Battle for Wesnoth 1.14.7
The Battle for Wesnoth is a free, turn-based strategy game with afantasy theme. Fight to regain the throne of Wesnoth, of which you arethe legitimate heir, or use your dread power over the Undead to dominatethe land of mortals, or lead your glorious Orcish tribe to victoryagainst the humans who dared despoil your lands. Wesnoth has manydifferent sagas waiting to be played out. You can create your own customunits, and write your own scenarios - or even full-blown campaigns. Youcan also challenge your friends - or strangers - and fight multi-playerepic fantasy battles.
Club 250 is the Steam 250 members club. Consider becoming a member so we can continue helping you find good Steam games! Receive rewards based on your pledge level, including your reviews on an exclusive ranking and your name, logo and link on the site. Games Games Software Software. Browse the newest, top selling and discounted RTS products on Steam New and Trending Top Selling What's Popular Top Rated Upcoming. Starcraft II is one of the best current RTSes and has mac support. You can also search Steam Monster Summer Sale for games with the RTS and MAC OS tags. The total war series is good but gives a fundamentally different experience to SCII.
- License: Freeware
- Developer/Publisher: Battle for Wesnoth Team
- Modification Date: April 22, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 466 MB
Civilization V 1.4.1Sid Meier’s Civilization V: The Complete Edition is the definitiveCivilization V collection for Mac gamers who have yet to experience thefamous “just-one-more-turn” addictive gameplay that has madeCivilization one of the greatest game series of all time. The CompleteEdition includes the original 2010 Game of the Year award-winningstrategy game Sid Meier’s Civilization V, plus the twocritically-acclaimed expansion packs (Gods & Kings and Brave New World)and all of the released add-on content in one complete package for anamazing value.
- License: Buy, $50 for the Complete Editon, $30 for Civilization V or for the Campaign Edition
- Developer/Publisher: Aspyr
- Modification Date: April 11, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 5.1 GB - App Store - Civilization V: Campaign Edition for $30
Download Steam - The Complete Edition for $50
Download Steam - Civilization V for $30
Civilization VI 1.2.1Originally created by legendary game designer Sid Meier, Civilization isa turn-based strategy game in which you attempt to build an empire tostand the test of time. Become Ruler of the World by establishing andleading a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age. Wagewar, conduct diplomacy, advance your culture, and go head-to-head withhistory’s greatest leaders as you attempt to build the greatestcivilization the world has ever known.
Civilization VI offers new ways to engage with your world: cities nowphysically expand across the map, active research in technology andculture unlocks new potential, and competing leaders will pursue theirown agendas based on their historical traits as you race for one of fiveways to achieve victory in the game.
- License: Buy, $15 with In-App Purchases for Expansion Packs
- Developer/Publisher: Aspyr
- Modification Date: April 4, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 9.8 GB - App Store
Download File Size: 9.8 GB - Steam
Command & Conquer: Generals Deluxe 1.1.2The genre defining Command & Conquer: Generals Deluxe Edition returns tothe Mac, exclusively on the Mac App Store!
In a time of modern war, recent military aggressions around the globehave many nations worried. Between the United States, China, and theGlobal Liberation Army, tensions run high. Their leaders profess nointerest in escalating the situation, but words ring hollow whensatellite photos tell a different story.
This award winning Deluxe version includes both C&C Generals and thestand-alone expansion Zero Hour!
- License: Buy, $10
- Developer/Publisher: Aspyr
- Modification Date: December 2, 2015
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9.5 or higher - 32-bit
Download File Size: 4.4 GB - App Store
Company of Heroes 2 1.3.1Direct your troops through fast-paced real-time battles in the brutalfight to turn the tide of World War II. From the desperate defence ofStalingrad to victory in Berlin, you must defeat a tenacious enemy andthe deadly cold of the Russian winter.
Objective-based missions challenge you to maneuver soldiers, guns, andtanks across feature-rich environments to scope out the battlefield,secure targets and destroy enemies. Navigate the hazardous terrain, takeadvantage of cover and overcome the freezing temperatures andtreacherous ice that can make the difference between crushing defeat andhard-won victory.
