Top Board Wargames of 2025 | Historical Board Games

0:00 Hi everybody, I'm Zilla Blitz and welcome. In this video, I'm going to walk through my top 10 board war games that I played in 2025. Now, a couple of caveats about this list. My criteria for this particular list is enjoyment. The games that pulled me in and captured my attention, had some sort of an emotional rush, or just created great memories. Some of these games I may played may have played a dozen times or more. Some I may have only played once. I'm just thinking back on 2025. What are the games that gave me the best memories? Also, these are games that I played in 2025. They could have been released in 1964 or they couple of cases they aren't even released yet because I've had an opportunity to play prototypes. All that being said, now let's jump right in and get started with five honorable mentions. Our first honorable mention is Gettsburg: The First Day from Revolution Games. This game is here really as a representative of the Blind Sword system, which captures Civil War combat in a very exciting and creative way.

0:58 Now, I'm early days with this system. I have enjoyed this game in particular, both two-player and solo. I'm looking forward to playing into it more. So far, I'm very excited about what I see as the potential for me to really enjoy this system going forward, and that's why it's an honorable mention on the 2025 list. Our second honorable mention, Hood: Troubles and Sherwood from Fallank. This is a game that isn't out yet. It just finished its crowdfunding campaign. So, this is a prototype. Got a chance to play a four-player game of this, which I adored. You play uh in this game, one of four factions in Sherwood in England, as the theme might suggest. Very accessible game. It reminds me a lot about root root in a in a good ways. I think this is going to be very popular when it comes out. People are going to really enjoy it. Little bit of a euro coin war game blend. So, not necessarily 100% war game, but I really enjoyed this one. Honorable mention number three is one I've mentioned on other lists, too. British Tank Ace, the soliter game where you play a British tank crew all the way through campaigns in World War II. I'm about halfway through, not even maybe a campaign with the game currently. Really been enjoying this one. I like narrative spinners.

2:05 This again, of course, is a soliter game, but it's been a lot of fun playing this one in 2025. Next honorable mention, Red Dust Rebellion from the coin series from GMT Games. I had a chance to play this one four player in November, December. And I I really like this one. Some coin games I feel like I have to play a number of times before I can get them. Red Dust Rebellion, I felt like I got this. I understand what I'm trying to do, what we're trying to do. I love the way the new systems working. Bringing a sci-fi element to coin. This has been really a lot of fun. So, I'm looking forward to playing this more in 2026. Our last honorable mention up front, the squad leader card-based game. This is a card-based combat game way back from the era of Avalon Hill. Got a chance to play this a couple of times earlier in the year. I love the creativity and how well this game holds up. It spins great narratives and it throws good decisions at you as well.

2:59 Really fun experiences with this one in 2025. Before we start out on our top 10, I want to mention a word from one of our sponsors, Noble Knight Games. They are board game retailer that ships internationally. They have new war games, used war games. So, if you're looking for some of the games on this list or other games, they are a great source to check. They also have general board gaming supplies, general board games, new and used, great customer service. And if you're looking to get rid of some of your older games that you aren't playing anymore, they will buy their game, buy your games from you, and give you store credit or cash for them. Links are down below. And if you use some of those links, thanks very much as they do help out the channel in a small way. Sliding into our top 10 on the list, Brett Walda from Fallank. In this game, you play one of four factions in Britain in 796 AD, fighting for control over Britain. Now, why is this game on the list? Uh, I'm a big fan of 4X games on and in and on on the PC where you get to expand and conquer different lands and explore. This game captures that feel very well. It's got some Eurob blend elements in it certainly. So, it's not 100% a war game, but it is about war and the four factions are going at each other. Beautiful components, a tremendous amount of depth. I love the creativity behind this one. The topic is spot-on. got a chance to facilitate slashplay a four-player game of this earlier in the fall and then also I've

4:29 played through it a couple of times solo now. Each time it's been wow just it blows me away with the potential and the fun and the depth of this game. So I've had a great time with Brett Walden in 2025. Number 10 on my list. Game number nine on our list. Purple Haze from Fallank. Uh in this game you are in charge of a squad of US soldiers uh fighting in the Vietnam War. You're going to lead them through a series of nine different missions and there are expansions that broaden the gameplay as well. Such a creative game. I've talked about this at length in my top solo war games video, but uh there's role- playinging elements for character development. There are choose your own adventure elements as you're going through the missions. Tactical combat that you're going to run into on many of the missions. You've also got the operations level where you're keeping, you know, tracking your resources and time and management as your squad is moving through the operations level map.

