War simulators continue to be one of the most solid genres ever. But why exactly do we love them so much?
War is terrible, but all its mechanisms are quite fascinating for those who like to know more about militaria. No one really wants to fight for their lives, but trying is always tempting. Therefore, the most realistic strategy games and military simulations are still on the rise.
Everyone can play them to see if they would be able to cope with such a brutal reality – while remaining safe as a person. And if you are one of those players, we highly recommend all the games on this list!
| Game | Release | Genre | Developer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Company of Heroes 3 | 2023-02-23 | Strategy | Relic Entertainment |
 | Hearts Of Iron IV Cadet Edition | 2016-06-06 | Simulation | Paradox Development Studio |
 | This War of Mine Complete Edition | 2014-11-14 | Adventure | 11 bit studios |
 | Squad | 2015-12-14 | Action & Shooter | Offworld Industries |
 | Arma 3 | 2013-09-12 | Action & Shooter | Bohemia Interactive Studio |
 | Fleet Command | 1999-05-15 | Strategy | Sonalysts |
 | Theatre Of War 3 Korea | 2011-03-24 | Strategy | |
 | Company Of Heroes 2 Platinum Edition | 2013-06-25 | Strategy | Relic Entertainment |
 | Unity Of Command II | 2019-11-12 | Indie | 2x2 Games |
 | Tom Clancys Ghost Recon Breakpoint | 2019-10-04 | Shooter | Ubisoft Paris |
 | Command Modern Operations | 2019-11-14 | Strategy | Command Development Team |
 | Wargame Airland Battle | 2013-05-31 | Strategy | Eugen Systems |
 | Hell Let Loose | 2019-06-06 | Indie | Team17 |
 | Panzer Corps 2 | 2020-03-19 | Strategy | Flashback Games |
Company of Heroes 3
| Release date: | 2023-02-23 |
| Genre: | RTS |
| Developer: | Relic Entertainment |
This successful RTS series launched in 2006 on PC, and its incredible popularity continues today. And the latest installment comes with even more content than ever!
Lead the most challenging missions of World War II – this time in Italy and North Africa. Engage in memorable battles, decide on unit deployment, and enjoy award-winning tactical gameplay. Use spies and various units to dominate the battlefield – in solo and multiplayer campaigns! CoH 3 introduces many new improvements, like a realistic destruction system, RPG features, and impressive visual effects. So this is one of the best MilSims you can play!
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Hearts of Iron 4
| Release date: | 2016-06-06 |
| Genre: | Simulation |
| Developer: | Paradox Development Studio |
It is Europa Universalis famous spin-off focusing on World War II battles. Choose your nation and decide how to change history under your command!
Pick one of the multiple available countries to engage in the events of World War II or not. It’s your decision, but each nation has unique national focus trees to complete. Create your dream army, gain experience points, decide on the nation’s ideology or welfare, and develop technologies. And if you don’t like your neighbors – nuke them! HoI 4 features a realistic system of changing seasons that you can make even more interesting by including the content of eighteen DLCs!
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This War of Mine
| Release date: | 2014-11-14 |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Developer: | 11 bit studios |
Forget all super soldier scenarios to become an ordinary man confronting the horrors of war. It’s a more survival take on the genre, creating fresh gameplay fun for those tired of the standard FPS experience.
Lead a group of civilians trying to survive in a surrounded city. Follow the clock – night is the only time you can go out and try to find drugs or food. During the day, you better rest and take your time to develop the base or craft the necessary stuff. This War of Mine is a game where all characters have traumas and personalities, so it’s crucial to ensure everyone’s well-being.
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Squad
| Release date: | 2015-12-14 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Offworld Industries |
This game started as one of the most popular mods for Battlefield 2 but has grown as an independent project gaining very positive reviews on Steam. It is your best choice if you are looking for an extremely realistic war experience.
Squad offers multiple maps for up to 100 players. All participants divide into factions to compete in various types of tasks using an extensive arsenal of weapons and vehicles. Communication and reasonable division of duties are crucial and can help complete any strategy on the open battlefield. It is a recommendation for fans of realistic battles that require planning and close cooperation.
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Arma 3
| Release date: | 2013-09-12 |
| Genre: | Action & Shooter |
| Developer: | Bohemia Interactive Studio |
Welcome to Altis and Stratis – two Mediterranean islands with an impressive size of 290 square kilometers. Explore the details of a brutal conflict on this extraordinary map as Corporal Ben Kerry.
Arma 3 is the definition of realistic warfare, with plenty of weapon and uniform customization options. Play the single-player campaign, compete in multiplayer, or practice your skills in many modes. You can now drive vehicles like planes, tanks, helicopters, and even ships to complete missions using a clean interface. Plus, in this unique game, players can create their own scenarios or mods to enjoy it however they want!
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You don’t have to be a master strategist to enjoy waging wars in all these games. Moreover, you don’t even have to be interested in the military! MilSims is a genre for everyone, regardless of age or gender, where all that matters is skillful planning.
Soon, we can probably expect increasingly realistic recommendations for more than a hundred players on the battlefield (like in Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord ). But when it comes to playing real-world conflicts on pixel maps, we’ll probably have to wait a little bit longer.