The eagerly-awaited Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2 is almost upon us and the war sim continues to makes bold strides towards a new level of prevalence in the current hardware generation. With more and more real-time strategy and military-themed shooters appearing on the market, it seems that gamers can't get enough of reliving the great conflicts that have shaped the modern world, and here are ten reasons why…

10) Cannon Fodder (Commodore Amiga)

To kick of the top ten we have a real-time strategy-action hybrid with a darkly humorous twist. Debuting on the Amiga in 1993, Cannon Fodder certainly lived up to its tagline - "War has never been so much fun".

Viewing the action from a top-down perspective, players are required to guide a band of soldiers from point A to point B while obliterating everything in sight. For such a simplistic title, the game packed a hefty political punch, doubling as social commentary. At the time of release, developer Sensible Software endured a firestorm of criticism, with large sections of the media misinterpreting its satirical stance on its subject matter. The studio was also lambasted for its use of the Remembrance Day poppy and the game was banned in Germany.

Cannon Fodder was ported far and wide in the ensuing years and eventually spawned a sequel, which incorporated elements of science fiction. More recently, a PSP remake was discussed and subsequently cancelled.

9) Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six (PC)

Whatever your opinion of American writer Tom Clancy, his work has inspired at least two decent films and a handful of intense video games. Many of the novelist's endorsements could have appeared in this list - from Splinter Cell to Ghost Recon - but perhaps his most influential title was the game that populated the tactical shooter genre, Rainbow Six.

Although the years haven't been kind to this one, Rainbow Six injected a new level of strategy and atmosphere into the first-person shooter. Developer Red Storm Entertainment boldly proved that tactical prowess is just as valuable as marksmanship when it comes counter-terrorism.

It may not be a warfare sim in the strictest sense but many of the conventions that the title introduced - such as stealth manoeuvres and pre-mission planning - would go on to become staples of the military espionage category. Despite its aged appearance, this one is worth revisiting, if only to pay homage to the roots of what has gone on to become an important series in the annals of gaming history.

8) Battlefield 2 (PC)

In recent years, the highlight of warfare games has undoubtedly been co-operative online play, and DICE's Battlefield series has made bold strides into this territory. Originally released for the PC in 2005, Battlefield 2 is in fact the third game in the series despite its numbering.

Based on a fictional conflict involving the US, China and a Middle Eastern coalition, the game is a first-person shooter using modern weapons, with basic RPG elements and a heavy emphasis on squad-based multiplayer.

Supporting up to 64 human players at once and real-time voice chat, Battlefield 2 was the pinnacle of online gaming in its day. Its subsequent sequels - such as the cartoony Battlefield Heroes and the download-only Battlefield 1943 - continue to fly the flag for co-operative play in the current hardware generation.

7) Operation Wolf (Arcade)

Taito's Operation Wolf made gaming history in 1987 when it debuted in arcades. Not only did it champion the use of the positional gun controller, it was also one of the first shooters to feature any kind of storyline.

Offering players the opportunity to find out what it feels like to be John Rambo, the game was a good old-fashioned carnage-fest, replete with grenade hurling and a gun peripheral equipped with force feedback to simulate recoil. It further justifies its place in the gaming hall of fame as one of the most ported arcade titles of all time. Subsequent versions on home platforms such as the Sega Master System and the ZX Spectrum tapped into the light gun craze that peaked during the late 1980s.

The game was reissued in 2005 as part of the Taito Legends compilation, but did not feature light gun support.

6) Empire: Total War (PC)

Number six marks a departure from the contemporary setting and the shooter genre with The Creative Assembly's epic real-time strategy Empire: Total War. Whisking players back to the 18th century, the latest entry in the long-running franchise delivers some authentic historical campaigns across land and sea.

Combining in-depth empire management with realistic frontline simulations, Total War is a military history buff's dream, but its appeal isn't limited to such a niche audience. Offering an accessible take on history and a visceral slice of land and naval combat the Sega-published title is a sterling example of what the strategy genre has to offer.

