War games

After being in closed alpha for several years, Total War: Arena has finally opened up to the public. A collaboration between The Creative Assembly and Wargaming, Total War: Arena is based on the famed franchise of the same name but with a twist.

Instead of focusing on a single-player campaign, the game focuses entirely on player versus player combat, with massive 10 versus 10 battles taking place with thousands of units on the field at once.

The Total War series has always had issues with PVP game modes, specifically balance, or lack thereof, and although Total War: Arena is an entirely PVP game, these issues have not been fixed. Be prepared for lengthy queue times and bad matchmaking a lot in higher tiers in particular.

The game's cash shop is relatively mild. Players can have plenty of fun in the lower and mid tiers, however, in the higher tiers, players who spend money will have a significant advantage, and players who don't will be at a significant disadvantage. Balance wise, premium units aren't a big deal compared to non-premium units, but they do offer up increased XP and silver gains. The endgame is almost completely inaccessible to non-spending players, and it is nigh-impossible to reach and stay in the highest tiers unless you spend money in this game.

Total War: Arena is a flawed game with a pretty harsh ceiling for F2P players, but offers up a lot of fun for fans of the genre.

➔ Main points:

• Downloadable F2P MMO real-time tactics strategy game with MOBA elements inspired by the Total War series
• 10 versus 10 PVP battles with a 15-minute time limit
• 4 different factions each with several leaders and dozens of units
• Unbalanced matchmaking at higher tiers
• Very long endgame grind - hard ceiling for non-paying players

Travian is a 2D browser-based military strategy game that was released in 2004 to critical acclaim. For strategy enthusiasts, the game features resource management and empire building in the early game which supplements its mid-game combat and PVP expansion gameplay.

The hero system is a unique feature that allows players to explore an alternate RPG progression, by embarking their heroes on quests and missions to gain powerful equipment which will aid in attacking and defending villages.

While Travian isn't a perfect game it is a staple title that offers hours of addictive fun to players seeking a strategic browser-based masterpiece.

➔ Main points:

• Large player population that makes the game competitive today
• Fun and strategic empire building
• Excellent user interface for a browser game
• Unique hero system to complement kingdom management
• Will keep you addicted daily

Vast Wars is a text-based browser game based on crime and criminal gangs. The objective of the game is to build your town into a criminal empire and train your crime lord to become a powerful leader through various activities such as gym training and sabotage.

The game features plenty of tasks and missions that are time-based to complete, offering rewards, experience and cash for you to advance your character. The game has a lot of players from different countries, and takes into consideration which country you play from which can lead to balance issues.

While the graphics are dated and the gameplay can feel repetitive, Vast Wars is still a decent crime browser game that is easy to learn and can offer small bursts of fun for those looking for a game to sink time into.

➔ Main points:

• Text-based crime browser game that is easy to learn and play
• Offers good fun in short bursts
• Good use of real images
• Large player base and big community

Warface is a free to play MMOFPS that's developed by the same studio responsible for popular game franchises such as Far Cry and Crisis. In Warface, the gameplay revolves around the game's four unique classes, which introduces interesting gameplay mechanics including special movement and most importantly team work through dynamic class skills in order to dominate matches.

The game has a plethora of PvE Co-op missions and PvP modes and maps which is great for replayability. This also helps Warface's deep progression systems, as players require experience and currency gains in order to unlock classes, weapons and gear to perform better in matches.

Boosts and permanent weapon unlocks are available in the cash shop which may turn off players, but Warface still offers a ton of fun for casual FPS enthusiasts who enjoys modern day graphics and gameplay in their shooters.

➔ Main points:

• Four unique classes that caters to different playstyles
• Large variety of game modes and maps to play on
• Deep progression systems with XP ranks and currencies
• New player friendly which encourages learning and teamwork dynamics
• Very good graphics and customization options

World of Warplanes is an MMO developed by Wargaming and joins the ranks of older title, World of Tanks. The game puts vehicles and land aside to focus on what happens in the skies, putting the player in the cockpit of numerous aircraft.

