Naval warfare has a rich history dating back to ancient times, spanning countless conflicts that have relied on access to the world’s oceans. Fleets and flotillas have been crucial for the logistical transportation of materials, goods, treasures and troops. In combat, naval vessels have the capability to strike a decisive battle against the opponent or interdict against their supply lines. Undoubtedly, this is an important branch of a nation’s military, but how does this element of warfare translate to videogames?
Although there is a Navyfield 2, it tries too hard to compete with World of Warships, rather than capture the magic in a bottle that the first game had and suffers for it. Both newer titles feel more about smaller engagements and which captain has the widest bow (a matter of speaking). We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us.
Those who are looking for naval warfare can find games that are worth an investment, whether more arcade-style combat, or developing the strategy for an entire battlefleet. The following titles are absolute plays for the admiral-minded types looking to expand their naval-themed experiences.
The header image is from Carrier Battles 4 Guadalcanal.
What are the best Naval War Games?
World of Warships
Carrier Battles 4 Guadalcanal
Naval Campaigns: Wolfpack
Command: Modern Operations
Cold Waters
Rule the Waves II
Supremacy at Sea WW2
Atlantic Fleet
Victory at Sea
Silent Hunter 3
Ironclads 2 Collection
Enigma: Rising Tide
Navyfield
Fighting Steel: World War II Surface Combat 1939-1942
World of Warships
Developer/Publisher: Wargaming.net Tags: Real-time, action/arcade, WW1, WW2, Online Only, Multiplayer Purchase: Play now for free
While its definition as a 'war game' is understandably debatable, Editor Joe decided to include this on our list because not only does it offer a refreshingly different experience to everything below it, but it's also a fun and surprisingly cerebral game. Featuring ships that range from WW1-era right through to the end of WW2 and a bit beyond, World of Warships is what happens if you take the concept of something like Battlefield, or Call of Duty, except everyone is controlling a warship.
What sets it apart from most free-to-play arcade games though is that there's a surprising amount of forethought required in order to play well. You've got to consider your direction and the time it'll take you to change course, gun emplacements can take time to turn (especially in the big battleships), and when it comes to attacking your distance and lead-time with your shots are also important. It's a lot more fun to play with friends, and being free-to-play means a grind does start to set in at the higher tiers, but once you get to Tier 6 you can do the special PvE scenarios which are a nice change of pace. The late James Cobb was always a quiet fan of this arcade 'war' game, and we can easily see why. It's also recently added Submarines!
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Carrier Battles was originally released a few years ago on iOS, and was a hit with the mobile crowd as it was a pretty decent turn-based wargame, one of the few that existed on mobile. Now it's finally been ported to PC with some help from Avalon Digital and its ready to take its place on our list of top naval war games. It's worth caveating that as much as this features a tight design, deep gameplay and smart abstractions to cover the Pacific Theatre, it IS a port of a mobile game at the end of the day.
It's gotten fancier graphics and some other upgrades, but it can't shake the essence of being a more simplistic game for a simpler platform. That's not a detriment, but it is something to bear in mind. Other than that though, Carrier Battles makes smart of use of Fog of War mechanics, as well as making you feel the tension of far-off air battles as you manoeuvre your task forces in an attempt to control the Pacific. Future upgrades that will elevate it beyond it's mobile progenitor are planned, and you can read our Carrier Battles PC review for more thoughts. It's a pretty decent game, all in all.
A rare naval-themed outing from the fabled JTS house, Wolfpack is the latest entry in the Naval Campaigns line and takes you to the till-covered Atlantic theatre. You are in charge of a varying number of U-Boat ships as you try and disrupt the Allied supply lines in the Atlantic Ocean. Alternatively, you're in charge of the Allied fleets trying to keep Britain's life-line up and running.
There are 50 scenarios in total, along with two campaigns covering a wide range of battles and set-pieces. Not all of them can be played from both sides, but most of them can. There is also a powerful editor as standard, and the usual JTS bells and whistles to go with it. It's still fairly old-school in that JTS fashion, but this is a more straight-forward game in many ways.
