“Terrorism is good for business.”
That’s a line from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, recently released from Infinity Ward and Activision on the Playstation 5 and the Xbox Series X consoles. It’s not the only war-centered video game to debut on the new Sony console.
Finding great games can be difficult, especially with a new console. Some developers will remaster an old title, which can be great for fans of that particular game, but for most game makers, conquering the new console’s capabilities is a top priority in creating an excellent gameplay experience.
Let’s go over ten of the best war-centered games for PS5. We’ll be covering all types of war, not just modern-day warfare or World War II.
Enlisted
First up on our list is this war simulation game that pits you in a strategic fight for three bases. How you handle your squad will determine whether or not you’re successful in your mission. As a defender, you’ll stop the enemy from overrunning those bases, and as an attacker, you’ll do your best to secure them.
Choosing from a list of military campaigns, you can play as a Soviet officer in the Battle for Moscow or as a U.S. soldier fighting against the Japanese in Pacific War. Normandy, Berlin, Stalingrad, and Tunisia also make an appearance, allowing you, as the player, to choose the battle you’d like to fight.
War Thunder
Available on PC, Playstation 4 and 5, and Xbox Series X|S, this realistic war-centered MMO is all about the vehicles. Tanks, planes, and ships become weapons of mass destruction in this combat-intensive free-to-play war game.
With two modes, arcade and RB (real battle), this war game focuses on showcasing the details of each vehicle by using modern graphics to help each player maximize their gameplay. With unlockable modifications – tracks, guns, ammunition, engines, and other upgrades you ‘purchase’ – you can enhance any new vehicle you acquire. Because each new vehicle comes in a ‘stock’ condition, this aspect of War Thunder becomes increasingly important.
Don’t think you can just lay down a barrage of bullets to take out your enemy. Game skills will require you to learn where, when, and how to injure the enemy tank, plane, or ship to destroy it.
So, if you’re in the mood for some war-vehicle PvP (player vs. player) action, War Thunder is just the game for you.
Battlefield 2042
The Battlefield franchise blew up as a major gaming franchise in 2002 with the release of Battlefield: 1942. Since then, they’ve released 38 new titles, including expansion packs for recent titles. They also have a mobile game currently in development.
Developed by DICE on the Frostbite engine, Battlefield garnered massive appeal for its realistic 3D effects. In Battlefield Bad Company, nearly everything standing could be knocked down with gunfire and explosives. To this day, it’s one of the most popular Battlefield titles.
However, with the addition of Battlefield 2042, DICE has stepped into the future with deployable mines and drones. Extreme weather can also challenge players to think on their feet, and Levolution, the ability to take down large structures with explosives, returns in this newest game title.
The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S games also offer cross-platform capability, allowing friends with different systems to play in the same matches. This new capability greatly increases the gameplay experience for fans of the franchise and those trying it out for the first time.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
“The ultimate weapon is team.” Call of Duty is back with a new immersive multiplayer gaming experience and single-player campaign that promises “globe-trotting” events and activities. A new gunsmith and updated suite of weapons and armor offering players various mix-and-match options for defense and offense.
We have thus far enjoyed our time with Modern Warfare 2. Despite a rough launch, we see potential with the Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer. We came away impressed with the single-player campaign, too.
For more on Modern Warfare 2, check out our list of every multiplayer map ranked from worst to best.
Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond
A classic in the world of war games, the Medal of Honor series has been wowing fans since 1999 when DreamWorks and EA (Electronic Arts) released the series namesake Medal of Honor.
In 2020, EA returned with Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond, a new take on an old story. Revisit war-torn Europe in this interactive single-player campaign and immersive multiplayer game that adds an element of realism with interviews from those who fought in and survived WWII.
EA is adamant that you’ll need more than good aim to destroy your enemies in this new offering, and you’ll have to stay on your toes if you want to make it out alive. With Oculus and Respawn coming on board for the VR (virtual reality) experience, you’ll truly become a soldier in the fight to save Europe from Nazi Germany. In multiplayer, you’ll experience missions alone, with a team, and even use explosives to achieve your objective. But that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy. Relive life on the front line as you criss-cross your way through Europe in this newest Medal of Honor and Electronic Arts offering.
