As much as the following significant military conflict events are explored in media, the first World War also gets some “recognition.” It’s way more challenging to portray it in WW1 PC games, as there are very few people out there who can tell us about these times.
It’s where history resources are even more critical than with WWII: all sorts of texts, photographs, and recordings are our sole source material. How does the gaming industry tackle this problem, and what PC titles did an exemplary job of re-telling the events that took place over a hundred years ago?
With so many games being based on World War 2 and the Cold War, only a handful of games dedicate themselves to shedding light on The Great War - World War 1. The First World War saw many technological innovations as countries needed to adapt to the changing battlefield. It was a war with huge losses and made it clear as to how horrifying and deadly the consequences of war can be. The fact that this still didn't serve as a proper warning for many before the rise of World War 2 is truly saddening, and many people are glad to see that civilized societies haven't been in conflict with each other on such a large scale ever since.
Weapons and equipment of this time were also less advanced than that of WW2, making it much harder to create an enjoyable gameplay experience with WW1 than with WW2. But if every war game would be about WW2, there would be little to none left to show the terrors of 1914-1918. The best WW1 games are definitely worth checking out for people interested in this turbulent period of history.
Updated on October 30, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: It's a shame that the setting of World War 1 isn't represented all that heavily in gaming, with the second global confrontation playing a bigger role in pop culture instead. However, the events of the First World War were still quite harrowing, and many people would like to know more about what happened during this time. Thankfully, there are more than enough decent games that take place in this setting and are quite elevated in quality, as a result.
18 NecroVisioN
Metascore: 63
NecroVisioN seems to be inspired by Lovecraftian horror and strays a little farther from the realistic WW1 setting. Although it embodies the overall feel and style of the harsh realities of the great war, it takes the liberty to add fantasy elements like monsters and zombies.
In this FPS, players take on the role of Simon Bukner, who is being recruited into the British Army. During his time fighting for his country, Simon discovers that he not only has to fight against man but supernatural elements as well. While it's the ugly duckling of the list, it still counts as a WW1 game because of its accurate setting and style.
17 Call Of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land
Metascore: 68
From one Lovecraftian WW1 game to another, Call Of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land is based on the iconic H.P. Lovecraft novel The Call of Cthulhu. While it follows a more fantasy-type storyline compared to other games based on historical events, it still depicts greatly what WW1 was all about.
Players take on the role of a team of investigators looking into conspiracies within the German army during the war. Its story is gripping, as is the gameplay, and while it's not entirely historically accurate, it still pays tribute to the great war.
16 Iron Storm
Metascore: 69
Iron Storm takes a unique look at World War 1, basing itself on an alternate version of history where the war never ended. This hellscape is relayed in the form of a first-person shooter that features one of the better campaigns on this list.
The gameplay is slightly buggy and might not be up to everyone's standards, but fans of FPS games with unique storylines will have a great time with Iron Storm. It's not a stellar title by any means but is easily one of the most underrated World War 1 games around.
15 Ad Infinitum
Metascore: 69
Trench warfare during World War 1 was especially traumatic for the many soldiers who participated in it, with people having to deal with everything from artillery fire to diseases while being cramped in these close-quarter environments. Ad Infinitum is a horror game focusing on the struggles of a World War vet who suffers from PTSD following his acts in World War 1 and the trench warfare he was a part of.
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The game certainly has its flaws, but there's no denying that the setting of World War 1 is done justice to. The game may not be as tight a horror experience as most people would want it to be, but its ideas are definitely fresh and worth checking out for fans of unique horror experiences that take risks instead of sticking to what works.
14 Verdun
Metascore: 70
With Verdun, players can enjoy a first-person shooter game that not only takes place in World War 1 but allows players to experience authentic weapons from the iconic time period. The gameplay is merciless and realistic, showing players how unforgiving the time period was.
It's set between 1914 and 1918 on the Western Front and strives to be as realistic as possible. Because of this, both the setting and style of the game have a unique feel that both history buffs and FPS fans will enjoy very much. Players all around the world praise Verdun for its immaculate depiction of WW1.
13 The Great War: Western Front
Metascore: 71
There are many strategy games that have used the setting of World War 1 to great effect, and one such title that falls into this category is The Great War: Western Front. This strategy game does a commendable job of showing the tense nature of these conflicts, with players having to employ some smart strategies to even stand a chance of attaining victory.
