PC Gamer's 20 Best War Games Of All Time

[tgb]

Let the nitpicking commence

Half the games on that list are sims, which I consider a separate category.  Just because a game has combat, that doesn't make it a war game.  AoW 3 is more of a war game than some of the titles on that list.

And why isn't CA represented?  Certainly the first Rome or Shogun 2 deserves a spot in any list of the 20 best war games, certainly moreso than Graviteam Tactics Operation Star.

[Father Ted]

To be fair, if you read the comments section the author does say that the title of the piece was not the one he used when he submitted it.

[tgb]

Where?  When I click on the link again the comments section is empty.

[LongBlade]

That's a pretty good collection.

[GDS_Starfury]

way to many flight sims in that list and I generally dont consider them wargames.
leaving out War in Russia or Harpoon is a big no no!

[Sir Slash]

If they're going to include Sims, then they also should include the monster strategy games like WitE and the Decisive Campaigns series. And they should certainly be included in the list along with almost any of the Total War series. I wish they had included the year the games listed premiered.

[GDS_Starfury]

well it IS pc lamer so....  ::)

[Staggerwing]

I think they should have included the CMx1 series instead of CM:BN. The latter may have nicer graphics and improved functions but the original ones were the games (along with the now neglected PC:Ostfront) that defined the genre to begin with.

[RyanE]

Does CMBO fall within 20 years...I don't remember.

[bobarossa]

I've played/owned more of the sims than the wargames listed.  Only wargame I've played was Unity of Command and I didn't like it.  I own FC:RS but haven't done more than start the tutorial yet.  He could have listed a lot more AGEOD games I like and play other than BOA2.  War in Russia, Steel Panthers, Decisive Campaigns are all better (IMO) than what was listed.

[Staggerwing]

Does CMBO fall within 20 years...I don't remember.

I don't think there is any age requirement to be on the article's list. Anyway, CM:BO is 15 years old.

[GibbyG]

Here is the post by the author, Tim Stone, from the comments section.  To get the comments don't use the link; go to the PC Gamer site and look for the article.

The '20 best wargames title' isn't mine. :(

When the article was originally submitted it was titled 'Masters of War: Twenty conflict classics guaranteed to test the mettle and raise the morale of the discerning battle simmer"

There was an intro too:

"There are military truths at the heart of all the titles mentioned in the following dispatches. While mainstream gaming might be suffused with the sights and sounds of conflict, relatively few of our digital diversions encourage authentic tactics or dare to depict war machines in all their intricate glory. To encounter the exceptions - the games with history in their veins, and warrior memoirs and Jane's tomes in their bibliographies - you need to leave the beaten tracks and bright thoroughfares and head to Simulatia and Grogland.

Of course, before you leave you'll want to get inoculated against Chronic Befuddlement; the makers of top-drawer war fare aren't always good educators. You may also want to rob a bank or sell that stamp collection you inherited from Great Uncle Jeremy; some of the titles about to be lionised cost an arm and a leg and never appear in Steam-style sales.

Because space is limited in our Sd.Kfz. 251 of Supereminence, sadly, some stalwarts have to be left behind. War Thunder, Cliffs of Dover, Red Orchestra, Arma, Scourge of War... sorry, you came /this/ close to securing a seat."

[fabius]

Here is the post by the author, Tim Stone, from the comments section.  To get the comments don't use the link; go to the PC Gamer site and look for the article.

The '20 best wargames title' isn't mine. :(

When the article was originally submitted it was titled 'Masters of War: Twenty conflict classics guaranteed to test the mettle and raise the morale of the discerning battle simmer"

There was an intro too:

"There are military truths at the heart of all the titles mentioned in the following dispatches. While mainstream gaming might be suffused with the sights and sounds of conflict, relatively few of our digital diversions encourage authentic tactics or dare to depict war machines in all their intricate glory. To encounter the exceptions - the games with history in their veins, and warrior memoirs and Jane's tomes in their bibliographies - you need to leave the beaten tracks and bright thoroughfares and head to Simulatia and Grogland.

Of course, before you leave you'll want to get inoculated against Chronic Befuddlement; the makers of top-drawer war fare aren't always good educators. You may also want to rob a bank or sell that stamp collection you inherited from Great Uncle Jeremy; some of the titles about to be lionised cost an arm and a leg and never appear in Steam-style sales.

Because space is limited in our Sd.Kfz. 251 of Supereminence, sadly, some stalwarts have to be left behind. War Thunder, Cliffs of Dover, Red Orchestra, Arma, Scourge of War... sorry, you came /this/ close to securing a seat."

Ha, while a better title and fair disclaimer his original title is hardly mainstream tabloid grabbing. And a change of that could have been anticipated.

Some gems in the 20; but yes too many flight sims.

[mikeck]

We all know that every single one of us here could put together a list of top 20 best wargames and everyone else would have problems with that list....games left out;  games it should be in. there's no general consensus.

[fabius]

We all know that every single one of us here could put together a list of top 20 best wargames and everyone else would have problems with that list....games left out;  games it should be in. there's no general consensus.

Pun of the day  O0