The best open world games that focus on wars

War is a very common setting for many games, including open-world titles, because the idea it portrays easily sets the background tension for the game world environment without going into detail. Two opposing powers going head-to-head in a large-scale battle is a scary proposition, and it only gets scarier when the player is in the thick of it.

However, it's rare for open-world games to use wars as the main focus of storytelling, as the sheer scale of a conflict is difficult to grasp, and it's even harder to do justice in a video game. However, the game landscape is very broad, and there is something for everyone, and this is no exception.

5 howl fox

A cog in the war machine

• Publication date: August 4, 2016
• Developer: siege camp
• Platform: Computer

howl fox is a sandbox MMO where players assume the role of active soldiers in a giant open world war zone. For players who imagine being part of the war as another cog in the war machine, howl fox It is the best option currently on the market. One of the key aspects of the game that allows it to remain popular among active players is its player-dependent approach to gameplay.

There are no NPCs in the entire open world howl fox; Each moving unit is a real player who controls his character in real time. This makes even one kill in a big fight feel incredible, not to mention how satisfying it can be to have an entire team laid out with a good grenade or rocket launcher. In combat, players can be any type of soldier they can think of. A typical infantryman with a basic weapon, a medic, a Navy SEAL, a cannon operator and everything in between. Experienced players can even take on the role of commander and lead other players in battle.

Another main aspect of howl fox It is that all the equipment in the game – from the smallest pistols to the largest tanks – is created by the player. This means that like a real war, the conflict in howl fox Supported by a player-based economy and logistics, real players mine resources, refine them, turn them into usable items and finally deliver them to the frontline. There are two distinct groups of players in this game: those who work exclusively in logistics and those who are on the front lines.

4 Salzar sands

conquering the desert

• Publication date: January 3, 2020
• Developer: Han-Squirrel Studio
• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, Microsoft Windows

Salzar sands is a high fantasy action role-playing game where players take on the role of a commander in charge of an army. Class system in Salzar sands It's important to note, as the class chosen here has a huge impact on how the rest of the game plays out, something that's rarely seen in games like this.

Salzar sands is a replayable game, a factor tied to the game's main story, various unlocks that are only available after beating the game, and a legacy shop where players can buy attributes for their main character that can then be used for Start a new game to use.

The main goal of the game is to take over the entire map by defeating, recruiting, or driving out all the factions that call the desert home. Players can join a faction and level it up or create their own faction and go from there. In combat, players control the main character and lead heroes and troops into battle. As time progresses and you recruit more units to your team, battles turn from small skirmishes into all-out battles where you can't keep up with all the action on the screen. The troops that can be recruited are very diverse, from runaway soldiers with swords and shields to fantastical creatures such as dragons, wyverns and phoenixes.

On harder difficulties, if a squad reaches zero health, the entire squad disbands and disappears, effectively robbing the player of a significant investment as punishment for troop mismanagement.

3 Battle brothers

Turn-based mercenary warfare

Battle brothers is a turn-based open-world RPG where players assume the role of commander of a fledgling mercenary company in a low-fantasy medieval setting. The map is randomly generated at the start of each campaign with a complete set of castles, guards, villages, bandits and other enemies spread across the map. It is easy to turn off Battle brothers Its incredibly simple graphics and seemingly low-budget nature make it one of the best games of its genre, basically critically acclaimed, and most importantly, a great game.

As the company commander, the player's task is not only to lead his troops into battle, but also to figure out how to equip the soldiers with armor and weapons, where to get food, how much money to spend, negotiate with contractors looking to hire the company, and much more. Now, turn-based combat is bread and butter Battle brothersAnd the greatest concentration is here. Anything a character has equipped, such as armor and weapons, is displayed on the sprite in the game during combat. This makes it very easy to tell which soldiers are doing what. Although this may not seem like much, it is a key feature of the game, as as the mercenary company grows, the number of soldiers under the command of the player's balloons reaches staggering levels, and it becomes very difficult to keep track of everyone in a frenetic battle. Especially when there are so many enemies.

2 Varthals

Brutal guerrilla warfare tactics

Varthals is a top-down open-world RPG that puts players in control of a relatively small group of wandering soldiers roaming the countryside in a medieval setting. In the open world, players can lead a warband to move to different areas of the map in search of battles, resources or secrets. When a battle begins, the game creates an instance with a grid-based top-down combat system that it has similarities to. XCOM. The game is brutal, with party members dying a regular occurrence rather than unexpected. Injuries are very common and can turn into something worse and even fatal if left untreated.

Varthals It's an incredible game for players looking for something akin to guerrilla warfare or role-playing as a close-knit group of brothers who can be bandits, lost farmers, or even army deserters. The game allows players to tell the story of their ragtag group and even rewards depending on the main story they choose.

1 Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

Medieval war realism at its finest

You can't mention an open world war game without a tribute Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlordis the most acclaimed title in this category. Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is an open-world strategy action RPG in which players assume the role of an army commander whose responsibility it is to build an army from scratch, equip soldiers, decide on formations, and ride into battle alongside his troops on the ground.

It's hard to feel like you're part of a group of medieval soldiers attacking another army about to engage, but flag bearer Knocks it out of the park. And since all of the soldiers in the player's party must be equipped, customized, and ordered before the battle begins, there's a sense that only one person is in charge of how the battle unfolds. Victories are rewarding and defeats are crushing, as it's all up to the player to make sure the battle goes their way. For those looking for a war game with hyper-realistic combat, there is nothing better than this Mount & Blade royalties, and flag bearer The most polished experience of them all.