noun
playing soldiers; playing war
Refers to children's pretend play involving war or soldiers, often with toy weapons.
子供たちは公園で戦争ごっこをして遊んでいた。
The children were playing soldiers in the park.
ごっこ遊び is the general term for pretend play, while 戦争ごっこ specifies war-themed pretend play.
Compound of 戦争 (war) and ごっこ (pretend play). The suffix ごっこ derives from 事 (こと), indicating make-believe activities.