In World War II games, you can control huge armies, strategize and participate in the most famous battles of the time. Thanks to historical videos, almost every battle, shootout or covert operation has been recreated in computer games..
The games listed in this top cover most of the major battles. Whether you're looking for a strategy game or a shooter thrill, here you are sure to find a game to your liking. Most of them can be downloaded from Steam.
World of tanks
World of Tanks is the most famous creation of Belarusian developers from Wargaming.net. The game is distributed free-to-play. Each piece of technology has been recreated with amazing precision, down to the smallest detail. You will enjoy one look of your tanks even before you test them in battle. After each match, the player receives resources that he can use to buy new equipment or to improve existing ones..
This is a game that gradually attracts more and more. At first, everything seems simple, like in arcades. But then a powerful engine roars and the fight begins. How vulnerable is the machine gun embrasure of the German Tiger II? Where are the weak points in the unyielding armor of the formidable Soviet IS-3? How effective is the armor of the American T-32? Armor-piercing of guns, weak points of tanks, strength of armor - this is what you will need to know in order to emerge victorious from the battle.
World of Tanks is constantly improving, receiving new maps, modes, functions and other updates. 140 million online players around the world will not let you get bored. You will be constantly improving, facing all kinds of styles of tank combat..
War thunder
In War Thunder, you can take control of one of the huge number of aircraft from almost every country that took part in World War II. All models have been worked out very accurately, with historical accuracy. Choose one of the flight modes: an easy arcade game or a hard-to-control simulator.
In the second case, you will have to study the purpose of each lever and button in the cockpit in order not only to control the aircraft, but also to gain the upper hand over the enemy. Each car in the air behaves completely differently, as in reality. Collect planes in the hangar and upgrade them to suit your play style.
World of Warships
World of Warships is not just World of Tanks with ships instead of tanks, but a completely new game. Battles between warships involve a completely different tactic than in ground battles. The fight takes place more slowly, requires more thoughtfulness from the player.
When going out to sea, there is a certain feeling of fear and vulnerability. There are no numerous folds of the terrain, behind which you can hide, as on land. The ship's guns are very long-range and can reach the enemy, which is even behind the cliff. The main thing for victory on the water is carefully thought out tactics and interaction with allies.
The interaction of ships with combat aircraft adds an additional spice to the game. You can throw your fighters and bombers from the aircraft carrier at the enemy. At this point, you already feel a little like in a real-time strategy. Aim the cannons and pray to Poseidon for a direct hit on the next volley.
Call of duty 2
Call of Duty 2 is a true classic of the WWII shooter genre. When this shooter was released on PC in 2005, it had an electric shock effect. Well-known events, such as the Allied landings in Normandy, were portrayed very faithfully, with a lot of detail and really dramatic. At the time, Call of Duty 2 was a good war shooter ever released.
On your monitor - four campaigns in three theaters of operations, a battle for an American, Soviet and British soldier. Unlike the first part of the game, the North African campaign was first introduced here, where the British fought the Germans in the desert.
Despite being released over a decade ago, Call of Duty 2 has confidently stood the test of time. This game first introduced features that later became classics of shooters. For example, this is an automatic restoration of health, which allows you to abandon the search for first aid kits. Allied AI has been improved. The actions of the soldiers became more meaningful. They are no longer just figurines with weapons running around on the screen. Until now, Call of Duty 2 is considered one of the best first-person shooters on PC.
Battlefield 1942
In Battlefield 1942 there are different classes of troops (sniper, engineer, and others), many types of ground and air vehicles, as well as a variety of maps. The developers also decided to add a system of interaction between different types of troops. For example, you can bombard the coastline with naval guns while an ally on a bomber destroys fortifications. Maps also allow you to try the game in all theaters of war. Destroy the Imperial Japanese Navy at the Battle of Iwo Jima and drive Rommel's forces out of El Alamein.
At the time of its release, the game revolutionized the first-person shooter genre. Before that, multiplayer shooters were based on the skill of one player, his quick reflexes. Now teamwork has become important. Previously, Battlefield 1942 was free to play, but GameSpy's servers were shut down in 2014. However, the game has not ceased to exist, because the public servers are still operating.
Company of Heroes 2 - Ardennes Assault
The player in Company of Heroes 2 will, together with other American soldiers, repel the attacks of the German troops and break through their defenses in an ever-changing environment. You have to squeeze out the Nazis from their positions, reclaiming the land literally meter by meter. Military equipment, brave soldiers and officers will help the player to win.
It is not enough to run forward with a rifle at the ready. It is necessary to carefully consider the actions of your units so that the victory does not turn out to be Pyrrhic. After all, what is the point in it if you lose all the personnel?