Sniper Elite 5
Rebellion
Created by Rebellion Developments, Sniper Elite 5 is a sequel to 2017’s Sniper Elite 4. Playing as Karl Fairburneas, you’ll continue his mission to uncover a secret Nazi project known as Project Kraken.
A one-person army is never easy to pull off, but if anyone can do it, Karl can. Your mission is simple, take out anyone in your way and stop Project Kraken before the Nazis can use it to win the war.
Rifles, pistols, knives, and your wits will see you through a myriad of places as you weave your way closer and closer to Adolf Hitler and ending Project Kraken.
One unique aspect of this game is that it is a VR experience. You’ll need a VR headset and controls to make the most of this offering from Rebellion Developments and Respawn Studios. That being said, it’s sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to step into the boots of an OSS (Office of Strategic Services) soldier working to take down someone as infamous as Adolf Hilter.
Chivalry 2
Step into medieval times when soldiers fought with swords, lances, and battleaxes, and combat was closeup and as personal as it gets. Shields were likely your only protection, and battles were bloody and brutal as you withstand a ‘kill or be killed’ fight for survival.
Realistic graphics give you an ‘in-your-face’ experience like none other as death comes calling. Tripwire Interactive and Torn Banner Studios have reimagined the medieval war skirmish so that every nuance of battle becomes your world. From your trusty war-horse with its shining armor to the longsword in your hand and the crossbow on your back, you’ll immerse yourself in a quest for greatness and survival as you hack, stab, joust and ride your way to war.
Isonzo
BlackMill Games
Focusing on WWI, this FPS gives you a unique take on an old war. The graphics are stellar as you fight through different parts of Northern Italy and even on the Alpine peaks, but the gameplay sets this game apart.
Developer M2H has a knack for smacking you down in a position or place that forces you to use different approaches to take out your enemies. This isn’t your average point-and-shoot game and requires tactical skill to win the day.
With great options for where you’ll end up fighting, this game takes surprise to a new level, and only your skills and prowess will see you through to the end.
Rainbow Six Siege
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege gets an automatic upgrade on the PS5, running at 120 frames per second and showcasing amazing 4K visuals. This squad-based FPS will give new meaning to ‘modern warfare’ as your team infiltrates skyscrapers and fortified buildings to find and defeat your enemies.
In this next-gen version of the original Rainbow Six Siege, you’ll take your squad through buildings using grenades to make a point of entry, snipe enemies through a skyscraper window from a vantage point, and run down your enemies like a plague.
This version also works well with Playstation’s new Activity Card, allowing you to join squads in multiplayer faster and more easily.
God of War: Ragnarok
In the Launch edition of God of War: Ragnarok, you’ll play Kratos, the main character in the God of War series. He’s on a journey with his son, Atreus, to try and stop Ragnarok. In this latest installment in the God of War series from Santa Monica Studios, Kratos has difficulty distinguishing between his duties as a father and a man who’s about to lead a war.
While Atreus is adamant that war may be the only way to stop Loki from fulfilling Ragnarok, Kratos is just as stubborn about finding a solution that doesn’t end in war with Odin. From the trailer, it seems father and son will have to find common ground if war is to be circumvented. But when Tyr, an old and long-thought-dead God of War, is finally found, all bets are off.
“Death can have me when it earns me.” Kratos is as defiant as ever, and Tyr is brutally honest, but Atreus is the one hiding a secret, and only time will tell if that secret will be revealed. Pre-orders are happening now as God of War: Ragnarok is due on November 9th, 2022.
Wrapping Up
This list isn’t exhaustive, and there are many titles out there that deserve a look from serious gamers, but for the casual gamer who likes the idea of war-themed gameplay, this list will give you plenty to sink your teeth into.