5:23 It's really fun. Every time I've walked away from this one, I've been glad I played it. I love the narratives that it spins. Uh, I've had a lot of fun with this one in 2025. Number nine on my list. I could probably make a whole video about number eight on my list, but let's just start and get into it. Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit number one. Okay, now let's let's take a deep breath. Earlier in the 2025, I had an opportunity to buy a rather large collection of ASL stuff at a very good price. And so, I'm okay, I'm going to get this and I'm going to play into this over time. Uh, also looking forward to something I think I could really play it a lot more when I retire because it's a big system. It's a lot to it and it takes a lot of focus to move through the advanced squad leader system. I didn't make as much progress as I had hoped to in 2025, but I did make progress and I started with advanced squad leader starter kit number one, playing some of the very simple scenarios. I really like what I've seen so far. One of the things that has me most excited about wargaming is playing deeper into this system and deeper into this series. Looking forward to being more opposed. Up to now, I've been playing solo and I think opposed two-player is definitely another realm that opens up squad leader in so many different ways. I've really liked what I've seen. I can There have been moments playing this game where I get why so many people get mad if you don't put advanced squad leader as number one on whatever war game list you're making.

6:51 So, I have really enjoyed my time in 2025 with it. I can at the same time I can also see that it's a lift, right? You really need to focus on this game and series to learn it to get the game to flow well. So, you're not just constantly rulebook diving. So, it's been a mesh of both plays, but there's been of both types of play, but there have been enough moments where it's flowed. I can see the stories it's creating, the decisions it's throwing at you. I'm not sure there's another game or system like this. For the moment, Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit number one is number eight. I'm looking forward to playing more into Advanced Squad Leader components in 2026, but number eight, Advanced Squad Leader Starter Kit number one. Game number seven on my list is another one I'm I'm scratching the surface with, but I'm having so much fun with this one. Pats of Glory, the First World War, 1914 to 1918 from GMT Games. A classic war game of co of course you especially a classic war game in the World War I genre. I'm I'm playing this game on Rally the Troops. I've finished one game. I'm about halfway through I think two or three games and then two or three other games. I'm sputtering through the early parts of the game. So I I'm very much still learning this game, but as a strategic game of World War I, it's been mind just eye opening. I I've read a world undone, the uh the book about World War I to give a comprehensive picture about I've learned so much about World War I in the past 3 months, playing Paths of Glory and reading that

8:21 book. It's been a perfect combination for me of blending history with gameplay and enhancing both. I and so as when I think back on 2025, I couldn't not put this here. Even though from a gameplay perspective, I feel like I'm just beginning to understand the depth and the strategy and the tactics to to this game. It is a brilliant game. Read the supply rules. If you know, you know. That's the only thing I'll say about that. But I am having a great time with Paths of Glory. And it's already created great memories in 2025. Game number seven on my list, Pats of Glory. Game number six on my list, if you paid close attention to the soliter war games list, you might see a little bit of a conflict here, but I will explain. Game number six on my list is Trench Raid from Compass Games. Now, in this game, you're in charge of a squad of soldiers in World War I. You send them out into the trenches. You could have one of any number of different objectives. It could be from rescuing a down pilot or destroying something in the enemy trenches. And you're playing from the British side in this game. Uh, this game really surprised me. I talked about it in length in my soliter uh video, top soliter games list. Um, but just so much fun. I mean, and and fun again is that ambiguous word that could mean a lot of different things, but there's such an emotional rush that I've gotten from playing this game. I've not I I'm a big fan of soliter games that spin narrative. This spins some of the most amazing narratives that I've experienced playing games so far. And I couldn't not

9:53 put it here. Now, you might be, if you watch closely, you'll notice that to go back to Purple Haze, Purple Haze was higher on my list of top soliter games than Trench Raid. And I think that's justified. Purple Haze is an amazing game. But when I went through this list thinking which games have given me the most enjoyment in 2025, this just kept coming up higher and higher and higher. It's a game that you just sit down, you're going to play for half an hour, and you'll be like, "Wow, that was just amazing." You can see the action in your mind's eye, the story of your soldiers. They're going to die. Some of them are going to survive. Some of them might have their skills advanced in the campaign game. It's just an enjoyable, fun, exciting game that when you're done, you say, "That was just a remarkable experience." So, from a pure enjoyment in 2025 scale, Trench Raid is game number six on my list of top 25 games or top 10 games.

