Best Open-World Games That Focus On Wars

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Best Open-World Games That Focus On Wars

As someone who’s spent countless hours immersed in the world of strategy and war games, I can confidently say that these three gems are not to be missed!

Games often use war as a backdrop, especially for open-world games, since it creates an underlying atmosphere of tension without delving too deeply into specifics. The conflict between two powerful forces engaging in massive combat can be quite daunting, and this fear intensifies when players find themselves right in the heart of the action.

In most open-world games, wars are seldom the primary narrative element because their immense scale can be challenging to grasp, and it’s tough to portray them convincingly in a video game. Yet, the gaming world offers a wide variety of experiences, and this rule doesn’t apply here either.

5 Foxhole

A Cog In The War Machine

  • Release date: August 4, 2016
  • Developer: Siege Camp
  • Platform: PC

As a gaming enthusiast and an armchair soldier, I’d say “Foxhole” is my go-to game for immersing myself in a massive, open-world battlefield as part of an army unit. If you’ve ever dreamt of being a piece in the grand war puzzle, this game fits the bill perfectly. What sets “Foxhole” apart from other games is its player-driven gameplay style. The outcome of the battles depends on us, the players, making every decision and action matter. It’s no surprise that it remains a favorite among gamers, with an active community constantly contributing to its ever-evolving warfare landscape.

There are no NPCs in the entire open world of Foxhole; every moving unit is a real player controlling their character in real time. This makes getting even a single kill in a huge skirmish feel incredible, to say nothing of how satisfying it can be to take out an entire squad with a well-placed grenade or rocket launcher. In combat, players can be any type of soldier they can think of. A regular infantry with a basic gun, a medic, a navy seal, a cannon operator, and everything in between. Experienced players can even take on the role of commanders and direct other players in battle.

In the heart-pounding world of Foxhole, I’m not just a soldier, but also a cog in the grand machine of war. Everything from my trusty pistol to the colossal tanks we roll out are crafted by our own hands. It’s like being part of a real-life conflict, where the economy and logistics are driven by the players themselves. We dig for resources, process them, manufacture gear, and ultimately deliver it to the battlefield. The game is divided into two main factions: those who toil tirelessly behind the scenes managing logistics, and the brave souls on the frontlines.

4 Sands of Salzaar

Conquer The Desert

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

In the realm of high-fantasy action role-playing, “Sands of Salzaar” places you in command of an army as its leader. The class system in this game is a crucial aspect to focus on, as the class chosen here significantly impacts the overall gaming experience, which is not commonly seen in similar games.

The game titled “Sands of Salzaar” is designed to encourage multiple plays. This design element is intertwined with the game’s narrative, as unique features are unveiled only upon completion of the game. Additionally, there’s a special shop where players can purchase character traits, which they can then apply during a fresh playthrough.

In essence, this game aims to give players the challenge of conquering the entire map by either vanquishing, allying with, or eliminating all other factions that inhabit the desert. Players have an option to join an existing faction and strive for dominance, or establish their own faction from scratch. In the heat of combat, players command the main character and strategically deploy heroes and troops in battle. As time advances and more units are acquired, skirmishes gradually escalate into massive battles that may overwhelm the player with the sheer amount of action unfolding on-screen. The diversity of recruitable troops is vast, ranging from ordinary soldiers armed with swords and shields to extraordinary beings such as dragons, wyverns, and phoenixes.

When a team faces tougher levels, if their health depletes completely, the whole unit breaks up and vanishes, leaving the player without a substantial in-game asset as a consequence for poor soldier management.

3 Battle Brothers

Turn-Based Mercenary Warfare

Battle Brothers is a turn-based open-world role-playing game where players take on the responsibility as the leader of a newly established mercenary company in a semi-fantasy medieval environment. At the beginning of each campaign, the map is randomly generated, featuring various castles, keeps, villages, bandits, and other adversaries scattered across it. Initially, Battle Brothers‘s minimalist graphics and budget appearance might deter some players, but they should not be fooled because this game stands among the very best in its category, highly praised by critics, and above all, incredibly enjoyable to play.

In my role as the leader of the band of Battle Brothers, I find myself not only strategizing our moves on the battlefield but also managing our resources off it. This involves deciding which armor and weapons to arm our troops with, sourcing food supplies, budgeting our funds wisely, and even negotiating contracts with potential employers. Yet, it’s the turn-based combat that truly defines Battle Brothers for me. It’s where the majority of the gameplay unfolds. Every piece of equipment my characters carry, from their armor to their weapons, is clearly visible on their in-game sprites during combat, making it easy to identify each soldier’s role. This feature might seem trivial at first glance, but as our mercenary company expands and the number of soldiers under my command skyrockets, this clear visibility becomes crucial in keeping track of everyone during intense battles, especially when we’re up against equally numerous foes.

2 Wartales

Brutal Guerrilla War Tactics

Wartales offers an immersive top-down open-world RPG experience, placing you in command of a modest band of roaming soldiers traversing a medieval landscape. In this expansive world, players guide their warband to various regions on the map, seeking out battles, resources, or hidden secrets. Once a battle commences, the game generates an instance featuring a gridless turn-based combat system from a top-down perspective, reminiscent of XCOM. The game is unforgiving, as the demise of your party members becomes a recurring event rather than an anomaly. Injuries are frequent, and if ignored, can worsen and potentially lead to fatal consequences.

As a gamer, I’ve found myself utterly captivated by Wartales, a gaming gem that offers an exhilarating experience reminiscent of guerrilla warfare or immersive role-playing as a tight-knit brotherhood. This brotherhood could be bandits, dispossessed farmers, or deserters from the military, each offering unique perspectives on our journey. What sets this game apart is that players have the freedom to craft their group’s origin story, and choosing one can even grant special advantages.

1 Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

Medieval War Realism At Its Finest

It’s impossible to discuss open-world war games without giving credit to Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord, a highly praised game in its genre. In this strategy action RPG, players step into the shoes of an army commander tasked with constructing an army from the ground up, outfitting soldiers, choosing formations, and leading their troops into battle on the field.

Experiencing the intense emotion of joining a troop of medieval warriors preparing to engage another army in battle is challenging to describe accurately, but Bannerlord excels at capturing this sensation perfectly. Since each soldier under the player’s command would have been equipped, personalized, and ordered prior to the battle commencing, there exists a strong sense of accountability for the outcome of the conflict. Victories provide a satisfying reward, while losses are crushing due to the player’s responsibility in guiding the battle to their favor. For individuals seeking a war game with incredibly realistic combat, nothing surpasses the Mount & Blade franchise, and Bannerlord offers the smoothest and most refined experience among all its iterations.

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2024-10-13 13:34