The game is extremely accessible and you will find yourself making air manoeuvres like a pro in a matter of minutes. The driving mechanics are very intuitive and allow easy and complete control over your craft with just a handful of keystrokes.

Graphically the title is well done, even if it falls short of true excellence. As players who have played World of Tanks might already expect, aircraft are highly detailed and modelled to a level of accuracy that, in some instances, approaches photorealism.

World of Warplanes is a great title and an important addition to Wargaming’s trilogy, soon to be completed with the upcoming World of Warships.

Call of Dragons immerses players in the fantastical world of Tamaris, offering a blend of strategic combat, kingdom-building, and immersive storytelling.
As a player, you take on the role of a commander responsible for developing a village, training troops, and taming ferocious dragons and behemoths (!) to aid in battles.

The game features a vast 3.88 million square kilometer 3D map filled with diverse biomes and terrains, ensuring endless exploration and strategic opportunities

Players can choose from various factions such as elves, mages, and warriors, each offering unique abilities and strategic advantages. The game’s combat system is both engaging and strategic, requiring players to carefully manage their troops, utilize different unit types, and deploy powerful heroes equipped with magical artifacts​

The game also boasts a robust PvP element, where players can engage in large-scale battles against other players, join guilds, and participate in guild wars.
Additionally, the presence of majestic behemoths like dragons and hydras adds a thrilling layer to the gameplay, as these creatures can be tamed and used in combat, providing significant advantages during battles​.

The real-time strategic combat provides a much-needed distraction from the typical base-building mechanics that could otherwise end up being too repetitive.

➔ Main points:

• Establish Your Dominion: develop your village from humble beginnings and assert dominance across the sprawling realm of Tamaris.
• Epic world map: Explore a massive 3.88 million square kilometer 3D map with diverse biomes.
• Strategic Warfare: Fight against huge monsters controlling your troops in real time, deploy heroes and equip them with magical artifacts.
• Narrative Depth: Immerse yourself in a rich tapestry of lore and intrigue, as epic quests and character-driven narratives unfold, influenced by your choices and actions throughout your adventures.
• Visual Splendor: Traverse breathtaking landscapes and encounter intricately detailed character designs, as the vibrant world of Tamaris springs to life with stunning visuals and captivating aesthetics.
• Available for both PC and mobile devices.

CRSED is a grotesque battle royale online shooter that lets you play as one of eight unique hero characters, and each one will offer a different combat style thanks to their skills.

Unlike most generic battle royale games, CRSED has littered its maps with ritual sites offering mythical superpowers and magic abilities (that of course bring advantages to the players who use them), alongside traditional weaponry and... yes, the frying pan.

There's plenty of progression with skill trees for your characters, new seasonal content to keep things fresh, and a cosmetic shop to dress them up when you want to look fancy.

CRSED offers the familiar battle royale gameplay experience with a much-appreciated touch of humour.

➔ Main points:

• Free to play battle royale shooter that feels familiar
• Eight character heroes to choose each with unique skills and progression system
• Plenty of authentic weapons mixed with funny cooking utensils and magic spells
• Decent player base with a steady stream of new content

FragPunk is a free-to-play, team-based FPS that splices hero abilities into a bomb-plant/defuse framework, then throws the rulebook in a blender with its signature Shard Cards
At the start of a match—and between rounds—teams draft modifiers that can bend reality in hilarious (and sometimes horrifying) ways: low gravity, headshots-only rules, or even quirks like boosting allies by shooting them with friendly bullets or crouching to “lay” healing eggs.
The result is a tactical shooter where positioning and economy still matter, but each round becomes a fresh puzzle you solve with your squad’s Lancers, loadouts, and card combos. It’s fast, it’s loud, and at its best, it captures that “one more round” energy better than many modern shooters.

Beneath the chaos lives a very readable shooter.
Weapons kick just enough to reward control, time-to-kill keeps fights spicy without being instantly over, and abilities are impactful without (usually) smothering gun skill.
The main mode, Shard Clash, is Counter-Strike-esque with a twist; if a match ends deadlocked, a sudden-death 1v1 Duel decides it—pure spectacle and a great “clip this” moment.