- License: Buy, $20
- Developer/Publisher: Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: October 1, 2018
- Requirements: macOS 10.14 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 42.1 GB - App Store - Company of Heroes 2 Collection - $40
Download File Size: 28 GB - Steam
Dota 2 7.22hDota is a competitive game of action and strategy, played bothprofessionally and casually by millions of passionate fans worldwide.Players pick from a pool of over a hundred heroes, forming two teams offive players.
- License: Free to Play
- Developer/Publisher: Valve
- Modification Date: October 16, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download - Steam
Dota UnderlordsHire a crew and destroy your rivals in this new strategy battler set in the world of Dota.
- License: Free to Play - Early Access
- Developer/Publisher: Valve
- Modification Date: October 26, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.13.6 or higher - 64-bit
Download - Steam
Heroes of the Storm 2.48.2You can play alone, randomly matched players, or with your friends; youcan play against the computer or other human beings; you can play rankedor just for fun… The point is, there are a LOT of ways to play. Heroeshave an array of powerful abilities that set them apart from each other.Although unique in their own right, every hero has a kit geared towardsa particular role.
- License: Free, Buy More
- Developer/Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
- Modification Date: October 15, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 4.1 MB Installer
League of Legends 9.20League of Legends is a fast-paced, competitive online game that blendsthe speed and intensity of an RTS with RPG elements. Two teams ofpowerful champions, each with a unique design and playstyle, battlehead-to-head across multiple battlefields and game modes. With anever-expanding roster of champions, frequent updates and a thrivingtournament scene, League of Legends offers endless replayability forplayers of every skill level.
- License: Free to Play, Buy Stuff
- Developer/Publisher: Riot Games Inc
- Modification Date: October 8, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 86.7 MB Installer
Medieval II: Total War 1.1Rally to the standard and light up the Dark Ages in this classic TotalWar game of real-time battles and turn-based strategy. As a warriorking, expand your area of influence and consolidate power with an artfulmix of diplomacy, commerce and war.
Rule wisely across the campaign map to build your empire’sinfrastructure, cities and trade routes, then master the art ofdiplomacy to disarm enemies, empower allies and gain the favour of thePope and on the battlefield, conduct siege warfare and lead your armiesinto epic clashes to bring rival kingdoms to their knees.
- License: Buy, $25
- Developer/Publisher: Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: October 24, 2018
- Requirements: macOS 10.14 or higher - 64-bit and Metal
Download File Size: 25.7 GB - App Store
Download File Size: 25.7 GB - Steam
Myth II: Soulblighter 1.8.3Myth II: Soulblighter is a unique strategy game, set in a 3D world ofdangerous alliances and ancient evil, where all beings tremble beforethe wrath of Soulblighter, cruelest and most cunning of the evil FallenLords.
The installer can update any previous version of Myth II andcan also be used to install and update Myth II directly from theoriginal CD.
- License: Update
- Developer/Publisher: Bungie/Project Magna
- Modification Date: December 30, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 21.7 MB
Gate of Storms - You can still play here
NorthgardNorthgard is a strategy game based on Norse mythology in which youcontrol a clan of Vikings vying for the control of a mysterious newfoundcontinent.
After years of tireless explorations, brave Vikings have discovered anew land filled with mystery, danger and riches: Northgard.
The boldest Northmen have set sail to explore and conquer these newshores, bring fame to their Clan and write history through conquest,trading, or devotion to the Gods. That is, if they can survive the direwolves and undead warriors roaming the land, befriend or defeat thegiants, and survive the harshest winters ever witnessed in theNorth.
- License: Buy, $30
- Developer/Publisher: Shiro Games
- Modification Date: October 3, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download - Steam
Starcraft 1.23.1In the distant future, the newly formed Terran Dominion faces thearrival of two hostile alien races: the savage Zerg and the enigmaticProtoss. Gather resources and expand your forces to lead them tovictory. The only allies are enemies. The only choice is war.
