Command, battle, and conquer: The 8 best war games

War games have long held the interest of players who enjoy complex tactics and immersive military scenarios. Beyond simple shooter mechanics, the best war games provide rewarding game progression, narrative-rich stories, and authentic simulations of modern or historical conflicts. 

Mobile is an especially convenient format for long-term war titles. Ongoing strategic maneuvers and calculated movements can happen each time you pick up your device, whether it’s a moment between errands or a TV ad break. On Mistplay¹, we offer diverse mobile war games for every commander, including modern military, historical combat, and casual tactical titles. 

As an added bonus, Mistplay lets you earn real-life rewards as you undertake your each mission. Download and play through our app, and you’ll earn gift cards you can redeem for new military upgrades on platforms like PlayStation and Xbox.

In this guide, check out the best war games on mobile and beyond.

8 best war games on Mistplay

The finest military strategy games on Android and iPhone offer unique scenarios and weaponry for an all-around realistic battle experience. Here’s a high-quality “supply drop” of the best online war games on Mistplay. 

4X strategy and empire building

In 4X strategy games, your aim is to dominate a world map — it’s right in the name, as the four Xs stand for Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate.

These real-time strategy (RTS) games typically require long-term commitment and deep planning, whether you’re launching a military campaign or building up your base. They’re also an ideal choice for players who love complex, story-driven gameplay.

Here are our top picks.

Rise of Kingdoms

In Rise of Kingdoms, you play a fearless commander of one of 15 real-world civilizations, including Rome, China, and Britain. With your troops, you’ll battle, explore, and build across a massive world map with historically authentic locales. 

Dive into real-time military campaigns — launch attacks, join forces with allies, and split forces for multiple, simultaneous engagements. For players who love long-term, chaotic multiplayer battles, try a “Kingdom vs. Kingdom" (KvK) war. These epic campaigns pit entire kingdoms against each other on a huge, separate map, and they result in lucrative spoils, like power-ups and character unlocks.

State of Survival

State of Survival is a strategy-driven zombie war game. In addition to the traditional base building elements of the zombie genre, you’ll be in charge of war-specific tasks like training your squad and making battle plans. You’ll also need to research new defenses, recruit fighters, and upgrade your gear. 

Players who like co-op gameplay will appreciate the Alliance system, where you can share resources and troops with your friends. State of Survival also has some unique modes, such as Explorer Trails, where you undertake RPG-style side missions using specific skills and positioning to succeed. There’s also Survival Royale, a “last one standing” campaign where you fend off zombies and other players in an ever-shrinking map that’s continuously filling with poison gas. 

Viking Rise

Viking Rise immerses you in a vast Nordic setting with fierce warriors, mythical beasts, and treasure-hungry enemies. Here, you’ll fight real-time battles with historical heroes — like Ragnar and Ivar the Boneless — as you defend your territory against fearsome invaders. 

As their leader, you’ll train soldiers, strategize battles, and lead raids across the world. This Viking war game is known for its top naval-focused gameplay and stunning Valhalla-worthy 3D graphics. 

Modern military and tactical combat

These army strategy games prioritize action-packed gameplay with guns, tanks, and modern machinery. They also challenge players with supply line management, troop training and movement, and multi-front battle strategy.

Here are our favorite titles.

Warpath: Ace Shooter

In Warpath, you engage enemies across air, sea, and skies. It has incredible graphics and cinematic zooms, letting you experience realistic, adrenaline-pumping action as you move your units across the map. 

Warpath also boasts authentic WWII weaponry and tank customization, so you can tailor your rifles, tanks, and aircrafts and build your own historic military dream team. Defend your base, break blockades, and conquer the battlefield as you see fit. 

World of Warships Blitz War

World of Warships Blitz War is a strategy-driven naval title for players who love history and heavy machinery. It focuses on real-time 7v7 sea battles using historically authentic ships and maritime scenarios. 

Tactical thinking and teamwork is a must, as you have to work carefully to balance your squad’s strengths and weaknesses — there’s more than 600+ unique ship classes, so crafting the right armada takes some deep thinking. 

