Summary
War games are one of the most saturated genres in tabletop gaming, coming in various forms. From the miniature war games such asWarhammerthat are often hobbies in and of themselves, all the way to classic territory control games that have players pushing armies of plastic across nations, there’s no doubt that when it comes to tabletop war games, there’s plenty to choose from.
Despite many war games taking on classicthemes such as WW2and other historic periods of war, some of the best experiences in tabletop war gaming are set in science-fiction futures often involving varied alien races, space battles, and powerful weaponry.
8Scythe
Set inan alternate version of 1920s Europewherein nearby countries fight wars with heavily armored mechs,Scytheis an engine-building game that revolves around resource management and brutal, unforgiving combat. Despite being very much about war, initiating a fight inScythecan be as detrimental for the attacker as it is for the defender when done at the wrong time.
The game’s unique, asymmetric factions add a lot of replay value toScythe, and the game’s stellar artwork and design make it one of the most visually pleasing and immersive science-fiction war games. Furthermore, the game’s setting is truly unique, and the gameplay itself is fairly accessible when compared to similar games.
7Infinity
This miniatures war game features a low model count that makes it one of the cheaper and more accessible miniatures games to get into. The game features a hard sci-fi setting with an aesthetic akin to that seen in cyberpunk-style fiction and anime.
Infinitystands out from other miniatures war games with its reaction system that allows inactive players to react to what their opponent is doing as their turn progresses, keeping both players involved in the battle at all times. This helps to keep the game tense and engaging, allowing players to pull off strategic maneuvers to get their troops out of trouble mid-combat.
6Star Wars: Legion
ThisStar Warsminiatures war game is just as expensive as many other miniatures games, but its accessible rules and evocativeStar Warstheme make it a joy to play for fans of bothStar Warsand miniatures games.
Star Wars: Legion’s rules are fairly standard, with gameplay that primarily revolves around moving units and throwing dice. However,Star Wars: Legionalso features a weapon system that allows players to have multiple weapons in each squad, combining attacks for devastating effects. Furthermore, the game features a unique initiative system that creates a strategic puzzle out of deciding who goes next.
5Space Empires 4X
This complexgrand strategy board gamefeatures large-scale and thematic gameplay with a focus on space combat and player elimination.The game’s rulebookcontains basic rules that are merely eight pages long, making it one of the quickest games to learn.
Space Empires 4Xfeatures a large variety of spaceship classes and a technology tree that allows for deep and strategic combat, enabling players to play differently every time. The visuals and components ofSpace Empires 4Xare extremely minimal, but the game’s accessible yet deep rules make it an experience worth trying for fans of science-fiction war games.
4Dune (2019)
Originally published in 1979 by Avalon Hill to critical acclaim,Dunehad been out of print for years due to licensing issues. However, in 2019, this classic war game set on the dusty dunes of Frank Herbert’s iconic Arrakis was brought back to life by Gale Force Nine.
Duneis one of themore complex games. The game is asymmetrical in nature, with various distinct factions vying for control over several strategic objectives (in the form of “strongholds”) as well as precious “spice,” an important in-game currency. The game’s combat is quick and brutal, often leading to massive casualties, and players must also be mindful of the storm that makes its way around the board, threatening to swallow troops whole.
3Eclipse: Second Dawn For The Galaxy
This large-scale space opera strategy war game for up to six players features an easy-to-set-up game board and plenty of plastic spaceships to do battle with throughout its lengthy playtime.Eclipsealso features an intuitive and strategic system for exploring the hexagonal galaxy, adding tension to the game even when no one is being aggressive.
Eclipseis very focused on combat between players, with plenty of the game’s victory points being available through fighting. Building on this,Eclipsefeatures a ship upgrade system that allows players to experiment with their ship designs, building unique fleets to counter the armies of the other players. This system is arguably what makesEclipseso distinguished from other sci-fi war games, and what makes it such a great choice for fans of combative gameplay.
2Twilight Imperium
This sprawling sci-fi space opera strategy war game is currently in its fourth edition, originally released in 1997, and published by Fantasy Flight Games.Twilight Imperiumis easy to learn and teach, featuring a combat system that plays out entirely with dice rolls and relatively simple action cards, but its lengthy playtime may make it inaccessible for some.
Players don’t need to be aggressive inTwilight Imperiumto win, and the game features mechanics to support and even encourage diplomacy and trade. However, eventually, combat is bound to ensue. Whether it be battling for control over the game’s central victory-point-earning planet, or simply a dispute over a particularly resource-rich planet, players will almost always find themselves in fast-paced, tense space battles in which both sides are likely to take heavy losses.
1Warhammer 40,000
Originally released in 1987 under the nameWarhammer 40,000:Rogue Trader, there’s arguably no game more prominent in science fiction tabletop war games thanWarhammer 40,000. This miniatures war game is a sprawling hobby set in an expansive grim-dark setting that has been expanded upon with novels andeven several video games.
There’s no arguing thatWarhammer 40,000isan expensive hobby, but its deep history and simple rules allow players to immerse themselves in a sci-fi world torn apart by war, fighting large-scale battles with any number of the game’s abundance of distinct factions.