- License: Buy, $15
- Developer/Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
- Modification Date: September 24, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 3 MB Installer
StarCraft II 4.10.4StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is the long-awaited sequel to theoriginal StarCraft, Blizzard Entertainment's critically acclaimed sci-fireal-time strategy game. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is both achallenging single-player game and a fast-paced multiplayer game, and italso taps into Battle.net - Blizzard Entertainment's fully-featuredonline gaming service.
- License: Wings of Liberty campaign free to play / Heart of the Swarm, Legacy of the Void and Nova Covert Ops $15 each
- Developer/Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
- Modification Date: October 22, 2019
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 3.2 MB Installer
Sudden Strike 4 1.14Sudden Strike is back! The beloved Real Time Strategy series returns,this time with bigger battlefields, more units, better graphics, newscenarios and legendary commanders with individual abilities – all ofwhich makes Sudden Strike 4 more tactical and realistic than everbefore!
Sudden Strike 4 sends you off on three extensive campaigns set amongstthe battlefields of World War 2. Commanding the British and American,German or Soviet troops, you will lead over 100 different units intobattle; like the German bomber Heinkel He111, the Russian T-34 tank, theBritish Hawker Typhoon fighter plane and the notorious GermanPanzerkampfwagen VI Tiger. In a first for the Sudden Strike series, youcan now choose from one of nine individual commanders, such as GeorgePatton or Bernard Montgomery, who will each allow for differentapproaches to combat and boast unique abilities.
- License: Buy, $30 to $45
- Developer/Publisher: Kite Games/Kalypso Media
- Modification Date: December 20, 2018
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.9 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 6.7 GB - App Store
Download File Size: 6.7 GB - Steam
Download File Size: 6.7 GB - GOG
Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia 1.0.4A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia combines huge real-time battleswith engrossing turn-based campaign, set at a critical flashpoint inhistory. Anglo-Saxons, Gaelic clans and Viking settlers clash forcontrol. What Kingdom will you build?
- License: Buy, $40
- Developer/Publisher: Creative Assembly/Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: February 7, 2019
- Requirements: macOS 10.13.4 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 11.2 GB - App Store
Download File Size: 11.2 GB - Steam
Total War: SHOGUN 2 1.5As leader of one of nine competing clans, use political ambition,military brilliance and ruthless cunning to unify 16th century Japanunder one undisputed shogun: you. Master your clan’s unique martialstrengths to triumph in spectacular real-time battles and dominate theturn-based campaign map.
With strategic gameplay inspired by the Samurai code of honour andstriking graphics that evoke Japanese art and landscape, Total War:SHOGUN 2 is a dramatic and detailed depiction of epic events and aunique expression of the Total War series’ magnificent heritage.
- License: Buy, $45
- Developer/Publisher: SEGA/Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: October 1, 2019
- Requirements: macOS 10.14.4 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 14.4 GB - App Store
Download - Steam - Total War: Shogun 2
Total War: Three KingdomsTotal War: Three Kingdoms is the next great historical strategy game inthe award-winning Total War series, and the first to explore ancientChina as a theatre of conflict.
The year is 190 AD. China, a beautiful but fractured country, calls outfor a new emperor and a new way of life. Unite it under your rule, forgethe next great dynasty, and build a legacy that will last through theages.
Choose from a cast of 11 legendary warlords and conquer the realm.Recruit heroic characters to aid your cause and dominate your enemies onall fronts: military, technological, political, and economic.
- License: Buy, $60 and In-App purchases
- Developer/Publisher: Creative Assembly/Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: May 23, 2019
- Requirements: macOS 10.14 or higher - 64-bit
Download - Steam
Total War: Warhammer 1.1.4In Total War: Warhammer, Creative Assembly’s Total War series joins withGames Workshop’s Warhammer Fantasy Battles. The result is a spellbindinggame of grand strategy and high fantasy.
The Old World echoes to the clamour of ceaseless battle. In an age ofrelentless conquest, warring Races battle ceaselessly for control of theOld World. While Orcs and Goblins of the Greenskin tribes hunger forcarnage, and Vampire Counts man their armies with the living dead,Dwarfs ascend from their ancient mines to settle old scores, and theEmpire of Man seeks to unite its fractured nation.
