Cody’s top 10 ww2 2:38 Honourable mentions: Absolute War 3.27 10. Atlantic Chase 4:47 9. 1944 Battle of the Bulge 7:05 8. Pavlov’s House 8:47 7. Black Orchestra 9:59 6. Origins of WW2 11:35 5. Struggle for Europe 1939-1945 12:26 4. Combat Commander Europe 15:39 3. Undaunted Normandy 17:30 2. Company of Heroes 20:25 1. Warroom

Cody, the fact that you make these lists are a tribute to the fact that you take the time, and make the time to produce these lists. Don't let the haters win. Your lists, and other lists like them, give us all different games to look at. Thank you for your work.

I grew up on Avalon Hill war games, Third Reich, Squad Leader and Victory in the Pacific. Tempted to check out some contemporary counterparts now…

Hey, Cody, I'm from New Orleans and very, very proud of our National World War II Museum. Thanks for wearing that shirt! Might help to bring some tourists down to NOLA, just an incredible city to visit.

I loved your list and I'm a 74 year old hex and counter gamer! Great suggestions and some I'm going to try, Cheers

You’ve given me lots of interesting games to look into. Thank you for the wonderful list, Dr Carlson!

Undaunted: North Africa really has been a surprise hit for me. On paper, when I first heard of it I didn’t think too much of the mechanics, but when I got it I fell in love. It’s an accessible game that isn’t too heavy while still exhibiting a good amount of strategy. Plus, games are short! A WW2 game you can play in an hour or so? Amazing.

Wonderful video as always! WW2 is the reason I became a history teacher, I was a very nerdy kid with WW2 posters and model planes in my bedroom. I watched every 1960s and 70s WW2 movie on Blockbuster VHS tape dozens of times. A great setting for games, too. As a (mostly former) Axis & Allies player, I can't wait to play War Room. Cheers.

Thanks for catching me up! I will always love the original Axis and Allies... and now there are so many more wonderful games and more every year it seems and not enough time!

I backed War Room's latest kickstarter solely on your review and regard for this game! I have very fond memories of Axis & Allies and I enjoy a lot of similar games to you, so I am fairly confident I'll at least like it enough to justify the purchase. I can't wait to try it out when it delivers! Cheers and happy New Year to you and yours!

Dody... thanks for the great review. I"m an OLD war gamer that hasn't played in years. You brought back the old thrill of the fight and the roll of the dice! Thanks for sharing.... Ax

I like the shirt advertising the National WW2 Museum. Good touch for the video for sure!

Squad Leader is still my favorite board games. I have been playing it since the early to mid 80's and I have not stopped

Your tastes in war games lines up quite a bit with mine. Combat Commander & Undaunted, both excellent. Half of the games on your list are in my collection. I built two 42'" lazy susans, as one of my best friends also bought War Room, built one for him. WWII...Never Forget 💝. You recommended the book Rampage to me about 2 and a half years ago and I picked it up on Audible. That started me on an Audible run of 53 more audio books since then. Currently on Under The Southern Cross (book 2 of 4 set) by Tom Cleaver. Thanks for the "knowledge" kick start Cody!🍻 PS- You were right, Rampage became the toughest, hardest, most gruesome book I've ever read/listened to replacing that spot formerly held by Eugene Sledge's With The Old Breed.

Nice to ear from you Cody! Plus to say: I'm French but my favorite famous historic man is Sir Winston Churchill by far! Far from Napoleon, Joan of Arc, De Gaulle and all the others. I use to flood my Facebook friends with dozens of quotes from Winston Churchill! What a man!