Command: Modern Operations
Developer/Publisher: WarfareSims / Matrix Games Tags: Naval, Land, Aerial, Real Time, Various Theatres, Strategy, Simulation, Grand Strategy, Modern Warfare Purchase: Steam, Direct
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Command's definition as purely a 'naval' war game is getting rather stretched now, but despite improving the ground operations part of the simulation most of the scenarios and focus is on naval (and air) assets for the most part. Regardless of how you want to define it, it's a damn good piece of software and deserves to be on every list it can fit under. Since it's predecessor was here, feels right to continue the tradition.
You can read our Command: Modern Operations review to find out more about what we thought, but the basic break-down is this: This is the finest, most-in depth simulation of modern warfare you will ever see, and the new version definitely has a number of improvements in terms of U.I. and accessibility. If you've never owned CMANO but have a passing interesting, then buying CMO is a must. If you're an existing owner, there's not as much new as perhaps justifies the asking pricing. Existing owners of the base CMANO game get a 50% discount until January 31st, but even then what's on offer may not be enough for some. Still, you can always take the Paradox mentality and think of it as an investment in the game's future in terms of new free content.
On Feb 24th, 2020, CMO received its' first piece of Command LIVE micro-DLC, Broken Shield 300. To date it's the best example of such DLC that's been released since the project started, and bodes well for the future of such smaller releases on the new platform.
Cold Waters
Developer/Publisher: Killerfish Games Tags: Naval, Real Time, Various Theatres, Strategy, Simulation, Submarine Purchase: Steam
Killerfish Games manages to hold two titles on this list, and with good reason. Cold Waters manages to walk a perfect line between arcade and simulation with this submarine-based naval game. Establishing itself in a modern setting, the player sets out in nuclear submarine and strike against surface targets and warships while evading modern ASW countermeasures. Great mission and unit variety, outstanding visuals and intuitive UI enables Cold Waters to stand tall among the greatest naval wargames out there.
Content for Cold Waters is still being released, with the latest addition being a South China Sea campaign. Those looking for a more immersive sub sim, please note that this isn’t Silent Hunter – you may be disappointed if that’s what you’re looking for here. Read our Cold Waters review to learn more about what makes this game so popular.
Rule the Waves II
Developer/Publisher: Naval Warfare Simulations Tags: Naval, Real Time, Various Theatres, Strategy, WW1, WW2, Management, grand strategy Purchase: Direct
While the sequel to Rule the Waves won't be ground-breaking for anyone experienced in the original title, Rule the Waves 2 is a clear improvement over its predecessor in more ways than one. With an expanded timeline through to 1950, air forces and Air Craft Carriers now make their appearance in the mid-to-late game, shifting the priority of naval doctrine from Dreadnoughts and super-ships to platforms capable of fielding large amounts of air power.
Other little improvements, such as changed naval invasion ranges, mean that this takes on a more long-form, emergent narrative experience similar to Hearts of Iron - it's less about painting the map your colour, and more about the strategic and long-term naval performance of your nation. There's still areas of improvement - in-game events and politics still take on a euro-centric affair, the game is terrible at explaining itself, and we'd love to see mechanics that cater towards large-scale warfare between alliances. As with the first game, this is a completely unique experience in naval war gaming, and anyone even remotely interested should definitely try it out for themselves. Read our Rule the Waves 2 review to find out more about what we thought.
In many ways SaS is a counter-point to NWS' other entry on this list, Rule the Waves 2. It's not getting a sequel and hasn't had the same amount of support as the other game, but provided you can still get a hold of it (you can only purchase what few physical copies remain from the NWS store) it's a very engaging naval warfare game that focuses on the big-picture. There are three campaigns covering the Pacific, Atlantic and Mediterranean theatres, and you're tasked with managing and deploying fleets and task forces based on operational needs of the campaign. Along with fleets and ships, you can also manage air assets, and even intervene in ground battles.
It's a little bit fiddly to get working on Windows 10 machines, but it is doable and this is one of those rare games that clearly has been designed by someone with immense knowledge and passion for the subject, and have offered a unique take that makes best use of the resources and technology they had available. The quintessential 'indie' war game and you can find out more by reading our Supremacy at Sea review.