Build your empire and conquer this world by unleashing your might uponthe battlefield, harnessing storms of magical power and taking to theskies with flying creatures.
- License: Buy, $60 and In-App purchases
- Developer/Publisher: Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: September 28, 2017
- Requirements: macOS 10.12.4 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 34.24 GB - App Store
Download File Size: 34.24 GB - Steam
Total War: Warhammer IITotal War: Warhammer II is a strategy game of colossal proportions.Choose from four iconic Races from the world of Warhammer FantasyBattles, and mount a campaign of conquest to save or destroy the NewWorld.
Enjoy hundreds of hours of sophisticated gameplay with a combination ofturn-based strategy on the campaign map and immense real-time clashes onthe battlefield.
The second in a trilogy and sequel to Creative Assembly’s multiaward-winning Total War: Warhammer, Warhammer II delivers a breathtakingnew narrative campaign set across the magnificent continents of Lustria,Ulthuan, Naggaroth and the Southlands.
Command High Elves, Lizardmen, Dark Elves or Skaven in the Great Vortex Campaign
Delve into a deeply engrossing campaign playing as one of eightLegendary Lords belonging to any of four awe-inspiring Races. You mustperform a series of arcane rituals to control the Great Vortex, apowerful maelstrom of enormous magical energy.- License: Buy, $60
- Developer/Publisher: Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: November 20, 2018
- Requirements: macOS 10.14 or higher - 64-bit
Download - Steam
XCOM 2 1.2.3Twenty years have passed since world leaders offered an unconditionalsurrender to alien forces. XCOM, the planet’s last line of defense, wasleft decimated and scattered.
Now, in XCOM 2, the aliens rule Earth, building shining cities thatpromise a brilliant future for humanity on the surface, while concealinga sinister agenda and eliminating all who dissent from their new order.
Best Rts Games For Mac
Only those who live at the edges of the world have a margin of freedom.Here, a force gathers once again to stand up for humanity. Always on therun, and facing impossible odds, the remnant XCOM forces must find a wayto ignite a global resistance, and eliminate the alien threat once andfor all
Mac Rts Games Steam
- License: Buy, $25
- Developer/Publisher: Take Two Interactive/Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: February 23, 2017
- Requirements: Mac OS X 10.11.6 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 13.55 GB - App Store
Download - Steam
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War II 1.0.3The sinister science fantasy universe of Warhammer® 40,000® comes tosavage life with Dawn of War® II on Mac and Linux.
It’s the 41st Millennium in the Sub-Sector Aurelia, a cluster of worldson the edge of the Milky Way, where a battle of epic proportions isabout to begin. As a newly promoted Force Commander of the Blood RavensChapter, it is your privilege to lead crack squads of Space Marines intobattle against the forces of Orks, Tyranids and Eldar that threaten theImperium of Man.
Driven by an innovative campaign narrative steeped in the lore ofWarhammer 40,000, armies of technologically advanced warriors wagebrutal war against remorseless enemies in a series of addictivelyfast-paced and visceral combat missions.
- License: Buy, $20
- Developer/Publisher: Sega/Feral Interactive
- Modification Date: December 12, 2018
- Requirements: macOS 10.14 or higher - 64-bit
Download File Size: 16.5 GB - App Store
Download File Size: 16.5 GB - Steam
The war of the 'greatest generation', WW2's allure and appeal has been hyped beyond all reason. Aside from perhaps the ancient world, it is the single most fertile ground for strategy and war games. With so many takes on this globe-spanning conflict, it can be difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.
We’ve tried to get a range of different types of games, from close-up tactical experiences to sweeping strategic overviews. So, without further ado, here's our guide to the best World War 2 strategy games. We're a computer war games website, we can't be wrong!
What are the best WW2 Strategy Games?