Here are some of my favorites: Squad Leader (original), and Advanced Squad Leader (Avalon Hill); Battles for the Ardennes and Bulge (both by SPI); Pander Leader & Panzerblitz (both by AH), Panzer '44 by SPI; Drive on Stalingrad and Panzer Gruppe Guderian (both by SPI), Ardennes (by the Gamers); East Front by Columbia Games; Hells Highway by Victory games, Saipan (by SPI), Arnhem and Red Devils (Paratroop) by SPI, Russian Campaign (AH though originally by Jedco); France 1940 (AH), Storm Over Arnhem (AH), Panzer Armee Afrika and Rommel in the Desert (SPI); Sicily (SPI); Tobruk (AH); Bastogne (in the Westwall Quad); Battle for Germany (SPI); Third Reich (AH); Drang Nach Osten and Unentschieden(GDW); 1941 (GDW); Pacific War (Victory Games); Leningrad (SPI); Normandy '44; Cobra (SPI and later by TSR); among others.

God damn! Born 1974 in Finland we only had Normandy board game around 1985 (hexa board etc.). Nothing else. Then computers came and we change to those. Couple year ago one guy here made board game Finnish Civil War 1918 with crowd funding. Didn't know these are still made commercially..

Noticed "A House Divided" on your shelf. I was the House Divided champion at a con in the early 1980s.

Me and my brother loved playing The Avlon Hill Games Tactics and Tactics Two, in fact we just about wore out the game board and it’s pieces. And the Avlon Hill solitaire game Ambush, in fact I played the game and all of its additions, Purple Heart, Move Out, Silver Star. I really enjoyed creating the Soldiers and naming them, when they were killed it was actually sad. In fact Of all the games I played growing up, I still have all of the game parts and original paperwork and lists of the soldiers who I created.

Havn't watched the video yet, but we all know what is going to be number 1...

I played Origins of World War Two as a teenager in the 1970s. I still own it. The concept of the Political Factor made one think about Political Economy and the various components of foreign policy. The major powers contest for the client states of Europe in the 1930s. The Rheinland and Alsace-Lorraine are also represented. The game is well-balanced especially when you do it as a five player game. Each major power has different values for having the most PFs in the various client states. The game reinforces the idea that integration and free trade in the German speaking lands was low hanging fruit for Germany. Not specifically accounted for was the political violence that the Nazis used in the Anschluss of little Austria, Rheinland, and the Sudetenland. However, it could be argued that that is part of why Germany has so many PF to use. The game is also great for learning about the pre-war leaders of Europe. Leon Blum of France is particularly worth learning about. You simply can't know anything about WWII without understanding Europe in the 1930s. I enjoyed learning about the other nine games which I have not played, but hope to some day.

God _Origins of WW2_ is so old -- I remember seeing that AH game in the 1970s. I'd forgotten all about that game!

War Room is one I warred with getting back when the second kickstarter went up and a big part of me regrets skipping it but just due to how things have played out due to the pandemic, it would still be sat on the shelf. If it goes back to KS for a third time then I'll probably snap it up but the ability to play a game solo is also something important to me. Atlantic Chase is fantastic and I'm so glad I snapped it up, it's also something you rarely see represented in games. I've been looking for a Bulge game for quite some time so may look at the one referenced in your video.

So glad you've revisited the topic, it's very interesting to see how tastes change. :)

List was great my friend, and agree with a few. Great job and I send a recommendation of any of the games in the Undaunted series. Believe you will enjoy. Ty for the list

Always enjoy your videos. I will be trying some of the other games from 10 to 4. I have the rest and love them. Thanks again for your show!

I grew up on Squad Leader as a kid, and my go to WWII at that scale of interest is now Conflict of Heroes (3rd ed. with Kursk, Eastern Front for solo.) I got into the system with Attack of the Bear 2nd Ed. Ambush! was also a lot of fun, and I had London's Burning for a long time. I wish I could find a good B-17/RAF/Storm Above the Reich style of game that isn't all dice rolling...

I haven't played board games with lots of pieces in a while (caring for my grandkids, who would take innocent delight in disrupting board game positions), but one I remember enjoying back in the day (80s) was World in Flames. It was one of the first I was aware of that tied in politics, economy, and strategy and tactics into one (big) game. Ah, those were the halcyon days of undisturbed focus.... :)

First time I've seen your channel. Subscribed. I started with Avalon Hill years ago when there were no other major publishers in the US. It would be nice if you could show publisher's logo. You mention some that I have never heard of. Thanks for your review.

