Summary
- Some strategy games, like Quasimorph, offer immediately challenging gameplay with little room for easy victories.
- Games like XCOM: Enemy Unknown and Darkest Dungeon require players to earn victory through skill, knowledge, and trial and error.
- Wildfrost offers a balanced gameplay experience, blending deck-building and tactics to provide a challenging but fair experience.
Strategy games are often known for complex mechanics and difficult learning curves, but some are keener than others to hand players an easy victory. While there's more than enough room for accessible, player-friendly experiences, some players may be looking for more immediately challenging gameplay.
6 Best Strategy Games With Simple Controls
For newcomers to strategy games or casual players who want to increase the intensity just a touch, these games offer deep tactics but simple controls.
These titles aren't necessarily the most difficult, but they offer players experiences that rarely if ever hand players the win. Instead, victory must be earned through skill, knowledge, and pure trial and error. From the hardcore tactics of Quasimorph to the steep learning curve of Dune: Spice Wars, there's something here for all kinds of strategy game fan.
1 Quasimorph
Hardcore Turn-Based Tactics in a Grim-Dark World
Quasimorph
- Released
- October 2, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Magnum Scriptum
- Publisher(s)
- HypeTrain Digital
- Genre(s)
- Extraction, Shooter, Roguelike
- Platform(s)
- PC
Quasimorph is not an easy experience, offering immediately challenging gameplay with its brutal turn-based combat and hardcore survival mechanics. Its roguelike nature also ensures players face constant tension, and victory is rarely if ever achieved easily.
In addition, Quasimorph rarely cuts players a break; the sci-fi dungeon-crawls players are tasked with are entirely unafraid to outnumber the player, and there are numerous ways to perish cheaply. But players that exercise patience and learn from their mistakes will stand a better chance in Quasimorph's grim-dark world.
2 XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Tense Turn-Based Combat With Brutal Consequences
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
- Released
- October 9, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games, 2K Games, Feral Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based Strategy, Action, Tactical, Strategy
XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a turn-based strategy game that tasks players with fighting off an alien invasion. Managing small rag-tag squads of soldiers, players must consistently exercise strategic thinking in order to achieve victory.
Almost every action in XCOM is important, from threat assessment and target priority to tactical positioning. And there's almost always a cost, a consequence. As a result, victory is rarely achieved easily in XCOM.
3 Battle Brothers
A Sandbox RPG With Brutal Turn-Based Combat
Battle Brothers
- Released
- April 27, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Overhype Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Overhype Studios
- Genre(s)
- Indie Games, Tactical, RPG, Strategy, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Battle Brothers is an open-world sandbox RPG that tasks players with managing a mercenary company in a harsh and hostile landscape. Its greatest strength, however, is its brutal turn-based combat, a system that frequently challenges the player and punishes mistakes with severity.
While some battles are smaller and generally easier to overcome than others, even the smallest skirmish in Battle Brothers can result in severe injury and even death. Withstanding multiple encounters and making it to the end-game is rarely, if ever, achieved easily.
4 Darkest Dungeon
A Punishing & Strategic Roguelike RPG
Darkest Dungeon
- Released
- January 19, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
From the very start, Darkest Dungeon is a title that's more than likely to offer great difficulty — especially for newcomers. Its permanent death mechanics and grueling dungeon-crawls create an almost oppressive gameplay loop, but one that can be tremendously addictive and often rewarding.
The combat itself can quickly get out of control, with a flow that swings in favor of both the enemies and the player. Status effects and a mechanic for stress ensure near-constant attrition, and this especially ensures players must often work to obtain victory.
5 Into The Breach
Firm but Fair Turn-Based Tactics
Into the Breach
- Released
- February 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
Into The Breach is a firm but fair turn-based tactics game that excels with its generous use of open information. In the game, players control a small squad of mechs as they attempt to defend civilians and various objectives from an overwhelming alien invasion.
While decidedly tactical, Into The Breach takes inspiration from puzzle games, including the ability to undo moves and reset turns. In combination with detailed telegraphing of enemy attacks, Into The Breach facilitates player expression and experimentation to great effect. However, despite its fairness, Into The Breach is by no means an easy game; players can expect plenty of trial and error, and it's entirely possible for players to back themselves into a corner they can't escape from.
6 Dune: Spice Wars
A Slow-Burning RTS With a Steep Learning Curve
Dune: Spice Wars
- Released
- September 14, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Shiro Games
- Publisher(s)
- Funcom, Shiro Games
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Dune: Spice Wars is a unique combination of 4X and RTS mechanics that won't be for everyone. It's a slow-burning experience that can take time to appreciate, but those who exercise patience will find a web of intricate systems underneath.
Gameplay is elevated further by thematic mechanics and incredibly distinct asymmetric factions. However, the complexity of the game's design results in a steep learning curve. In addition, mistakes aren't always immediately obvious, and players can be left in an unwinnable position later down the line. As a result, players must pay close attention to achieve victory.
7 Wildfrost
A Surprisingly Tough Deck-Builder
Wildfrost
- Released
- April 12, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Deadpan Games, Gaziter
- Publisher(s)
- Chucklefish
- Genre(s)
- Digital Card Game, Strategy, Roguelike
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Wildfrost is a roguelike deck-builder that excels with its charming cartoon art-style, bursting with color and replete with whimsy. However, its gameplay is just as strong, offering combat that blends deck-building and tactics in equal measure.
While its gameplay is relatively accessible, Wildfrost rarely hands players an easy victory; the game is balanced in such a way that even powerful builds can be brought down by the smallest of mistakes. Thankfully, there's a great deal of open information that allows players to make informed decisions. Though it can at times be easy to misread.
8 StarCraft 2
A Highly Competitive but Expressive Experience
StarCraft 2
- Released
- July 27, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
StarCraft 2 is a fast-paced real-time strategy game that excels with its diverse asymmetric factions and truly expressive gameplay. Blending micro and macro management to great effect, StarCraft 2 is able to facilitate deep and strategic thinking while remaining action-packed.
The game's expressive and deeply customizable controls also allow players to play their own way, resulting in a truly rewarding strategy game. However, the sheer depth of StarCraft 2 and the speed of play at higher levels makes it tremendously competitive, and achieving victory is almost never easy; success requires patience, effort, and analysis in equal measure.
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