Both the Central Powers and the Allied Powers can be controlled in the game, leading to new and unique gameplay scenarios based on the unit used by the player. While the lack of a good UI really drags back the overall game at times, The Great War: Western Front is a fun title that fans of this setting should check out for themselves.
12 To End All Wars
Metascore: 71
To End All Wars is one of the more advanced WWI strategic games out there. Players strive to take over Europe by expanding their units and taking down nations. For newcomers, this is a bit more advanced and takes time to get to know the game, but fans love the overall style and the story.
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It's set during the time of WW1 and brings to life the feel and strategies of the war. So for history fans and strategy game fans alike, this is one of the best of the best out there.
11 Tannenberg
Metascore: 72
Tannenberg is a standalone expansion to the WW1 FPS game, Verdun. Gameplay and combat are slow-paced and methodical, as a proper war simulator should be. Unlike Battlefield 1, Tannenberg and Verdun aren't run-and-gun kinds of games. This allows the players to truly immerse themselves in the feel of war. They are equipped with bolt-action rifles where a single shot is lethal.
Maneuvering in this game should also be careful since there are no arcade-y baseball slides to dodge projectiles; just good old-fashioned cover-to-cover trench warfare. Matches are large-scale, supporting up to 64 players. Tannenberg offers more gritty gameplay outside of a market unsaturated by battle royales and action shooters.
10 Isonzo
Metascore: 74
A highly underrated multiplayer FPS that fans need to check out, Isonzo allows players to serve as soldiers who are operating on the Italian Front during World War 1. The game is pretty tactical and requires players to be smart about how they approach a particular target, having to rely on teamwork a lot to attain victory.
The shooting is tight and satisfying, with the game doing a great job of showing just how tense firefights used to be during the World War. Players who are interested in this period of history and want to check out a solid FPS in the process can check out Isonzo and enjoy everything this title has to offer.
9 11-11: Memories Retold
Metascore: 77
Narrative-heavy adventure games have become quite the rage in modern times, with 11-11: Memories Retold falling in the same category. It takes a look at two soldiers from opposing sides who join the war for their own reasons.
11-11: Memories Retold does a brilliant job of conveying a riveting story, with its art style being pretty great too. Technical issues do bog down the overall experience, but this is a small price to pay for an otherwise brilliant experience.
8 Amnesia: The Bunker
Metascore: 77
The Amnesia series is one of the most popular horror games of all time, with players having to solve ingenious puzzles while traversing nightmarish areas as they are hounded by monsters every step of the way. The gameplay is tense and unforgiving, with players having to sneak around to try and avoid any threats while making their way through the games.
The first two games are brilliant, even if some people felt that A Machine for Pigs wasn't the best title to follow up the sheer brilliance of The Dark Descent. Thankfully, many people consider The Bunker to be a return to form for the series, with the nightmarish enemies and nerve-wracking gameplay being refined to a T. Players who love horror games where they're pushed against the ropes every single time will love what Amnesia: The Bunker manages to achieve with its simple yet ingenious gameplay mechanics.
7 Rise Of Flight: The First Great Air War
Metascore: 77
Rise Of Flight is a dogfighter game where players take control of WW1 fighter planes and wage aerial assaults across the skies. It is a simulated flight game that respects the real-world logic of dogfights from navigation, maneuvering, aerodynamics, combat, etc.
Players can engage each other in large-scale matches, capturing objectives and taking each other out of the sky. Players are immersed in the eyes of a true dogfighter in Rise Of Flight. The game provides gritty non-arcade mechanics that fans of simulated realism, flying games especially, will surely love.
6 Darkest Hour: A Hearts Of Iron Game
Metascore: 81
Darkest Hour follows world events from The Great War all the way to the Cold War. It is a real-time strategy game where players govern a country, making crucial strategies and decisions in a time of war.
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The player will oversee all aspects of managing a country, from foreign trade, troop deployment, military strategies, diplomatic affairs, alliances, technological innovations, and much more. Players can also capture territory later in the game. Because of the methodical pacing of Darkest Hour, combat doesn't usually come until around two hours into the game.