- Panzer Corps 2
- Unity of Command 2
- Panzer Campaigns (series)
- Steel Division 2
- Hearts of Iron IV
- Strategic Command WW2: World at War
- Command Ops 2
- Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg
- Men of War: Assault Squad 2
- Gary Grigsby's War in the East
- Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault
- The Operational Art of War IV
- Close Combat (series)
Panzer Corps 2
Publisher/Developer: Flashback Games / Slitherine
Tags: Operational, North Africa, European Theatre, 1939 - 45, Turn-based, Campaign, Multiplayer
Purchase: Steam, Direct
The first Panzer Corps game has been a staple on this list for a while, but we can confidently say it's been replaced by the long awaited sequel. Panzer Corps 2 updates everything from the engine, to the mechanics... it even adds a semblance of a logistics system! You can take your hard-as-nails corps of German tanks and infantry units from the invasion of Poland in 1939, all the way through Barbarossa, Normandy and even some alt-history scenarios involving the invasion of the American mainland.
Panzer Corps 2 has almost as much content as the first game, including expansions, with the exception of scenarios for non-German factions. Those will probably be coming in future DLCs, but in the meantime you can always make your own using the powerful Scenario Editor. Multiplayer is also souped up, with hot-seat, PBEM and 'true' live multiplayer options available. The 'King of Wargames' indeed.
You may also like: Order of Battle
If you're a fan of the Panzer Corps format and looking for something else to play, then Order of Battle is another Matrix-owned series that may entice you (assuming you haven't come across it already). It was once described to me by a Producer at Matrix as 'Panzer Corps, but with logistics', so you'll find a very similar experience.
Unlike it's sibling it's not looking at doing a sequel any time soon (that we know of), and is currently working on a new trilogy of expansions that follow the Soviet Union's trials through WW2. The first entry, Order of Battle: Red Star covers some of the lesser known conflicts in the east that preceded the main events of WW2, which you don't see often.
The base game Order of Battle WW2is actually free-to-play and comes with a handful of scenarios so that you can try it out.To date thrre are 12 expansions you can purchase to then enhance your game and play through different parts of the war from various perspectives.
Unity of Command 2
Publisher/Developer: 2x2 Games
Tags: Operational, North Africa, European Theatre, 1943 - 45, Turn-based, Campaign, Hot-Seat Multiplayer
Purchase: Steam
We'd have been very surprised if the recently release Unity of Command 2 wasn't good enough to knock the original game off its top spot. UoC 1 will always be remebered as a wonderful simple wargame, and a great gateway into the hobby, but Unity of Command 2 just takes all of the core concepts and turns it up to 11. Better visuals, better mechanics, better scenarios... there's a reason Jack was so impressed in his Unity of Command 2 review.
Common criticisms of the first game usually centre around it being more of a puzzle than a 'true' wargame, which is a similar accusation levied against games like Panzer Corps. You can still see traces of that in Unity of Command 2's design - many scenarios present you with an initial set-piece or deadlock that you need to break through, but the ways in which you can achieve it have multiplied. Plus, once you do break-through it's still a pretty gripping fight to claim your objectives, and the AI will punish and push through to your back-lines if it sees an exploitable gap. This is definitely one of the year's best releases to date, however, and if you're even remotely interested it's well worth picking up.
Panzer Campaigns Series - Japan '45 & Japan '46
Publisher/Developer:Wargame Design Studio
Tags: Operational, Hex-and-Counter, Pacific Theatre, Alternate History, John Tiller, Turn-Based
Purchase: Direct
John Tiller is a house name with a certain generation of computer war gamers. While he's not as involved in game-making as he used to be, his legacy stands proud through his wide-ranging series of hex-based operational and tactical wars that look like old-school counter board wargames rendered on a screen. They're not much to look at, but they've always provided a level of depth and detail not seen in many other places. Wargame Design Studio is a small development team that's taken up the mantle of JTS, remastering a lot of the old games but also making brand-new experiences in the same style.
We're highlight one of their more recent endeavours on this list, because it covers something not really seen before - the hypothetical invasion of the Japanese mainland. Officially part of JTS' Panzer Campaigns series, there are currently two titles that follow this 'what if' conflict - Japan '45and a sequel Japan '46. We've reviewed both and are pretty impressed with not only WDS' attention to detail in terms of the research they've done into the Operations that never were, but also in terms of how they've tried to modernise the format somewhat. If you're looking to explore some plausible alt-history in an old-school package, these are some excellent games to start with.