10:47 Shifting now into our top six. I'm excited to talk about this one. from Gettysburg, A Time for Heroes from Worthington Publishing. Now, this is a game about the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. And I'll emphasize game over simulation because the order in which the commanders for both the Confederate and the US forces show up is somewhat randomized. So, every time you play, the game is going to be slightly a slightly different experience. Now, why is this game on the list for top games of 2025? As a two-player experience, I've had an a lot of fun playing this one. It's a game that is compact, so you can play the entire thing in under two hours. It's easy to learn, so it works very well for beginners. You can learn the game and play the game effectively very quickly. Um, it's got a lot of depth, so it throws a lot of interesting decisions decisions at you. There's an element of luck. It spins great narratives. It's got beautiful components. Every time I've touched this game, I've had fun playing it. Additionally, additionally, if you watch the top solitire war games list, it's got a very strong solo mode.

11:52 Uh, it's a different slightly different system. You're using the same rules, but there's some additions to create the actions for the soliter bot. It plays a strong game, so you can enjoy this game either as a two-player experience or as a solo experience. And as I think back on 2025, I've just had so much fun with this game. So, it's a very easy inclusion in the top 10 list. Uh, Gettsburg, A Time from Here, at Time for Heroes from Worthington Publishing, a fantastic Gettysburg game. Game number four on my top 10 war games of 2025 list is part of a long-term quest. So, one of my long-term quests is to play all of the the major World War II tactical combat systems to the point where the gameplay flows with each system. Now, by their nature, tactical combat systems are complex. It takes a lot of rules reading. It takes a while before you get up to speed with them.

12:42 This game, however, and this system, I think, could perhaps break that mold. I'll say more as soon as we show the game here. Old School Tactical Volume Five with its big box. I'll move this down a little bit so we can see my face as I talk. Now, what is this game? Well, this is volume five in the Old School Tactical series, and this is a prototype for a crowdfunding uh campaign they just had a little while ago. So, the game is yet to come out, but it should be out relatively soon. This is where I've started with the old school tactical series. And more so than any World War II tactical combat system that I've played, I was able to get up to the speed playing the game, having fun with the game in such a short time. This game very, this system very well might have the perfect blend of complex complexity and accessibility. And it's got all of the good hallmarks of a World War II combat system. So, you're making good decisions. It spins great narrative. It flows fast. The action feels like tactical combat. I can say so many positive things about this one. I am very excited to dig into this system more already. And the reason why it's on the top 20 2025 games list is already it's created great stories and great experiences. I've loved it every time I've touched it. Old school tactical. I am so excited to play deeper into this system and this series in 2026. But game number four on the top 2025 war games

14:13 list, Old School Tactical Volume 5. If by the way, if you are curious about this one, there are four volumes before this. They're all, I imagine, very good, but this has just been my experience with the system so far. I'm excited to talk about game number three, Combat Commander 20th anniversary edition. that this combat commander stands in for as a representative for this the combat commander family of games Pacific Europe Mediterranean uh in Vietnam the new one coming out. Uh what is this? Well, first up tactical combat game. I'd put it more a game than a simulation because there's a lot of card driven elements. It's a little bit swingy. Uh there is some luck involved for sure, but at its heart is this memorable two-player tactical combat experience. Why is it number three on my list? Well, I've played into this in the back half of 2025. Every single time I played this game, I've walked away replaying the game in my head. Both from a, "Wow, that was an amazing narrative that this game played. Wow, I wonder if I did this differently or I could have done that differently." So, from both a story experience, from a challenging decision experience, every time I've played this game, it's left me rethinking it in a very, very positive way. I think there's a number of reasons why that happens. The cardplay elements are so brilliantly nested and integrated into each other. There is a swingy nature and a chaotic nature to the game play. You can be behind and things can feel hopeless and then a couple of things happen and you realize it's not hopeless. I see a path forward. There's

15:45 a number of ways you can win engagements. And yet, I think all of the elements of tactical combat come to bear on this game as you play it. You're looking for lines of sight for machine guns. You're looking to use smoke effectively. You're looking to combine effective actions to launch an assault on a defensive position. As a defender, you're thinking through good positioning and how you can use your actions efficiently. It's just a brilliant experience. And every single time I've played it, I've walked away thinking that was a very, very memorable event. So, Combat Commander is number three on the list, and it might be one of the games I'm most excited to continue playing in 2026. Game number two on my top 10 war games for 2025 is a game that surprises me.

