Just a decade or two ago, shooter games were all about WW2. Numerous WW2 franchises began their reign at the time and it was only the question of time when the genre is going to expand. Unfortunately, WW2 games lost their track recently and all we see now are futuristic games that aren’t that hardcore. But, don’t cry just yet! There are tons of great WW2 games for you to play, and if you stay with me on this adventure, you might just find out! Below is the list of best WW2 PC games. Double time, soldier!
1. Call of Duty WW2
WW2 was never this detailed and real as it was in Call of Duty WW2. This phenomenal FPS game took the gaming community by storm and decided it’s time to go back in time. This seems strange because Battlefield 1 did the same with their game, and although I like that game more, I must praise this one too. COD WW2 has a great singleplayer component with brand new characters and story, and there’s that old-school multiplayer with “boots on the ground” as the developer said. Overall, this game is great, although the reviews are mixed.
2. Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus isn’t a classic WW2 game. Instead, it deals with how would it be if the Nazis conquered the world. I must admit that this concept leads the game to a great financial success! B.J Blazkowicz returns once more to kick the Nazi’s ass back to where they came from, and there are even some cool superpowers! It can really be seen that the developer worked really hard on voice acting and story-telling, and I’m glad that Bethesda nailed it again. However, I don’t believe that we’ll ever see a continuation of the story, as this one concludes it… but, I may be wrong!
3. Company of Heroes 2
Company of Heroes 2 is a game that perfectly encapsulates the WW2 feeling. Not just that, but the setting is in the USSR, which already promises a good experience. Indeed, Company of Heroes 2 is a real-time strategy that manages to combine a great gameplay with even better story and characters. There are even numerous cutscenes that greatly complement the game between the missions. If you are bored of the singleplayer campaign, you can always jump to multiplayer and have some additional fun.
4. Sniper Elite 4
Sniping your enemies never gets old and that’s why it’s cool. Sniper Elite 4 brings the sniping to its absolute best. X-Ray isn’t the newest feature in the game and we’ve seen it in some Mortal Kombat games, but it’s a hell of a fun here! Smashing your enemy’s nuts was never this fun! The bullets of your sniper can penetrate almost anything, so you can now perform environmental kills, ricochet kills or just go for headshots and watch the heads explode. There is even a mission in which you need to kill Hitler and that’s so awesome.
5. Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway
Back in the day, Ubisoft was a proud publisher of the BiA series. The newest PC game in the series was Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway, which was a huge leap from the previous games. Now, you have a compelling WW2 story, tactical gameplay, nice visuals and unforgettable battles. It all boils down to being tactical and engage first, or you’ll get a bullet to your head. The game highly focuses on teamwork and that’s what’s essential to win a war. If you are up for some old-school WW2 carnage, then grab your copy now!
6. Medal of Honor: Allied Assault
Speaking of old-school, I bet you’ve heard about and played this game. Don’t tell me you didn’t, or I’ll get angry and bite you! Medal of Honor: Allied Assault is a staple… no, it’s a pillar of this genre. That Omaha Beach mission left me with my jaw dropped to the ground and that intense last mission made my heart jump out of my chest. Even the new COD WW2 can’t bring that feeling of dread in Omaha Beach! Just compare it with any other WW2 shooter and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
7. World of Tanks
Remember those boots on the ground? Well, now you’ll get your boots to the tank. World of Tanks is a fantastic MMO game that focuses on tank combat in WW2 era. But, how innovative can this kind of game be? If you ask me; very! You can now take a full advantage of your tank; upgrade it both visually and performance-wise and crush your enemies with a single blow. Oh, and the game is completely free. Yeah!
8. War Thunder
War Thunder is like World of Tanks on steroids. While in World of Tanks you can just play with…well, tanks, War Thunder expands a little bit. Its focus is WW2 and the vehicles used in the combat back then, but not only vehicles as aircraft is also included here. All of this creates a perfect mess and carnage as the bombs fall on the ground and dogfights are being waged in the air. The only mission here is to survive or get torn to pieces by dangerous aircraft in the game.
9. The Saboteur
The Saboteur is a beautifully crafted game. This little boy was left forgotten and I’m sure that you didn’t even hear about it! But, this noir-themed game is set in Paris that is occupied by Nazi forces. So, who is gonna put an end to them? Well, our car mechanic and car fanatic Sean Devlin. It’s a game similar to GTA due to its open-world nature and lots of stuff to do. The Saboteur tells a compelling story and concludes it in a traditional manner, with the ending being one of the best I’ve ever seen.
10. Hidden & Dangerous 2
Hidden & Dangerous 2 is a well known TPS game set in WW2. It’s a tactical shooter where you’ll need to implement both stealth and guns-blazing playstyle and that’s very complex. You have a team of few teammates and you are equipped with various weapons from that time in order to complete some of the hardest missions. The game was released in 2003, and I know it’s a lot of time, but let’s just take a moment to appreciate this legendary effort!