You may also like: John Tiller's Panzer Battles
If you're a fan of the John Tiller style of games in general then there have been some other newer releases that may take your fancy. Other recent Wargame Design Studio releases include a 'Gold' edition of El Alamein '42and the brand newBattles of North Africa 1941.If you want to consider something a bit more 'old school' then there's always John Tiller's Campaign Series, of which we have a review of West Front.
Close Combat Series
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / Various
Tags: 2D, Tactics, Real-Time, Series, Various Theatres
Purchase: GOG.com, Steam
No WW2 list would be complete without the father of modern WW2 tactical strategy games. Close Combat struck the perfect balance between ‘grog’-like wargaming tradition and mainstream strategy design. Depending on which title you played, it manged to straddle the line between hardcore and mainstream with remarkable grace. The one I played the most was Close Combat 2: A Bridge Too Far - it what made me fall in love with the idea of persistence forces and armies, and I don't think I ever completed it.
There are mixed opinions regarding the ‘Matrix-era’ of Close Combat games, but the series in general remains a shining example of WW2 strategy game heritage. Thanks to GOG.com, you can now legally purchase the original classics once more.
Close Combat: The Bloody First
This isn't an official entry in the list but since Close Combat as a series is mentioned we'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention the latest entry into the game - Close Combat: The Bloody First. It was always going to struggle in the face of the significance of the series, and it also didn't help that the game took a bit longer than planned to actually release (it's at least a couple of years 'late' at this point). Still it did the best job it could and it's actually a pretty decent game in most respects. It's perhaps not good enough to knock the classics off their camouflaged thrones, but it's a decent modern Close Combat game that just has a few kinks that need ironing out. Read our Close Combat: The Bloody First review if you want to know more.
Hearts of Iron IV
Publisher/Developer: Paradox Interactive / Paradox Development Studio
Tags: Grand-Strategy, Strategic, Global, Real-Time, Divisions, Sandbox
Purchase:Paradox Store, Steam
Hearts of Iron 4 makes it's debut on this list thanks to the recent release of the Man the Guns expansion. This WW2 sandbox game has been going from strength to strength, and while its still got some ways to go Paradox's flagship war game can now finally attempt to stand amongst its contemporaries. Take command of any nation in existence in 1936, and try to guide them through turbulent period leading up to the second world war. With an open-ended nature and three competing ideologies, what form the second world war takes could be different through multiple playthroughs.
You can create your own Divisions, specialising them for specific tasks. A Battle Planner allows you to draw detailed strategies for your armies that the AI will execute for you, and there's plenty of DLC worth checking out that help elevate the base package into something special.
There is actually an important caveat to add to this entry. While Hearts of Iron 4 is becoming a great WW2-era game, it's not necessarily a great 'WW2 game' in the sense that getting a historical outcome is now only one of many possibilities, and we're not sure if it's the most common one at this point. While plenty of historical events and key decisions are modelled, the course of the war can vary, so if you're an enthusiast who wants a more 'on rails' experience, this may not actually be the game for you. The most recent expansion, La Resistance, added some new occupation mechanics and a more interesting Spanish Civil War.
Wargamer is affiliated with the Paradox Store.
Steel Division 2
Publisher/Developer: Eugen Systems
Tags: Division-level, Real-Time Battles, Operational, Turn-Based Campaign, Team play, Eastern Front
Purchase:Steam
We had to stop an think about this one before committing it to the list - there's no denying that Steel Division 2 has it's problems. Multiplayer balance is an on-going concern, and generally the new campaign mode is a little bit rough around the edges. Still, we're confident in our assessment that it's overall a better game than its predecessor, and the new campaign mode is one of the finest solitaire wargaming experiences we've ever played (warts and all).
