Top 10 Best Naval Combat Games

for almost as long as mankind has been

for almost as long as mankind has been fighting each other on ships

fighting each other on ships

fighting each other on ships we’ve been playing games fighting each

we’ve been playing games fighting each

we’ve been playing games fighting each other on ships welcome to watchmojo.com

other on ships welcome to watchmojo.com

other on ships welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our

and today we’ll be counting down our

and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top 10 best naval combat

picks for the top 10 best naval combat

picks for the top 10 best naval combat video games number 10

video games number 10

video games number 10 harpoon don’t be fooled by the endless

harpoon don’t be fooled by the endless

harpoon don’t be fooled by the endless menus and lack of any visual

menus and lack of any visual

menus and lack of any visual representation of gameplay as this game

representation of gameplay as this game

representation of gameplay as this game was based off an actual United States

was based off an actual United States

was based off an actual United States Navy wargames simulation that was used

Navy wargames simulation that was used

Navy wargames simulation that was used during the late 1970’s and early 80’s

playing is either NATO or the Soviets

playing is either NATO or the Soviets you’re essentially in the role of a war

you’re essentially in the role of a war

you’re essentially in the role of a war room officer with only two satellite

room officer with only two satellite

room officer with only two satellite imagery and intelligence reports on hand

imagery and intelligence reports on hand

imagery and intelligence reports on hand to determine the best possible outcome

to determine the best possible outcome

to determine the best possible outcome for victory for a game that doesn’t take

for victory for a game that doesn’t take

for victory for a game that doesn’t take any sort of liberties with balancing

any sort of liberties with balancing

any sort of liberties with balancing Arsenal’s or unrealistic viewpoints it’s

Arsenal’s or unrealistic viewpoints it’s

Arsenal’s or unrealistic viewpoints it’s still surprisingly intense though we

still surprisingly intense though we

still surprisingly intense though we will admit it’s probably not the most

will admit it’s probably not the most

will admit it’s probably not the most accessible game by today’s standards

number nine battleships being the rare

number nine battleships being the rare breed that they are we couldn’t help but

breed that they are we couldn’t help but

breed that they are we couldn’t help but include one of the first naval combat

include one of the first naval combat

include one of the first naval combat video games ever

elites recreation of the classic board

elites recreation of the classic board game battleship called battleships

game battleship called battleships

game battleship called battleships emphasis on the s eliminates the need

emphasis on the s eliminates the need

emphasis on the s eliminates the need for a pencil and paper instead you place

for a pencil and paper instead you place

for a pencil and paper instead you place your tetris shaped warships on the

your tetris shaped warships on the

your tetris shaped warships on the familiar grid and fire in what’s called

familiar grid and fire in what’s called

familiar grid and fire in what’s called salvo mode with up to 24 shots at turn

salvo mode with up to 24 shots at turn

salvo mode with up to 24 shots at turn instead of the usual boring one an

instead of the usual boring one an

instead of the usual boring one an animated battle sequence follows each

animated battle sequence follows each

animated battle sequence follows each player’s turn which is a dramatic visual

player’s turn which is a dramatic visual

player’s turn which is a dramatic visual improvement over sticking a coloured peg

improvement over sticking a coloured peg

improvement over sticking a coloured peg in a hole while limited and really dated

in a hole while limited and really dated

in a hole while limited and really dated by today’s standards battleships is

by today’s standards battleships is

by today’s standards battleships is significant and then it marks a

significant and then it marks a

significant and then it marks a transition for naval combat from board

transition for naval combat from board

transition for naval combat from board games to video games and thus makes our

games to video games and thus makes our

games to video games and thus makes our top ten

number eight steel diver sub wars this

number eight steel diver sub wars this free-to-play game combines a first

free-to-play game combines a first

free-to-play game combines a first person shooter look with optional robust

person shooter look with optional robust

person shooter look with optional robust touchscreen controls that faithfully

touchscreen controls that faithfully

touchscreen controls that faithfully model submarine navigation and combat

model submarine navigation and combat

model submarine navigation and combat well somewhat faithfully what makes the

well somewhat faithfully what makes the

well somewhat faithfully what makes the game work is the simple easy-to-use

game work is the simple easy-to-use

game work is the simple easy-to-use controls and the slow paced action it

controls and the slow paced action it

controls and the slow paced action it manages to turn something as patience

manages to turn something as patience

manages to turn something as patience demanding as submarine warfare and turn

demanding as submarine warfare and turn

demanding as submarine warfare and turn it into something fun and exciting

it into something fun and exciting

it into something fun and exciting without losing the nuances and strategic

without losing the nuances and strategic

without losing the nuances and strategic elements throw in team-based multiplayer

