Battlesector is one of my favourite Warhammer games. I’ve always preferred the action of real-time to the thinking behind turn-based, but this game is fast paced (for a turn-based tactics game). I’m playing through the full campaign Age of Crimson Dawn, starting with the first mission and covering the entire campaign. Mission one is here: And you can follow the full series on this playlist: Let’s Play Warhammer 40,000 Battlesector. Let me know what you think in the comments, and...
WE ARE CRITICAL MOVES
A Strategy Gaming Podcast
In this episode of Critical Moves, we sit down with Tatsu, a game developer with a background in both traditional tech and indie strategy projects. Tim and Jack join him for a wide-ranging discussion about breaking into the industry, surviving the learning curve, and building games that actually work. MEET TATSU Tatsu doesn’t come from a typical game dev background. He got started in engineering, drifted into modding, and gradually moved toward designing and developing strategy games with a focus...
World War II has inspired more strategy games than any other historical period. Some are still brilliant. Some are best left in the archives. In this episode, Nuno leads a full tour through the genre’s best and worst, with Al jumping in with questions and commentary as they go. Hearts of Iron IV and the Grand Strategy Giant Nuno starts with Hearts of Iron IV, which still dominates the WWII grand strategy space. It’s big, complex, and strangely addictive. You’re...
Block Fortress 2 hits you with a strange mix of nostalgia and ambition. It’s the kind of game that feels like a long-lost favourite from your teenage years—but it’s also clearly trying to be something bigger than just a mobile-to-PC port. At its best, it delivers a rewarding loop of planning, building, and direct combat. At its worst, it shows the rough seams of early access, unrefined UI, and balancing problems that push players toward one optimal strategy. What’s clear...
The conversation starts with the Paradox beast that is Victoria 3. Tim and Adam have clearly lost dozens of hours to it already, while Joe shares his obsession with playing smaller, underdog nations. There’s plenty of banter about Japan, Belgium, Haiti, Ethiopia and about how these nations let you impose your own stories and challenges. The group agrees: the real hook isn’t conquest. It’s the numbers. Big numbers. Going up. That’s the drug. They talk multiplayer, historical quirks, and the...
Welcome back to Critical Moves. This is Episode 30, and we’re doing something inevitable, talking Warhammer. Specifically, Warhammer strategy games. Al’s in the host seat this week, joined by Joe for a rare one-on-one episode that digs into Games Workshop’s long, weird relationship with the strategy genre. The episode kicks off with Al admitting the Warhammer Skulls showcase has been on his radar more than usual this year. Partly because it’s always a mixed bag, and partly because the Warhammer...
In this episode of Critical Moves, the crew look at what happens when popular franchises take a shot at the strategy genre. Jack hosts, joined by Tim and Adam, for a wide-ranging discussion on games like Halo Wars, Battle for Middle-earth, Minecraft Legends, and Dune: Spice Wars. From cult classics to tactical misfires, it’s a conversation that covers the good, the bad, and the copyright. Jack opens with a reminder of Episode 5’s wishlist of franchises we wanted to see...
Welcome back to the Critical Moves Podcast. This week’s episode is a change of pace. We’re not covering one big topic, announcement, or interview. Instead, we’re doing something a little more relaxed: talking about the strategy games we’ve been playing lately. From grand campaign builders to multiplayer RTS brawls, the team shares what’s been keeping us busy and what’s fallen flat. Jack joins us for his first full episode as a regular host, and we’re glad to have him. So,...
It’s May the Fourth, and we’re celebrating the only way that makes sense—by talking about the newly announced Star Wars strategy game: Star Wars Zero Company. In Episode 27 of Critical Moves, Al is joined by Joe and Nuno to break down everything we know about the game, plus a little history on Star Wars strategy games in general. Expect praise, pessimism, some EA-flavoured rage, and the phrase “space wizards” used unironically. The Ghosts of Strategy Past Before getting into...
It took six people and twenty-six episodes, but Critical Moves finally turned the mic around. This episode isn’t about a theme or a debate—it’s about questions from the community. Al is joined by Nuno, Joe, Tim, Adam, and newcomer Jack for a sprawling, chaotic, and strangely wholesome chat where they look back on the podcast so far and answer everything you’ve been asking. There are moments of reflection, plenty of sarcasm, and at least one relationship-threatening moment involving a microphone,...