I am lucky in having found a group of friends to play wargames with when I was 15 and we have been playing about weekly for 40 years now - sadly the others are VERY conservative about what games they want to play (Advanced Third Reich(AH), Guns of August (AH), War Between the States (SPI) plus a few Beer and Pretzel games) but I am not complaining. My favourite WW2 games are Advanced Squad Leader (MMP former AH) and World in Flames (ADG).

Great list, love both your channels. Atlantic chase, Pavlov s house and undaunted are on my buy list now. My top three are cataclysm, world in flames and no retreat russian front but unconditional surrender might knock out wif and churchill, with more plays, might knock out russian front... so many great games out there!

Damn you again Cody!!! 😜🤯. Between myself and a friend, our gaming group had completed our goal of owning your last top 10 WW2 list! Now those pesky games publishers have released even more great games and the list shifts once more! Luckily my buddy had all ready secured CoH and it is a worthy number 2, once you’ve played a couple of games and get your head around it. Great video, great list, great channel. Better go and try and find a copy of Pavlov’s now. Thanks mate.

One of the best WW2 games of all time is and will continue to be Panzer Group Gerderian by SPI. They made so many good games back then wish I still had time to play them.

Never read the comments. Great list

Congratulations on getting published! Another great video. I am not surprised that WR is your #1. :-) Thank you for the list as I am looking for a solitaire that could also play 2-4 players so a few options in your list there. Here, I am looking forward to receiving WR new edition scheduled for early summer I believe. And to your next video of course.

Hi Cody I just found ur channel. I love military history plus I love playin wwii games

The Panzer Grenadier series by Avalanche Press is also a remarkable find. Brings back memories of playing Squad Leader/Cross of Iron/Crescendo of Doom for the first time, just without the insane level of (oft times self-defeating) minutiae.

Love the list! Been watching you awhile and always enjoy your take.

great list with interesting games! will you do list like this one with revolutionary and civil war setting? please :)

Ride of iron was a Gem I had the first edition big box back in the day

My two favorites are Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition and Castle Itter. But there are so many I haven't played; so many of those are on this list. Great review.

Best solitaire game ever...B-17 Queen of the Skies.

Are you going to do a video on Company Of Heros? It'd be interesting to see it played

Great video as always Cody. I’m really excited for the second Kickstarter for your #2! I’m definitely backing that one. Take care!

The old Avalon Hill games I loved most were Stalingrad and Midway.

I agree, WarRoom is probably one of the best WWII Strategic level games. I especially like that everyone simultaneously writes down movement orders and bids for turn order with oil. It feels more realistic. Think of Texas Hold'em comes to Wargames, and you will have an idea what WarRoom is all about.

Excellent video Cody! I'm not sure if you've played it, but my favourite WW2 game is Unconditional Surrender! World War 2 in Europe. It's a grand game but with elegant and streamlined rules. I highly recommend it.

Loved the video. Totally agree with you on Undaunted. One of my favorites. The expansions make it even better. Also, based on your recommendation, I just ordered 1944 Battle of the Bulge.

I hadn't heard of your #2 and #1 choices. I introduced my friends to Axis & Allies when it first came out. Maybe they'll dive on on War Room now. Thanks for the list!

Thanks so much, Dr. C. As always, you rock! :)

I may have to try War Room someday, but right now, sticking with Axis and Allies. I just started playing it again last year after not having played it in almost 25 years, and I feel like I am a newbie A&A player all over again, re-discovering strategies and just the game itself. Plus, I am enjoying the new iterations that have come out since I last played and got myself an Anniversary edition before it sold out again. If and when I master and/or grow tired of A&A, I may step my game up to War Room at that time. On another note, however, I just got the third printing of Triumph and Tragedy, so looking forward to trying that game out!