Initially released on iOS as a sequel to Pacific Fleet in 2015, Atlantic Fleet excels as an arcade-style turn-based naval strategy game. Slug it out in single battles, scenarios or an Atlantic campaign as the Kriegsmarine or the Royal Navy. Both factions offer a wide variety of naval vessels, from famous ships such as the Hood and Bismarck, all the way to “paper” battleships such as the Lion-class and H-44! The use of land based or carrier aircraft for strikes against ships is also present and can give an edge over the enemy.
The turn-based combat is perfect for the surface ship engagements, but submarine and aircraft carriers are a bit sub-par. The price of admission is just right for the amount of content in the game. Read our review for more.
Victory at Sea is an excellent game for those who want a fast-paced experience of WW2 naval warfare across multiple theatres of operation. Simplified combat controls and real time management allows for the action to be quick and engaging. Nation variety spans the traditional naval powers of British, American, Japanese and German fleets to the lesser represented Dutch, Italian and French forces for custom battles.
There is a lot of content for Victory at Sea due to free updates from the developers, coupled with a cheap purchase price. Along with modding tools that expand unit rosters (such as can be found here) and ship variety this is a great title for people looking to expand their naval libraries.
This game also received a sequel - Victory at Sea: Pacific. Sadly, the added campaign layer has added a whole new pool of potential problems for the developer. It's got a solid foundation, but there's still work to do yet before it's in a good enough place to knock the original game off its perch.
Silent Hunter 3
Developer/Publisher: Ubisoft Tags: Naval, Real Time, Various Theatres, Strategy, Simulation, Submarine, WW2, Moddable Purchase: Steam, Direct
As a U-boat captain of the Kriegsmarine, you will find yourself prowling for unsuspecting targets, ambushing convoys, or fighting against aircraft as you’re surfaced. Interacting with the ships interior is also a major component of managing your submarine. Of the Silent Hunter series, Silent Hunter 3 easily remains the undisputed champion.
What pushes Silent Hunter 3 beyond it’s sequels is the incorporation of the GWX3 GOLD mod. This mod gives the game an even more immersive experience, with quality of life changes, environment improvements and added variety still unmatched by the later titles. If you can sacrifice the visual fidelity that the later versions have, you’ll find afternoons and evenings lost as you develop into a successful U-boat Commander. Alarm! Fluten!
Ironclads 2 Collection
Developer/Publisher: Totem Games Tags: Naval, Real Time, Turn base, Various Theatres, Strategy, Simulation, 19th Century Purchase:Steam
Where previous Totem Games releases can be considered misfires, the Ironclads 2 series of games bundled as a collection on Steam are a great addition for any Armchajr-Admiral out there. This collection of games has you fighting forgotten engagements in the late 19th century. While the strategic element is turn based, engagements are in real time. But don’t be fooled; managing ships can get complicated when you split columns or try and envelope an opponent’s fleet.
Opponent AI, ship models and unique settings allow these naval engagements to really come alive and provide wonderfully varied experiences. However impatient players or newcomers might be frustrated by the lack of tutorials (other than just a manual) and hardcore sim fans might be disappointed by the basic mechanics for tactical engagements. However, for the price of four games, and the unique setting each brings, these titles definitely deserve the attention they get.
Totem also make the Clad in Irons series, which is what they're currently focusing on. They recently released a DLC for one of their games title Clad in Iron: Carolines 1885, which you can also read our review on.
Enigma: Rising Tide
Developer/Publisher: Tesseraction Games/Dreamcatcher Interactive Tags: Naval, Real Time, Atlantic Theatre, Strategy, First Person, Arcade Purchase: Free
Enigma: Rising Tide is a very strange but excellent naval wargame. What makes it so strange is the alternative history the game is based upon; the Germans won the first world war, and everything stems from that. Now that you’ve digested that twist, it is easy to see what makes Enigma: Rising Tide such a compelling game to play. Focusing on small unit actions, such as operating a corvette, submarine or a destroyer.
The game pits the player on the bridge of these vessels and manages to operate a fine balance of arcade action and command options. Where it lacks in patience and finesse, the pace of the missions and the satisfaction of a ship sinking is still gratifying in this title. Enigma: Rising Tide is for those who are wanting to take a break from the hard-fought battles of stratagem and are looking add a few more hulls to the bottom of the sea in at what sometimes can be a neck breaking pace.