If you were a fan of the real-time tactical battles in Normandy '44, then you may have trouble warming to this - the operational realities of the Eastern Front and how it's been translated into the game make for some brutal fights, both in SP and MP. If you felt that the first Steel Division game needed more in the campaign space however, we dare you to not be impressed by the new Army General mode. Once Eugen sort out the last of the kinks, this will truly be a war game for the ages. Check out our Steel Division 2 review for more. The most recent DLC, Fate of Finland, is also a pretty good.
Strategic Command WW2: World at War
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / Fury Software
Tags: European Theatre, Pacific Theatre, Global, Grand-Strategy, Turn Based, Hex
Purchase: Direct, Steam
World at War easily supplants it's younger sibling, War in Europe, for the simple fact that while this is in some ways 'more the same', it's 'more the same' on a global level. Our initial concerns that this one might fall prey to the same problems the SC Classic entry Global Conflict suffered turned out to be ill-founded. Fury have learned the lessons of the past and managed to create a compelling grand-strategy sandbox, at scale, that leaves plenty of meaningful gameplay options whether you're in Europe, or the Korean peninsular.
As fun as tactical or even operational level warfare is, there’s something empowering about taking control of a nation’s entire strategic resources; from industry and production to the military assets. Fury Software’s Strategic Command series has been around since at least the early 2000’s and is a great example of grand-strategy wargaming. You command either the Axis or the allied powers (and you can have the AI take over individual nations if you want) and must decide where to invest your nation's production capacity across research, mobilisation, diplomacy and maintaining your armed forces. Units represent Corps, Army Groups, Fleets & Air Groups. Read our Strategic Command WW2: World at Warreview.
Command Ops 2
Publisher/Developer: Lock'n Load Publishing
Tags: Simulation, Operational, Planning, DLC
Purchase: Steam, Direct
Lock'n Load's flagship computer wargame makes its debut on our list of best games. This more recent iteration of the series approaches a very detailed and complex subject with a system of play that is both easy to learn and smooth as silk to play. Mastering play is not easy, but that’s the hallmark of an exceptional product. Other games of this subgenre should take note.
The base version of this game is free, and the download comes with three scenarios that include Return to St Vith, Manhay Crossroads and Greyhound Dash. In this respect LnL has taken the same approach as the World War I flight simulator Rise of Flight, where they charge for additional expansion modules. Read our Command Ops 2 review to find out more.
Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg
Publisher/Developer: Battlefront
Tags: Tactical, Simulation, Battle of the Bulge, WEGO, 3D
Purchase:Direct
It seems you can't have one of these lists without at least one Combat Mission game. To be fair, they remain at the fore-front of tactical combat simulations and are must-plays for anyone who enjoys the hardcore-end of WW2 games. Combat Mission offers an immersive military experience, with a fully 3D engine and a turn-based/WEGO strategy layer that then plays out in real-time. Units are represented down to individual squads and tanks, however players can play anything from a Company-sized force, to a reinforced Battalion.
You could have a passionate debate about which CM game is the best CM game, but the 2016 iteration mightily impressed the late Mr. Cobb in his Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg review with its attention to detail and the general improvements to the legacy of Combat Mission as a whole: 'The series remains the epitome of World War II tactical simulations. Is it too early for a Game of the Year nomination?'. Final Blitzkrieg is set in Europe, 1944-45 and mainly centres around the Battle of the Bulge.
Men of War: Assault Squad 2
Publisher/Developer: 1C Company / Digitalmindsoftau
Tags: Real-Time, Tactics, Simulation, All Theatres
Purchase:Steam
The Men of War series is one with humble (and slightly confusing) origins, but also one that’s grown to become a must-have staple of real-time WW2 tactical combat. For fans of Company of Heroes (see below) wanting a little more bite, this is one of the most immersive experiences you’ll ever have the pleasure of playing. There’s a depth and granularity to combat that you rarely see outside of hardcore turn-based counter wargames, and yet it remains easy(ish) to learn and interact with. It can be brutal and punishing (I don’t think they’ve ever gotten the balance quite right between tanks and infantry), but it is also thrilling.
