If you believe the data, there are 803 strategy games on Nextfest this time around, a huge mix of vapourware, vertical slices, concepts and AI generated crud. But somewhere in that festering pot are some gems worth getting excited about. Because I’m a good guy I’ve cut through the trash to bring the best of Nextfest. You can thank me by joining the Discord or, if you’re old school...
Last month, on eXplorminate.org, Andy asked what we understood by the terms theme, mechanics and gameplay loop. Not being one to ignore an easy (easy!?) question, let’s take a look at the terms we use and, importantly, what we think they mean. Theme This is a slippery one. When someone claims that a game is thematic they might mean is it visually and narratively strong, but they might mean...
There’s a particular kind of indie game project that you come across occasionally. One where the ambition clearly outpaced the resources for a long time, but where the team kept building the world anyway, long before a single line of game code was written. Rezium is that kind of project....
4th Generation Warfare is Eversim’s attempt to simulate the messy reality of modern statecraft where conventional military operations are just one tool among many. The game positions you as a head of state managing a team of specialists—diplomats, spies, hackers, investigators—across a globe rendered in both 2D strategic views and...
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...
Ashes of the Singularity II has a substantial demo live on Steam for the duration of Next Fest. The demo gives you two of the three playable factions, the United Earth Forces and the Post-Human Coalition, in skirmish mode against AI or full multiplayer for up to 8 players with AI backfill. Three maps cover small, medium, and large configurations for 2 to 8 players, across arctic and desert...
On the last episode of Critical Moves, Joe did something unforgivable. He talked me into a bet. If you listened all the way to the end, you’ll already know what’s coming. For everyone else, here’s the moment in full: Joe: No Al, play Terra Invicta. Al: We’re going to play Terra Invicta. Okay. If we do not have 1,000 subs on our YouTube channel by the end of next...
Speed Freeks is a multiplayer-only vehicle combat game set in the Warhammer 40K universe, built around the Orks and their obsession with speed, dakka, and barely functional mechanics. It mixes team-based objective modes with high-speed vehicular chaos, somewhere between Twisted Metal, Overwatch, and Rocket League—if you stripped out polish, added...
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...
Released in 2005 by Wargaming.net, Domination was a turn-based strategy game that expanded upon the mechanics of its predecessor, Massive Assault. Built around a unique war-economy system, it combined deep strategic planning with explosive tactical combat across futuristic battlefields. While it never reached mainstream success, Domination was a compelling entry...
By the time Romance of the Three Kingdoms IX launched in 2003, Koei had already spent nearly two decades refining its approach to grand strategy set during China’s turbulent Three Kingdoms period. The series had evolved significantly since its debut in 1985, and RTK IX marked a bold shift in...
When Medieval II: Total War released in 2006, it didn’t just refine the Total War formula – it perfected it. Developed by Creative Assembly, it built upon the foundations of Rome: Total War while delivering a deeper, more polished medieval warfare experience. It remains one of the most beloved entries...
In the vast galaxy of Star Wars video games, Star Wars: Rebellion holds a unique place. Released in 1998 by LucasArts, the game aimed to capture the strategic essence of the Star Wars universe. While it aspired to greatness by combining elements of grand strategy and real-time tactics, its reception...
In 2012, Firaxis Games revived one of the most popular strategy franchises with the release of XCOM: Enemy Unknown. This reboot aimed to modernize the gameplay while maintaining the spirit of the original X-COM: UFO Defense from 1994. The challenge was to innovate and appeal to a new generation of...
Dragon Force, developed by J-Force and Sega for the Sega Saturn in 1996, was an early and ambitious blend of real-time strategy and tactical combat set in a vibrant fantasy world. At a time when most strategy games focused on top-down, grid-based management or simplified battle systems, Dragon Force offered...
VGA Planets, released in 1992 by Tim Wisseman, was a pioneering space strategy game that predated many of the features now standard in the 4X genre (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate). What made VGA Planets unique was its focus on large-scale, multiplayer empire management. The game ran primarily as a play-by-email...
Pacific General, released in 1997 by Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI), was part of the 5-Star General series, a line of turn-based strategy games that built upon the success of Panzer General. Instead of marching across Europe, Pacific General shifted the focus to the Pacific Theatre of World War II, offering...
Released in 2003, Command & Conquer: Generals and its expansion pack Zero Hour marked a significant departure from the established norms of the Command & Conquer franchise. Known for its innovative gameplay, realistic graphics, and unique factions, Generals redefined what players expected from real-time strategy games and brought fresh elements...
Sid Meier’s Colonization, released in 1994 by MicroProse, stands as a remarkable example of how historical themes and complex strategy mechanics can blend to create an enduring classic. Often overshadowed by its more famous sibling, Civilization, Colonization carved its own niche in the strategy genre, offering players a distinct and...
When Rome: Total War was released in 2004, it marked a transformative moment in the strategy gaming landscape. Developed by Creative Assembly and published by Activision, this game was the third instalment in the Total War series but represented a significant leap forward in terms of gameplay mechanics, graphics, and...
Released in 1997, Age of Empires marked the beginning of an iconic series that would leave a lasting legacy in the realm of real-time strategy games. Developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft, this game introduced players to a richly detailed historical setting where they could command civilizations, research...
In 1998, Axis & Allies, the iconic board game of global warfare and strategy, was brought to life on PC by Hasbro Interactive and MicroProse. This digital adaptation aimed to capture the spirit and depth of the original board game, combining turn-based gameplay with real-time strategy elements to create a...
