5 Best Games For Simulation Combat, Ranked

When it comes to war simulation games, the importance of high-quality combat cannot be emphasized enough. High-level combat simulation experiences can provide players with thrilling experiences that combine skill, adrenaline-charging action, and strategy.

Whether it’s in the air, in a tank, or on foot, the best combat simulators require quick thinking, precise timing, and a master of virtual tactics and weaponry. Some of the genre’s finest entries can prove especially difficult to master, often demanding a great deal of time and attention from players to fully master and enjoy. Players get to immerse themselves in environments that often prove to be hyperrealistic. The action often requires taking cover, flanking dangerous maneuvers, and teamwork to outgun and outwit deadly opposition. Overall, the best war simulators have consistently provided players with great tests of their wits, reflexes, and nerves.

5 Arma 3 – A Complicated, Intense Shooter

Metascore: 74

This realism-focused shooter throws players into the brutality of tactical combat. With a variety of maps and terrain to explore, players must be on their toes at all times as the enemy could be around any corner.

There’s an impressive variety of deadly firearms to choose from here. In an interesting detail, issues such as recoils and exterior ballistics make their way into the game, often impacting how efficiently the player can gun down the enemy in the heat of combat. The game follows a largely similar format to its predecessors but provides gamers with more freedom when it comes to general customization options.

On top of advanced weaponry, there are plenty of military vehicles to discover and use as well, ensuring the action is both diverse and thrilling. For newer players, Arma 3 has garnered considerable criticism over the years for being brutally inaccessible. With no leeway when it comes to difficulty, the game can prove to be a tense, often infuriating simulation experience as players get used to its complex controls and unpredictable action.

4 Rise Of Flight: The First Great Air War – Takes Players To The Dangerous Skies Of WW1

Metascore: 77

For gamers looking for more World War I-focused action, Rise of Flight is an underrated gem worth checking out. Released to a moderate critical reception, the game’s heavy focus on realism drew a polarized response from players and pundits alike.

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For players more used to modern era-focused simulations, the difficult-to-navigate aircraft of WWI, coupled with the rather basic weaponry, can make for a frustrating experience. However, for those who persevere, the game’s intense depiction of early 20th-century aerial combat turns into a thrilling, often hectic experience.

In the years since its release, Rise of Flight has garnered a minor cult following for its approach to dangerous, sky-bound action. In 2019, the game was essentially reborn through IL-2 Sturmovik: Flying Circus, which took everything Rise of Flight had developed, updated it, and introduced it to a new generation of gamers.

3 Steel Beasts – Throws Players Into The Dangers Of Tank Warfare

Metascore: 86

• Initial release date: August 21, 2000
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows
• Developers: eSim Games

Steel Beasts throws players into the destructive world of tank-fighting. At the time of its 2000 release, the German Leopard 2A4 and the US M1A1 Abrams tanks had never been reproduced in such precise detail, wowing critics and players alike in the process.

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Along with the impressive tanks on offer, gamers also get the chance to work with an impressive variety of additional, deadly vehicles, ensuring there’s plenty to do should players want a break from high-intensity tank gameplay. When acting out the tank simulations, players are given the choice of two roles: gunner or commander. From there, explosive, vehicular warfare ensues. While the graphics are nothing to write home about, the grittily-detailed action, focus on realism, and the remarkably smart AI all make for a worthwhile combat simulation experience.

2 Falcon 4.0: Allied Force – A Challenging But Rewarding Flight Simulator

Metascore: 90

• Initial release date: June 28, 2005
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac
• Developers: Lead Pursuit

Allied Forcetook the original Falcon 4.0 and transformed it for a new generation of players. Through a variety of mods, patches, and major gameplay updates, Allied Force took on a life of its own as the premiere F-16 simulator back in the mid-noughties.

Not for the impatient, Allied Force comes equipped with a whopping 716-page instruction manual. Needless to say, whether players commit to the manual or try their luck through trial and error, the game can prove to be quite frustrating in its early stages. Fortunately, there are settings that can make for a simpler time.

Once gamers have finally managed to master the various intricacies and controls of the full realism experience, however, the game turns into one of the most complex and realistic flight combat simulators in gaming history. It’s a fascinating, intense, and often addictive experience that sees players work with wingmen and forward air controllers, among other features, to get the dangerous job done.

1 IL-2 Sturmovik – A Thrilling Look At WW2 Aerial Warfare

Metascore: 91

• Initial release date: November 20, 2001
• Platforms: Microsoft Windows
• Developers: 1C:Maddox Games

The original entry in the classic flight simulator series, IL-2 Sturmovik was released to considerable acclaim. Widely regarded as the pinnacle of flight simulators back in 2001, the game’s success was a huge step in the right direction for Russian developers 1C Company.

The game provides players with over 30 aircraft to try out, as well as an additional 40+ airborne vehicles to contend with in battle. A variety of countries to play are also on the table, including the United States, Germany, and Japan. With an emphasis on historical accuracy for the vehicles, the game provides a surprisingly in-depth look at aerial dogfighting in World War II. Suitably intense and fast-paced, it’s a fascinating piece of realistic combat gaming for WWII history buffs and general players alike.

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