Summary
Strategy is one of the oldest genres in the gaming industry. Dating back to the late 1980s, it gained much popularity in the following decade with games likeWarcraft,Starcraft,andRed Alert. Back then, games were made like intricate and asymmetrical chess matches with extra steps — after all, that’s what the tech permitted at the time.
Today, the strategy genre is way past its apogee, with more casual games and genres entering the market. That doesn’t mean they’re outdated and dull, however. One only needs to take a good look at some of Steam’s offerings forfree strategy gamesto get an idea of how the genre evolved. These free titles have kept the flames going and also brought some much-needed innovations.
Updated May 31, 2025 by Mark Sammut:The specifications have been added for each Steam strategy game, include links to their profiles.
With the MCU looking as popular as ever with a million upcoming projects,Marvel Snapis looking to capitalize on that ongoing popularity. This is Marvel’s attempt at its own CCG, and it’s looking great with obvious inspirations from genre staples likeHearthstoneandGwent.
Right now it’s only on early access, but it’s already playable and well-received in its current state. It’s also a fast-paced CCG that lets players collect and control Marvel superheroes as their cards and it’s easy to see where the appeal of the grind will come from.
For those who aren’t tired of social deduction video games after the landslide meme popularity ofAmong Us,Goose Goose Duckis another strong contender. Players assume the role of titular geese characters who must keep an eye out for impostor birds such as mallards, etc.
There’s a deeper layer of strategy and tactics involved here compared to the other simpler social deduction games and of course, it’s a lot wackier and more humorous. More importantly, there’s a built-in proximity chat for those who prefer to panic out loud.
Risk: Global Dominationis a strategy game with a lighter and more cartoonish theme, modeled after a board game made by Hasbro. It’s essentially a digital board game version of WW1 where players must fight the Axis Powers and eventually, zombies and other sci-fi and fantasy enemies.
Like in most other strategy games, players need to raise their own army, utilize diplomacy, and strategize to lead their forces to victory with or without the help of allies, though the game is definitely more fun with others and is designed with multiplayer in mind.
13Minion Masters
Minion Mastersis a good blend of MOBA and soccer with a sprinkle of CCG deck-building. This mix of genres sees players clashing in 1v1 or 2v2 battles to destroy the other guys' base. There’s a total of nine factions with their own numerous units and playstyles.
This increases the game’s replay value and opportunities for customization. This game is a bit heavy on multiplayer though, as expected for strategy games with a CCG element but the friendly atmosphere and the existence of player-run guilds make the experience less intimidating.
Galaxy Lifetakes a different hybrid approach since apart from the strategy dip, it also dabbles in city building. At its core, it’s a space colony-building game with plenty of strategic layers to keep players' minds busy with management and contingencies.
Once players have their space colony and civilization established, they can then set their sights on other civilizations for alliances, trade, or conquest. Therein lies the multiplayer component of the game in this persistent galaxy war and city-building game.
Conflict of Nations: World War 3is a grand strategy title set in a modern world where all-out war is as easy as bombing colored territory. It plays out similarly to games likeCivilizationor the campaign mode inTotal War. It also helps players familiarize themselves with geography since the game takes place on a fictional modern version of Earth.
That means that players who want to take control of a certain country to wage a war over something could fulfill their war nerd fantasies. Those who get tired of playing with the AI can also opt for multiplayer where they can duke it out mentally with other human players.
Crusader Kings 2is one of the most solid and most intricate grand strategy games out there. As the title implies, it’s a medieval history and war simulation set in the European theater. Players can pick their European countries and manage them through wide variations of victory from diplomacy to war.
One of the most celebrated aspects ofCrusader Kings 2is its deep and thoughtful political systems, where the AI feels more organic and humanlike compared to other grand strategy games. Moreover, players can micromanage every aspect of their kingdom down to chromosome sharing in the family tree.
Fallout Shelteris a cute little spinoff game from theFalloutfranchise and unlike the main games, it’s less dark as the animation and the art style appear to be the third and fourth game’s propaganda visuals. There’s also a huge difference in gameplay asFallout Shelteris a management sim that doubles as a strategy game.
Players take control of underground vaults or apocalyptic shelters while their inhabitants wait out the nuclear war on the surface. They will have to conserve resources while expanding the underground partitions of the vaults and also controlling some surface explorers.
Firestone Idle RPGmight have a different genre tag in its name, but it’s a turn-based RPG where the game takes pride in its chill gameplay. The “idle” in its title means players can sit back after assembling their teams, as combat is mostly automated and all they have to do is plan out abilities and consider synergies.
If anything, that sounds more like a strategy game than an RPG, since most of the gameplay lies in preparation for battles or “strategizing.” The game also offers seasonal events and a fairly fast opportunity for players to progress without spending real money.
A big chunk of the most popular strategy games today consist of collectible card games. They’re quite the rage, thanks to the manageable learning curve and high skill ceiling.Shadowverse CCGis one of those and it shares a common trait with most CCGs: easy to learn, hard to master.
Shadowverseboasts a status as Japan’s number one collectible card game. Players get to pick leader classes that dictate the flavor of their deck of cards. Each of the classes has its own strengths, weaknesses, and synergies, making for a deeper level of customization and gameplay.
