war-game

Noun

war game (plural war games)

1. A simulation (by whatever means, physical or digital), for training and strategy purposes, of a military operation involving two or more opposing forces using rules, data, and procedures designed to depict an actual or assumed real-life situation.
   • Well, the WOPR [War Operations Planning Response] spends all it's time thinking about World War III. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, it plays an endless series of war games using all available information on the state of the world. The WOPR has already fought World War III as a game time...1983, Lawrence Lasker, Walter F. Parkes, WarGames, spoken by Paul Richter

   Synonyms:

   military exercise, training exercise

2. A game, for entertainment or edutainment purposes, that simulates or represents a military operation.

See all 3 meanings of war game