16:31 But when I was ranking these games, I said, "Nope, that's there. Nope, this game beats that game. Nope, this game beats that game." When I think back on 2025, this has been one of my most memorable experiences and comes from World at War 85 Blood and Fury from Lock and Load Publishing. This is a modern tactical well cold war tactical combat system. So again, set in 1985, it simulates tactical engagements between NATO forces and the Soviet block in a variety of European settings, mostly Germany, of course, in in modern war in the 1980s. Now, if you told me at the beginning of the year that a a Cold War tactical combat game would be at this high on my list, I would have said, "No way." I like modern and Cold War tactical combat set, you know, post World War II tactical combat, but I do find it's very complex and that complexity often bogs a system or a game down. That's not the case with this.

17:28 This system I found so accessible for a postWorld War II tactical combat system where you've got all different missile types, different types of armor. I mean, it's a complex battlefield when you get into the Cold War era. But this is a very playable, massive game that has so much opportunity and so much gameplay in it. And I got a chance to play, it's a little unfair, right? I got a chance to play with the designer and the developers on the lock and load channel and their tabletop simulator. When I walked away from this this series and segments that we played together, it's like, wow, that was really fun. I just had such a good time playing this game in 2025. I'm excited for where it's going. Excited for digging more into the system because there are hundreds of hours of gameplay in this box alone. I mean, when you punch everything out, it doesn't fit back into the box, right?

18:19 because there's so many counters, scenarios, campaigns available for the system. But this game, I I think part of the reason why I liked it so high and why I put it so high is that it has opened up my eyes to the potential of the Cold War Modern Combat series and families of games, which to be fair, I haven't really explored yet. So, I think one of the things that gets me so excited about this game is that it's opened up an entire new wing or element of wargaming for me. So yeah, I've had a a lot of fun with this in 2025. I look forward to playing it in 2026. World at War 85: Blood and Fury from Lock and Load Publishing. We're here. Game number one on my list. Before we get there, a couple of things to talk about. Uh getting this list down to 10 games plus five honorable mentions was really hard. And I when I really think about this, I could probably rank these games in almost any order and be happy with it. So, I wouldn't take the rankings of the games so seriously. Uh, these are all been spectacular experiences, and I feel bad for the spectacular experiences that aren't here or aren't here yet. Having said that, when I think back on 2025, this game created two memorable gameplay experiences that to me stand out from the others. It was a clear game that I said, "Nope. These two experiences were exactly what I was looking for. They were fun. They were memorable. I had a fantastic time in these two

19:50 experiences." So, it was easy for me to come up with my number one. The game is Traces of Victory from Vuka Simulations. Now, in in this game, it's uh late World War II, 1944. You're playing as either the US forces, the armies of patch or Patton driving towards Germany in the back half of the western France campaign. One player is plays the Germans fighting a a fighting withdrawal. The other is the US player and you're trying to advance, advance, advance in a number of different ways. Now, why is this game number one? I played it first at SD Histcon in November at walked away think that was just a spectacular game that generates spectacular experiences. played at solitire. Since then, same thing happened. So, and when you're playing soliter, you're playing both sides. Just loved it. I I think part of it, to be fair, I think part of it is in 2025, I concentrated a lot on tactical wargaming. So, I had this urge to get back to operational level wargaming. And when I did, this was the game that was there. So, part of it, I think, is game meets craving when I think back on all the good experiences I had in 2025. But this game, I think, has just a magical element of operational combat in both complexity, accessibility, the decisions it's throwing at you, the quality of the components, and the graphics and the graphic design here is outstanding. It's just a beautiful, brilliantly executed operational game of World War II combat.

21:20 And both times I sat down and played it in the back half of 2025, I walked away thinking that was a special experience. I I really excited. This this game is just an easy choice at number one for 2025 for me. I loved playing it. Traces of Victory. Uh my top game for 2025 and just I can't say more about this game. You should check it out if you like operational World War II level combat games. So there we have it. top 10 wargaming experiences for 2025. I'd be curious to hear what yours were for 2025. If you enjoyed this video, I recently did my top 10 soliter board war games. I'll put a link to the video up here. Thanks for watching everybody. Have a great day.