7 – Carthage: Bellum Punicum
Carthage: Bellum Punicum is a visually striking game that we can already take for granted, with its direct inspiration from the History Marche YouTube channel. We might not know for certain how its battles are going to play, but for me, it’s easily one of the most intriguing wargames to wishlist for 2026. A historical strategy game that drops you straight into the heart of the Second Punic War and lets players command the armies of Hannibal and take the battle all the way from the Pyrenees to Rome. A recent update showcases the game and how each of the individual squared formations, if zoomed in, will have individually rendered soldiers, similarly to what one might find in Total War. If Carthage: Bellum Punicum manages to play as awesomely as it looks, this could become one of the go-to ancient‑warfare wargames of 2026.
6 – War in Spain 1936–39
The Spanish Civil War is a fascinating conflict in all aspects, from political, societal and most of all, warfare, as its the kind of conflict that acts as a precursor for World War 2 and plenty of tactics were tried and tested there, with scarily effective results, so to me it has always been surprising that not a lot of developers give a lot of time. Well, that’s about to change with War in Spain 1936–39, because this grand-operational wargame could become one of 2026’s most compelling and perhaps most sobering wargames. Using a new engine inspired by the looks of the one used in War in the Pacific, this wargame is promising unparalleled realism, detail, and historical depth. In essence, this is going to be Gary Grigsby’s War In The East 2, but in the Spanish Civil War, and that’s just an amazing premise. If it pulls off that ambition, War in Spain 1936–39 could be a standout 2026 title.
5 – Spearhead 2
Few wargames made quite a splash when they were announced as Spearhead 2, with its reveal trailer having well over half a million views. That’s insane, especially considering we’re talking about a tank simulator that puts players in command of an M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank. The game is very much in active development, but it’s promising to be a great contender for the title of best armored sim in 2026, as it’s going head-to-head against Gunner, HEAT, and PC! Players with fully modeled interiors, realistic vehicle handling, and intense combined-arms missions, all on the command seat of an Abrams. Offering both solo play and coordinated squad operations, the game emphasizes tactical decision-making, teamwork, and the gritty realities of modern armoured combat across destructible urban zones, open deserts, and dense woodland terrain. With its focus on authenticity, vehicle maintenance, and dynamic mission design, Spearhead 2 has the potential to become the definitive modern-tank wargame of the year and an essential wishlist title for players who crave deep, simulation-driven warfare.
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