The Best Video Games with World War II Background

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Lessons about the history of World War II (WWII) are usually the most exciting to learn because they only happened less than 100 years ago and also became a milestone for the independence of the Republic of Indonesia from foreign occupation.

Although the accuracy is questionable, some of the events in the game that are set in WWII are not that different from the original. Judging by The Gamer website, these are the 8 best video games that take place during WWII.

Call of Duty 2

The first game with the best WWII setting is “Call of Duty 2” (COD 2) by Activision.

Set in WWII, in the Battle of Moscow (1941 – 1942), the Battle of El Alamein (1942), the Battle of Stalingrad (1943) and the Invasion of Normandy (1944), you will play as three types of soldiers: from the United States, from the Soviet Union. , and English, in different scenarios.

Battlefield 1942

Known as a fierce rival to the COD game, Battlefield (BF) has already existed before COD. In 2002, EA released “Battlefield 1942” as the FPS game’s debut.

Taking the background in WWII, you will fight either as Allied soldiers (US, Soviet Union, and UK) against the Axis Powers (Germany, Italy, and Japan) and vice versa.

Red Orchestra 2: Heroes Of Stalingrad

Fast forward to 9 years ago, one of the best games set in WWII was released in September 2011, namely “Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad”, by 1C Company, a game company from Russia.

Set in the Battle of Stalingrad (1943) and the Pacific War (1937 – 1945), this game makes you feel “like in the front line”. There are six game modes that you can enjoy in Red Orchestra 2:

Multiplayer Campaign,
territory control,
countdown,
Firefight, and
Search-and-Destroy.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad

Two years after Red Orchestra 2, 1C Company released “IL 2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad” as part of “IL 2 Sturmovik: Great Battles” in November 2013.

As the title suggests, taking place in the background of the Battle of Stalingrad, you’re not taken in a ground battle, but an aerial battle! Even on land, you don’t walk, but ride a tank.

It can be said, IL 2 is a fighter jet simulation game with the best WWII setting to date. Design details to the movement of aircraft and tanks are really considered.

The game mechanics are also good. Just as a fighter jet pilot can experience a red-out (a reddened vision caused by blood pooling in the head when the plane dives) to the point of passing out, the game mechanics in IL 2 can also provide both experiences that are uncomfortable from the player’s perspective to make it even more immersive.

Medal Of Honor: Airborne

In this game, you play as a paratrooper in the US 82 Airborne Forces named Boyd Travers. Before fighting on land, you will feel the tension of parachuting into the battlefield during WWII.

In terms of gameplay, this game boasts of its Single Player mode which is challenging and non-linear. With the new artificial intelligence, “Affordance AI”, you can take action to subdue the enemy from observing your surroundings.

Men Of War: Assault Squad 2

It took 1C Company 5 years to develop a sequel to the first “Men of War”. As an Allied soldier (US, USSR and UK) or Axis (Japan and Germany), you can play 65 multiplayer locations with 5 modes.

A strategy genre, Assault Squad 2 improves a lot on the content of the first Men of War by adding new things such as an updated Single Player battle mode, improved graphics, 250 new transport units, and an expanded multiplayer mode (1-vs-1 up to 8-vs-8).

Hearts Of Iron IV

Unlike other games that only focus on the Allies or Axis Blocks, Hearts of Iron IV allows you to play other world countries in the period from 1936 to 1939. As we know, not all countries are at war. Some countries are pacifist, fascist, communist, to non-aligned.

Depending on the ideology of the country you choose, there are pluses and minuses. If you choose a fascist country, you can declare war easily, but other countries don’t want to trade with you.

Steel Division: Normandy 44

It’s still a matter of strategy games set in WWII. Just like Heart of Iron IV, the game “Steel Division: Normandy 44” released by Paradox Interactive in 2017 also has a strategy theme. As the title suggests, this game is set in the historical setting of the Normandy Invasion in 1944.

With a fairly wide selection of military forces, you can choose between two modes: you against the computer, or you and your friends against other people in 10-vs-10 battles! From Canada to Germany, everything is your choice.