What is the best table top war game?

Answer 1

Are you looking for historical accuracy, ease of play, fun? What kind of scale?

Some recommendations:

Memoir '44 - Fun, relatively easy to play, good historical accuracy, unit level combat

Axis & Allies - Fun (if you like lots of bits), moderately easy to play, moderately accurate, nation level combat

Risk - Somewhat fun, very easy, no historical accuracy, global combat

Up Front! - Fun, moderately easy, some historical accuracy, squad combat.

Warhammer (40k, Fantasy, Epic) - Fun, difficult (heavy rules load), no accuracy, unit to army level combat

DBA (De Bellis Antiquitatas (sp?)) - Fun, moderately easy, high accuracy, unit to army level combat

Note that the last two listed are miniatures games, requiring players to purchase figures in order to play them.

Answer 2

Risk, without a doubt, followed closely by Stratego.