Navyfield
Developer/Publisher: SDEnterNet / Naiad Games Tags: Naval, Real Time, Pacific Theatre, Atlantic Theatre, Arcade, WW2, Multiplayer Purchase: Free, Free (Steam)
Navyfield is a curious naval game. Recommending it is like telling somebody to go see Woodstock today. As an MMO, it’s time in the sun has passed by a few years, but at it’s peak it was a phenomenal game. Although Navyfield has been overshadowed by modern releases, the game is still strong to this day. Pitting up to 32 players and an assortment of ships together, Navyfield has a surprising amount of variety and modes, backed by quick and addictive battle sessions.
Typically, fleets are a combined assortment, battleships, carriers, cruisers, destroyers and even frigates are some of the options available (unless the hosted room decides otherwise). The beauty starts with as you see the players naturally forming to picket the larger ships or the carriers and the ships with greater agility either lay torpedoes or scout for incoming spreads. Players that aren’t apart of the pack and are unexperienced can find themselves isolated and destroyed. Anti-Aircraft is also an important element, as although machine gun fire from your ships are automatic, it requires a keen eye to manage those flak bursts to take out incoming aircraft which can sway the battle in mere seconds. Matches are quick and full of action in an easy to look at isometric view.
Navyfield was and still is grindy, making the drive to those bigger ships a pain if you’re unwilling to cough up some compensation. Levelling up your crew and unlocking newer arsenals are still very much a mechanic here. However, a side benefit of this is understanding the types of ships and the benefit of different play styles. Rushing to be the King George V-class may not necessarily be as enjoyable as wiping out many unsuspecting players with a perfect torpedo spread from a Japanese light cruiser. Every faction has a distinct feel and doctrine.
Although there is a Navyfield 2, it tries too hard to compete with World of Warships, rather than capture the magic in a bottle that the first game had and suffers for it. Both newer titles feel more about smaller engagements and which captain has the widest bow (a matter of speaking). Navyfield managed to capture fleet combat exceptionally well in a multiplayer setting the first time around and is still supported and played by players today.
Fighting Steel: World War II Surface Combat 1939-1942
Developer/Publisher: Divide By Zero Software Inc./ Strategic Simulations, Inc. Tags: Naval, Real Time, Pacific Theatre, Atlantic Theatre, Strategy, WW2 Purchase: Free (Abandonware)
Fighting Steel is a lesser known title for those looking into the war chest of naval wargames; as a game, it primarily focuses on fleet action. Pitting capital ships against others in often historical context or user created scenarios, in real time ships square off to lob shells until somebody capsizes or breaks off under the cover of smoke screen. What Fighting Steel does well is the variety through a large variety of ships and how they perform in battle, and it’s attempt of authenticity, through its scenarios and mechanics. Although the graphics are simple and dated, they are crisp and serviceable. It’s easy to distinguish targets by their silhouettes for the experienced admiral.
For Jutland players, the games are very similar, only standing out on a few overlay mechanics and time period of course. A rocky release might have damaged the hull of Fighting Steel a bit, but since 1999, the game has improved to be a compelling and immersive through patches from the dedicated. Work such as Fighting Steel Project which delivers an improved combat simulation and fixes a lot messy bugs along the way has Fighting Steel still on the fleet roster for those looking to see if their admiralty skills are still sharp.
Other Naval War Game Recommendations
We regularly update these lists with new or looked-over games, and to keep things manageable we'll rotate out some entries to make way for others. Past members of this list include:
Battlestations: Pacific
Fleet Command
Dangerous Waters
Action Stations
UBoat
Token tabletop tip: If you're looking to expand into tabletop games and are looking for something a little different, read our review of GMT Games' Silent Victory - it's a solitaire submarine warfare game set during WW2's pacific theatre.
What would your list of top naval war games look like? Let us know in the comments!
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The Battle of Warships is the best action games from Cube Software. This game has the ultimate science fiction, imaginative concepts and a 3D graphics on Android and iOS devices. You can also play the same game on PC also. Battle of Warships game allows you to engage in legendary ship battles with different opponents. So, here we will show you how you can download and play Battle of Warships on your Mac and Windows. It is very easy process to get your game on a big screen. Before we get into details let us first talk about the game.
