10 – Modern Naval Warfare
As soon as Modern Naval Warfare, a game created by The Maslas Bros and published by Slitherine Ltd., was announced, it was immediately scooped up by the military. If that isn’t an indicator of its quality as a next-generation naval combat simulator, I don’t know what can be. This title promises to redefine submarine warfare, allowing players to command the United States’ cutting-edge SSN-774 Virginia Class nuclear attack submarine in unprecedented detail, where every system of the submarine is meticulously crafted to an extreme degree of accuracy.
Unlike broader wargames, this simulation focuses intensely on every aspect of a single vessel, from intricate system controls and advanced sensor management in a highly detailed 3D control room (with full VR support for ultimate immersion) to navigating over a million square kilometers of dynamic underwater environments like the South China Sea. You’ll track enemies, conduct covert operations, and unleash devastating strikes with a wide array of weapons, all while managing your crew and reacting to a lifelike environment that accounts for deep sound channels, thermal layers, and more. The game is also going to feature multiplayer, where friends can man different stations.
9 – Total Victory: World Conflict 1939-1945
Warplan and Warplan Pacific are great, grand-strategy wargames that manage to take the classic hex-and-counter formula wargames are known for and simplify it enough, and still make it an interesting and in-depth wargame worth your while. The next iteration of that series of games changed its name from Warplan 2 to Total Victory: World Conflict 1939-1945. The game aims to put players in command of the entire world stage, managing vast economies, conducting production, and leading massive armies, navies, and air forces across the globe. Unlike games that focus on specific fronts or battles, this title emphasizes the interconnectedness of the war, where events in one theater can ripple across the entire world. Expect a deep strategic layer where resource management, production, and technological research are as vital as tactical military maneuvers.
8 – Wargame Design Studio – Age of Longbow
One of my favourite wargame studios is exploring one of my favorite times in history. That’s right, the people at Wargame Design Studios are going deep into the brutal battles of the Medieval era. Wargame Design Studio – Age of Longbow: Volume I – Hundred Years War is a newly announced title that, if you’re anything like me and love medieval battles, belongs at the pinnacle of your 2025 PC wargames wishlist. As the second entry in WDS’s acclaimed Sword & Siege series, this game offers an unparalleled deep dive into one of history’s most iconic conflicts, focusing specifically on the grand open-field battles that defined the Hundred Years’ War.
Age of Longbow leverages Wargame Design Studio’s reputation for exceptional historical accuracy and comprehensive order of battle. Unlike its predecessor which focused on sieges, this volume plunges players into the tactical intricacies of engagements like Crécy, Poitiers, and Agincourt, where the English longbow reigned supreme. Command historical armies with their unique strengths and weaknesses, manage supply lines, and execute sophisticated maneuvers across meticulously crafted battlefields.
7 – B-17 Flying Fortress: The Bloody 100th
Prepare for the relentless skies of World War II with B-17 Flying Fortress: The Bloody 100th, the highly anticipated new installment in the critically acclaimed series from MicroProse Software and Outerra. Set to a very deep WWII bomber simulation, this is- undoubtedly- one of the most exciting PC wargames for me.
B-17 Flying Fortress: The Bloody 100th aims to recreate the arduous, nerve-wracking reality faced by Allied bomber crews, specifically drawing inspiration from the legendary “Bloody 100th” Bomb Group. Players will experience the entire journey: from detailed mission briefings and elephant walks to take-off, formation flying, and the brutal aerial combat deep behind enemy lines. The game puts you in direct command of a 10-man crew, where you’ll manage their skills, respond to damage, provide first aid, and man various stations from bombardier to machine gunner. With its promise of a globally rendered engine, advanced damage modeling, and focus on crew progression and survival through 25 harrowing missions, this title is set to be the definitive historical flight simulator and combat flight wargame for those seeking unparalleled authenticity in WWII aviation games.
6 – Platoon Commander
To say that I was a bit rough when I first previewed Platoon Commander, a new game from Alpharabius Games and Slitherine, is a bit of an understatement, criticizing it for the early state it was previewed in, and by the lack of an identity and market direction. But aside from that, I have to recognize there’s a very WWII strategy game in there, somewhere, but it just needs some work before it comes to fruition.
Platoon Commander is set during the early days of Operation Barbarossa, and it’s a real-time tactics game that stands out with its innovative hybrid gameplay, seamlessly blending real-time tactical battles with a turn-based campaign map. This allows players to manage the grand operational pace of the invasion – deciding when to push, when to defend, and how to manage critical logistics – before diving into the intense, squad-based engagements. You’ll command either the Wehrmacht or the Red Army across 20 maps, each offering unique tactical challenges influenced by realistic weather effects (rain, snow, frost impacting unit performance) and destructible environments.
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