elements throw in team-based multiplayer

elements throw in team-based multiplayer action and you have an addictive Lea

action and you have an addictive Lea

action and you have an addictive Lea entertaining submarine action game

entertaining submarine action game

entertaining submarine action game geared to war a more casual audience

geared to war a more casual audience

geared to war a more casual audience torpedoes away number seven dangerous

torpedoes away number seven dangerous

torpedoes away number seven dangerous waters CIC sonar submarine bearing to

waters CIC sonar submarine bearing to

waters CIC sonar submarine bearing to 9-0 range 5,000 yards now we find

9-0 range 5,000 yards now we find

9-0 range 5,000 yards now we find ourselves in dangerous waters

ourselves in dangerous waters

ourselves in dangerous waters figuratively speaking an ultra realistic

figuratively speaking an ultra realistic

figuratively speaking an ultra realistic naval warfare simulator allowing full

naval warfare simulator allowing full

naval warfare simulator allowing full player control over surface ships

player control over surface ships

player control over surface ships submarines and aircraft in a modern

submarines and aircraft in a modern

submarines and aircraft in a modern setting

with a comprehensive manual clocking in

with a comprehensive manual clocking in and over 500 pages this naval sim is not

and over 500 pages this naval sim is not

and over 500 pages this naval sim is not for the faint of heart but those who

for the faint of heart but those who

for the faint of heart but those who invest some time into the game will be

invest some time into the game will be

invest some time into the game will be richly rewarded with over 270

richly rewarded with over 270

richly rewarded with over 270 realistically model ships submarines and

realistically model ships submarines and

realistically model ships submarines and aircraft and a dynamic single-player

aircraft and a dynamic single-player

aircraft and a dynamic single-player campaign plus a comprehensive mission

campaign plus a comprehensive mission

campaign plus a comprehensive mission editor players will even have the option

editor players will even have the option

editor players will even have the option to give actual voice commands via

to give actual voice commands via

to give actual voice commands via microphone to lock in the full naval

microphone to lock in the full naval

microphone to lock in the full naval commander experience whether you want to

commander experience whether you want to

commander experience whether you want to command individual crew stations or

command individual crew stations or

command individual crew stations or focus on the bigger picture as a task

focus on the bigger picture as a task

focus on the bigger picture as a task force commander dangerous waters is a

force commander dangerous waters is a

force commander dangerous waters is a must-have for any serious armchair

must-have for any serious armchair

must-have for any serious armchair Admiral

number six silent hunter for wolves up a

number six silent hunter for wolves up a Pacific so little is our loss so little

Pacific so little is our loss so little

Pacific so little is our loss so little is fine game our list wouldn’t be

is fine game our list wouldn’t be

is fine game our list wouldn’t be complete without at least one game

complete without at least one game

complete without at least one game dedicated to the tense world of

dedicated to the tense world of

dedicated to the tense world of historically accurate sub warfare

Silent Hunter 4 takes us from the North

Silent Hunter 4 takes us from the North Atlantic to the Pacific where you play

Atlantic to the Pacific where you play

Atlantic to the Pacific where you play as an American submarine commander

as an American submarine commander

as an American submarine commander fighting the Japanese during World War

fighting the Japanese during World War

fighting the Japanese during World War two balancing between in-depth realism

two balancing between in-depth realism

two balancing between in-depth realism and accessibility for new players to the

and accessibility for new players to the

and accessibility for new players to the genre the game offers what Ubisoft calls

genre the game offers what Ubisoft calls

genre the game offers what Ubisoft calls a Hollywood blockbuster experience

a Hollywood blockbuster experience

a Hollywood blockbuster experience without sacrificing any of the

without sacrificing any of the

without sacrificing any of the staggering attention to detail and

staggering attention to detail and

staggering attention to detail and historical accuracy then long eternity

historical accuracy then long eternity

historical accuracy then long eternity should greet our bliss with an

should greet our bliss with an

should greet our bliss with an individual kiss players can also choose

individual kiss players can also choose

individual kiss players can also choose between scripted missions or a dynamic

between scripted missions or a dynamic

between scripted missions or a dynamic campaign that gives them full control

campaign that gives them full control

campaign that gives them full control over their own submarine either

over their own submarine either

over their own submarine either following their superiors orders or

following their superiors orders or

following their superiors orders or charting their own adventure and with

charting their own adventure and with

charting their own adventure and with top-notch graphics skippering your own

top-notch graphics skippering your own

top-notch graphics skippering your own sub has never looked better

sub has never looked better

sub has never looked better having loot guided soul she’ll climb

having loot guided soul she’ll climb

having loot guided soul she’ll climb [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number 5 empire total war

