The 10 best naval battle games for PC

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Although naval battle games are something like that a niche genre, there are many great games that focus largely or exclusively on sea battles and naval action ships. Whether you need to manage your fleet of aircraft and battleships to defeat your enemy, defend your base, ports and fleet, or launch raids to cut off sea routes and invade enemy territory – it's all there Naval war games for every scenario. These games take the Battleships board game to a whole new level.

Whether you're an aspiring modern naval tactician or an adventurous pirate looking to sail the high seas in search of loot, there are endless options in the sea battle PC gaming genre. If you're interested in Navy military history, this is your new video game wish list.

Below are some of the best naval battle games on the PC desktop, taking you from World War II and modern naval battles to the high seas of the 17th century and many different ship games in between.

The ten best naval battle games

1. World of Warships

World of Warships is based on the incredible free-to-play formula that WarGaming.net perfected with World of Tanks and World of Warplanes Take command of the bridge of a modern military warship and fight in epic sea battles. As a captain, you don't have the same direct control over your ship as in other games in the series. For this reason, the action is comparatively fast as you exchange powerful barrages with other players in a strategic experience that often feels like a first-person Battleships game. There is also a very active World of Warships Reddit if you would like to chat with other Dreadnought Captains. Play World of Warships for free.

2. BattleStation: Midway

One of the classic games of the genre, Battle Station: Midway is a strategy game set in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. Use Real-time tacticsYou can control every single ship or aircraft in your fleet in hopes of defeating your enemy. Even though BattleStation: Midway is an older game, it still is decent graphicsoffers both single player and multiplayer modes and is a true classic of the genre.

3. BattleStations Pacific

The sequel to BattleStations: Midway is set in the wild, cold waters of the Pacific Ocean. BattleStations: Pacific Expands the previous title with new features including new weapons and shipsdifferent types of combat – namely more advanced submarine combat – and the ability to play either United States or Japan campaign. It also features 5 additional multiplayer modes including Island Capture, Duel, Competitive, Siege and Escort.

4. Silent Hunter IV: Wolves of the Pacific

If you like submarine warfare more, give it a try Silent Hunter IV: Wolves of the Pacific, a game from Ubisoft also set in the Pacific during World War II. TheSubmarine​​​ simulator uses really intricate graphics to literally immerse you in the game Depths of the Pacific Ocean, with everything from launching torpedo attacks to using radar and sonar to managing your crew. Different game modes make it easy for both beginners and advanced players to master the game.

5. Naval War: Arctic Circle

Head a little further north Naval War: Arctic CircleA Real-time naval strategy game which, unlike some of the previous games, is set in the distant future during a fictional war. The game features everything from submarines, planes and helicopters to Aerial refueling tanker and air bases on land. It also includes navies from many different countries – including Great Britain and Scandinavia – which can be fought in both single-player and multiplayer modes.

6. Dangerous waters

A modern naval game, Dangerous Waters allows you to control and simulate all aspects of air, surface and submarine warfare 250 real naval units. One of the coolest things about the game, aside from the fact that Multi-Station mode lets you work cooperatively to operate different crew stations as a team, is this Crew AI Members, allowing you to pass on tasks so you don't have to worry about actively managing certain aspects of the game.

7. Battle Fleet 2: World War II in the Pacific

A game of tactical naval combatIn Battlefleet 2 you take control of Japanese or US fleets in World War II. As you attempt to cross the Pacific Ocean, you'll be zoomed in on the action as soon as you jump into battle. As you move you will be engrossed in the game from macro strategies to micro tacticsand with a wide range of units the game is perfect for any WW2 enthusiast. If you want to play on the go, you can even download a mobile version for iOS and Android.

8. Fighting Steel

Fighting Steel by Strategic Simulations Inc is a 3D game The game takes place in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans during the largest naval battles of World War II between 1939 and 1942. In the battle against American, German, Japanese and British warships, you will use real-time strategy and strategy Camera in game to control multiple ships at the same time. You can play online multiplayer with up to four people, and an extremely detailed instruction manual makes it easy to get started.

9. Naval action

Naval Action puts you at the helm of an 18th century ship and takes you out to sea a huge online environment with other players. With battles with up to 50 ships, realistic damage physics and Navigation that requires the use of landmarks and starsThis game not only doesn't hold your hand – it cuts it off and replaces it with a hook.

10. Windward

If you're a fan of 17th century ships but prefer some smaller scale naval action, you should give it a try Luv, an online open-world game from developer Tasharen. In Windward, you play in teams of fourby taking as many buildings as possible on the map with your ships. It's not as graphically demanding as some of the naval battle games on the list, but it's still pretty impressive.

The games mentioned above are all limited to naval battles, but here are a few honorable mentions of games that feature great naval warfare in some way, way or form.

Bonus: More war games with sea battles

Thunder of war

War Thunder is a great option that, while not exclusively naval battles, definitely offers some great naval content. The focus is on flying, but No air combat game is complete without sea battles. You can experience War Thunder's naval warfare with aircraft carriers, warships and naval aviation units. For a free gameit's a great option.

Battlefield 4 Naval Strike (Expansion Pack)

The Naval Strike expansion pack for Battlefield 4 brings naval warfare into the 21st century. The DLC pack is set in the South China Sea and brings multiplayer maps, new gadgets and weapons and, most importantly, a hovercraft. In the new Carrier Assault mode, you fight to sink the enemy's aircraft carriers.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag

For a series all about climbing rooftops and stabbing Templars, the ship-to-ship combat in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is surprisingly complete and satisfying. Sailing through the Caribbean Take direct control of your ship – The Jackdaw – You can use your massive armory to attack various naval ships to gain money and supplies for upgrades. But if you want Board an enemy ship For some cutlass-based actions, you can capture it and add it to your fleet.

Bonus: Top games for mobile naval battles

The thrill and excitement of a good naval battle game shouldn't just be limited to the PC desktop experience. For naval battles on the go, try one of these mobile naval battle games:

Pacific Fleet Lite

Pacific Fleet Lite is the free version of a popular and detailed turn-based World War II naval battle simulation. It features plenty of simulation data and logic-based gameplay that will appeal to hardcore naval strategy enthusiasts, but the lack of fast-paced action means arcade/action lovers will probably want to give it a try.

Assassin's Creed – Pirates

This mobile installment in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed series features fast-paced 1v1 naval battles in an adventure story. The game was recently updated and is now free to play (previously it cost $4.99 to download).

Wrap up

What is your favorite naval battle game? What about the Atlantic Fleet or the Steel Fleet? Let us know in the comments section below.