Summary

• Some strategy games have evolved beyond war themes, offering factory management and city planning options.
• The complex systems of various strategy and tactical games have solidified a strong following over the years.
• Big names in the genre such as Civilization and Starcraft continue to be popular.

Throughout the years, the genre of strategy video games has grown and evolved, with many flocking to thought-intensive titles like Civilization to lose themselves in the challenges that are presented in the games. Strategy games have a way of being very cerebral experiences, demanding a level of focus and critical thinking that goes beyond the average shooter. They often have a focus on war, stemming from their roots as tabletop war games at military academies over the past several centuries. This isn't always the case, however, as is seen with the rise of factory-themed strategy games over the past few years.

Despite the focus of war in most strategy games, many modern takes include a variety of themes, including factory planning and city management strategies. This allows for those players who may be wishing for a different setting to also have many options. The most highly rated in this genre are stemming from the classics, however, and often include wars ranging from historical perspectives to sci-fi and fantasy versions. For this list, Screen Rant is using Metacritic ratings, in addition to factors such as how much a game has influenced the genre as a whole.

10 Factorio Brings Strategy To Managing Massive Automated Factories

Developed & Published By Wube Software (2020)

An example of a deeply strategic game that does not follow the pattern of combat-heavy war games, Factorio has an impressive Metacritic score of 90 to add weight to its name. In Factorio, players must gather resources, research technologies, and use all of that to build an infrastructure with automated production. All the while, there are many creatures who would rather the factory not be on their land, requiring the use of defenses to fight off enemies if the factory has any hope of survival.

Factorio was in early access for many years before its official launch, allowing for developers to optimize the game based on player . It now includes multiplayer, modding capabilities, and the option to craft unique maps to make things even more interesting.

9 Crusader Kings 3 Offers Grand Strategy In The Middle Ages

Developed & Published By Paradox Interactive (2020)

A classic example of the grand strategy sub-genre of strategy gaming, Crusader Kings 3 lets players lead a dynasty through the medieval setting of the Middle Ages. With a Metacritic score of 91, it puts players into complex situations in an ever-evolving world. Over its massive map, there is substantial political intrigue taking place between opposing realms, with backstabbing and danger. Players not only manage their own area but can also recruit agents to undermine or even murder others, while ensuring that one's own lineage remains strong.

Naturally, war is a large part of Crusader Kings 3, requiring thoughtful strategies on and off the battlefield to manage armies and units in either offensive or defensive maneuvers. The intricate mechanics of grand strategy gaming are rich in the complexity of the game.

8 Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Is A Sci-Fi 4X Game

Developed By Firaxis Games & Published By Electronic Arts (1999)

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is often considered to be a spiritual successor to Civilization 2, taking place in the sci-fi depiction of outer space in the 22nd century. Created by the designers of Civilization and Civilization 2, this space-themed game is often compared to those. In the turn-based strategy game, players create bases rather than cities, facilities, and secret projects while terraforming and exploring the Alpha Centauri planet, Chiron. There are numerous leaders to choose from, with a variety of Earth countries represented as they compete to colonize Chiron.

On Metacritic, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri has a Metascore of 92, with many reviews on the site praising it as one of the best 4X (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) strategy games to ever be created. It builds on Civilization 2's mechanics for colonizations and battle, while putting it all in outer space.

7 Warcraft 3: Reign Of Chaos Is An Iconic Classic That Inspired An MMORPG

Developed & Published By Blizzard Entertainment (2002)

Although now Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos is more often thought of in of being the precursor to the MMORPG World of Warcraft, the game was a phenomenal entry in the strategy genre on its own. It offers a variety of armies to control, including Humans, Orcs, Night Elves, and the Undead. Each different faction has its own military style, units, and technology. Players must quickly gain control of land and resources while balancing the construction of units and buildings for either an offensive or defensive approach, which requires a significant amount of planning and consideration of the opposing styles.

Blizzard has made a reimagined version of Warcraft 3 available for current systems through its Battle.net system, under the title Warcraft 3: Reforged. Unfortunately, this modern version of the game has had many setbacks and is reviewed much lower than the classic. Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos holds a well-deserved Metacritic score of 92.

6 Company Of Heroes Provides A World War 2 Setting

Developed By Relic Entertainment & Published By THQ (2006)

Each of the games in the Company of Heroes series are set during different points in World War II. The first, and highest rated, Company of Heroes title focuses on the real-world events surrounding the Battle of Normandy and the liberation of . It offers two playable factions in multiplayer mode, the Allied and Axis forces, although the single-player campaign is strictly seen from the viewpoint of the US military.