With the release of Tempest Rising just around the corner, Tim and Al sat down with Brandon Casteel, the game’s lead designer, to talk about the past, present, and future of this throwback real-time strategy title. Are We in an RTS Revival?Brandon pushes back on the idea of an RTS revival. While the genre has had flurries of attention, it tends to be cyclical. He points out that multiple indie developers and publishers are keeping the genre alive, like MicroProse...
Which side are you on? Turn-based or real-time? In Episode 24 of Critical Moves, Al, Nuno, and Tim try (and mostly fail) to take sides in the ongoing debate between strategy game formats. There’s plenty of banter, some solid history, and a few digs at Civilization 7 along the way, but it turns out that, shockingly, they all enjoy both. RTS vs. Turn-Based: Is It Really a Debate? Tim makes a solid case for real-time strategy being more reactive and...
In Episode 23 of Critical Moves, Al, Nuno, and Tim unpack Broken Arrow, a large-scale real-time tactics game that blurs the lines between milsim ambition and arcade execution. Based on hands-on time with the preview build, the team breaks down where the game shines, where it fumbles, and whether it’s shaping up to be something genuinely special – or just another middle-of-the-road tactics game with a flashy coat of paint. There’s a running debate throughout the episode about what Broken...
In Episode 21 of Critical Moves, Al and Nuno sit down with Dr. Luke Hughes, lead designer of Burden of Command, a tactical leadership RPG set during World War II. The conversation explores the game’s long development history, its focus on player-driven storytelling, and how it blends psychology, history, and strategy into a distinct tactical experience. Leadership Under Fire Burden of Command puts you in the boots of a captain in the 7th Infantry Regiment – the “Cottonbalers” – starting...
In this episode of Critical Moves, hosts Joe, Adam, and Tim take a deep dive into the world of strategy gaming, offering a variety of alternatives to Civilization 7. Whether you’re drawn to city-building, grand strategy, or turn-based empire management, there’s something here for every type of strategy enthusiast. Here’s a breakdown of the games discussed and why they might be worth your time. City-Building Alternatives For players who love the city-building aspect of Civilization, the hosts recommend several standout titles. Cities: Skylines is a...
In episode 20 of Critical Moves, Al, Nuno, and Tim dive into the long-standing debate: is single-player or multiplayer more important in strategy games? The discussion covers everything from commercial success, player preferences, and game longevity to the role of toxicity in online communities. Single Player: The Commercial Powerhouse? Al and Nuno argue that single-player experiences remain the backbone of strategy gaming. Data suggests that a majority of players – estimated at over 80% – prefer single-player content, and casual...
Why Critical Moves is Getting a Community Forum The Critical Moves Podcast has sparked a lot of great discussions, but once an episode ends, the conversation often disappears into the void. Social media posts get buried, Discord is too fast-moving, and there’s no real space for long-form discussion. That’s where a community forum comes in. A forum keeps conversations organized, searchable, and ongoing. Instead of discussions vanishing into a feed, they stay accessible. Whether it’s breaking down an episode, debating...
The latest episode of the Critical Moves podcast sees Al, Nuno, and new team member Adam diving into the strategy games showcased during Steam’s Next Fest. With a mix of curiosity and cautious optimism, the team tested out a selection of indie titles, from tactical war games to quirky management sims. Not all games hit the mark, but the episode offers a candid look at what strategy fans can expect from these upcoming releases. One of the standout titles discussed...
In Episode 18 of the Critical Moves podcast, Al and Joe dig into the latest release in the legendary 4X strategy series, Civilization 7. With Al on the fence and Joe having already played the game, the discussion offers a brutally honest take on the game’s strengths and weaknesses. What unfolds is a candid, and at times scathing, review of a game that many fans had high hopes for. The episode starts off light with Al and Joe discussing the...
With a view to getting Critical Moves in front of more people, I’ve started creating short clips from our episodes which are released on our social media channels. YouTube shorts, Facebook and Instagram Reels, TikTok. Here’s an example: You’ll find all out socials in the sidebar on the left. It would be really helpful, and really lovely if anyone reading this would head over to our social media channels and please the algorithm gods by liking, commenting and sharing the...