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There is nothing better than a real-life setting to invest in for video game developers, thanks to loads of documentaries and epic events that have already been recorded in history. World War 2 serves as the biggest source of inspiration for every game developer, and even other creators in the entertainment industry.
Fortunately, there are plenty of othergames people can play that take place during World War 2. Most are first-person shooters, but not all of them fall under the trappings of this genre. For World War 2 history buffs, many great choices will help players learn about the history of this worldwide conflict while educating themselves in a manner that is way more entertaining and engaging.
Updated on July 19, 2025, by Mehrdad Khayyat:It’s really hard to say wars have winners. Each end of a war is a loss, and one side just manages to lose less. World War 2 is a massive proof to this, and many creators in different mediums have depicted this unfortunate war in human history.
Although it was one of the most unpleasant historical events, World War 2 does serve as a perfect setting for video games, and many developers have managed to craft amazing, impactful games set in these dark times of the world.
This list is not limited to shooter games, but rather any game from any genre that has a World War 2 setting.
KARDS - The WW2 Card Game
An Addictive Deck Building Experience With World War 2 Units
While most deck-building games are set in fantasy worlds,KARDSdelivers an amazing card game experience with World War 2 lore. The game plays like any traditional card game, where each player randomly draws some cards from their faction of choice and then plays them one by one.
The game features four different unit types: Infantry, Tank, Artillery, and Aircraft. Each unit type has its own weaknesses and strengths, which is why having a good combination of them in the deck and knowing how to use the cards is the most important part of gameplay.
War Mongrelsis one of those hidden gems that never received the attention it deserved. Set in World War 2, the game follows the story of a German soldier that refuses to fight on the frontline for Nazis and gets imprisoned.
As the player makes progress, they unlock more playable characters, each coming with unique equipment and different skills. The gameplay is inspired by theCommandosfranchise, as the player must lead a limited number of characters to different locations with stealth tactics to complete the objectives.
Missions are challenging, but the tools for succeeding are also at the player’s disposal. So, it’s just a matter of mastering each character’s skills and having perfect timing in executing plans to beat the missions.
Gerda: A Flame In Winter
A Narrative-Focused Adventure About Making Tough Decisions
While not directly related to World War 2,Gerda: A Flame in Winteruses the war as its main setting, and it significantly affects the story and the tensions she faces throughout her adventure.
Gerda is a simple nurse who tries to set her arrested husband free. She is no warrior, so she has to make allegiances, talk her way through, and trust some people in between to somehow find a way to save her husband.
The gameplay mostly revolves around trading dialogues, making decisions that have consequences, and investigating. But, there are also some RPG elements, as the player can upgrade Gerda’s mental skills, granting her better communication abilities.
Players who want to check out one of thebest WW2 gamesthat let them jump into the action will love whatMedal of Honor: Airbornebrings to the table. This series was the only real competition toCall of Dutyat one point, and it’s a shame that players can’t enjoy any modernMedal of Honorgames anymore. Thankfully, players seeking out one of the better games in the series will love whatAirbornebrings to the table.
The non-linear approach to the mission structure allows players to land on a map wherever they see fit and complete numerous objectives. It’s a great way to ensure that players can replay stages and see the differences that pop up whenever they decide to land somewhere else, exploring the various permutations and combinations this game allows for.
ClassicCall of Dutygames are a joy to play through, and such is the case withWorld at War. It’s one of thebest WW2 gamesthat players can get their hands on if they want to check out some old-school action, with the single-player campaign being about as good as most people would expect.
The amazing set-pieces and wealth of gameplay modes helpWorld at Warstand out as one of the most underratedCall of Dutygames ever made. Any fan of World War 2 games should check this game out for themselves, with the co-op campaign being pretty engaging in its own right.
Players who want to check out a stealth-action game with shooting elements that takes place during World War 2 will findHidden & Dangerous 2to be the perfect choice for them. This game is far from easy, but players who want to check out a tactical video game with tough-as-nails gameplay will find this title to be one of thebest WW2 gamesaround.
Missions feature numerous objectives that should be tackled in stealth if players don’t want to be gunned down by enemy operatives in no time. A single mistake can be deadly in this game, withHidden & Dangerous 2showing just how tense and deadly shootouts were during wartime. Disguises, PoWs, and old-fashioned sneaking around will ensure that players won’t find themselves completely out of their depthinHidden & Dangerous 2.
World War 2 serves as a great setting for MMORPGs that allow players to interact with other humans in death-defying scenarios where they must pool all their strengths and resources to attain victory against the opposition at all costs.World of Warshipsis one such game where players can partake in naval warfare from all kinds of settings, and World War 2 is no exception here.
Players can control several naval combat vehicles that are accurate to this time period on servers where players must employ a wealth of knowledge and tactics to succeed.World of Warshipscan be pretty daunting because of its steep gameplay loop, but players who decide to give this game a shot will be more than pleased by its robust community and engaging tactical gameplay that never lets up.
Enlistedcan be a pretty hard sell. An FPS that focuses on tactics and punishes players for being too greedy means a lot of seasoned players in the genre must unlearn a lot of things before they can give this game a fair shot, and even then there are players who’d argue that there are way better squad shooters (in both the World War 2 setting and otherwise) that are worth getting into instead.
However, players who decide to jump the gun will love the breadth of tactical shooting gameplay enabled by this free FPS. Coordinating with one’s squad and making sure that everyone’s movements are synchronized is the best way to engage in combat and come out unscathed.
A lot of World War 2 games focus on nailing the tactics, which is something that a lot of fans would understand. However, these games need to verify players are encouraged to employ proper strategies without feeling bored. Thankfully, there are more than enough recommendations in this genre that players can enjoy, withSteel Division 2being a great example of the same.
This game’s RTS gameplay may not be the deepest, but it’s engaging enough for players to invest quite a bit of hours in it without feeling disappointed. The combination of turn-based strategy and real-time battles is pretty ingenious and does a decent job of keeping players invested in both halves of this fun strategy title.
World of Tanksis a fun tank shooter where players control tanks of all shapes and sizes to use against their enemies in explosive battles where a strategic approach is key to attaining victory. The game is free-to-play but isn’t too intrusive with its microtransactions, which is a blessing.
Players can have a great time selecting the tank of their choice and going ballistic as they blast their enemies to smithereens. It takes a while to learn the ropes, and players should ideally focus on teamwork since trying to be a one-tank army is going to end rather poorly.
In terms of WW2 content,World of Tanksfeatures anarray of tanksfrom the era, along with a plethora of maps taken directly from the War. That said, the game is not exclusively inspired by WW2.