you’d think that a grand strategy game

you’d think that a grand strategy game where naval combat plays of a relatively

where naval combat plays of a relatively

where naval combat plays of a relatively small role would have no place on this

small role would have no place on this

small role would have no place on this list but once you’ve experienced Empire

list but once you’ve experienced Empire

list but once you’ve experienced Empire total wars naval battles you’ll see why

total wars naval battles you’ll see why

total wars naval battles you’ll see why it made the cut

for starters the naval battles look

for starters the naval battles look absolutely stunning from the action of

absolutely stunning from the action of

absolutely stunning from the action of the battles themselves right down to the

the battles themselves right down to the

the battles themselves right down to the individual crew members moving around on

individual crew members moving around on

individual crew members moving around on the ships total wars visuals do not

the ships total wars visuals do not

the ships total wars visuals do not disappoint but if that the game manages

disappoint but if that the game manages

disappoint but if that the game manages to nail the eras naval combat while at

to nail the eras naval combat while at

to nail the eras naval combat while at the same time making it fit perfectly

the same time making it fit perfectly

the same time making it fit perfectly within the context of the greater

within the context of the greater

within the context of the greater gameplay at large by a making naval

gameplay at large by a making naval

gameplay at large by a making naval warfare an integral part of the game

warfare an integral part of the game

warfare an integral part of the game players could see the greater importance

players could see the greater importance

players could see the greater importance that sea power played in the bigger

that sea power played in the bigger

that sea power played in the bigger scheme of things number four

scheme of things number four

scheme of things number four battle stations Pacific

shifting gears from hyper-realistic

shifting gears from hyper-realistic simulations to something a little more

simulations to something a little more

simulations to something a little more arcadey

arcadey

arcadey here we have an interesting hybrid

here we have an interesting hybrid

here we have an interesting hybrid action RTS game set in the Pacific

action RTS game set in the Pacific

action RTS game set in the Pacific during world war ii of course this

during world war ii of course this

during world war ii of course this sequel to battle stations Midway expands

sequel to battle stations Midway expands

sequel to battle stations Midway expands to cover the whole war in the Pacific

to cover the whole war in the Pacific

to cover the whole war in the Pacific and offers even more remarkable variety

and offers even more remarkable variety

and offers even more remarkable variety to the exciting gameplay players can go

to the exciting gameplay players can go

to the exciting gameplay players can go from having a top-down commander view of

from having a top-down commander view of

from having a top-down commander view of the whole battle to getting down to

the whole battle to getting down to

the whole battle to getting down to controlling an individual unit such as

controlling an individual unit such as

controlling an individual unit such as piloting a dive bomber or manning an

piloting a dive bomber or manning an

piloting a dive bomber or manning an anti-aircraft gun to guiding a submarine

anti-aircraft gun to guiding a submarine

anti-aircraft gun to guiding a submarine all within the same battle just the fact

all within the same battle just the fact

all within the same battle just the fact that the game is able to effortlessly

that the game is able to effortlessly

that the game is able to effortlessly integrate so many different kinds of

integrate so many different kinds of

integrate so many different kinds of gameplay all while making it fun and

gameplay all while making it fun and

gameplay all while making it fun and thrilling makes this one really stand

thrilling makes this one really stand

thrilling makes this one really stand out in a crowded market of world war ii

out in a crowded market of world war ii

out in a crowded market of world war ii games

number three Assassin’s Creed 4 Black

number three Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag

let’s be honest for a second who

let’s be honest for a second who actually played Black Flag to tail

actually played Black Flag to tail

actually played Black Flag to tail people and assassinate them like total

people and assassinate them like total

people and assassinate them like total war naval combat plays a smaller role

war naval combat plays a smaller role

war naval combat plays a smaller role within the bigger context of this game

within the bigger context of this game

within the bigger context of this game so color us surprised when it turned out

so color us surprised when it turned out

so color us surprised when it turned out to be the best damn part the

to be the best damn part the

to be the best damn part the comprehensive upgrade system a wide

comprehensive upgrade system a wide

comprehensive upgrade system a wide range of weapons and some tough

range of weapons and some tough

range of weapons and some tough opponents give substance to the naval

opponents give substance to the naval

opponents give substance to the naval combat but it’s commanding the jackdaw

combat but it’s commanding the jackdaw

combat but it’s commanding the jackdaw from the ship’s deck that gave players a

from the ship’s deck that gave players a

from the ship’s deck that gave players a front row seat to some of the best naval

