5 – Steel Division 2
I can already see the purists rolling their eyes at the inclusion of Steel Division 2 in this list. But hey, it’s my list, do yours and share it with me! Despite my criticisms of the Steel Division franchise over the years, I still think that this real-time strategy game can really bring out the magnitude of size, brutality and complexity of warfare in World War 2. Focusing on the Eastern Front during Operation Bagration, Steel Division 2 brought a new way to play with its “grand-strategy” campaign called Army General, where it’s basically Total War on the Eastern Front. The game also packs an incredible amount of content, featuring a massive library of historical divisions, infantry units, tanks, artillery, and air units. I think Steel Division 2 has a place in wargaming libraries as a beautiful title that, while not all that realistic, it’s authentic and fun to play, and depicts World War 2 as the massive, spectacularly horrifying conflict that it was. Besides, I like pretty graphics.
4 – Radio General
The reason Radio General is on this list is two-fold: First, it’s dirty and cheap, at the price point of a cup of coffee. Second, it’s another unique take on strategy, where you act as a commanding officer with nothing but a map, a pencil, and a radio. That’s right, you’ll be commanding your troops at a distance through radio transmissions without directly controlling units on the battlefield. You don’t know what’s going on every step of the way, you don’t see individual bullets flying, you don’t know how many are there, and sometimes you don’t even know how many units you have left. It’s well worth experiencing just for the fact that it’s a game that teaches you how difficult making decisions on the go could be when you only have 10% of the information.
3 – Combat Mission: Red Thunder
The only franchise that can hold a dimly lit candle to Mius Front is -arguably- Combat Mission. My usual recommendation goes to Battle For Normandy, just because that’s my favourite, but since I’m feeling particularly spicy today, I’ll endorse Combat Mission: Red Thunder, a game that, much like its brothers, offers a highly authentic recreation of tactical warfare, delivering a true 1:1 scale experience within fully realized 3D environments. With realistic ballistics, dynamic fog of war, and intricate “soft factors” such as morale, experience, and unit cohesion, it captures the complexity of real combat with exceptional attention to detail.
2 – Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive
Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive stands out as one of my personal best operational-level wargames. When it came out, it offered a refreshing departure from the overly abstract mechanics typical of the genre by mixing up the tactical and operational layers pretty damn well, managing to breathe new life into a niche often considered outdated. Set on the iconic Western Front—the most engaging of theatres of World War II for yours truly—it strikes an ideal balance between accessibility and depth, making it a perfect stepping stone for players looking to move beyond beginner-level wargames. While not the most complex operational-level title, its clarity and hands-on mechanics make it easier to grasp without sacrificing strategic depth. Recognized for its exceptional quality, Decisive Campaigns: Ardennes Offensive earned the inaugural Golden Strategy and Wargaming Seal of Approval in 2021, cementing its place as a must-play for serious strategy enthusiasts.
1 – Warhammer 40,000 – Battlesector
Curious fact: This was the first game a company ever gifted me a review code for! Warhammer 40,000 – Battlesector is a fast-paced, turn-based tactical strategy game set in the titular grimdark universe, where you’ll lead the Blood Angels on a 20-mission campaign exploring the aftermath of the Devastation of Ball. It’s a meaty, gory and tough-as-nails campaign that I absolutely loved to go through and bestowed upon it massive praise, when I first reviewed it, calling it a Bloody Delight that was “not only a very good turn-based tactical game but also the best turn-based strategy game to ever come out for the Warhammer franchise”.
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