Best Strategy Games

Populous

Released: Jun 5, 1989

Critic rating: 73.9 / 100 • 47 votes

Rating: T

Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy

Platforms: Acorn Archimedes, PC-9800 Series, Sharp X68000, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, Atari ST/STE, PC (Microsoft Windows), TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine, Mac, DOS, Amiga, Sega Master System/Mark III

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Populous is a real-time strategy game where the player takes the role of a deity influencing the development of civilizations.

Cossacks 3

Released: Sep 20, 2016

Critic rating: 80.0 / 100

Rating: PEGI 12

Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy

Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Cossacks 3 is the third main game in the long-running historical real-time strategy series.

North & South

Released: Dec 31, 1989

Critic rating: 73.9 / 100 • 33 votes

Genres: Platform, Simulator, Strategy

Platforms: Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST/STE, DOS, Amiga, Family Computer, Amstrad CPC, Nintendo Entertainment System, MSX

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Your objective is ensure victory for your side by eliminating all the enemy armies.

Dungeon Defenders

Released: Dec 15, 2010

Critic rating: 77.5 / 100

Rating: E10+

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure, Indie

Platforms: PlayStation 3, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox 360

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Split screen

Dungeon Defenders is a Tower Defense Action-RPG where you must save the land of Etheria from an Ancient Evil!

The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

Released: Nov 2, 2004

Critic rating: 75.5 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical

Platforms: Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation 2

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

The Lord of the Rings:The Third Age introduces entirely new characters which aren't mentioned in the books or movies.

Fire Emblem: Fuuin no Tsurugi

Released: Mar 29, 2002

Critic rating: 73.9 / 100 • 53 votes

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical

Platforms: Wii U, Game Boy Advance

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade is a Japanese tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo.

The Sims 2: Seasons

Released: Mar 1, 2007

Critic rating: 69.0 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac

Game modes: Single player

Head outdoors for year-round fun with your Sims in The Sims 2: Seasons, the fifth expansion pack for The Sims 2!

Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus

Released: Nov 6, 2013

Critic rating: 69.3 / 100

Rating: E10+

Genres: Shooter, Platform, Strategy, Adventure

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Game modes: Single player

Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (known as Ratchet & Clank: Nexus in Europe) is a 2013 platform video game developed by Insomniac Games and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3.

Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization

Released: Sep 22, 2008

Critic rating: 77.3 / 100

Rating: E10+

Genres: Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

A complete reimagining of Sid Meier's 1994 classic, Colonization is a total conversion of Civilization IV that combines Civilization's addictive gameplay with all-new graphics and features that add more depth to the franchise.

Divinity: Dragon Commander

Released: Aug 6, 2013

Critic rating: 75.0 / 100

Rating: PEGI 12

Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

You are the Dragon Commander.

Grand Kingdom

Released: Nov 19, 2015

Critic rating: 78.5 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Tactical

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita

Game modes: Single player

After the fall of the once-prosperous Uldein Empire over one hundred years ago, the Four Great Nations now wage war to claim dominion over the Resonail continent.

The Guild 2

Released: Sep 29, 2006

Critic rating: 68.0 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy

Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows)

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

The Guild 2 is the shining successor of the ultra successful medieval life sim, Europe 1400.

Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty

Released: Jul 31, 1999

Critic rating: 66.0 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Strategy, Tactical

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

You have been selected for active service in the Commandos Corps, and must now mobilise in a series of 8 new dangerous missions.

Overlord

Released: Jun 26, 2007

Critic rating: 70.0 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Adventure

Platforms: PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Overlord is an action role-playing video game set in an alternate world, where the player takes the role of a resurrected warrior known as "The Overlord" who has control over hordes of gremlin-like creatures known as "Minions".

The Riftbreaker

Released: Oct 14, 2021

Critic rating: 82.5 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Adventure, Indie

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

The Riftbreaker is a base-building, survival game with Action-RPG elements.

Project Highrise

Released: Sep 8, 2016

Critic rating: 81.0 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Simulator, Strategy, Indie

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player

Project Highrise is a Tower Building Business Management Simulator.

Hogs of War

Released: Sep 5, 2000

Critic rating: 73.7 / 100 • 49 votes

Rating: T

Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical

Platforms: PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Hogs of War is a turn-based tactics game where players take turns controlling individual members of their squad of hogs to engage in combat with the opposition, similar to Worms.

MudRunner

Released: Oct 31, 2017

Critic rating: 70.0 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Racing, Simulator, Strategy

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Like Spintires before it, Spintires: MudRunner puts players in the driver seat and dares them to take charge of incredible all-terrain vehicles, venturing across extreme Siberian landscapes with only a map and compass as guides!

Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition

Released: Oct 30, 2014

Critic rating: 70.0 / 100

Rating: T

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

Originally released in 2000, Icewind Dale is a Dungeons & Dragons game set in Wizards of The Coast's legendary Forgotten Realms.

Sacrifice

Released: Nov 5, 2000

Critic rating: 60.0 / 100

Rating: M

Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy

Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative

The Holy War is over.

Fighting Force

Released: Oct 31, 1997

Critic rating: 73.6 / 100 • 79 votes

Rating: T

Genres: Fighting, Strategy, Hack and slash/Beat 'em up

Platforms: PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation Vita, Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PlayStation Portable

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

Fighting Force players control one of four characters.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

Released: Apr 26, 2007

Critic rating: 83.3 / 100

Rating: E10+

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Game modes: Single player

One year after the events of FINAL FANTASY XII, the young protagonist Vaan travels the skies of Ivalice with his trusted navigator Penelo at his side.

The Elder Scrolls: Legends

Released: Mar 9, 2017

Critic rating: 77.0 / 100

Rating: PEGI 12

Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Card & Board Game

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer

The Elder Scrolls: Legends is a strategy card game that explores the series' characters, creatures, deities, and lore.

Cities: Skylines II

Released: Oct 24, 2023

Critic rating: 81.0 / 100

Rating: E

Genres: Simulator, Strategy

Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5

Game modes: Single player

Create and manage your own city without restrictions.

60 Seconds! Reatomized

Released: Jul 25, 2019

Critic rating: 73.5 / 100 • 38 votes

Rating: T

Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Adventure, Indie

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

Game modes: Single player

Dolores, Ted, Mary Jane and Timmy return to face the nuclear apocalypse in this new, remastered edition of the classic atomic adventure - 60 Seconds!