Our strategy gaming veterans welcome host Sid to explore the Football Manager franchise’s rich history, covering everything from Championship Manager’s bedroom origins and personal addiction stories to FM26’s turbulent launch, examining how the world’s most detailed sports database became a lifestyle game that costs relationships and whether the controversial new direction represents evolution or misstep. Listen: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/listen This episode provides an intimate examination of Football Manager through the perspectives of devoted players who have lost jobs and relationships to the...
WE ARE CRITICAL MOVES
A Strategy Gaming Podcast
Our strategy gaming veterans welcome newest host Sid to examine the Sudden Strike franchise, covering everything from its real-time tactics roots and niche positioning within war gaming to the ambitious promises for Sudden Strike 5, exploring whether the series can find mainstream success by doubling down on arcade accessibility rather than pursuing simulation realism. Listen: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/listen This episode provides a comprehensive examination of the Sudden Strike series through the perspectives of longtime fans and newcomers, featuring detailed discussions of the...
Our strategy gaming veterans dive deep into two major fantasy strategy releases, examining Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era’s return to its classic roots and Endless Legend 2’s innovative approach to 4X gaming, while exploring how both titles represent different philosophies within the broader strategy genre and whether they signal the emergence of a new character-focused strategy subgenre. LISTEN: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/listen This episode provides comprehensive reviews of two significant fantasy strategy releases from Hooded Horse: the Heroes of Might and...
The Critical Moves team explores Steam’s October 2025 NextFest, diving into dozens of strategy game demos ranging from highly anticipated AAA titles like Anno 117 and Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era to promising indie concepts and unfortunate quality issues, while examining Steam’s curation challenges and the rising influence of publisher Hooded Horse in the strategy gaming landscape. LISTEN LINK: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/listen This episode provides candid impressions of Steam NextFest October 2025’s strategy offerings, featuring detailed discussions of demos ranging...