About the Game Battle of Warships for PC
It is the best multiplayer war game. You can play in the best 3D interactive strategy game of naval warfare. Here in the game, you must Build your naval base and lead a powerful fleet in countless epic sea battles. Grow stronger by making relation with friends and build an empire together. The war against pirates, sea monsters, and players from the whole world. As this is a new era of war game, where the strategy matters more than the size of your base and power of your Armada. This game gives you challenges to become the best navy commander. You need to keep an eye on the battlefield to dominate the action.
Features of the Game Battle of Warships
Easy to Play
Battle Ship Fleet
Customize the Ships and Unlock More Features
Upgrade Ships & Weapons
Enjoy the Change of Weather
Create a unbeatable alliance and rule the world
Play with millions of players from around the world
Get the experience of sea battles
Great Post-Apocalyptic sea world with authentic 3D graphics
Involve the players to large extent through fast-paced battles
Now, let us see how you can download and play the Android game on PC and MAC. There are different Methods to get the Battle of Warship mod apk game on Computer and Mac. Let us check out the different methods and get the game on your PC.
Method 1: How to install Battle of Warships on PC using BlueStacks.
First, of you need to download BlueStacks on your Computer and Mac. Download it from the given link.
Install the BlueStack app on your Windows computer or Mac.
Then, launch the Bluestack
Open the Bluestack and then open Play Store in it
LogIn to your Gmail account or create a new one
In the search bar search for Battle of Warships: Naval Empire
Install the Game and launch it on your PC
That's It! You are ready to play the game on your PC.
Method 2: How to use Battle of Warships on Windows and MAC Using NOX App Player
First, go to Nox App Player official website and Download the App. Or just click on given link.
Install the Nox App Player on your MAC or Windows and follow the instructions given on the screen
Once it is installed, Launch it
Open the app and in that open Google Play Store
Log In to your Google account or create the new one
In the search bar search for the game Battle of Warships: Naval Empire
Install the game and launch it from Nox App Player
That's It! Enjoy playing Battle of Warships: Naval Empire from your computer.
Method 3: Install Battle of Warships: Naval Empire Using Andyroid
First, install Andyroid on your Mac Or Windows from its official website. Or from the given link.
Once it is downloaded install the emulator and launch it.
Open the emulator and go to Play Store
Log In with your Gmail account or create a new one
Now, search for the game in the search bar
Download and install the game
Start playing the game on your PC and MAC.
Method 4: Install the game on Windows And Mac By Using Remix OS Player
First, download the Remix OS Player on your MAC And PC
Launch it on PC
Open the app and go to Play Store
Log In to your Gmail Account or create a new one
Search for the game Battle Of Warships
Download and install the game
That's it! Your game is ready to be played on PC and MAC.
Method 5: Download the game by Using Genymotion
Download the GenyMotion emulator on your PC from the given link.
Launch the app once it is installed
Open it and go to Google Play Store
Log In with your Gmail Account and if you don't have then create a new one
Search for Battle of Warships game
Install the game on your PC and MAC
That's It! You can now play the game on your PC and MAC.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Warship Game Free
If you love to play battleships games, then Battle of Warships for PC game is for you. So, if you want to play this game on your PC then check out the different methods we have shown to you. Once you install the game on your PC with these methods you will feel good. You will fall in love with the 3d Graphics of the game. To be in the battle, make sure your defenses are strong as your attack. If not you will be knocked out of the battle.
So, these are a few best ways to get the game on your Mac and Windows PC. Hope you liked this article and is helpful for you. Stay tuned for more.
Mr. Shaikh, a part-time blogger and tech enthosiast. Love to share articles on offers, technology, gaming and many more. Presently owning and putting writings skills efforts on a blog Solution Blogger and TipsandTricks. I hope you find my articles valuable.
Warship Games For Mac
Download Battle of Warships For PC [Windows & Mac]
World Of Warships Game Manual
The Battle of Warships is the best action games from Cube Software. This game has the ultimate science fiction, imaginative concepts and a 3D graphics on Android and iOS devices. You can also play the same game on PC also. Battle of Warships game allows you to engage in legendary ship battles with different opponents. So, here we will show you how you can download and play Battle of Warships on your Mac and Windows. It is very easy process to get your game on a big screen. Before we get into details let us first talk about the game.