World War II is a fascinating conflict from a historical perspective. Not only was it the deadliest and most destructive war ever fought, but it single-handedly reshaped the world map as we know it, with effects still being felt to this very day.
It's no wonder WWII-themed games are such a hit with players, especially when it comes to the multiplayer aspect. Here's a list of games that are set in the WWII era which feature robust multiplayer modes that gamers have embraced from top to bottom.
10 Sniper Elite 4: Italia
Rebellion's fourth entry in the Sniper Elite franchise is hands down the best, thanks to a complete overhaul of the stealth mechanics which put heavy emphasis on tactics and realism. Sniper Elite 4 boasts more than grisly X-Ray kills– it's a seamless evolution of everything that came before, wrapped up in a nice bow.
Patient snipers will appreciate the multiplayer aspect of the game, and all the tension that comes with it. If going up against human opponents isn't your thing, consider buddying up instead, and working together to take out waves of enemy NPCs. Either way, Sniper Elite 4: Italia is one of the best tactical stealth shooters around, and certainly the best sniper game ever made.
9 Day Of Defeat: Source
Day Of Defeat's DNA stretches back a full twenty years to its original foundation as a Half-Life mod. Since then, it's taken on a life of its own, culminating in Valve's purchase of the IP, and an official Source release in 2005.
Day Of Defeat shaped the WWII multiplayer shooter concept at a time when other companies weren't even thinking of it. Its legacy is understated (to say the least), and would have a tremendous impact on the FPS shooters that followed.
8 Battlefield V
DICE continues their Battlefield series with the most recent release, attracting multiplayer gamers from around the world to participate in the living, breathing WWII environments and gameplay.
Frantic as ever, Battlefield V took a few knocks on the chin, but it has pushed forward the WWII multiplayer shooter genre even further, thanks to refinements in the combat mechanics. It's also quite pretty to look at with ray-traced graphics enabled.
7 Hell Let Loose
A newcomer to the WWII multiplayer arena is Black Matter's Hell Let Loose, a crowdfunded Kickstarter title boasting battles with 100 simultaneous players across sprawling, gigantic maps.
The game is notorious for its brutal realism, which translates directly into unforgiving gameplay. As a result, players must utilize communication as a key tool to win the battle, putting tactics and strategy above all-out run and gunning.
6 Call Of Duty: WWII
Knocked for its underwhelming single-player campaign and an uncomfortable scrubbing of historical elements, Call Of Duty: WWII nevertheless found modest success in the multiplayer field.
Critical praise was heaped on the multiplayer aspect, specifically for its multiple game modes and character classes. It may not have been a runaway hit, but it won enough awards to remain a top contender.
5 War Thunder
Gaijin Entertainment was no stranger to the WWII simulation genre, thanks to its experience with the well-received IL-2 Sturmovik franchise, and it translated into another hit with 2013's War Thunder.
The game continues to be updated with new content, including helicopters and more world factions. It also boasts an immense 800 playable vehicles in its roster, which is downright astonishing.
4 World Of Tanks
World Of Tanks is one of the most popular freemium MMO titles around, and renowned for its deep, addictive gameplay. While the game can be played entirely for free, that hasn't stopped players from diving headfirst into microtransaction territory, which netted over $350 million in 2013 alone.
With 10 years of operation under its belt, World Of Tanks continues to enjoy support from developer Wargaming Minsk, complete with a new update due for imminent release. The game shows no signs of slowing down.
3 Steel Division 2
Real-time strategy gamers had a lot to say about the original Steel Division in 2017, and those criticisms were taken into account and implemented in the 2019 sequel. As such, Steel Division 2 has enjoyed positive feedback from critics and gamers alike.
The gameplay is for hardened RTS fans alone, and probably isn't suitable for those who lack the patience required for a large-scale campaign. That being said, it's worth a try even for those who aren't big fans of the genre.
2 Company Of Heroes 2
Company Of Heroes 2 has been out for 5 years now, but it feels like longer. Even so, it remains one of the best WWII multiplayer RTS titles around, especially for fans who cut their teeth on the original.
Multiplayer gaming forces the player to adopt strategy when dealing with troop deployments, resource management, and battle tactics, giving it a unique feel all its own.
1 IL-2 Sturmovik
IL-2 Sturmovik is probably the most popular and powerful of the WWII-themed simulator titles, and for good reason. 1C Game Studios continues to expand the highly popular series with a bevy of new content and titles to choose from, but its roots lie in the original air battles of the 2001 original.
The attention to detail given to planes from a vast number of countries is one of the key facets of the franchise's success, and many gamers have since chosen their favorites to fly campaign or multiplayer missions. When it comes to WWII immersion, few franchises can top what 1C has done.