During battles, the player is suddenly assigned a variety of tasks. Therefore, the campaigns do not become monotonous, they are interesting to play over and over again. Tasks can be completed in any order. For example, during a mission, you may be ordered to eliminate an enemy officer or ambush a German convoy. Abandoning the assignment or completing it successfully will be essential to the outcome of the entire campaign.
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway
Hell's Highway is the third game in the Brothers in Arms series . Follow the battle path of Matt Baker of the 101st Airborne Division and learn about the real tragedy of the game. The plot of Brothers in Arms is very similar to the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and the TV series "Brothers in Arms".
The squad behavior system was borrowed from Rainbow Six: Vegas. To win, you need to hide behind cover, flank the enemy and open massive overwhelming fire. After completing the task, you will feel how you helped your comrades survive and pulled them literally out of mud and blood.
This is a pretty dark game. Blood pours on the screen, limbs come off, and healthy strong men in an instant turn into bloody chunks of meat. Granted, the creators of Brothers in Arms don't revel in the suffering of the characters, but this is a good attempt to show the realities of war. You will be glad that this only happens on the computer screen.
Silent Hunter III
The Second World War in games is mainly depicted with a large number of explosions, gunfire, deafening roar, and rapid movements of troops. This was true, but not everywhere. Under water, the war was quiet, and the killers were cold-blooded and judicious. The Silent Hunter III game offers to experience the peculiarities of underwater battles .
Even though the game was released back in 2005, it remains unrivaled in its class. The player will take control of a German submarine in the Atlantic Ocean. On each combat campaign, you are only given a certain square to patrol. All other actions you plan yourself - the hunt for the warships of the allies, the destruction of the merchant fleet. Patience is key here. Learn to hunt down the enemy in the endless expanses of the ocean and set up ambushes to strike at the right moment.
The third game in the series already looks noticeably old in its graphics. Perhaps you should try Silent Hunter V. The 2010 graphics are noticeably better, although the game was initially released with a lot of bugs. Fortunately, they have been eliminated and now you can enjoy the underwater battles to the fullest.
Men of War: Assault Squad 2
Men of War is a real-time strategy game that allows you to control combat units, but switch to individual units if necessary. The player has 200 soldiers with unique characteristics and 250 pieces of equipment at his disposal. You can choose one of five factions for passing.
The graphics, despite the age of the game, are still great. It will help you immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the hot battles of World War II. You will face enemy armored units, take part in sniper duels and lead the infantry to attack. Prepare for difficulty - the problem is very difficult.
Hearts of Iron IV
Instead of managing a separate unit, Hearts of Iron IV offers you command of the most ambitious level. You will develop technologies, create and equip entire armies, control forces on land, sea and air. And also - to fight to conquer new territories.
But battles are not everything. It is necessary to conclude trade agreements, conduct diplomatic negotiations and a cunning political game. Appoint competent ministers and generals to make the country even stronger. You can take over the leadership of any of the countries that participated in the war.
This is a challenging game. It requires strategic thinking. If you want to see what World War II looked like from the heights of government leaders, then Hearts of Iron IV is definitely worth a try.
Sudden Strike 4
In Sudden Strike 4 has everything you want to see in military strategy: 100 unique units, realistic damage tanks, construction of fortifications and more. This is a great game that will allow you to take part in the war on the side of one of the three factions.
Commandos 2: Men of Courage
Commandos 2 was released in 2001 and has remained unrivaled ever since. This strategy with elements of stealth action can safely be considered a puzzle game. You control a group of special forces, abandoned behind enemy lines. With operatives, you have to go through ten tough and very difficult missions. Not a single mistake is forgiven here. It may seem that ten missions are very few. Believe me, this is not the case in Commandos 2.
To complete the task, you need to think over every step, coordinate the actions of the squad members, carry out reconnaissance and mislead enemies. The tasks are very different: rescuing captured scouts, stealing secret documents, sabotage on ships, hijacking vehicles. We'll have to bypass numerous patrols, wade through minefields.
You will have a spy who can steal the enemy's uniform, change into it and infiltrate the enemy's camp. He also knows how to incapacitate Nazis with a syringe filled with poison. The battle-hardened Green Beret loves to bleed the Nazis even with his bare hands.
You even have a dog named Whiskey on your team. She is good at distracting the attention of enemies. In each mission, it is important to correctly use the skills of each member of the squad. It's tough, so you will fail from time to time. But it's okay - failure will teach you how to improve. But how pleasant the victory will be after you overcome all difficulties, outwit your enemies and return to your own in triumph.
Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad
No matter how hard they try to demonstrate the historical authenticity of Brothers in Arms and World of Tanks, they still clearly show a touch of Hollywood. Red Orchestra 2 takes a different path - here you will not only have to run and shoot, but also carefully consider your actions. For shooting, you need to take into account the direction and strength of the wind. Heroes of Stalingrad has carefully recreated weapons, uniforms, and more. Real historical photographs were used to model a number of buildings in Stalingrad.