Assault Squad 2, despite being four years old at this point, represents the pinnacle of the series’ development. The series in general has seen many different iterations and experiments, but all of that learning finally comes to together here. As official support has waned, a dedicated mod-community has arisen to provide scenarios ranging from WW1 to the Cold War. If we ever see a new Men of War game, it will be world-class.
Gary Grigsby's War in the East
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / 2by3Games
Tags: Turn-Based, Operational, Eastern Front, Hex-Based
Purchase: Direct, Steam
No conversation on digital wargaming can exist without starting, ending or at the very least, co-existing with, a nod towards the beast set in the east. Gary Grigsby’s 2010 opus represents what happens when you take traditional hex-and-counter wargaming and use computer software to bring out its maximum potential. No-one ever said it would be accessible or easy to get to grips with– but it is the ultimate military simulation of war in the eastern front of World War 2. To paraphrase the game's official blurb:
Gamers can engage in massive, dramatic campaigns, including intense battles involving thousands of units with realistic and historical terrain, weather, orders of battle, logistics and combat results. Factors such as supply, fatigue, experience, morale and the skill of your divisional, corps and army leaders all play an important part in determining the results at the front line. The game comes with 4 massive campaigns as well as many smaller scenarios all with different strategic and operational challenges. This is not for the feint-hearted. There is also Gary Grigsby's War in the West if the Eastern Front isn't your thing.
Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault
Publisher/Developer: SEGA / Relic Entertainment
Tags: Real-Time, Tactics, Strategy, Western Front 1944, Single-Player
Purchase: Steam
One of the most mainstream games on this list, the advent of the Western Front Armies, overhaul of its War Spoils system and years of balance refinement cemented Company of Heroes 2's place as a respectable and enjoyable competitive RTS. With the creation of the Ardennes Assault campaign, Company of Heroes 2 now boasts one of the best replayable single player experiences in modern WW2 strategy games. It's even available as a stand-alone expansion, if you really don't want to get the core game.
Ardennes Assault provides players with a strategic territory-capture meta-game layered over the single-player missions; including semi-random events and time-based objectives that change with each playthrough. You have four Companies to command (of which you can utilize 3 in each campaign run) and hard choices in an Iron Man setting that forces the player to think through each move and live with sub-optimal strategies. If you're looking for something less hardcore, or something with a larger player base, then this is a perfect choice.
The Operational Art of War IV
Publisher/Developer: Matrix Games / Talonsoft
Tags: Operational, Turn Based, Scenarios, Various Theatres, Hex-and-Counter
Purchase: Direct, Steam
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The world’s secret best wargame of all time, it’s surprising The Operational Art of War hasn’t made all other hex-based wargames obsolete by now. Infinitely flexible, this game has the potential to contain all other wargames inside… a bit like Google and the internet, I guess? The fourth iteration of the series may have only offered a modest amount of improvements, but it keeps the series in place as one of the best titles for deep, operational level warfare. While the 300+ scenarios span everything from WW1 to the Korean War, there are plenty of meaty WW2 scenarios for players to enjoy, and the easy-to-use (ish) editor means that you can add plenty more. From Bill's The Operational Art of War IV review:
Trust me it’s worth it. Whether you have all the previous editions as I do, or you are a newcomer just starting out, this game is a must buy. Now toss in over 300 included scenarios, online play not to mention a Jim-dandy scenario editor, and plunking down a few shekels is an even easier decision to make. Yes, I know, most film sequels are never as good as the original, so what are the odds here? They’re pretty good actually. This latest TOAW edition has indeed made an almost perfect classic even better, well deserving a five star rating if not an entire constellation. Two thumbs up for a job very well done.
All it needs now is a WEGO option, and then it’d be damn-near perfect.
Other WW2 Strategy Game Recommendations
Not every game releases gets to take a spot in our 'Best of' lists, and some games that do earn themselves a place get rotated out for newer titles, just to keep things fresh. Neither category deserves to be forgotten so here's a quick summary of recent releases and past 'best' games:
- Battles for Spain
- Barbarroja
- IL-2 Sturmovik
- Graviteam Tactics
- Panzer Corps
What would your list of favourite WW2 war games look like? Answers on a post card!