10 Of The Best Military War Games To Play In 2023

While there's undoubtedly a tremendous amount of diversity in video games, with popular franchises such as "Minecraft" and "The Legend of Zelda" selling millions of copies worldwide, few have seen the sustained success of the military war sub-genre. You just have to look at the vast number of players invested in games like "Call of Duty," "Rainbow Six Siege," and "Counter-Strike" to get an understanding of how in-demand these types of games are.

From lightning-fast first-person shooters full of high-octane action to strategy games requiring careful thought and consideration, military war games come in many forms. However, all of them allow players to play an active role in conflicts — regardless of whether it's as a soldier caught up in the fighting on the front line or as a commander directing the battle from above. 

With so many great war games available across every platform, knowing which releases are worth checking out can be difficult. That doesn't mean it is impossible, though, and these standout military war games are still worth playing in 2023. 

The successor to the "Men of War" series, a real-time tactics game set during the Second World War, "Call to Arms" is a spin-off with a more modern-day setting. The plot sees the United States Army battling against another faction, the Global Revolutionary Movement. Developed by Digitalmindsoft, it has the same basic gameplay as its predecessor series, with players controlling squads of various units as they fight to control territories or destroy opposing forces.

Like many other real-time strategy games, "Call to Arms" focuses on managing resources and carefully moving units across the map to outflank or outmaneuver enemies. The environment is highly destructible but also offers plenty of opportunities for cover. Taking advantage of your surroundings is essential to success in "Call to Arms," adding an extra dimension to the gameplay.

Offering both single-player and multiplayer modes, "Call to Arms" allows you to jump directly into the action, commanding a single soldier in third or first-person perspectives. You can also directly control tanks and other vehicles, such as helicopters. The "Call to Arms – Gates of Hell" expansion offers even more content for users, allowing players to switch to a World War II setting with an all-new campaign, along with additional multiplayer modes and extra weapons. 

Many war games are set during the Second World War, from fast-paced first-person shooters to grand strategy games that put players in charge of a country's entire armed forces. "Hearts of Iron IV" leans more toward the second of those two, as you might expect from a game developed and published by the strategy game wizards at Paradox Interactive. Taking place during World War II, players are thrust into the role of the leader of a nation, and players can choose from any of the world's countries from the late 1930s up until 1948.

The gameplay revolves around managing every aspect of a nation during the war effort. Players can engage in diplomacy to try and make allies, research and start production on new technologies, or even construct equipment to help in the conflict. Depending on the chosen country, users face different problems and have specific challenges they must overcome, giving each nation in "Hearts of Iron IV" a unique starting position. All the while, players must build up their armed forces to protect on all fronts.

Since its launch in 2016, "Hearts of Iron IV" has received eight full expansions to add new features, including espionage actions and more detailed naval warfare. There is seemingly no end to the game's innovations in sight, as there's even more content on the way. Praised by critics and fans for its depth and detail, "Hearts of Iron IV" is not a casual game, but it can easily draw gamers in for countless hours.

"Hell Let Loose" is another shooter set during World War II, with most of the action taking place on the Western and Eastern Fronts of the conflict. Initially developed by Black Matter, publisher Team17 took control of the game upon its release, eventually allowing Cover 6 Studios to develop post-launch content. Available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, "Hell Let Loose" was released in 2021 and has seen many content updates since that time.

The gameplay in "Hell Let Loose" revolves around large matches fought between two factions, the Axis and Allied powers. As a tactical first-person shooter, players are part of smaller squads of between two to six soldiers, depending on their role. These squads have set goals, and only squad leaders can communicate with soldiers outside their group. This creates a more focused experience while giving the sense that you are part of a broader battle. Meanwhile, a single commander can assist squads by deploying air strikes or armored vehicles.

Fans and critics have praised the game for its authentic portrayal of combat during World War II, as well as the way it emphasizes teamwork and communication. With several character classes to choose from, each match can feel very different.

In many respects, "This War of Mine" is unique as a military war game. It doesn't focus on intense fighting or commanding a unit in battle but shows a different side of warfare: How it affects the civilians caught up in the conflict. Developed by 11 Bit Studios, this survival strategy game follows a group of people attempting to stay alive in a city under constant attack from a hostile force. The ultimate aim is for you and those you lead to survive until a ceasefire can be negotiated, ending the war at long last.

The gameplay is mainly split into day and night activities. With soldiers on patrols and snipers watching the streets, it is only safe to venture outside the shelter during the dark hours. This means that players must stay indoors during the day crafting new tools, managing resources, and healing. When the sun sets, the survivors can leave the safety of the shelter to try and find valuable equipment and resources while encountering other NPCs.

What makes "This War of Mine" stand out is the ways in which players have to navigate moral dilemmas and make difficult decisions that can have devastating consequences. There's a strong risk-reward mechanic at play here, and the characters each have their own stories to explore. Most important of all is how "This War is Mine" shows the human cost of war.

"World of Tanks" has established itself as one of the most popular war games in the world since launching in 2010. Despite its age, it's still played by millions of players every year and shows no signs of coming to a close any time soon. The free-to-play game is available across every major platform — including Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox — and addictive mobile versions have been developed alongside spin-offs such as "World of Warships."

As the name suggests, "World of Tanks" is a game all about tank warfare. Players control a single armored vehicle on a massive map populated with other players. The goal is generally to destroy the entire opposing team or capture specific points on the map and hold them for a set period of time. Vehicles are available from a wide array of countries, and there are several distinct types to choose from. Each tank has its own strengths and weaknesses, so players can choose the vehicle that best fits their playstyle. Some are faster but feature lighter armor and weapons, while others are designed entirely for causing widespread damage. 

The sheer variety of tanks on offer keeps things from getting stale. It's almost shocking to find this amount of content in a free-to-play game, and it's never too late to jump in — even in 2023.