The player does not feel like an omnipotent hero, but only a small cog in a large army machine. This greatly increases the level of realism. Machine Gunners cover large areas of the area with fire, allowing allies to approach new positions. But you cannot shoot in bursts for a long time, otherwise the barrel will overheat and the weapon will fail, and it takes quite a long time to replace it, while on the battlefield every second is important.
Tanks are formidable killing machines, but only with a full crew. Try to drive armored vehicles alone, and it will take you forever to move from the driver's seat to the cannon, aim and shoot. The game is also complicated by the complete absence of indicators (health level, number of cartridges, etc.) on the screen.
Every battle in Red Orchestra 2 is hard work. But the feeling of victory after this work is felt very vividly. Few game will make you work so hard to eliminate every enemy and complete the task.
Order of Battle: Pacific
Order of Battle is a Panzer General style turn-based strategy game. A complex but interesting wargame set in the Pacific Ocean. Each move is part of one big puzzle. The goal must be achieved as quickly as possible. The more extra moves, the greater the likelihood of defeat.
Nevertheless, it is worth paying attention to the additional missions for which you can get bonuses. Each of your decisions opens up new possibilities, but also puts forward new requirements. The main part of the game takes place in the ocean, but you will also act on land: land troops, cover troops with fire from ships, send planes for reconnaissance. Even an ordinary sailing from port to port becomes an interesting adventure.
Hidden & Dangerous 2
Hidden & Dangerous 2 is a classic tactical shooter that was released in 2003, but it remains interesting today. The game has squad management, detailed mission descriptions on the loading screen, solo or co-op mode. You can choose different tactics to complete the task. The player controls a squad of four soldiers of the British special forces SAS. An exciting variety of missions, from a secret research base in the snows of the Arctic to the dense jungles of Burma.
The freedom of action of the game is comparable to Hitman: Blood Money (you can even strip enemies and try on their uniforms). And if you can't act covertly, sit down at a heavy machine gun and smash everything around. The controls are a little awkward, but the thrill is guaranteed.
Steel Division: Normandy 44
Steel Division allows you to manage large divisions. The game has become a real classic in its genre. On the battlefield, you can see more than 400 historically accurate combat units from different countries.
In dynamically developing battles, you will improve your military leadership talent. Gather battle groups of infantry, tanks and support planes, and then send them into battle. Firepower matters, here you cannot win without competent tactics. You need to think quickly and react to changing battle conditions.
Panzer corps
400 unique units from Hearts of Iron IV sound impressive to you? What about 800 units from Panzer Corps ? This is a more modern take on the classic Panzer General game in which you have to control mechanized units. Move tank battalions between settlements, suppress the enemy with artillery and try to quickly disable his guns.
The single most important resource in the game is prestige. It can be obtained for victories, creating new combat units and other actions. This turn-based strategy gives you plenty of time to think. Use your strengths and consider the enemy's weaknesses. Then Moscow, London and other capitals will not resist your iron fist.
Blitzkrieg 3
Blitzkrieg 3 is another military vehicle game that takes realism to the extreme. Tanks have armor of different thicknesses, rifles shoot at different distances, barbed wire prevents infantry from passing. Artillery attacks must be planned to reduce damage from fires.
In Blitzkrieg 3, you can control tank units in real time. You can play as allies, USSR or Axis countries. The game has very realistic graphics and offers many different modes.
War in the east
War in the East is reminiscent of board war strategy games. She really is their heir. The game cannot boast of the most modern graphics. Her beauty is in classic paper cards and cardboard figures.
Despite the simplicity of the graphics, the game is quite challenging. You have to lead your troops through battles across the Eastern Front for five campaigns. Under the command of the commander - tanks, artillery, skiers, engineers and many other units. This pastime will appeal to both young gamers and fans of traditional "board games".
The battles themselves are not everything. You have to manage production, supply lines and take into account the weather. This is a challenging strategy game that can take hundreds of hours to complete.
IL-2 Sturmovik 1946
IL-2 Sturmovik was released in 2001. Although the game is already quite old, it still ranks among the best military flight simulators of all time. This is a collection of the original game, sequels and a whole bunch of add-ons. You get a unique set of maps and carefully detailed planes. When you deal with them, you will become a real ace.
Version 1946 combined all IL-2 Sturmovik games released before 2007. It features nine additional campaigns and many great planes in an alternate version of the story, where the war continues into 1946. Many prototypes and the first models of jet aircraft of the USSR and Germany are presented. Participate in dynamic close-quarters combat, air raids in a bomber and emerge victorious from intense battles.