Making History II: The War of the World similar games & best alternatives

Making History II: The War of the World

PC (Microsoft Windows), Linux, Mac • 2010

Should you play it?

What if Germany won the Battle of Britain? What if Moscow fell in 1942?You’re in charge. Anything can happen and history will never repeat itself in this classic WWII grand strategy game MAKING HISTORY II: The War of the World. Are you ready to battle for global dominance?

What works
  • Highly replayable with alternate history possibilities
  • Deep economic, military, and diplomatic systems
  • Strong modding and scenario editor support
  • Freedom to play any nation and rewrite history
  • Engaging strategic gameplay with challenging ai
Things to keep in mind
  • Steep learning curve and limited tutorial
  • Clunky and outdated interface
  • Late game lag and crashes reported
  • Multiplayer limited and sometimes unstable
  • Ai can behave unpredictably or illogically

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Supreme Ruler 1936

  • Sins of a Solar Empire®: Rebellion

  • Space Empires V

  • Dummynation

  • Airships: Conquer the Skies

  • Galactic Civilizations IV

  • Seven Kingdoms 2 HD

  • Making History: The Great War

  • Imperiums: Greek Wars
Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Seven Kingdoms 2 HD

  • Voxel Turf

  • Making History: The Second World War
If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Autonomy

    Making History: The Calm & the Storm
  • Strategy

    Songs of Syx
  • Competence

    Tomb of Tyrants

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

Making History II: The War of the World: Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Status, Cooperation. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Leadership. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Intimacy, Story.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    5

    "Players have full control over their nation's actions, decisions, alliances, and can rewrite history freely."

    Capsule for Making History: The Calm & the Storm Making History: The Calm & the Storm

    "Players have full control over their nation's actions, decisions, alliances, wars, and economic policies, with freedom to rewrite history."

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    4

    "The game has a steep learning curve and requires skillful matching, resource management, and strategic planning to succeed."

    Capsule for Tomb of Tyrants Tomb of Tyrants

    "The game has a steep learning curve and requires skillful management of economy, military, and diplomacy to succeed."

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    3

    "Includes competitive elements such as AI opponents with dynamic diplomacy and warfare, but also supports single-player personal pacing."

    Capsule for Imperiums: Greek Wars Imperiums: Greek Wars

    "Includes multiplayer and AI opponents with competitive war and diplomacy, but some players focus on single-player personal pacing."

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Many players report long play sessions, habitual play, and returning to the game over hundreds of hours."

    Capsule for Fishing: North Atlantic - Enhanced Edition Fishing: North Atlantic - Enhanced Edition

    "Players report long sessions and habitual play, with some games lasting hundreds of turns and many hours."

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    2

    "Diplomacy and alliances are important, but cooperation is limited and often competitive."

    Capsule for Age of Conquest IV Age of Conquest IV

    "Diplomacy and alliances are important, but multiplayer is limited and cooperation mostly occurs in alliances rather than deep teamwork."

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    4

    "Robust scenario editor, modding support, and ability to create alternate history and custom nations encourage creative play."

    Capsule for Making History: The Second World War Making History: The Second World War

    "Strong modding support, scenario editor, and freedom to create alternate histories and custom nations."

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    2

    "Players exert control over armies and dominate enemies, but interactions are mostly balanced and respectful."

    Capsule for Tales Of Glory Tales Of Glory

    "Players can exert military superiority and control over others, but interactions are mostly balanced and respectful."

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    3

    "Players use the game to immerse in WWII scenarios and tactical combat, providing a strong escape from real life."

    Capsule for Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire

    "Players use the game to immerse in alternate WWII scenarios and escape real life through strategic gameplay."

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -3

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and personal interest rather than obligation or external pressure."

    Capsule for Anomaly Korea Anomaly Korea

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and interest rather than obligation or external pressure."

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    4

    "High experimentation with alternate history, different nations, strategies, and mods is encouraged and common."

    Capsule for Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game Darkest Hour: A Hearts of Iron Game

    "High experimentation with alternate history, different nations, strategies, and modded scenarios."

