HT Games
Online
The Internet gives players access to a variety of games with Navy themes. However, despite the number of these and other free military-based games available online, the quality is often poor. With a little dedication, it is possible to find fun, free games online that appeal to your naval interests. FunTrivia has a game called "Salty Language: U.S. Navy Slang," which tests your knowledge of the unique words used by the Navy. The answers are multiple choice and worth 15 points each. Lucky for landlubbers, each word or phrase appears in context of a short story to make it a little easier to understand.
PC Games
PC games on disc or available for download after purchase are usually longer than free online games, with better story lines and graphics. However, with prices up to $40, the games deter some players. Some PC games are also the same as the ones online, but with longer playtime and other modifications. Sega released "Empire: Gold Edition" in October 2010 for $49.95. For this price, players receive "Empire: Total War" and the sequel, "Napoleon: Total War." These games are mostly strategy-based, but include some first-person fighting sequences and repeatable campaigns. Available on disc and for download, both games have real-time features and beautiful 3-D graphics.
Game Systems
Manufacturers have made some wildly popular naval games, but sometimes only release certain games for one type of gaming console. Sony Computer Entertainment, for example, makes PlayStation consoles and only releases PlayStation games, such as "Naval Ops: Warship Gunner." "Naval Ops" is a strategy game suited for teenage players. Users build war machines and use them in 40 missions that also includes first-person shooter playing time. Sony also manufactures the top-selling "SOCOM: Navy Seals" franchise, but it is inappropriate for users under 17. If you do not have a PlayStation device, there are options for other gaming consoles, including Xbox 360 ("Naval Assault: The Killing Tide"), Nintendo DS ("Top Gun") and even Wii ("Battalion Wars 2").
Board and Tabletop
Sometimes, electronic games are overwhelming and people just want to play a game with their friends and family sitting at the table together. Luckily, fans of the U.S. Navy have choices when it comes to tabletop and board games. Monopoly manufacturer Hasbro Games released a version of the popular game with U.S. Navy-inspired themes. Players could use a submarine, aircraft carrier, battle ship or jet plane as their token and limit play time if they wanted. While Hasbro discontinued this version of Monopoly, third-party sellers still carry it. Hasbro also created the popular game Battleship, where two players would face off and attempt to guess, using coordinates, where the other had placed important naval vehicles. The manufacturer still sells the tabletop game (although the format has changed) and also offers players the opportunity to play it online for free. There are also versions for Xbox, iPhone and Nintendo DS.