Maps lean colorful and legible over gritty realism, and the roster of Lancers covers scouts, controllers, duelists, and explosive experts, so you can fill a role even if your aim’s still waking up.

➔ Main points:

• Rule-bending Shard Cards: draft wild modifiers that alter gravity, healing, movement, or scoring in every round.
• Shard Clash core mode: classic plant/defuse bones with sudden-death 1v1 tiebreakers for pure drama.
• Distinct Lancer roles: controllers, scouts, duelists, and bomb specialists with punchy, readable abilities.
• Arcade-side palate cleansers: quick modes for warm-ups when you don’t want full tac-FPS stress.
• Seasonal injections of content: fresh Lancers, maps, and balance passes keep the meta from crusting over.
• Live-service grind and gacha: multiple currencies and loot pulls can feel exhausting.

Game of Thrones: Winter Is Coming is the officially licensed Game of Thrones browser game featuring many places and characters so loved by the TV series fans.

The game is authentic, fun, and quite a challenge.
Kingdom building is what you'll be doing the most, but there are also some very welcomed and interesting gameplay elements like real-time 3D battles (in the style of an MMORTS game).

The graphics are phenomenal and the soundtrack is on par with the amazing one of the TV show.
While it is very unforgiving to solo players, the game shines in group play with its stellar Alliance System that promotes teamwork to reach the end-game and rule the Iron Throne.

Overall, this is a solid free-to-play browser game that every fan of the TV show should at least try.

➔ Main points:

• Free to play browser-based strategy game with RPG and real-time strategy elements
• Authentic Game of Thrones experience thanks to the official license
• Clever diversity in gameplay
• Heavy social aspects with good alliance system
• Very unfriendly to solo players
• Amazing graphics, soundtrack and technical realization.

Heroes of History drops you into a world where time itself has apparently taken a coffee break, allowing figures from wildly different eras to casually coexist—and more importantly, fight under your command. One minute you’re recruiting Leonidas, the next you’re sending Joan of Arc to back up Napoleon in a siege. It’s chaotic, historically questionable, and honestly, a lot of fun.

At its core, the gameplay blends city-building with hero-driven strategy combat. You’ll construct your settlement from the ground up, managing resources like food, gold, and production materials while unlocking new buildings that expand your capabilities. But unlike standard empire builders, your progression is tightly linked to the heroes you collect. Each character isn’t just cosmetic—they fundamentally change how battles play out.

Combat is where the game starts flexing its muscles. Instead of mindless troop spam, you assemble squads led by historical figures, each with unique abilities inspired by their real-world legacy. For example, Alexander the Great excels in aggressive frontline pushes, boosting troop damage and momentum, while Cleopatra leans into support mechanics, enhancing resource efficiency and providing buffs that can swing prolonged engagements. Positioning, timing abilities, and team composition matter more than raw numbers.

There’s also a satisfying loop of upgrading heroes, unlocking skills, and experimenting with synergies. Pairing defensive-minded leaders like Sun Tzu with high-damage units creates a completely different playstyle compared to going full offense with figures like Genghis Khan.

While it doesn’t reinvent the genre, Heroes of History stands out by making its historical cast feel meaningful in gameplay—not just decorative portraits. It’s a strategy game where your roster genuinely shapes your tactics, and that makes every battle feel a bit more personal… even if history teachers everywhere are quietly screaming

➔ Main points:

• Hero-driven combat system: each historical figure brings unique battlefield abilities that directly impact strategy and outcomes
• Era-blending roster variety: command warriors, rulers, and tacticians from completely different time periods in one unified army
• Strategic squad composition: mixing heroes like Leonidas and Cleopatra creates drastically different combat dynamics
• City-building progression loop: expand your settlement to unlock stronger units, resources, and hero upgrades
• Skill-based battle timing: activating abilities at the right moment can completely turn the tide of combat
• Upgradeable hero specializations: customize playstyles through skill trees and stat enhancements