Introduction
Eighty years ago, the guns of the Second World War fell silent. From the scorched fields of the Eastern Front to the bombed cities of Germany and Japan, a global conflict came to a close, forever changing the course of history. As we honor the enduring legacy of the veterans, heroes, and civilians who experienced those monumental years, we are also reminded of the profound impact of this era on our culture. Video games, in particular, have become a powerful medium for exploring, commemorating, and even re-imagining the battles and stories of World War II.
This list is not just a collection of the best-sellers, but a personally curated selection of some of my favorite, authentic, compelling, and historically significant WWII games available in 2025. From hyper-realistic simulations that model every screw on a tank to emotional narratives that explore the human cost of war, the games in this selection offer a diverse range of experiences for every type of player. Whether you’re a seasoned wargamer seeking the ultimate strategic challenge or a newcomer looking for a glimpse into the battles that defined the greatest generation, you will find an entry on this list that provides a new way to understand the greatest conflict in human history.
Don’t take this list as gospel; I have just tried to bring you a selection of games for everyone, from arcade shooters, flight simulation, real-time strategy, to the most hardcore of strategy games. There are hundreds, possibly even thousands, of games set during the Second World War, and some that I love aren’t even here. So if you would like to add a new one, do it in the comments down below.
25 – Call of Duty: World At War
Released in 2008, Call of Duty: World at War is still one of today’s most gritty and brutal representations of the horrors of World War II, delivered in the exciting format of a traditional first-person shooter (FPS), and remains one of my favorites. I remember playing it during my time in high-school, and being surprised at how brutal it was, especially in the pioneering Pacific Theater (in the Call of Duty series, as Medal of Honor: Rising Sun had already done that years prior) and offered a harrowing Eastern Front campaign, showcasing the raw savagery of what was to be reconigzed as a total war for survival. The campaign might be the better part of the game, but in its heyday, there was also a bustling multiplayer scene of skilled players. Oh boy, those were the days, weren’t they?
This is the kind of game I would recommend to players who want to experience World War 2, but don’t like strategy games and realistic milsims, and would much prefer to just experience the conflict in a more arcade way.
24 – Panzer Corps 2
My top 10 choice for the most beginner-friendly wargame you can play in 2025, and excellent for turn-based strategy aficionados, Panzer Corps 2 is a modern classic that brings the hex-based wargame formula to life with detailed 3D visuals, randomly generated maps, and hundreds of units to play around with and create your own fun. This game places players as a commanding officer in the European Theater, offering operational-level gameplay through a massive branching campaign and extensive DLC that covers various battles and factions. Its strongpoints are certaintly its blend of accessibility, as the game is very simple to just pick up and play with minimal prior understanding, something that cannot be said for all of the games on this list, while still packing some depth for those that want to explore its systems and make the most of them, combined with a vibrant community creating new scenarios, ensures hundreds of hours of rewarding gameplay.
If you’re a bit too thin on the wallet, then consider getting Panzer Corps: Gold Edition, the previous one, which usually goes on sale for just a couple of bucks every once in a while and has hundreds (maybe over a thousand) missions.
23 – Commandos: Origins
This is certainly going to be a contentious entry, but if you want to witness the very beginning of the legendary elite WWII force in one of the most celebrated strategy gaming series of all time, you must play Commandos: Origins. This real-time tactics game takes you back to the foundation of the genre, where you lead a squad of six infamous characters—including the Green Beret, the Sapper, and the Spy—on a series of covert missions. From the icy plains of the Arctic to the vast deserts of Africa, you’ll need to combine stealth, planning, and destruction to overcome heavily fortified targets and fight against the growing Nazi occupation. I am a massive fan of Commandos 1 and 2 (never really got around to playing 3), and I think that Origins does a good job of bringing the formula of the classic games to 2025.
22 – Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire
I remember playing this one as a kid and thinking to myself, How weird it was, because it had nothing to do with other games I had grown accustomed to, like Medal of Honor: Allied Assault. This 2003 tactical shooter offers a unique blend of stealth, action, and squad management, putting you in charge of a British SAS team on covert operations across diverse global locations. Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire still stands out for its unprecedented tactical freedom, allowing players to approach missions with either brute force or meticulous infiltration. Its immersive details make it a rewarding experience for those seeking a different kind of WWII shooter, still actively enjoyed by a dedicated community through fan-made patches.
21 – Armoured Commander II
Armoured Commander 2 is one of the most unique video games you can play in 2025, and one I have truly enjoyed and came to love over the years, since I first played it in 2021. A minimalist, text-based roguelike wargame that places you in the boots of a single tank commander in World War II. Despite its ASCII-style graphics, the game offers incredible depth, simulating crew management, injuries, and the brutal realities of tank warfare across numerous procedurally generated campaigns. Its focus on emergent storytelling and survival creates a profoundly tense and personal investment in your crew’s fate, making it a unique and challenging experience for dedicated wargamers. You’ll be fighting randomly generated campaigns all over the conflict (North Africa, Pacific, and Europe), and you won’t find any lack of hardware in the game, because almost all of the tanks that fought in the war are represented here, from the early Panzers to the late-war American heavy tanks.
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