4 – Combat Mission Series
If you’re a regular reader of Strategy and Wargaming, then this entry should come as no surprise, given that these games are some of my favorites, period. The entire Combat Mission series is a must-buy for any fan of tactical wargames, and you’re sure to find a great deal on a title during the Matrix Summer Sale 2025 in all entries of the series (remember, these games used to never go on sale, ever). The franchise is famous for its unique “WEGO” hybrid gameplay, which combines turn-based planning with real-time execution. The game can be played in pausable real-time as well. Each game in the series meticulously models morale, soldier psychology, and a vast array of vehicles and weapons physics, providing an immersive and challenging battlefield experience. With titles covering conflicts from World War II, the Cold War, and even the modern-day Middle East and Ukraine (no, Black Sea isn’t about the current Russo-Ukrainian war, it just happens the game takes place in Ukraine), there’s a Combat Mission game for every interest.
3 – Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa
Plenty has been said and written about Decisive Campaigns: Barbarossa, how it’s a standout wargame, revolutionary for its novel approach to storytelling, by allowing the player to play a character that has to deal with the politics and the people playing said politics in a war. While it covers the immense scale of the Eastern Front, this title is unlike traditional hex-and-counter games because it masterfully models the “human factor” of war. You’re not just moving divisions on a map; you’re playing as a high-ranking commander, dealing with political pressure, managing relationships with superiors and subordinates, and making tough decisions with far-reaching consequences. It would be a stretch to call it an RPG game, but it certainly has aspects of role-playing in it, and I look at it as a wargame with added flavor.
2 – Gary Grigsby’s – War In The East 2
There’s no other title available on the market that will give you the ultimate World War II Eastern Front experience other than Gary Grigsby’s War in the East 2. This monolithic grand strategy wargame is unique in its unfathomable scope, putting players in command of every single division on a massive, detailed map, while its rigorous logistics system forces you to truly appreciate the realities of warfare on such a scale. This is a game that is a true simulation, demanding immense dedication but rewarding it with the deepest and most satisfying strategic challenge you will ever find. War in the East 2 is certainly one of the best World War 2 games ever made, and in my humble opinion, one of the most detailed games ever made. As in ever, ever.
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