Video games often use historical events, including wars, as part of their storylines to add depth and context to their worlds. For example, many first-person shooter games set during World War 2 allow players to experience the events of the war from a virtual perspective.
Similarly, video games set in a fictional future often include a global conflict as a central plot point. In some cases, these games have also predicted the possibility of a third world war, highlighting the political and societal tensions that could lead to such an event. However, it's important to note that these predictions are purely speculative and aren’t fact.
1 DEFCON
DEFCON is a PC game that simulates global thermonuclear war. In the game, players assume the role of commander-in-chief of one of the world's superpowers and must make decisions that affect the outcome of a simulated World War 3.
The DEFCON level ranges from 5 to 1, and the objective is to survive as the last nation standing. The game features realistic depictions of modern military technology, including nuclear weapons, and players must navigate complex strategic and political situations to achieve victory.
2 Frontlines: Fuel of War
Frontlines: Fuel of War is a first-person shooter video game released in 2008. It takes place in the year 2024 during a fictional World War 3, where two superpowers, the Western Coalition, and the Red Star Alliance, are fighting over the world's remaining oil reserves.
In Frontlines: Fuel of War, players control soldiers on the front line of the battle, participating in various missions and engaging in intense multiplayer action. The game features advanced weaponry and vehicles, allowing players to experience a futuristic, high-tech war. The game received mixed reviews but was praised for its large-scale battles and overall atmosphere.
3 Tom Clancy's EndWar
Tom Clancy's EndWar is a military-themed video game released in 2008. It occurs in a near-future scenario where World War 3 has broken out, causing global chaos and destruction. The game is set in Europe, and the player can choose to play as one of three different factions: the United States, Russia, or Europe. The gameplay revolves around real-time strategy and voice-controlled commands.
Tom Clancy's EndWar features large-scale battles, advanced weapons, and cutting-edge military technology. The story follows the ongoing conflict between the factions as they struggle to gain control of Europe and ultimately win the war. Overall, EndWar provides an intense and immersive experience that places the player at the center of a global conflict, offering a unique perspective on the chaos and destruction of World War 3.
4 Battlefield 2
Battlefield 2 is a first-person shooter video game released in 2005. It is set in a fictional near-future world in which multiple countries are engaged in a global conflict known as World War 3. Players take on the role of soldiers fighting on the front lines and can choose from various classes, such as infantry, special forces, and armor.
Battlefield 2 features large-scale multiplayer battles, with up to 64 players on PC and 24 on Xbox 360, where players can work together to capture flags and complete objectives. Like many of the other games in the series, Battlefield 2 also includes a variety of vehicles, such as tanks, helicopters, and jets.
5 Wasteland
Wasteland is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game that is set in the aftermath of a global nuclear war. The bulk of the story takes place in a desert wasteland, where players control a group of survivors in their journey to find a better life. The events of World War 3 serve as the backdrop for the game's story, as players navigate through a world devastated by nuclear weapons.
Wasteland features turn-based combat and decision-making elements, allowing players to shape their own story as they explore the wasteland and interact with its inhabitants. Throughout the game, they'll need to overcome the dangers posed by mutated creatures, raiders, and other hazards.
6 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and its sequel are first-person shooter video games that are set in fictional world war three scenarios. Modern Warfare 2 features a conflict between the US and Russia, while Modern Warfare 3 depicts a global battle with multiple fronts. Both games feature fast-paced, realistic combat and multiplayer modes that have been highly popular among fans.
The single-player campaign of Modern Warfare 2 is particularly famous for its iconic missions such as "No Russian" and "The Gulag." The games are also known for their cutting-edge graphics, sound design, and attention to detail, making them some of the best games that feature a third world war.
7 Metal Gear
Created by Hideo Kojima, Metal Gear is a beloved action-adventure series and one of the cornerstones of the stealth genre. The franchise focuses on the adventures of Solid Snake, a legendary soldier, and spy, as he infiltrates various hostile territories to stop global threats.
Metal Gear games often feature themes of nuclear deterrence and the danger of a world war. In several games, the characters, such as Volgin, Gene, and Coldman, attempt to start a world war, leading to a scenario in which the world is on the brink of a third global conflict.
8 Wargame: European Escalation
Wargame: European Escalation is a real-time strategy video game that takes place in a hypothetical World War 3 scenario. Players control various military units, including infantry, armor, and air units, in a conflict between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. The game features large-scale, dynamic battles across various terrains, including urban areas, forests, and mountain regions.
Players must use strategic planning and tactical decision-making to gain an advantage over their enemies and achieve victory. Wargame: European Escalation is known for its attention to detail, realistic unit behavior, and intense multiplayer action. It offers players an immersive and challenging experience that accurately depicts the complexities of warfare.
9 Ketsui
Ketsui is a shoot 'em-up video game developed by Cave that first came out in 2003. The game is set in the future, where a third world war has broken out, causing widespread destruction and chaos. Players take on the role of a pilot tasked with battling enemy forces and navigating through dangerous terrain.
Ketsui features fast-paced, intense gameplay with complex bullet patterns and challenging boss battles. The game has received critical acclaim for its outstanding graphics, sound design, and tight controls. Overall, Ketsui offers players a thrilling experience as they fight to save the world from the brink of destruction during World War 3.
10 Phoenix Point
Phoenix Point is a turn-based tactical strategy game developed by Snapshot Games and released in 2019. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world after a pandemic caused by alien organisms has decimated humanity. The player takes control of the Phoenix Project, an organization tasked with saving the remaining human population from extinction.
The game features base building, resource management, and squad-level tactical combat elements. The main storyline follows a global conflict of World War 3, which broke out after the pandemic when various factions fought for control and resources. The player must navigate the world's political landscape while also fighting off alien threats and securing the future of humanity.