If you’re looking for a superior adrenaline rush when you’re gaming, then there are few better ways to get that than to pick up your virtual rifle and engage in some warfare. Of course, gaming will never be like real war – we wouldn’t want it to be as harrowing and traumatising as that – but it can help to immerse you in wartime settings and show you what life might have been like for soldiers in the past (and what it still might be like for modern soldiers). Here are some of the best war games PS5 gamers have to choose from right now.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
We promise that this list won’t be exclusively populated with Call of Duty games; Modern Warfare II is the only one we’re going to include. That’s not to say it’s the only Call of Duty game worth checking out on PS5, but as the most recent entry in the series, it’s the standard-bearer, and it does a great job of waving the flag for everything that makes Call of Duty great. Responsive gunplay, a solid campaign, and that legendary multiplayer mode are all present and correct here.
Battlefield 2042
The inclusion of Battlefield 2042 on our list should be taken with one very big caveat: this is far from the best the Battlefield series has to offer. If you love DICE and EA’s massive-scale warfare, then 2042 will certainly scratch that itch, but it’s still got a fair way to go before it can match up to classics like Battlefield 3. With that said, it’s still a highly playable multiplayer warfare experience, and it’s still got the vehicular combat and ground skirmishes you love in Battlefield games.
Hell Let Loose
Hell Let Loose represents Team17’s take on the battle royale genre, and it emphasises teamwork and tactics over the usual frantic running around and shooting whatever moves. This is a more careful, more considered gameplay style, and you’ll do much better in Hell Let Loose if you take things slow and play methodically. With plenty of different roles to choose from and several iconic World War II battlefields on which to fight, Hell Let Loose is a great option if you’re looking for war-themed battle royale gaming.
Isonzo
If realistic warfare is your bag, then Isonzo has you covered. This World War I-set shooter emphasises realism heavily; the character classes and battlefields on offer are based on real-life counterparts, and you’ll have to contend with situations and injuries that real soldiers would have faced while you’re on the battlefield. This isn’t a game for the faint of heart, but if you want to immerse yourself in a real wartime simulation, Isonzo is hard to beat.
Company of Heroes 3
Sega’s excellent real-time strategy series returns for its third instalment, and this one’s available on PS5! If you’ve played the Company of Heroes games before, or if you’ve indulged in Relic Entertainment’s excellent Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series, you’ll know how well Company of Heroes is likely to translate to PS5. It’s a faster-paced RTS than most, eschewing turtle-style base-building in favour of battlefield exploration and tactical strategy.
Sniper Elite 5
The Sniper Elite games are perfect for those who prefer battlefield planning and sneaky tactics rather than out-and-out warfare. You take control of a sniper who must assassinate a series of targets across massive levels with plenty of different ways to approach your goal. In essence, Sniper Elite 5 is similar to the Hitman series, although the World War II setting restricts the level of technology available to your resourceful agent.
Enlisted
This free-to-play military shooter covers many of the biggest World War II battles you’re likely to have heard of, making it ideal for warfare-hungry gamers and history enthusiasts alike. Enlisted is, at heart, a multiplayer squad shooter; each player controls a single soldier with a squad surrounding them, and the squad will act according to your orders, making tactical gameplay and teamwork essential to victory.
Tannenberg
The stated aim of Tannenberg is to bring the battles of World War I’s Eastern Front to life, and that’s a goal it accomplishes with gusto. Created by the developers behind Isonzo (indeed, it’s part of a sort of three-game trilogy that also includes Verdun), Tannenberg features lots of authentic early 20th-century weaponry and equipment, dropping you right in the middle of the action and letting you see what it was really like to be a soldier in World War I.
Star Wars: Squadrons
Okay, so Star Wars: Squadrons isn’t a realistic war game. It does, however, do a pretty solid job of letting you experience life as a daring fighter pilot in the Star Wars universe, so if you’ve ever watched the epic dogfight sequences in this classic series of movies and wished you were taking part, this is as close as you’ll get. Squadrons is a great flight sim with various different starfighter ships to pilot, and you’ll need to keep an eye on their various systems and controls as you battle across space.
World of Tanks
They say that a game’s name should be punchy, memorable, and descriptive. If those are indeed the criteria for success, it’s hard to imagine a game that pulls them off better than World of Tanks. To put it simply, if you’ve ever wanted to drive a tank and do battle against other tank operators, then here’s your game. With lots of tank models on offer and fresh content injections always keeping things interesting, World of Tanks is one of the best war games on PS5, and it’s free to play as well!
Conclusion
In the evolving realm of gaming, PlayStation 5 continues to offer war enthusiasts a diverse array of battle experiences. From the gritty realism of World War I in “Isonzo” and “Tannenberg”, to the strategic depth of “Company of Heroes 3”, and the epic space battles in “Star Wars: Squadrons”, there’s a game tailored for every kind of player. Whether you’re keen on historically accurate simulations, strategic thinking, or just feeling the sheer thrill of a tank showdown in “World of Tanks”, PS5 caters to all. The list showcases that war gaming is more than just picking up a rifle; it’s about immersing oneself in the myriad facets of warfare, understanding strategies, fostering teamwork, and most importantly, enjoying the adrenaline rush that these games masterfully deliver.
FAQs
- Which PS5 war games emphasize realism?
- Games like “Isonzo”, “Tannenberg”, and “Sniper Elite 5” are known for their realistic approach to warfare, depicting true-to-life scenarios and historical battles.
- Are there any free-to-play war games on the list?
- Yes, “Enlisted” and “World of Tanks” are both free-to-play games that deliver robust warfare experiences.
- Which games are best for strategic thinkers?
- “Company of Heroes 3” is an excellent real-time strategy game that requires tactical thinking. “Sniper Elite 5” also emphasizes battlefield planning.
- Is there an option for gamers interested in flight simulations?
- “Star Wars: Squadrons” offers an exhilarating flight sim experience set in the Star Wars universe, allowing players to pilot various starfighter ships.
- Which games cover World War I battles?
- “Isonzo” and “Tannenberg” both delve deep into World War I scenarios, offering players a look into the Eastern Front battles and beyond.