Cody, this was a great list! I love your content!

Anotheer really good video. You embrace what wargaming is all about. Keep it coming.

One WW2 game I really enjoyed was “One Page Bulge” by Steve Jackson Games. It is quick, easy to learn, can be done in a few hours and is fairly realistic. While it is a no frills game, it is fun and playable. Steve Jackson apparently designed it in response to a dare that no one could design a Battle of the Bulge game with just one page of rules and still keep it realistic. He succeeded. The Germans start out more powerful but as the Americans get more reinforcements, it becomes bloody and a slog fest. The Germans have to keep their units in supply or suffer greatly for not doing so. Americans get reinforcements at critical times. While our results were not exactly historical, they were not unrealistic. I played the Germans and made it to the Meuse but could not cross due to running out of time, thus losing the game. I remember both I and my friend, who played the Americans, at one point had a gaping hole in our lines that but for the lack of unit on each side neither of us could exploit. If I had tried to exploit the hole with what I had , my friend would have easily cut off my supply lines and destroyed my units piece meal. The same would have occurred to him if he tried to exploit the hole in my line. It was fun and we finished in about 3 hours.

I remember playing Panzer Blitz, and Panzer General as a kid all the time.

Thanks again. I also have a Kickstarter for War Room. I notice that you did not include Pacific Victory from Columbia. This is a faster game for two people. A mix of different elements, but really fun. Just a thought.

Axis and Allies forever. We played it as a family back in the day, so the nostalgia hits. I also like how the macro feels, you can feel the momentum build especially in the fight in Eastern Europe. It is simple enough to learn, but the planning and moves are set up like chess. I would love to pick up a copy of War Room and get a lot more game out of the game.

This is a great list Cody.. Origins is an absolute classic. Thanks for posting.

I haven't had a chance to watch your other video as this is the first video of yours I have ever seen. That being said, what do you think of classic axis and allies? I have many good memories as a kid playing that game and unfortunately I have no one to play my copy with as an adult.

Great video Cody! I love that you do too 10’s. On the topic of world wars, have you ever played Paths of Glory (WW1 game)? I just played the 6th edition and love it and would be stoked to hear your thoughts on the game.

Great list! Thanks for the recommendations and thoughts! As a fellow WW2 game fan, I like to hear about new games which has come out.

Just picked up the full Tide of Iron collection in great condition for a good price before the holidays. Surprised it didn't make your list. Going to have to check out Company of Heroes now. Already pledged for the next War Room run. Thanks for the list!

nice list! I was able to back War Room 2nd Edition. Big time A&A fan me and a friend have played countless hours on A&A global. Hoping to try this out with him. Wanted to back Company of Heroes so bad but didn't have the funds at the time. Hopefully I will be able to pick it up soon.

Pavlov’s house is my favorite WW2 game. It covers all the bases and it’s a solo game.

Great list and I love your videos. One thing you might consider when making these lists is availability. It is frustrating to get jazzed about your top two selections, only to see that there is no availability for either game unless one is willing to pay $400+. I know your favorites are your favorites. But it does lead to an anticlimactic end to these lists for many of us.

Iam relatively new to Boardgame Terminology, because I am currently fascinated about the 2nd Ed. of Company of Heroes on KS, witch would be my thirdWargame in the Collection if you count "Root" and Twilight Struggle as a Wargame, I wonder where you draw the line here, what makes a Boardgame, a Wargame, and what would not? How do you differentiate between those two?

Lol as I was typing you mention Undaunted Normandy go figure lmao

Another nice video, thank you. I'm now interested by War Room and Pavlov's House. One of my favorite WW2 game is "No Retreat - The Russian Front" by Carl Paradis (same designer as Absolute War 1941-45). It looks like hex ans counters but there's more than that. It's relatively easy to grasp, it's also card driven which adds to the fun and there's few units on each sides so it's not overwhelming. It's so subtle it feels like chess.