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    2

    "Some exploration of alternate scenarios and strategic options, though map and setting are historically fixed."

    Capsule for Strategic Command: World War I Strategic Command: World War I

    "Exploration of alternate geopolitical outcomes and scenarios, though map geography is fixed."

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Players express themselves through custom scenarios, nation choices, and strategic styles."

    Capsule for Making History: The Calm & the Storm Making History: The Calm & the Storm

    "Players express themselves through custom scenarios, nation choices, and modding."

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    2

    "Set in an alternate history WW1/WW2 setting with some fictional elements, blending realistic and imaginative aspects."

    Capsule for TrenchesWIP TrenchesWIP

    "Alternate history and improbable events allow imaginative fiction within a WWII setting."

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    1

    "Some community interaction and multiplayer, but many play solo."

    Capsule for Dig or Die Dig or Die

    "Some community interaction via multiplayer and mod sharing, but many play solo."

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Players develop skills in resource management, optimization, and strategic planning over time."

    Capsule for The Crust The Crust

    "Players develop skills in strategy, resource management, and planning over long play sessions."

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -5

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    Capsule for World of Tanks Blitz World of Tanks Blitz

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -3

    "Requires focused attention and micromanagement, especially in late game."

    Capsule for Master of Orion 2 Master of Orion 2

    "Requires focused attention and micromanagement, especially in late game."

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    -4

    "Limited social interaction; mostly individual or surface-level multiplayer."

    Capsule for X-Plane 10 Global - 64 Bit X-Plane 10 Global - 64 Bit

    "Limited social interaction, mostly surface-level multiplayer or community sharing."

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    3

    "Players lead nations and armies, making strategic decisions and managing resources."

    Capsule for Making History: The Second World War Making History: The Second World War

    "Players lead nations, manage resources and military, and guide diplomatic decisions."

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    4

    "Players accumulate resources, research technologies, build armies, and expand territory progressively."

    Capsule for Imperial Glory Imperial Glory

    "Players accumulate resources, build units, research technologies, and expand territory."

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    1

    "Some players find the game immersive and satisfying, but others note frustration from AI and bugs causing tension."

    Capsule for Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition

    "Some players find the game immersive and rewarding, but others note frustration with AI and micromanagement."

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    1

    "Visuals and sound are dated but atmospheric; sensory stimulation is moderate."

    Capsule for The Guild II The Guild II

    "Visuals and sound are functional but dated; sensory stimulation is moderate."

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    1

    "Some recognition within the niche community and multiplayer, but limited broader social status impact."

    Capsule for Impossible Creatures Steam Edition Impossible Creatures Steam Edition

    "Some recognition within niche community and multiplayer, but limited broader social status."

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    -2

    "No strong narrative or character-driven story; gameplay is focused on strategy and sandbox play."

    Capsule for Knights of Honor II: Sovereign Knights of Honor II: Sovereign

    "Sandbox gameplay with player-driven narrative rather than scripted storylines."

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    5

    "Heavy emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and tactical combat."

    Capsule for Songs of Syx Songs of Syx

    "Heavy emphasis on strategic planning, resource management, and tactical warfare."

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    2

    "Tactical battles and diplomacy create moments of suspense and excitement."

    Capsule for Knights of Honor II: Sovereign Knights of Honor II: Sovereign

    "Tense moments in warfare and diplomacy provide suspense and excitement."

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Players report high replayability and content value for the price."

    Capsule for Approaching Infinity Approaching Infinity

    "Players report high replayability and value for price, especially on sale."

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    3

    "Combat and conquest are central gameplay elements involving destruction and military engagements."

    Capsule for Solar Nations 2 Solar Nations 2

    "Combat and military conquest are central gameplay elements."

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    3

    "Players must manage threats, resources, and strategic defense to avoid defeat."

    Capsule for Solium Infernum Solium Infernum

    "Players must manage threats, maintain stability, and avoid defeat."

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Last update: 01/06/2026