10. Endless Legend
Currently, Endless Legend is still the go-to for a 4X game in a fantasy setting. Because it boasts a large number of different factions and procedurally generated maps, you’ll be sure to lose plenty of sleep over the many side quests that can pop up as you’re out exploring. Like several entries of the Total War franchise, it gives you hero units that are vital to battles, and also offers several diplomatic options of handling different races that don’t have to end with someone losing their head. Basically Endless Legend has all the good traits from genre colleagues such as Civ and Total War, wrapped in a delicious fantasy burrito for you to enjoy.
Available on: PC
9. Stellaris
As a grand strategy RTS, Stellaris lets you explore the vast expanses of space and puts you in control of an interstellar empire you get to customise. With a choice of various different alien races, government systems and faction traits to choose from, you can decide how you want your empire to run and how you’ll likely approach different situations. Whether you want to wage war, or peacefully explore space and be the voice of diplomacy, there are plenty of ways to go about things. There also opportunities to strengthen your empire and expand its reach by colonizing other planets and joining forces with fellow alien species throughout the galaxies. In the starry skies of space, Stellaris rewards you for your exploration efforts and presents you with challenging strategic spaceship battles and management systems.
Available on: PC, Xbox One, PS4
8. Desperados 3
The return of the Desperados franchise was a surprise, but the team at Mimimi Games approached it with the same finesse they brought to their other round-based tactics smash Shadow Tactics. Desperados 3 is a beautiful, challenging round-based action game that perfectly captures the look and feel of the Wild West. It’s appeal is similar to that of Endless Legends, as it manages to take everything that works well in the genre, like characters with interesting skills, several possible ways to approach each challenge and quite considerable difficulty, and adds to that a well-acted and engaging story. If you like round-based games and always wanted to play one in a wild west setting, don’t let Desperados 3 pass you by.
Available on: PC, PS4, Xbox One
7. Europa Universalis 4
There are plenty of games that make you a part of history, but there’s nothing quite like Europa Universalis, where you write history yourself. By removing fixed win states, it succeeds in letting you run wild with historical events, while still keeping the rails on – diplomacy is always encouraged over waging wars, for example. It’s an interesting concept, cleverly executed to appeal both to history buffs and those who have yet to find the grand strategy game with the perfect setting. The usual caveats of the genre do apply however – it’s intricate systems make it difficult to get into for beginners.
Available on: PC
6. Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
Considered to be one of the best 4X turn-based style strategy series around, Civilization 6 is the latest offering that builds on its predecessor to bring us something slightly more refined and polished. While it’s great for veterans because it brings some new elements into play, it’s also more accessible for newcomers thanks to its tutorials that will help you get to grips with the general concepts of Civilization. From the Stone Age to the Information Age, you control and determine the rise of an entire civilization, which now physically expands across the map to show you just how big it’s grown. With new features like active research in technology and culture, 20 leaders to choose from who all have different agendas to pursue, and multiple ways to emerge victorious, there are plenty of tactical approaches and playstyles to get stuck into. And the recent Gathering Storm expansion (which is just one of the many DLCs) introduces a climate change system that presents additional challenges to your growing civilization.
Available on: PC, Nintendo Switch
4. XCOM 2
If you’re after a challenge, XCOM 2’s alien invaded world doesn’t pull any punches. Turn-based in style with expansive terrains to navigate, the sequel is much bigger in scope than its predecessor. After XCOM: Enemy Unknown saw you try to prevent an alien invasion, the second sees you command the last remaining XCOM forces - who are the last line of defense against the aliens that now rule the Earth. Perma-death adds an extra level of difficulty to every decision you make because every choice could have disastrous consequences for your troops. Taking control of the alien supply craft known as the Avenger, you’re up against impossible odds as you set out on missions with unique challenges, facing new foes and tactically approaching each fight . You also need to try and rescue fallen comrades and research and upgrade your weapons and armor. And if this sounds like your cup of tea, last year saw the release of the excellent jam-packed XCOM 2: War of the Chosen DLC, which is a game in and of itself that adds new classes and a challenging new enemy known as “ The Chosen”. This is one sci-fi strategy number that will push your tactical mind to the limit.
Available on: PC, Xbox One, PS4
3. StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty
There are games that just turn out to be pillars of the genre, oft-copied but never quite reached. StarCraft was one such game for the RTS genre, so it makes sense that its successor really just offers more of the same in a shinier package. Even a decade after it was first released, StarCraft 2’s presentation still astounds. The campaign makes good use of each of its races, by now beloved by StarCraft fans. The bombastic battles are certainly the heart of the experience, all-out assaults that are satisfying to watch after you’ve put time into building your armies. Missions are varied and offer enough unlocks to keep you playing for a long time, and if you start playing now, you’ll likely discover a lot of systems you’re already familiar with, established by the likes of StarCraft and Age of Empires long ago. Well, no need to fix what isn’t broken.
Available on: PC
2. Into the Breach
Available on: PC, Switch
Subset Games’ isometric sci-fi roguelite is a nice compact turn-based affair that takes place on an 8x8 grid. Highly replayable thanks to its varying procedurally generated challenges, it pushes you to think carefully about your strategic approach each turn. Alien nasties known as the Vek are breeding underneath the earth and pose a serious threat to humankind. It’s up to you to save the world by beating every challenge it presents you. If you fail, you essentially reverse the timeline to try and conquer the challenge again. By controlling different mechs and weapons, you encounter unique mech pilots and find more weapons throughout your battles to give yourself the upper-hand the next time around. Different civilian buildings power your mechs, so you also have to be mindful of their welfare and make sure you don’t accidentally blow them up yourself. With an appealing pixelated style, it also has a pretty interesting story-line, and its procedurally generated challenges puts your tactical skills to the test and keeps it feeling fresh.
1. Command and Conquer Remastered Collection
The setup and delivery may seem a little naff from today’s point of view, but there’s a reason classics like this get remade after decades. This collection is perhaps not for you if you’re looking for an intricate RTS game with many features, but it’s the best version of a game that still has many fans after 25 years since its original release – you’ll find quality of life UI improvements, better graphics, content that previously was only available on console, and over 100 missions you can now replay individually. Since the game itself hasn’t been changed save for some additional difficulty options, you may have your issues with the AI, but like many RTS games C&C has a great multiplayer. This is of course a game for fans first and foremost, but if you want to go to the beginnings of the genre or just enjoy one of the best remasters around, there’s no way past this collection.
Available on: PC