Curious if you have reviewed any other old Avalon Hill games? A few that come to mind are Third Reich, War at Sea, Squad Leader (and it's follow ups), and my personal favorite...Victory in the Pacific? Great list here too! Makes me want to check out War Room. :)

Thanks for the video! I do like the visual aspect of both Company of Heroes and Tide of Iron, but I also am a miniatures games, so at a certain point, I end up preferring to play a miniatures wargame other than those two. It's one of those things that "you do you", I suppose. I've been meaning to try out a few hex and counter games, lately - I bought Lock'n'Load Tactical (Heroes in Defiance - France 1940 - which is a tactical level game) and I absolutely adore Lock'n'Load's Nations at War system, for grand tactical. I'm also really looking forward to trying an operational level game from Vuca Sims - Across the Bug River (Volodymyr-Volynskyi 1941) - it has beautiful counters and map and from everything I've been reading about it the rules manual should be the subject of study by wargames designers everywhere! Cheers and thanks, once again!

Hello Cody, I was wondering what were your thoughts on Global War 1936-1945 ? The 4th edition is coming up and its mechanics look very comparable to Axis & Allies. They also have settings for WW1, Cold War and Modern Conflict. Have you come across any ? Cheers

Hi! Great video. I love Tide of Iron too. I have Pavlov's House too, and I agree with you this is fantastic. Have you tried Heroes of Normandie? It's a tactical 'like miniatures' game based on WW2 movies. Lot of fun. I will take a look at CC Europe. Thanks for share!

Thanks Cody, it's one of my favorite themes for games as well. I think you chose a great variety of games. I haven't played them all and some of those are definitely on my list to try now. I'm curious when it comes to 1944 Battle of the Bulge, could you elaborate in the future (or have you already in another video?) on what made that stand out against other operations hex and counter games?

Congratulations on the publication!

My current top WWII game that I actually have in my collection is Heroes of Stalingrad. But Memoir44, Tides of Iron and Pavlov’s House are also classics. The latter I often play digitally. I’d love to go in on the new CoH Ks but it’s just too massive for my available space.

I’m mainly a hex and counter gamer but I still like your opinions, do keep up the good work.

A very good solo game is Combat from Compass Games. It's infantry combat in WWII in the style of Ambush, but with a much improved AI system. There is a lot of variation/randomness as to how each scenario plays out. It is a very worthy successor to Ambush. Compass Games is about to release Combat 2 which adds more to the game as well as a campaign system.

I'm surprised you didn't include Triumph & Tragedy or Churchill.

Stalin is going to send you to the Gulag for those jokes. War Room is great for its secret orders. I had to make a few house rules though, such as giving carriers 2 fighters instead of 1. Black Swan is my favorite WWII European theatre game. It is a bit pricy, but it is simple yet deep. Orange Swan, its Pacific counterpart, will be coming out this year.

This hex-and-counter guy isn't going to give you any grief for your taste inn games. Variety is what keeps our hobby interesting. PS. Welcome to the cult of Combat Commander!

Can you recommend which one of these games is a good starter game for a new player? I'm not a fan of solitaire if that helps and these all look amazing.

Great to see COH so high on your list. It'd be #1 for me but my copy of War Room is still on its way.

Great list!!! I hope to get War Room at some stage (purely on your recommendation - no pressure! 😁) If you can, get and try"ORP Orzel" - superb 2 player hide and seek game about escape of Polish submarine from Estonia through Baltic to UK... Another recommendation: 303 Squadron. Superb Battle of Britain game!!!

No love for World in Flames? I remember when Axis and Allies first came out, there were no specials rules about limiting a factories production based on the productivity of the province. One game I'm playing England and think "hey, if I put a factory in Iran, I can build ALL my units there, and send them wherever they're needed most, Russia, India, North Africa; no transports necessary! So after that discovery, the Germans had to take Syria/Iraq on the first turn, or the game was over. I guess that's why they implemented the rule, right? 😄

Thanks Cody, very interesting. My favorite Churchill quote is when a disgruntled Admiral indignantly told Churchill he was scuttling the tradition of the Royal Navy. Churchill answered: “Pah! Don't talk to me about naval tradition. It's nothing but rum, sodomy and the lash.”