The Creative Assembly is currently hard at work on Napoleon: Total War, and we can only keep our fingers crossed for more of the same.

5) Command And Conquer: Red Alert 3 (PC / Xbox 360 / PS3)

At the halfway point in this list we have another strategic offering of the real-time variety. Command And Conquer: Red Alert 3 may not be grounded in reality like its Total War counterparts, but it does have Gemma Atkinson in a skin-tight uniform.

On a more serious note, what the game lacks in historical accuracy and political correctness, it more than compensates for with its fast and furious campaigns and innovative unit design.

The addition of online multiplayer support elevates this entry above others in the series and a host of aesthetic tweaks make it one of the best-looking modern strategies on the market.

A special edition was later released for the PS3, but made only superficial gains over the PC original.

4) Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30 (PC / Xbox / Wii)

There is a wealth of warfare-based first-person shooters on the market, but what sets Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30 aside is its respectful take on true-to-life events.

Charting the plight of the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the heroic 101st Airborne Division, who were dropped behind enemy lines on D-Day, the game sees players embark on a historical mission as the fictitious Sergeant Matthew Baker.

Unlike many of its action-based counterparts, Brothers In Arms paints an emotive picture of the sacrifices made by servicemen during World War II and the camaraderie that develops between fellow soldiers.

Gearbox Software has released two sequels to the game to date, as well as several handheld ports. The series continues to stand out for its gritty and realistic take on the subject matter.

3) Medal Of Honour (PlayStation)

Number three sees a somewhat less sombre take on the subject matter, with Steven Spielberg's Medal Of Honour. Kicking off what would go on to become one of the most important franchises in modern gaming history, the game's greatest achievement is the balance it strikes between realism and gameplay.

Taking on the role of new recruit Jimmy Patterson, players engage in a combination of all-out combat, subterfuge and stealth missions. In its day, the game was dubbed as the PlayStation's answer to the N64's GoldenEye and its legacy remains strong.

The original Medal Of Honour earns its high placing in this list due to the profound influence it had on the first-person shooter genre and the warfare subcategory. Paving the way for the Call Of Duty series, this veteran is worthy of its place in the gaming hall of fame.

2) Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis (PC)

In second place, we have a warfare sim so authentic that it was adapted for real soldiers to use as a training application. Based on a hypothetical conflict between the US and the Soviets, Operation Flashpoint is a grim reminder of what might have been as well as a trailblazer in battlefield simulation.

Providing bags of variety in the gameplay stakes with its unique take on team-orientated campaigns, players have extensive vehicle elements to contend with as well as light real-time components.

The game was widely hailed as PC game of the year back in 2001 and eventually found its way onto the Xbox. Publisher Codemasters recently issued a follow-up, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, which received a comparatively lukewarm reception.

1) Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PS3 / Xbox 360 / PC)

Perhaps predictably, Infinity Ward's Call Of Duty 4 emerges at the top of the pile, putting a bullet firmly between the eyes of its competitors. While it may not revolutionise the warfare sim, it does embody everything that is great about it. Few games have achieved the level of immersion of this one, and that's before we even get to its multiplayer aspects.

Set in an alternate near future, players take part in intense campaigns across the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. The storyline is gripping, playing out across expertly scripted set pieces, and the action is about as visceral as simulated warfare gets.

Its unrivalled multiplayer mode reinforces its classic status, providing players with both deathmatch and team-based skirmishes. With plenty of unique challenges on offer and achievement points to earn, the game's online component pushed the boundaries where size and scope are concerned and will continue to influence first-person shooters for years to come.

Last year's Treyarch-developed follow-up Call Of Duty: World At War marked a return to the World War II setting but added little of any real significance in the gameplay department, leaving plenty of territory for Infinity Ward to recapture with the imminent Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2.