The Best Games of 2025 I Personally Enjoyed

As 2025 comes to a close, I realized I missed out on far more games than usual. Between a limited budget and a shortage of review keys (developers were far more generous with Nuno than with me), I had to be selective about what I actually played. As a result, this list isn’t a definitive ranking of the best strategy games of 2025, but rather the war-themed games I personally bought and spent meaningful time with.

Not all of these are pure strategy games, but they all revolve around warfare in some form. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to fully play titles like WDS Age of Longbow, Poland ’39, Master of Command, Europa Universalis V, Homeworld: Vast Reaches (VR), or Earth vs Mars. I did try several of their demos, however, and based on that limited time, I can confidently recommend keeping an eye on them.

Some games, like Broken Arrow, I’m holding off on until major updates arrive (specifically, a campaign save feature). Others, such as Beach Invasion 1915: Gallipoli, were disappointing due to poorly implemented features like an awkward single-player FPS mode. Crystal Commander VR also fell flat for me, largely because it relied too heavily on mixed-reality map setups.

With that context in mind, here are my Top War-Themed Games of 2025, ranked from 15 to 1.

15. Hijong Park’s Defender Patrol

If you’re a VR fan, you really can’t go wrong with this helicopter combat sim, especially at its $5 price point. It’s not a massive experience, but the controls feel just right. They’re better than Warplanes: Air Corps, though still not quite at the level of VTOL VR. The visuals are basic but perfectly serviceable, making Hijong Park’s Defender Patrol an easy recommendation for VR players looking for a low-cost war game.

14. Modu War

A few months ago, I wrote about the features modern war games need, and then I discovered Modu War. This Early Access RTS pushes production value surprisingly far, going all-in on FMV sequences, putting Tempest Rising to shame in that department. Gameplay-wise, it’s a unique RTS where you essentially control a hive-like organism that splits into specialized forces. Fans of unconventional RTS games like Grey Goo should take notice, though it will need more factions to compete with genre heavyweights. The basics are solid, and there’s a template with a lot of potential here.

13. Heroes of Valor

I skipped Battlefield Heroes back in the day due to my skepticism around free-to-play games. Now, for $15, Heroes of Valor offers a complete, permanently owned experience with strong bot support, and those bots are genuinely good. The developers update the game frequently, and despite Steam forum complaints demanding it be free, the game maintains Overwhelmingly Positive reviews for a reason, and that’s because the game is really damn good.

12. Days of Heroes: Stalingrad VR

This is arguably the best World War II VR experience available in 2025. While the developer’s previous Western Front title was decent, Days of Heroes: Stalingrad VR feels grittier and more impactful. Missions are short but varied, and you can play as either side. One standout mission starts you without a rifle, forcing you to scavenge from fallen soldiers, like that starting scene from Enemy at the Gates. It’s not as visually polished as Medal of Honor VR or Sniper Elite VR, but it’s cheaper, bolder, and more experimental, making it a very unique experience.

11. Vestiges: Fallen Tribes

I never liked auto-battlers until this game. Vestiges: Fallen Tribes feels like a physical board game brought to life in VR. You deploy units via cards, deal with restrictions, and plan around challenges. There’s PvP as well, though I haven’t tried it due to a lack of VR friends. The game is engaging, visually impressive, and surprisingly deep, though more mission variety would go a long way.

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