By World War 2 simulators bring a unique feeling of exhilaration that you can’t simply experience from any other type of game.
Running through the trenches with bullets flying over your head, getting your old-school guns jammed, and playing different roles of medics, officers, and engineers will certainly get your blood pumping when playing WW2 games.
Unfortunately, the demand for this classic WW2 experience seems to be slowly fading away as more and more hero shooters and battle royale games take over the younger audiences.
So, for this list, I had to make a compromise to find a mix of World War 2 simulator games from single-player, multiplayer, and real-time strategy genres.
Many of these games have single-player modes and story campaigns, while some are mainly multiplayer experiences. Finding historically accurate experiences will be tough, but they are all quite immersive and enjoyable nonetheless.
1. Easy Red 2
Easy Red 2 is a game that delivers a true World War 2 simulation experience where you get to explore massive open-world maps fighting in various fronts.
Easy Red 2 instantly reminded me of the early Battlefield games. In this game, you also get to choose from infantry, tanks, airborne, and artillery to fight the enemies however you want. And it has co-op, multiplayer, and a single-player mode with bots as well.
Since the game is from 2020, the graphics may not live up to modern standards, but the game offers an immersive classic experience. Easy Red 2 comes with a lot of DLCs that unlock the best maps. I recommend waiting for a sale to grab a bundle.
2. Hell Let Loose
Hell Let Loose often gets recommended as the most immersive and realistic World War 2 game available right now. And it’s all true.
This game features massive 100-player online battles (50 vs 50) with high-quality graphics and impressive gunplay. The maps, the environments, the sounds, and the overall gameplay vibes flawlessly blend together to offer an unforgettable experience through this game.
Hell Let Loose is a hardcore multiplayer experience. The success of the battles depends on teamwork and communication. So unfortunately, this is not a great game for solo players.
On the plus side, Hell Let Loose has a highly active player base, and the developers are still releasing updates to the game, even years after its release.
3. Call of Duty: WWII
Of all the Call of Duty games, this one is the only game that came with a decent single-player campaign. Call of Duty 2 is incredible but sadly, it doesn’t run well on modern PCs so you’ll have to settle for this one.
Call of Duty: WWII is ideal for those of you looking for a streamlined single-player experience. It delivers an engaging story campaign with a great set of missions. Much like any other COD game, this one is also short, but great as well.
Multiplayer in Call of Duty: WWII is non-existent, so only grab this game to play the campaign. And wait for a sale to get it cheap.
4. Battlefield V
Battlefield V received a lot of hate at launch for its historical inaccuracies, but in terms of gameplay, the game delivers a solid experience.
The campaign mode in Battlefield V is a mix of episodic missions that doesn’t exactly offer a story-based experience. But the multiplayer mode in the game is quite impressive.
In Battlefield V, you get to choose from different ways to play, whether to charge the enemies in the front lines or pilot an aircraft or even a tank; there are many choices.
It’s been many years since the game released, but thanks to sales that drop the game below $5, Battlefield V has a decent active player base so it’s not difficult to find online matches.
5. Sudden Strike 5
Sudden Strike 5 is one of the best games you can play to experience epic WW2 battles, but it comes in real-time strategy format.
The game includes a huge campaign with 25 different missions where you get to plan and strategize to approach the missions your own way. There are 300 playable units available in the game, with 190 vehicles and 110 infantry units, allowing you to tactically approach each mission differently.
Additionally, Sudden Strike 5 features stunning visuals and destructible environments as well. The game also has co-op and PVP modes too.
6. Company of Heroes 2
Company of Heroes 2 is one of my favorite RTS games that also features a very engaging and addictive mission-based campaign.
This game captures the vibe of various aspects of WW2 era, from stealth-based missions to full-on close-quarter battles quite perfectly. The way you get to control your units and plan your strategy for each mission is what I loved the most about this game.
Company of Heroes 3 is now also available, but personally, I still prefer COH 2. Plus it’s much cheaper during sales as well.
7. Sniper Elite 4
Sniper Elite 4 allows you to explore a different side of World War 2 with its stealth-based missions and storylines.
In this game, you get to step into the shoes of a skilled WW2 sniper who is tasked with very important missions that play a key role in winning World War 2.
While it’s not entirely a World War 2 simulator, the game introduces you to some of the important aspects of being a WW2 sniper, like masking gunshots with other sounds and using the environments in various ways as camouflage.
A couple of other Sniper Elite games came out after SE4, but you should start with either Sniper Elite 2 or 4 to experience the best of this genre.
8. Call to Arms: Panzer Elite
Call to Arms is a popular war-themed game series that includes several titles spread across multiple genres. Call to Arms: Panzer Elite is focused on WW2 tanks.
In Call to Arms: Panzer Elite, you get to pilot iconic WW2 era tanks in both third person and first person perspective. The game includes realistic gameplay with engaging battles in a campaign mode and a skirmish mode.
You can choose from 10 WW2 tanks and other vehicles across 5 PVE missions and 9 PVPVE skirmish missions, which are all designed to offer an immersive WW2 experience.
9. Commandos: Origins
Commandos: Origins is a prequel to the classic Commandos series, one of the first games I’ve played on a PC. This game introduces the players to the main characters through some creative WWII missions.
Much like the classic titles, Commandos: Origins also features the iconic voice-overs with catchy one-liners for each character. It also has stealth-based real-time tactics style gameplay with missions spread across various regions.
This game deserves much more attention than it got, as it offers a unique WW2 experience that challenges you to think ahead.
10. UBOAT
This is a unique game that offers a different type of experience to WW2 fans.
UBOAT is a World War 2 submarine simulator game where you get to be fully in control of a sub from the WW2 era. It’s basically a survival sandbox game where you have to take care of your crew, manage the submarine, and also engage in epic battles.
This game is ideal for having a different kind of World War 2 era experiience, instead of the same old FPS action on the battlefield.
11. Hearts of Iron IV
Hearts of Iron IV takes World War 2 battles to grand scale. This game is for grand strategy fans who also need a sense of realism.
In this game, you get to engage in massive battles that center around Eastern and Central European powers as well as British nations. There are multiple game modes where you get to explore these maps.
Hearts of Iron IV requires careful planning and strategy for long-term playthroughs. It’s definitely not a game for short sessions.
12. Steel Division 2
Steel Division 2 is another popular World War 2 real time strategy game that focuses on the Eastern Front battles in 1944.
There’s one special thing about this game. It features massive 1:1 scale campaigns with maps of up to 150×100 kms. Needless to say, these are campaigns that you’ll be spending weeks to complete.
SD2 also has dynamic turn-based gameplay, and its historical accuracy is often praised by the fans. The game features more than 600 units across 18 different divisions.