11. Day of Defeat: Source
Just a decade ago, Source engine was at its peak, with numerous games being released from Valve. They looked great and played smoothly, and that was very important. Day of Defeat: Source came out at that time and took advantage of that engine. This game was like a reskinned Counter-Strike, so you were now split into Allied and Axis forces. The game is quite simple, but it was a lot of fun, especially when played with your friends.
12. IL-2 Sturmovik
Released in 2001, IL-2 Sturmovik was a very advanced game for the time. It featured 31 flyable planes, 40 non-flyable planes and multiple countries that you can play with. So we had Japan, Poland, Slovakia, Germany, Italy, and much more. Also, there were those huge air battles where you can engage in “50 vs 50” game and try to prove that you are the best pilot. This game isn’t for everyone because it can be very hard to play, but once you get to it, you’ll feel like a true WW2 hero.
13. Enemy Front
Enemy Front is a solid effort from CI Games that was released more than three years ago. Oh, the time flies at a speed of light! Enemy Front is an old-school Nazi shoot-em-up game that combines action and stealth sequences. Its story isn’t exactly the best one, but open-ended nature of the game allows you to craft your own playstyle within the game. Enemy Front uses CryEngine, so expect some nice visuals, but not too nice, though.
14. Call of Duty: World at War
I know that I mentioned Call of Duty game on this list, but it would be a crime if I didn’t mention World at War. This was the last WW2 game in the series when the series took a different approach before they returned again with this setting. World at War is a huge success and it’s one of the most valuable WW2 games ever. The game features both Nazis and Japanese forces as the enemies, which gives the sense a real war going on. A multiplayer component is also great and many still play it today.
15. Commandos 2: Men of Courage
Commandos 2: Men of Courage was brought to me by my grandpa and I still thank him for this day! This day taught me to be tactical and think about my every move, as it constantly kicked my ass for being lazy. It’s a real-time tactics game that will raise hell for you if you are unaware of its difficulty. Yes, it has ten missions, but not JUST ten missions. Those missions will challenge you to the point you’re going to beg for mercy, and no mercy will be found!
16. Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad
Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad is a worthy mention for the old-school FPS lovers. This multiplayer game is all about that shooting and surviving in a big and harsh environment. Being focused on Stalingrad, the game brings that hardcore element to it, and it’s not strange that most people prefer this setting for WW2.
17. Battlefield 1942
Oh, the memories! Battlefield 1942 brought the whole genre to its peak with its gameplay and setting. Although it doesn’t offer a singleplayer campaign, Battlefield 1942 has a multiplayer that’s epic! The maps are huge, and you can drive vehicles which is a plus. On top of that, you can fight versus Nazis or Japanese forces at some of the most popular locations. Its graphics are outdated and it’s a pretty old game, but it still kicks ass.
18. Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault
Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault exploits a different side of WW2 and it’s quite terrifying. Its setting is moved away from the urban trenches to jungles and bushes where you’ll fight versus Japan forces. Furthermore, this game recreates a Pearl Harbour scene perfectly! It’s intense and bloody hard, as you shoot down Japanese fighters and fight to save your ship from sinking. The guns feel great and the protagonist’s story isn’t bad for this type of game. Highly recommended.
19. This War of Mine
Speaking of different sides of WW2, This War of Mine is here to bring you an even darker side of it. Not everyone was a soldier back then and not all knew how it is when the bullets are flying over the head. However, there is a much darker side to it, and it’s being a survivor without any food, weapons, clothes and broken house. This War of Mine puts you in a role of several survivors that are scavenging for resources to survive. It’s a 2D game, but its visuals and details are top-notch and the game perfectly creates that sense of dread and uncertainty.
20. Silent Hunter III
There’s nothing more scary and intense than a claustrophobic environment. The submarine isn’t exactly the most open environment, and Silent Hunter III is here to bring you the dark side of being sunken deep in the water to fight for your life. It’s intense, full of thrilling moments and very realistic in its execution. If you are good enough, you may sail out one day, but if not… well, you’ll touch the bottom of the ocean and be forgotten forever!
Best WW2 Games for PC
Great warriors are willing to sacrifice much for the greater good, and WW2 was one of those wars where you needed to make some sacrifices. The WW2 games on this list are the best you can play at the moment and let you be an ultimate warrior. So, what game is next on your playlist? Do you consider any of those games, or you’ll relax the other way? It’s almost Christmas now, so shoot some Nazis, why not? It’s always a good time to kill Nazi or two… or whole army if you are B.J Blazkowicz!