5 Castlevania Anniversary Collection
Metascore: 81
Castlevania really took off after the success of Symphony of the Night, which opened the doors for the Metroidvania genre to become commonplace in the realm of gaming. Facets of game design present in Symphony of the Night have been replicated in many major titles ever since, showing just how influential this game really was, but there are hardcore fans who still have a soft spot for the classic Castlevania games, including Castlevania: Bloodlines.
This title, along with seven other classic games, was released as a part of the Castlevania Anniversary Collection. Bloodlines itself focuses on World War 1 and how the massacres during this time period were engineered by both Elizabeth Bartley and Drolta Tzuentes, using the souls of the vanquished to help Lord Dracula become a part of the living world once again.
4 Toy Soldiers
Metascore: 81
Toy Soldiers would be the result if the logic of Toy Story was applied to a detailed World War 1 diorama. Miniature soldiers and war units wage havoc against each other in the universe of a relatively vast living room. It is a tower defense game where the player fights against incoming waves of enemies.
Aside from automatically firing, the defense units players place can also be manually controlled, allowing the player a more active role in the game instead of just sitting back and watching his strategy unfold.
3 Valiant Hearts: The Great War
Metascore: 87
When doing a game on The Great War, a puzzle adventure seems like a questionable decision. However, Valiant Hearts executed it beautifully. Valiant Hearts is an emotional, heart-wrenching journey that shines a light on the turmoils of war. It centers on the personal stories of four strangers of World War 1, touching on their individual lives outside of just being another number.
Every other game on this list sees troops as an expendable resource; just another death, just another respawn. By shedding a different light on war, Valiant Hearts brings players much closer to the battlefield than any other game ever could. This 2D animated puzzle game has light humorous gameplay, but its narrative, along with the historical trivia, will forever change perspectives towards the events of 1914-1918.
2 Battlefield 1
Metascore: 89
Regarded as one of the most inaccurate depictions of World War 1, Battlefield 1 is one of the most fast-paced shooters based on the matter. The game borrows elements from war strategies such as trench warfare and integrates them into an action-centered shooter rather than a simulated one.
Matches are large-scale scale supporting up to 64 players along with the use of weaponized vehicles such as tanks and bomber planes, among others. There are also different classes in the game, each with its own specialized use on the battlefield. Though far from how actual war plays out, it's a nice blend to have with the modern FPS genre.
1 The Last Express
Metascore: 90
The Last Express is an adventure game that never really got the attention it deserved upon release. However, the game slowly became a cult classic over time before an updated release was pushed on modern hardware.
More and more people were able to experience this amazing adventure directed by the mastermind behind the iconic Prince of Persia series. Fans who want to play through a great adventure title set in the days just before the First World War broke out should look no further than The Last Express.
Is there a game based on WW1?
Metascore: 72. Tannenberg is a standalone expansion to the WW1 FPS game, Verdun. Gameplay and combat are slow-paced and methodical, as a proper war simulator should be. Unlike Battlefield 1, Tannenberg and Verdun aren't run-and-gun kinds of games.30 thg 10, 2023nullThe 18 Best Games Based On World War 1 (According To Metacritic)gamerant.com › Games › Video News & Featuresnull
Are there any WW1 FPS games?
Isonzo is a realistic tactical multiplayer FPS crafted by BlackMill Games, known for their critically acclaimed authentic WW1 wargames such as Verdun and Tannenberg. Immerse yourself in faithful recreations of historical battles with intense 48-player matches, testing your tactical skills and mastery of Alpine warfare.nullIsonzo on Steamstore.steampowered.com › app › Isonzonull
Is there any WW1 cod games?
Call of Duty: The Great War is a first person shooter developed by Dark Productions, Treyarch, Ubisoft Montreal and Rockstar San Diego it is published by Activision. It is for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. This game is set between 1912 and 1920, which is before, during and after World War I.nullCall of Duty: The Great Warcodfanfic.fandom.com › wiki › Call_of_Duty:_The_Great_Warnull
What is the first World War game?
The game World War I covers these historical events of 1914-1918 in over 30 missions grouped into 3 campaigns and one additional chapter. As a commander leading the forces of Germany, Russia or Allies, the player must be prepared to prove their military leadership skills on the battlefields of Europe.nullWorld War I on Steamstore.steampowered.com › app › World_War_Inull