The game earned its impressive Metacritic score of 93 through offering intelligent AI, and deeply technical strategic mechanics. Despite having been released in 2006, the game continues to hold up with graphics that were highly advanced for the time and advanced uses of the terrain in tactical strategy. The learning curve for Company of Heroes can be steep, but the flexibility in strategic planning that is allowed makes it a worthy game for any fan of the genre.

5 Homeworld Was Inspired By Battlestar Galactica

Developed By Relic Entertainment & Published By Gearbox Software (1999)

Another classic strategy game with a science-fiction setting, Homeworld's story was inspired by the television series, Battlestar Galactica, while its gameplay was said to find inspiration from Command & Conquer. Like others in the strategy genre, the game includes gathering resources, building up a military for both offensive and defensive means, and researching technologies to improve. Unlike many other titles, however, resources are gathered by mining gas or dust clouds as well as asteroids and then returning the resources to the mothership.

A standout for its time, Homeworld was among the first to offer a fully 3D visual style, which was particularly different given the outer space backdrop. The overall epic feel that the game provides, along with its impressive space fleet battles, led to the game earning a Metacritic score of 93, and spawned a series of titles. The most recent game, Homeworld 3, has unfortunately been met with disappointing reviews.

4 Final Fantasy Tactics Set A New Standard For Strategic Gaming

Developed By Squaresoft & Published By Square Co. (1997)

The original Final Fantasy Tactics from 1997/1998 is unfortunately not listed on Metacritic, which is a shame as it helped shape the future of SRPGs coming from Japan, even by being an inspiration for modern titles such as Unicorn Overlord and the compelling Triangle Strategy. In fact, Final Fantasy Tactics itself was influenced by another game by the same creator, Ogre Battle, and used many refined versions of similar systems.

Set in the world that would later be known as Ivalice, FF Tactics has a wide range of job classes to level up for customizing characters, turn-based battles, and a world map with towns and grid-based battle points. The tactical RPG features a redesigned battle system that speeds up gameplay while keeping with the strategic planning expected of the genre. With the following that the game continues to have, many rumors continue to swirl of a remaster or new entry in the series.

3 Starcraft 2: Wings Of Liberty Continues To Hold Up A Decade Later

Developed & Published By Blizzard Entertainment (2010)

The leader in sci-fi real-time strategy gaming, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty continues to hold onto its popularity with a steady fanbase of regular players as a free-to-play game on Battle.net. Its original popularity helped to spawn the beginnings of today's Esports, and it continues to be included in Esport competitions. Naturally, the game also has a high Metacritic rating, with a Metascore of 93.

As part of the strategy game genre, Starcraft 2 is a complex game that requires a considerable amount of thought from players to succeed. Choosing from one of three factions: Terrans, Zerg, and Protoss, players then find the perfect balance of resources between units and structures, while also developing new technologies in order to not be overpowered by more advanced enemies. Whether taking an aggressive approach or slowly building up a powerful army over time, there are many complex decisions to constantly keep an eye on.

2 Sid Meier's Civilization 4 & 2 Both Rank In The Top

Developed By Firaxis Games (Civ 4, 2005) & MicroProse (Civ 2, 1996)

It's impossible to ignore the contribution of Sid Meier's Civilization series to the strategy gaming genre throughout the ages. With a newly announced entry, Sid Meier's Civilization 7, on the horizon, it is clear that this franchise has a solid hold on the community. At the top of the ratings, Civilization 4 and Civilization 2 both hold incredible Metacritic scores of 94.

In any of the Civilization titles, players work to build up a civilization from scratch and help it grow and evolve throughout the ages of the world, from prehistoric times to the space age. There are any number of ways to play the game, whether adopting a combat-heavy focus, choosing to research technologies and build up an advanced country, working towards global diplomacy, or even magnifying religious strengths. The depth and variety of strategies that can be employed in the games lead to replayability, particularly with the large number of rulers that can be played as.

1 Command & Conquer Was One Of The Original Defining RTS Titles

Developed & Published By Westwood Studios (1995)

In 1995, when Command & Conquer first appeared on the video game market, the idea of real-time strategy gaming was still a novel idea to players, yet it was the start of many of the mechanics which are now recognized as staples in a strategy game. It offered two playable factions: the Global Defense Initiative (GDI) and the Brotherhood of Nod, and laid the foundation for the idea of developing bases, gathering resources, creating units, and battling each other for victory.

The fast-paced game has a Command & Conquer HD Remastered Collection was released in 2020 as an accessible way to experience the beginnings of the strategy video game industry.

Sources: Metacritic (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), Battle.net (1, 2)