front row seat to some of the best naval

front row seat to some of the best naval combat action we’d ever seen in a video

combat action we’d ever seen in a video

combat action we’d ever seen in a video game reminiscent of an old Errol Flynn

game reminiscent of an old Errol Flynn

game reminiscent of an old Errol Flynn movie that Ubisoft was able to

movie that Ubisoft was able to

movie that Ubisoft was able to successfully capture the romantic

successfully capture the romantic

successfully capture the romantic swashbuckling sense of pirate adventures

swashbuckling sense of pirate adventures

swashbuckling sense of pirate adventures warrants an entry on our list

warrants an entry on our list

warrants an entry on our list [Applause]

number two Sid Meier’s pirates sid meier

number two Sid Meier’s pirates sid meier is known for his simple yet deep and

is known for his simple yet deep and

is known for his simple yet deep and rich game design and pirates is

rich game design and pirates is

rich game design and pirates is definitely no exception even though it’s

definitely no exception even though it’s

definitely no exception even though it’s one of the many elements of this game

one of the many elements of this game

one of the many elements of this game the ship-to-ship combat is easy to play

the ship-to-ship combat is easy to play

the ship-to-ship combat is easy to play but not so easy to master finding the

but not so easy to master finding the

but not so easy to master finding the right balance of speed and firepower

right balance of speed and firepower

right balance of speed and firepower knowing what type of ammo to use wind

knowing what type of ammo to use wind

knowing what type of ammo to use wind direction and figuring out the right

direction and figuring out the right

direction and figuring out the right time to launch a boarding party all add

time to launch a boarding party all add

time to launch a boarding party all add strategic depth to what could have been

strategic depth to what could have been

strategic depth to what could have been a straightforward minigame

a straightforward minigame

a straightforward minigame [Music]

[Music]

[Music] you

instead Sid Meier’s pirates does what

instead Sid Meier’s pirates does what games are supposed to do make you have a

games are supposed to do make you have a

games are supposed to do make you have a unique experience and loads of fun in

unique experience and loads of fun in

unique experience and loads of fun in the process

the process

the process and if those 1987 graphics hurt your

and if those 1987 graphics hurt your

and if those 1987 graphics hurt your eyes a bit too much rest assured that

eyes a bit too much rest assured that

eyes a bit too much rest assured that there is a remake with better graphics

there is a remake with better graphics

there is a remake with better graphics and a few streamlined systems to boot

and a few streamlined systems to boot

and a few streamlined systems to boot [Music]

before we unveil our topic here are a

before we unveil our topic here are a few honorable mentions target hit the

few honorable mentions target hit the

few honorable mentions target hit the scattering circle shows a shell impact

scattering circle shows a shell impact

scattering circle shows a shell impact ranked number one world of warships

sailing away at number one is none other

sailing away at number one is none other than world of warships this free-to-play

than world of warships this free-to-play

than world of warships this free-to-play massive online game allows players to

massive online game allows players to

massive online game allows players to pick from four different classes of

pick from four different classes of

pick from four different classes of ships from eight different World War two

ships from eight different World War two

ships from eight different World War two ERA navies and provides a progression

ERA navies and provides a progression

ERA navies and provides a progression system that includes a mind-boggling

system that includes a mind-boggling

system that includes a mind-boggling array of upgrades equipment abilities

array of upgrades equipment abilities

array of upgrades equipment abilities perks and many many other things

but what really stands out is the

but what really stands out is the intensity of the battles online nothing

intensity of the battles online nothing

intensity of the battles online nothing else even comes close to capturing the

else even comes close to capturing the

else even comes close to capturing the slow buildup of tension as a battle

slow buildup of tension as a battle

slow buildup of tension as a battle starts – the explosive exhilaration of

starts – the explosive exhilaration of

starts – the explosive exhilaration of watching your ship go toe-to-toe against

watching your ship go toe-to-toe against

watching your ship go toe-to-toe against players from around the world and seeing

players from around the world and seeing

players from around the world and seeing your strategy and tactics pay off with a

your strategy and tactics pay off with a

your strategy and tactics pay off with a victory

do you agree with our list were the

do you agree with our list were the entries on target or did some miss the

entries on target or did some miss the

entries on target or did some miss the mark let us know in the comment section

mark let us know in the comment section

mark let us know in the comment section and for more great top tens and other

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you

you [Music]