012) — the best war strategy board game of all time
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“War of the Ring (Second Edition)” — epic war strategy board game for 2-4 players based on the trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”. The game was created in 2012 by a team of Italian authors, known by the authorship of such games as “The Battle of Five Armies” and “Hunt for the Ring”.
Players will lead two opposing sides — the faction Free Peoples and Shadow Armies. The game will be interesting not only for the fans of the trilogy by J. R. R. Tolkien, since it is a mixture of wargame and American school of board games. Planning movements on the global Middle Earth map, strategic and tactical planning of military operations on the scale of armies, strengthening of armies by leaders, military assaults, siege, retreat-blocking detachments in the way of enemy armies, unexpected forced foot march and many other military actions will not let you relax and become very exciting action.
Each round in the “War of the Ring (Second Edition)” is plenty of emotions and intensive choice. Where and how to make the most effective use of your actions? What will come into hand from the event cards? Emotions from building your sequence of actions strategy to advance your troops, get your army together and drive back enemy armies on bordering important areas. On the game map permanently there are situations when you feel the global cycle of events and epic battles.
Event cards can completely change the game, the outcome of specific battles and the global war on the map. Events in each new set develop in different way and become a unique saga.
“War of the Ring (Second Edition)” is an asymmetrical large-scale war strategy board game. A real wargame in a beautiful wrapper. Smart strategy on a large scale with intense confrontation and grandiose battles.
Churchill (2015) — the best political war board game
“Churchill” is a political war board game for 1-3 players in the genre of “conflict simulation” concerning WW2 at all war theatres. Events in the game are based on the trilogy by W. Churchill “The Second World War”. Players will play the role of three leading allies leaders — Stalin, Roosevelt and Churchill. The main task is to jointly defeat the Axis countries, as well as to determine the further strategy of postwar development in the world. To do this, players will resolve the most important issues at the conferences of the “Big Three”. A skilful strategy for the allocation of available resources and subtle political and diplomatic manoeuvres are the key to the victory.
“Churchill” brings players to the level of political leaders, who themselves create the conditions for victory in the global military conflict, set up tasks for the military leadership. The success of this game is not accidental. The author, a certified historian, knows well what challenges face diplomats and military during global conflicts.
The game consists of several rounds of conferences. The number of conferences depends on the game scenario. The full game consists of 10 conferences. In the course of each conference, players create the agenda of several items. It is also necessary to make important strategic decisions on the distribution of various material resources and influence on the political situation after the war. Each player’s decisions can influence both the promotion of armies in his country and slow down the advance of Allies armies.
The main tool that can influence the course of the game is the cards of diplomats, military and political figures. “Churchill” will give you a completely unforgettable experience in building the right balance of power, setting goals and objectives for your military, excellent strategic planning and the art of negotiation. Temporary alliances are constantly created between players and can collapse at every turn. At the end of each conference, players will be able to see how their solutions will be implemented and what they will lead to.
The game is really interesting.
1775: Rebellion (2013) — the best civil war historical board game
“1775: Rebellion” is a simple historical war board game for 2-4 people. In 1775 the war for the independence of the United States started. The confrontation began between Britain and 13 colonies which declared their independence. Players will take command of the military forces of Great Britain and American armies in the era of formation of the USA independence. British regular troops have allies — the loyalist militia. The British can also be supported by German Hessian mercenaries. Continental American troops have allies: militia of patriots and the French regular army. In “1775: Rebellion” Indians are neutral but they can join different alliances.
Over several rounds, players play personal cards, manage their troops and reinforcements on the playing board, attack and capture neighboring states and enlist support from Indians or French troops. Map Board is an original map of the United States part of that era.
Battles are of great importance to victory. The battle begins when opposing armies collide in the same state. When 2 people are involved, each person controls 2 armies or 2 teams can pay when four people are involved in the game.
The choice of your strategy depends on the purpose and time of your armies movement, when to attack enemy forces, whether to join the alliance with Indians, etc. The game has an element of randomness, which depends on cards and dice throws. Each group has its own asymmetrical abilities.
Great gameplay, beautiful design of the game board and all its components, quite simple and exciting gameplay, relatively small duration of the set — all these components make a great war board game with a low entry level. Excellent replayability, simple rules, actually no downtime. “1775: Rebellion” will deliver a lot of fan.
Space Empires: 4X (2011) — one of the best space themed war board games
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“Space Empires: 4X” is a completely stunning space strategy and war board game in the genre of 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit and eXterminate). The perfect war board game regarding space science fiction. The rules of this game enable you to adjust the level of difficulty and depth, which is an important factor for the entry into the game of the participants with different levels.
