# Best online hex-based wargames? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 7, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859 "2015-11-07T02:19:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/1 "2015-11-07T02:19:32Z")
As a kid I played a fair amount of hex-based wargames with paper chits as units and dice rolls to resolve battles. I know there are many games out there that are somewhat like this, but I’m looking for ones that approximate the feel and gameplay of the ones I used to like–the Avalon Hill games and so on. Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. That kind of thing. Can anyone recommend good games/sites? I’m NOT interested in games like Civ–love that game, but it’s not the same kind of experience. No RTS need apply. Either PvP or computer opponent is fine. Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/2 "2015-11-07T03:14:21Z")
Not sure if fantasy is your cup of tea, but [Battle for Wesnoth](http://www.wesnoth.org/) is turn-based tactics on a hex map and it is free. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/3 "2015-11-07T04:21:19Z")
[Matrix Games](http://www.matrixgames.com/) specializes in the kind of games you describe. I’ve never actually played any of their games, so I can’t really recommend one. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/4 "2015-11-07T07:06:38Z")
There’s [HexWar](https://www.hexwar.com/). ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/5 "2015-11-07T18:17:47Z")
There are a number of “simulators” that let you play the original games online; the biggest one is probably Vassal. The only problem is, in most cases, you need a copy of the game as they do not come with the rules or necessary charts. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_of\_Words](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@Jack\_of\_Words](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_of_Words)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/6 "2015-11-07T18:35:25Z")
> [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](#): > > Not sure if fantasy is your cup of tea, but [Battle for Wesnoth](http://www.wesnoth.org/) is turn-based tactics on a hex map and it is free. Seconded. It comes with a diverse range of scenarios, of various difficulty levels. It’s one of those games I keep around because I know there’ll always be a point where I’ll enjoy going back to replay one or other scenario. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/7 "2015-11-07T21:04:50Z")
I’m also a Wesnoth fan although l must admit some of the campaigns are too hard for me. The OP should certainly give it a try. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/8 "2015-11-08T03:16:53Z")
And if fantasy is a deal breaker you could try [Panzer General Forever](http://www.pgforever.info/). I really enjoyed the WWI campaigns ---
**Author:** ![Wakinyan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wakinyan/32/352_2.png) [@Wakinyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wakinyan)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/9 "2015-11-08T09:01:56Z")
I have been looking for the type of games the OP is asking for, on an off for years, without any success. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Garula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Garula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garula)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/10 "2015-11-08T12:11:39Z")
If you have people to play with, you might want to take a look at VASSAL. It’s a sort of boardgame engine. It’s not pretty or particularly easy to use, but there are tons and tons of modules for classic wargames available and is completely free. And on the more modern side of things there’s Tabletop Simulator, which is much more tactile and user friendly experience, but doesn’t automate any rules and has fewer wargaming modules available. Both are really only worthwhile if you already know people to play with, however. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/11 "2015-11-08T17:15:35Z")
Thanks for the tips, all. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/12 "2015-11-08T23:41:37Z")
If you’d also consider console or computer software, consider Koei games such as L’Empereur which include tactical hex-based wargaming along with non-hex grand strategy. ---
**Author:** ![BlueOhio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/439d5e/32.png) [@BlueOhio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueOhio)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/13 "2015-11-09T14:08:50Z")
I’m a long time hex-based gamer as well, and found the Unity of Command series to be pretty good ([http://unityofcommand.net/](http://unityofcommand.net/)). I think it’s strictly east front, but the gameplay should be very familiar to you. ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/14 "2015-11-09T16:39:18Z")
> [@GreenElf](#): > > If you’d also consider console or computer software, consider Koei games such as L’Empereur which include tactical hex-based wargaming along with non-hex grand strategy. I definitely would! Thank you. I used “online” as a lazy substitute for “computer-based whether online or computer-based.” My consoles are old and I wouldn’t upgrade just for this purpose, though. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/15 "2015-11-09T17:23:37Z")
The Operational Art of War IV is in the works. I’m hoping the very slow trend of wargames giving nods to the preferences of modern gamers continues (like selling games on Steam, and having an interface that doesn’t look like it was made for Windows 3.1). TOAW III had a lot to like, but included some seriously opaque mechanics, and the true grognards (_cough_ dorks) would rather the TO&Es be accurate down to the last mortar tube than to abstract anything away in the interest of user friendliness. I may eventually get around to Grigsby WITW, which looks interesting, but its current price sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-online-hex-based-wargames/736859/16 "2015-11-09T20:08:53Z")
I’ve never played it but [Battleground Waterloo](http://www.old-games.com/download/8771/battleground-3-waterloo-) has a massive following. [Civil War Generals 2: Grant, Lee Sherman](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaYLwevSFRg) is great.