Origins I bought when it first came out and had a blast when I played it at a game club I used to belong to. War Room I would love to play that. Probably never will as I would never get anyone to play it.

I feel like a newbie... I just back War Room second edition on KS, still of course didn't play it but very excited... I read that the 2nd Edition of the Company of Heroes Board Game is in development and will launch on Kickstarter Q2 2022... I miss the first edition but I will jump in the new one!!!

Excellent ideas, I will have to get back into games.

Thanks, Cody, this is a great list. I haven't played any of these games but I would like to play/buy Undaunted.

Really good list Cody, thanks for refreshing it

Pity about the nasty comments, many people are braver and safely discourteous on the internet than they would be face to face, an unfortunate reality of this medium, please continue with your videos!

Thank you. Memoir will always stay in my top ten for sentimental reasons. The same for Axis and Allies although i understand it has been superseded by War Room. I like Holdfast as well. The GMT family is always too complex for my brain…. Maybe i should try that Eastern Front of your list.

So have you tried any of these? Churchill, Target for Today, or Quartermaster General? All great WWII themed games.

How much would this change for solo? For solo if you do one, put effort/time ratting, please. Sometimes I want to solo, a sit a table long game but other times a unwind coffee table game. Could almost be two different lists.

I have 4 of these. There is an absolutely enormous catalog to choose from in this field: It might benefit from some breakdown, perhaps Strategy/ Abstract: Operational: Tactical: Economic/Political: Naval: Air categories? Thank you for your video

Cody, I stumbled across this video and you perked my interest to play the many Avalon Hill WWII games I’ve had since the 60’s and 70’s. I used to play as often as I could but finding folks to play became a challenge as life moved on. That said, are the Avalon Hill Games like Tobruk (one of my favorites), Battle of the Bulge and D-Day worth selling today? Thanks for you channel.

Keep up the great work, Dr. Cody.

I like RAF: The Battle of Britain, and Maquis - I'm not much of a hex and counter guy any longer. Really like Black Orchestra as well, btw. And I'll check out the Undaunted series and Company of Heroes now because of your showcase.

I want to ask do you have The Marshal Cavendish Illustrated Encyclopedia Of WWII? It has great pictures large print in a 25 vol set. Anyway as I have no family. That could change but if I don't have anybody to leave it to if something should happen to me (I have a defect heart) would you be interested in it. I can;t think of any else who would get more use out of it, I am working on a will and I will leave them to you.

I used to work for assisted living and spent a lot of time with the elderly. Here's a cool WWII story you never heard, recounted to me by Sid who has now passed away. Sid was in the Royal Engineers and his job after D-Day was finding booby traps and dissarming them. He was in a team with a sergeant who had a notoriously dodgy sense of humour. As the British liberated towns previously occupied by the Germans they would move into the same big buildings used by the Germans as HQs. The Germans knew this and would leave boobytraps, especially around expensive objects which they thought the Allies might try to take, antiques etc. Sid's team would 'clear' these buildings before command occupied them and one of their routine tasks was checking behind paintings. So one day the Sarge tells Sid and co there's a bunch of original oil paintings and he thinks a booby trap is very likely. It's one of the team's first jobs of this kind so they are all very nervous. The Sarge points out one painting and says he's certain it's been moved, a sure sign the Germans tampered with it. This is in an old town hall office on the second floor (important detail). Sid approaches the painting, sweating and trembling. He slowly, carefully lifts it forward and peaks behind, at which point the Sarge yells BANG! All six members of Sid's team jumped out of the window, landing on a car filled with British officers waiting to move into the building. Nobody was hurt 😂