In 2010, Fury Software released Strategic Command WWII: Global Conflict, a grand strategy game designed to encompass the full scale of World War II. This title took on the ambitious task of recreating the entire global theatre of WWII, allowing players to manage every aspect of the war, from large-scale...
The world of strategy games is deeply intertwined with human history. These games often draw on historical events, offering players a chance to engage with and even reshape the past. From ancient battles to modern conflicts, historical events have provided a fertile ground for game developers to create immersive and...
Released in November 2007, Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance is an expansion to the original Supreme Commander, a real-time strategy game developed by Gas Powered Games and directed by Chris Taylor, the mind behind Total Annihilation. Forged Alliance built upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, introducing a new faction, new...
The modding community has played a crucial role in extending the lifespan and enhancing the experience of Rome: Total War. Over the years, numerous mods have been created that add...
In the world of real-time strategy games, few franchises have left as indelible a mark as Command & Conquer. Known for its innovative gameplay, compelling narratives, and intricate mechanics, the...
Released in 1994, X-COM: UFO Defense (known as X-COM: Enemy Unknown outside North America) stands as a cornerstone in the strategy game genre. Developed by Julian Gollop and MicroProse, the...
Star Trek: Birth of the Federation emerged in 1999 as a strategy game that dared to reimagine the Star Trek universe through the lens of empire-building and interstellar diplomacy. Developed...
Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri wasn’t just Civilization in space. It was Civilization with teeth. Released in 1999 by Firaxis Games, it took the foundation of Civilization II and threw it...
Utopia: The New Worlds took everything the original Utopia: The Creation of a Nation did and threw in more planets, more problems, and more ways for things to go horribly...
Released in 1999 by DreamForge Intertainment and published by SSI, Warhammer 40,000: Rites of War brought the grim darkness of the far future into a turn-based strategy format. Inspired by...
Thousand Parsec, formally maturing as a project in 2010 after years of open-source development, was an ambitious framework for creating and playing 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) space strategy games....
Silent Storm, developed by Nival Interactive and released in 2003, is a tactical turn-based strategy game set during an alternate-history version of World War II. Players take command of a...
Dungeon Keeper, released in 1997 by Bullfrog Productions and published by Electronic Arts, offered a unique and subversive take on the strategy genre. Instead of commanding heroes or kingdoms, players...
Developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra On-Line, Alien Legacy debuted in 1994 as a blend of real-time strategy, resource management, and science fiction storytelling. Set in a distant future,...
Released in 1993 by SimTex and published by MicroProse, Master of Orion is widely regarded as one of the founding titles of the 4X genre – eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate....
Released in 2010 by Blind Mind Studios, Star Ruler aimed to deliver a grand-scale real-time 4X strategy experience, where players could build sprawling galactic empires and command massive fleets. Known...
Few concepts capture the essence of the modern world as effectively as globalism. In the latter half of the 20th century, it emerged as the transformative force that truly connected...
Released in 1994 by Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI), Dark Legions was an innovative strategy game that combined elements of tactical combat, resource management, and role-playing. Developed by Chris Kraus and...
The Second World War was arguably one of the most horrific events in human history. It claimed the highest death toll of any war and its unprecedented scale overshadowed all...
Legacy in gaming is challenging to define. It can either provide a solid foundation for a game to thrive or set a bar so high that no future game can...
In 1992, Changeling Software released Pax Imperia, a title that would become one of the early forerunners of the 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) genre. Published by THQ, the game...
Big news, RTS fans! The demo for Sanctuary: Shattered Sun is launching early next year, but there’s something you can do right now to support the game: wishlist it on...
In 2004, Paradox Interactive released Crusader Kings, a grand strategy game that broke new ground by shifting the focus from nations and empires to dynasties and personal relationships. Unlike traditional...
Avancadia, an indie studio based in Switzerland, is bringing something new to the RTS table with their latest title, Arcane Wilds, which has just launched in Steam Early Access. Combining...
Homeworld 3 is set to receive its final major update as Blackbird Interactive prepares to “close this chapter” on the once-revered space RTS series. Scheduled for release on November 21,...
Released in 2003 by Stardock, Galactic Civilizations entered the 4X strategy genre (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) with a focus on space exploration, interstellar diplomacy, and empire management. Set in a...
OpenRA continues to be the go-to platform for fans of classic RTS games like Red Alert, Command & Conquer, and Dune 2000. This open-source project brings timeless strategy games to...
Blizzard just pulled off a classic move – dropping remasters of Warcraft and Warcraft 2 with no prior warning. The reveal coincided with the company’s 30th anniversary celebration, featuring a...
The RTS genre often feels like it’s been on life support for years. When you think of the classics – Command & Conquer, StarCraft, Warcraft – they’re pillars of the...
In gaming, few stand the test of time, and even fewer are remembered fondly. Of all the games to have done so, perhaps none is more iconic than Age of...
In 1993, Stronghold was released by Stormfront Studios, offering a unique mix of city-building and real-time strategy within a medieval setting. Unlike the more widely known Stronghold game series developed...
Innovation and advancement are the two major pillars on which modern gaming stands. This is why different genres have periodically risen to mainstream popularity throughout history. However, those that couldn’t...
In 2002, Paradox Interactive released Hearts of Iron, a ground-breaking grand strategy game that aimed to simulate the complexities of World War II on a scale rarely seen in video...
