Grand strategy games can’t turn someone into a general alone, nor get into the finer details of every conflict. But they can provide enough know-how and resources to win virtual battles and rewrite history for a little escapism. Maybe players could push the Normans back at the Battle of Hastings, or save the 300 Spartans against the Persians.
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That or end the Second World War early with strategies that are only available in hindsight, or even stop Hitler, Mussolini, and Imperial Japan before they can even get going. When it comes to letting players get in touch with their inner Patton, Montgomery, or de Gaulle, these are the best grand strategy games set during World War 2.
9Hearts Of Iron 4
The latest inParadox Interactive’s popular grand strategy series came out in 2016 and sees the player pick any nation for a singleplayer or multiplayer campaign. They can either start just before the big conflict in 1936, or right at its advent in 1939 and continue on until 1948. Each side has to order and maintain their military, keeping troops trained, equipment ready, and even commerce going for the civilian population in between the actual fighting.
It’s not just watching over the battlefield and making use of its terrain, landmarks, etc. There are politics and diplomacy at play too, where making deals with different countries can either help the player or hinder the enemy if they work out. There are also different expansions that focus on different theaters of war (e.g., The Sino-Japanese War) and alternate history (e.g., If Germany won World War 1),with the latestreleased back in November 2022.
8Hearts Of Iron 2: Complete
If players likedHearts of Iron 4but found it a little simplified, its predecessorHearts of Iron 2may be more up their alley. It was considered such an improvement over the original game that it went from languishing critically to getting a nomination for Best RTS of 2005 from PC Gamermagazine. The game offers the same mix of military organization with political plays and diplomacy that the later games would work from.
While the base game covers 1936-1947, the expansions can take it further, withDoomsdaycovering the early days of the Cold War up to 1953, andIron Crossstarting as early as 1933. Each expansion brought in new maps, new playable nations, and new features like espionage, extra tech, and a whole host of new units to play with. As old as the game is, there’s a ton on offer.
7Arsenal Of Democracy
Interestingly,Arsenal of Democracyis essentially the same game asHearts of Iron 2.The game is based onHOI2’sArmageddonexpansion and is even compatible withHOI2’s Iron Crossexpansion. The difference is that organizing fleets and troops, governments and heads of state, etc., are more straightforward with streamlined menus and options.
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But the combat ismade harder and more realistic. For example, the game uses attrition algorithms to show how long military campaigns can grind both sides of a war down, affecting unit behavior and more. That, and it has some reworked systems like logistics and supply management that can take the edge off the difficulty if players can master it. IfHOI2felt too fiddly or easy,Arsenal of Democracyprovides a smoother yet more challenging alternative.
6Making History: The Calm And The Storm
Paradox isn’t the only studio in charge of WW2 RTS games. Muzzy Lane’s 2007 game caught on asan educational game, with Newsweek saying 150 schools were using it as part of their WW2 education syllabus, though to what capacity and how effective it was is hard to say. What’s easier to ascertain is that it’s a good grand strategy game with solid controls and options.
While the player can pick any nation involved in the war, the game has more on offer for the big members of the Axis and Allies. They can choose any scenario between 1936 and 1944, where they mix unit combat with resource management and diplomacy. The Gold Edition also has four expansions, withRise of the Reichshowing the Nazis’ ascent to power in 1933, andRed Revolution Unboundshowing the Soviet Union’s sweep across Europe.
5Gary Grigsby’s War In The East 2
Most of these games either focus on the Western campaigns or Pacific conflicts from WW2, with the occasional battle from the Eastern front. 2by3 Games' entry goes one further by focusing entirely on the conflict between the Nazis and the Soviet Union from 1941 to 1945. It has big conflicts like the start of Operation Barbarossa, the Battle of Stalingrad, and the push to Berlin.
However, it also has some of the lesser-known conflicts from the front, like Operation Typhoon ‘41 and the Road to Minsk. The sequel improves on its predecessor with a stronger AI for both Defensive and Offensive plays, along with more accurate maps, better movement, and improved air combat. As far as the Eastern Front goes, it’s the best, most historically accurate game available.
4Unity Of Command 2
The originalUnity of Commandwas considered one of the best strategy games ever made. It was hard to imagine how a sequel could top it. YetUnity of Command 2somehow managed it, gaining critical acclaim from PC Gamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, Strategy Gamer, and more. All thanks to a few nifty new features and improvements.
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Players can rewrite the whole war as the branching campaigns mean no two playthroughs will be completely alike. The game even rewards veering from the script with its “What If” bonus objectives. The expanded Theater Assets help players wreck their enemies’ infrastructure, and the new Fog of War features lets players find enemy placements through extra abilities or even catching a few unlucky stragglers.
3Clash Of Steel
Strategic Simulations’ game is much more old school. This 1993 DOS classic got Computer Gaming World’sWargame of the Year Award, saying “everything is accessible, useful and enjoyable in this well-conceived design.” It was “the gamer’s game” according to their review. Though being an early game, it’s more about fun and functionality than intricacy.
Players pick between the Axis, Allies, and Soviet Union, then try to get the upper hand over each other across the war. It would suit players who like the combat and resource aspects of these games more than the political and diplomatic ones. It’salso considered abandonware, so it can be found for free online! Keep in mind it’s best to get the Future Edition as it has additional bug fixes.
2Halls Of Montezuma: A Battle History Of The United States Marine Corps
Not to be confused withClash of Steel’s developer, Strategic Studies Group made a host of war games from 1983 to 2010, likeBattlefrontand theWarlordsseries. Though likeClash of Steel, one of their top strategy games is also available for free, with MyAbandonware.com offering it as both a download and a browser game.
That said, it’s not strictly about WW2. As the title says, the game covers the US Marine Corp’s biggest battles from 1848 to the Vietnam War. But it does cover the Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns and has its own scenario editor for creating other classic conflicts, including editable troops and a proper chain of command. The only drawback beyond its age is the easy AI, which is usually more of a challenge in SSG’s other work.
1TripleA
Lastly,TripleAis a free, open-source turn-based game that’s essentially an adaptation of theAxis & Alliesboard game. It can cover WW2 among other conflicts like World War 1 and the Punic Wars. It all depends on the maps the player downloads. Then they move their land and sea units across section by section to build up production value.
Originally made in Java in 2001 by Sean Bridges & co, the game has received multiple updates over the past two decades, with the latest stable one dated November 2020. As simple as it looks (only 60 MB in size bar expansions), its gameplay is more intricate and ambitious than it looks. Particularly when players can tailor the rules for specific games, like limiting dice rolls to make players focus on strategy than luck. There’s a lot packed into its megabytes.
