It’s incredible to see how much video games have been able to evolve as an industry and there have been monumental advancements made in the last generation of gaming alone. New features in games gain popularity, which has allowed different genres to excel and gain larger audiences than ever before. The launch ofnew intellectual properties this gaming generationhas opened a lot of doors and hinted at what’s to come in the future.
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Strategy gameshave been around for a while, but this past year has featured some truly groundbreaking titles. 2020 is full of strategy titles that are likely to remain popular well into the new year and beyond.
10Iron Harvest (Score: 75)
Iron Harvestis an ambitious strategy game published by Deep Silver. The title doesn’t try to reinvent standard RTS mechanics, butIron Harvest’strue strength is in its atypical setting.
The game is set in analternate version of a dystopian worldthat combines historical wartime conflict with mech combat and unconventional steampunk-type weaponry.Iron Harvestis fun to play and packs in a ton of content, but it’s the game’s unique world and art design that really help it stand out in the strategy genre.
9A Total War Saga: TROY (Score: 75)
TheTotal Warserieshas been running for years, butTroypushes theTotal War Sagagameplay even further than its predecessor,Thrones of Britannia.Total War Saga: Troycombines turn-based strategy with real-time combat in an exciting world that offers a lot of freedom in terms of the possible heroes that can be controlled.
Total War Saga: Troydoesn’t just feature brutal war, but it incorporates mythical monsters and even the presence of Greek Gods. It’s an impressive package that indicates an encouraging future forTotal War Saga.
TheXCOMserieshas established itself as a wonderful source of strategy entertainment that meshes addictive gameplay with an expansive sci-fi world.XCOM: Chimera Squadis especially exciting since it’s set at a point in the franchise where aliens and humans have reached a place of peace as they attempt to coexist.
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Players control a faction that includes both humans and aliens, which is very satisfying.XCOM: Chimera Squadstreamlines a lot of mechanics that were tedious inXCOM 2, plus the heavy support of mods and expansions guarantees that it will remain fresh.
7Gears Tactics (Score: 80)
Gears of Warhelped put Microsoft’s Xbox brand on the map and the core franchise has delivered some of the biggest and most satisfying action titles on the console.Gears Tacticsradically takes theGears of Waruniverse and shifts gameplay to a strategy setup thatworks surprisingly well.
Gears Tacticsthrows the player up against a seemingly unlimited army of monsters.Gears Tacticsis slower and more methodical than the main games in the series, but it’s a brave experiment that pays off. Hopefully,Gears Tacticswon’t be a one-off and another entry happens on the Xbox Series X.
6Command & Conquer Remastered Collection (Score: 82)
Strategy games have advanced a lot over the years, but many people still think back to the classicCommand & Conquerseries as being synonymous with the genre.
2020’sCommand & Conquer Remastered Collectionupdates the first two iconic games in the franchise,Command & ConquerandRed Alert. Re-releases can be a mixed bag, but there’s so much love in this collection. Both titles received beautiful modern updates like 4k graphics, improved music, and a wealth of expansions and additional mod support. This collection is the best way to experience these foundational strategy titles.
5Port Royale 4 (Score: 83)
ThePort Royalefranchise has flown under the radar, but the fourth entry acts as a strong return to form for the strategy series. ThePort Royaletitles dig into theexcitement that surrounds piratesand treacherous trade routes during the 17thcentury.
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Port Royale 4is a sprawling adventure where players cultivate the best production routes within the Caribbean, but the game offers a ton of variety for how this task gets accomplished. It’s easy to get lost inPort Royale 4’sworld and while the standard edition received moderate reception, the Xbox One port is an exceptional improvement.
4Wasteland 3 (Score: 85)
Wasteland 3is a superb titlethat seamlessly combines strategy and RPG elements. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic version of Colorado and there’s an emphasis placed on the players’ choices.Wasteland 3caters to both single-player and co-operative play, both of which offer freedom in how the game is approached.
Wasteland 3features a huge story, a greater emphasis on strategy, and new tools to play around with, like vehicles. As the PlayStation 4 release ofWasteland 3suffered some setbacks, the PC version is regarded as the best.
3Panzer Corps 2 (Score: 86)
Panzer Corps 2immerses the player in the minutiae of World War II and is the perfect type of turn-based strategy title that’s rewarding but also accessible to newcomers to the genre.Panzer Corps 2features thousands of World War II vehicles and over 50 scenarios that explore unique wartime complications.
Panzer Corps 2rewards smart gameplay, which means that there’s a ton to explore and the ability to make every playthrough radically different. The game also has a strong modding community and the ability to create new scenarios, which adds even more content to a title that’s already massive.
2Desperados III (Score: 86)
Plenty of video games have found big success by setting themselves in the Wild West, butDesperados IIItakes advantageof the era’s lawlessness. The single-player game revolves around strategy and contains several contrasting playable characters, butDesperados IIIis engaging because of the different ways that it can be experienced.
Players can act like they’re on a stealth mission and avoid conflict or they can make the game resemble a typical action experience and get reckless with the gunfire.Desperados IIIhas been released for multiple platforms, but it’s the PC version that’s considered to be the most polished.
1Crusader Kings III (Score: 91)
Crusader Kingshasn’t diluted its brand with constant sequels. The series has thoughtfully spaced out its titles to achieve the most impact.Crusader Kings IIIis an astounding adventure that almostcontains too much content. Players work through the Middle Ages on a timeline that spans hundreds of years.
Every decision has repercussions on characters and it really creates an interactive experience where the player feels the stress over the state of their dynasty. There’s a ton to discover inCrusader Kings III, but much of the joy is in experimenting with new classes of character or strategies.
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