Kiss of War: Dead Blood

Command your own legion of female fighters against The Undead Reich. While the Kiss of War storyline has a fantastical flair, it also features immersive modern warfare elements — rifles, berets, and rocket launchers, anyone?

You’ll lead your squad across a European-inspired landscape and engage in multiplayer clashes that rely on fast-paced battle strategies, forcing you to charge targets and routes on the fly. Kiss of War also lets you stack up unique power-ups to keep your troops going. Collect weapons, food, and even perfume to bolster your fighters and conquer your foes.

Casual strategy and merge warfare

Not all military games involve complex controls and long-term planning. If you’re looking for the best war games that give you a taste of the action without the detailed management, try these top casual war games. 

Top War: Battle Game

Top War is a merge-to-upgrade game with charming cartoon graphics. It’s ideal for players who want fast-paced, satisfying battles during shorter gaming sessions. You’ll play a group of legendary heroes and take on Tyrant forces by leveling up your units and buildings. It requires strategic thinking to merge quickly and secure victory on land, air, and sea.

Beyond solo campaigns, it has some fun PvP modes as well. Join a group of friends, and battle large groups of opponents in Server v Server warfare. Or dive into the Capital Throne Showdown, where players compete to seize and hold the structure at the center of the map.

Mob Control

Mob Control is a casual war game with colorful, chunky armies and wacky foes. Players control their troops to face off against big bosses and capture bases. It combines tower defense gameplay and war strategy elements, as users must build up and deploy mobs during chaotic 2-minute rounds. 

This title has some quirky elements to keep you hooked, including speed boosts, multipliers, and moving fates. It also has base building and competitive leaderboards. Mob Control is perfect for players who want to flex their tactical muscles without committing to a 4X game.

Strategy war games on PC

There are hundreds of war games out there, no matter which style you prefer. Here are a few titles you can play on PC:

• Call of Duty: An intensely competitive first-person shooter (FPS) franchise. Most titles in the series feature multiplayer gameplay, battle royale modes, and solo campaigns.
• Battlefield: A 40+ title video game franchise with large-scale battles. It has a focus on vehicle combat, collaborative gameplay, and environmental destruction.
• Halo: An FPS franchise known for its sci-fi universe and lore. It has tactical combat mechanics and features a mix of human and alien weaponry. 
• Escape from Tarkov: A realistic PC title with FPS, multiplayer, and RTS elements. It’s known for its steep learning curve and survival gameplay.
• Arma Reforger: A Cold War military simulator game with sandbox-style mechanics. It has an open world where you complete objectives across a large map. 

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Disclaimer: These titles are not available on Mistplay.

War games on tabletop

The warfare genre extends beyond devices and consoles. Here are some of the best war simulation games for an in-person, tactile experience:

• Labyrinth: The War on Terror: A simulation of the global war on terror, focused on U.S. efforts to neutralize terrorists and build nations. The game uses a blend of strategy and unpredictability, as players take turns drawing event cards to take action.
• Here I Stand: A historical game set during the 16th-century Protestant Reformation. Military strategy is just one aspect of this game's complex negotiation and card-driven gameplay. 
• Risk: A classic global war game known for its accessible rules, diplomacy-driven mechanics, and conquest gameplay.
• Fields of Fire (Vol. 1): A one-player tactical card game where you command a rifle company and complete missions in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. 
• RAF: The Battle of Britain, 1940: A WWII war game with three game modes, where you can battle solo as RAF or Luftwaffe, or engage in 1v1 campaigns. 

Launch your next campaign with Mistplay

Whether you’re leading a Viking shield wall or launching a quick, casual attack, strategy is the key to victory. Challenge your military mind with our recommendations, including deep 4X strategy, modern military, and merge titles. Even better, the best war games are available on Mistplay’s gaming rewards app.

As you embark on your next mission with Mistplay, you’ll win more than victory. Whenever you download and play titles in our app, you’ll rack up real-life rewards. Lead the charge into battle, and earn points to exchange for gift cards for retailers like GameStop and Nintendo. 

Download Mistplay on iOS or Android today, and start earning resources towards your next conquest. 

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‍¹Games mentioned are for illustrative purposes, and selection may vary per region.