“Space Empires: 4X” includes all the elements of true classical space opera — commercial and transport spaceships, combat fighters, dreadnoughts and other 15 ship classes, black holes and minefields, colonization and extraction of minerals and resources, strong technology tree.
Each player develops his space empire and takes part in battles with enemies. Mapboard is gradually explored by players and discover new planets, asteroids or nebula. The participants establish colonies, extract necessary minerals and resources, build space military navy and develop scientific technologies on the explored areas. The game requires aggressive military strategy from each player to achieve victory.
“Space Empires: 4X” can be configured flexibly to different levels of complexity. Variations of the rules enable you to play in solo mode or in team mode. Many scenarios allow you to play as small local space battles and epic interstellar battles of great scale. “Space Empires: 4X is a true simulator of your space empire development, it is a space civilization at the galactic level.
List of TOP 10 best board wargames of all time
It is fair to divide wargames into three types: tactical, operational and strategic:
- The events in tactical games unfold in the framework of a local battle or a series of battles and there is emphasis on the individual properties of the units. Accordingly, the game units make the emphasis on the units and parts.
- Operational wargames can recreate larger scale conflicts including small wars, where the player can control armies, corps and navy.
- Strategic wargames can simulate huge confrontations and wars of the whole states. There are also wargames, the gameplay of which also includes policy
Of course, very often simpler military, strategic board games for a more advanced player in wargames are the variations of “Monopoly” on military themes.
| TITLE | Gameplay rating (0-10) | Boardgamegeek rating (0-10) | Players / best | Time (minutes) | Complexity rating (0-10) / Age |
 Hannibal & Hamilcar (2018)  |  9.10 Also:Hannibal; Rome vs Carthage Hannibal & Hamilcar: Sun of Macedon (Expansion) Hannibal & Hamilcar: Price of Failure (Expansion) Vikings Invasions of England Falling Sky: Gallic Revolt Against Caesar Peloponnesian War Boardgame, 2nd Edition | 8.60 | 2 / 2 | 60-200 | 7.94 / 14+ |
 Triumph & Tragedy (2015) | 8.65 Also: Cataclysm: A Second World War Unconditional Surrender! World War 2 in Europe Maria Theresa and The War of The Austrian Succession Friedrich Anniversay Edition | 8.26 | 2-3 / 3 | 240 | 6.60 / 12+ |
 D-Day at Omaha Beach (2009) | 9.00 D-Day at Peleliu Solitaire Boardgame, 2nd Edition Target for Today, Bombers of the Reich, Solitaire Board Game Axis & Allies D-Day Game D-Day at Tarawa Enemy Action, Ardennes, the Battle of the Bulge 1944 | 8.25 | 1-2 / 1 | 120-480 | 6.78 / 14+ |
 Combat Commander: Pacific (2008) | 8.17 Combat Commander: Europe Combat Commander: Stalingrad by GMT Games Combat Commander: Mediterranean by GMT Games Holland '44: Operation Market-Garden, September 1944 | 8.07 | 2 / 2 | 180 | 6.42 / 12+ |
 Sekigahara: The Unification of Japan (2011) | 8.33 | 8.05 | 2 / 2 | 180 | 5.50 / 12+ |
 Fire in the Lake (2014) | 8.25 | 8.03 | 1-4 / 4 | 180 | 8.00 / 14+ |
 Conflict of Heroes: Awakening the Bear! (3Rd Edition) (2019) | 9.00 | 8.02 | 1-4 / 2 | 120 | 6.56 / 12+ |
 Paths of Glory (1999) | 8.78 | 8.00 | 2 / 2 | 480 | 7.66 / 14+ |
 Commands & Colors: Napoleonics (2010) | 8.67 | 7.97 | 2 / 2 | 90 | 5.46 / 12+ |
 Here I Stand (2006) | 8.06 | 7.93 | 2-6 / 6 | 180-840 | 8.30 / 14+ |
5 Most Popular War Board Games
| TITLE | Gameplay rating (0-10) | Boardgamegeek rating (0-10) | Players / best | Time (minutes) | Complexity rating (0-10) / Age |
 Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game (2012) | 8.14 | 7.77 | 2 / 2 | 20-45 | 4.96 / 12+ |
 Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition (2008) | 8.00 | 7.44 | 2-6 | 360 | 6.26 / 12+ |
 Memoir '44 (2004) | 7.81 | 7.55 | 2-8 / 2 | 30-60 | 4.56 / 8+ |
 BattleTech (1985) | 7.64 | 7.00 | 2-20 / 2 | 90-180 | 6.80 / 12+ |
 Risk (1959) | 5.86 | 5.58 | 2-6 / 4 | 60-120 | 4.20 / 10+ |
