Summary
- Strategy games vary in gameplay styles, offering different experiences like grand strategy or real-time tactical battles.
- Not all strategy games offer the same value; some provide more replayability and depth than others, making them worth the investment.
- Games like Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War 2 and Stellaris offer multiple factions and unique gameplay, making them endlessly engaging.
Strategy comes in different flavors. There are 4X or grand strategy games that focus on strategic gameplay on the main map. Then there are real-time strategy games that focus on tactical gameplay in real-time battles, and then there are games that combine both of these playing styles into a unified experience.
The 10 Best Grand Strategy Games Of All Time
Strategy games test a player's planning and insight skills, and there is a bountiful number of games to put players' critical thinking to the test.
Not all strategy games are created equal when it comes to the value they offer. Some are only good for a single playthrough, before being left on the shelf never to be played again. And there are yet others, that for some reason or another, offer fantastic value. Either due to the length of the playthrough, or the overall replayability of the game.
7 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War 2
6 Factions To Play Through
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Anniversary Edition is the definitive Dawn of War II experience, featuring the original Dawn of War II, Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising, Dawn of War II - Retribution, Dawn of War II - The Last Stand, as well as all DLCs and cosmetic items.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IIWith a focus on fast-action RTS gameplay, Dawn of War II brings to life the science fiction universe of Warhammer 40,000 like never before. Experience the intimate brutality of battle as you play through your chosen race’s epic campaign. Clash with the enemies on battlefield ablaze with visceral melee and ranged combat. Lead and develop your squads from raw recruits into the most battle hardened veterans in the galaxy.
Brutal Frontline Action & Tactics
Get straight into the action to experience intense melee and devastating ranged combat. Use vicious melee sync-kills to obliterate your enemies. Outsmart your opponents using dynamic and destructible environments to suppress, flank and destroy your foes.
Non-Linear Single Player Campaign
Command an elite strike force, developing the skills and abilities of your squads and commander as you progress through the game.
Co-Op Multiplayer
Play through the entire single player campaign co-operatively with a friend, at any point in the game, anytime.
Bespoke RTS Engine
Utilizing Relic's proprietary Essence Engine 2.0 Dawn of War II delivers cinematic visuals, detailed graphics and amazing special effects.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising
In Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising you will take command of the Blood Ravens and defend the sector against the Chaos Space Marines of the Black Legion. Purge the Chaos filth and hold the chapter together as traitorous forces work from within to try bring down the Blood Ravens.New Single Player Missions
Continue your fight against the enemies of the Emperor and use your squads’ wargear, abilities, and experience to battle against Chaos in 15 new missions
New Multiplayer Race
Swear loyalty to the Chaos Gods and play as the bloodthirsty Chaos Space Marines in multiplayer battles against both Chaos Rising and Dawn of War II owners
New Units
New multiplayer units join the Space Marines, Ork, Eldar, and Tyranid armies.
2 New Last Stand Heroes – Face off against the relentless horde as either the Chaos Sorcerer or Tyranid Hive Tyrant
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - RetributionCommand any of the six unique factions in the next standalone expansion of the critically acclaimed Dawn of War real-time strategy franchise. Choose to build a massive army or lead a small squad of elite heroes into battle and experience a single player campaign customized to your favorite race.Multi-Race Campaign
For the first time in the Dawn of War II series, players will be able to experience a single player campaign with any of the six available races.
Build your Army
Upgrade your heroes and unlock new buildable units as you progress through the single player campaign.6 Playable Races
Choose from six multiplayer races, each with their own unique super heavy units.
- Released
- February 19, 2009
- Developer(s)
- Relic Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Leveraging the lore of the Warhammer 40,000 tabletop role-playing game, Dawn of War 2 is a fantastic real-time strategy game with a twist. Instead of building large armies to throw at the enemy, players are forced to train troops and build vehicle s that support specific hero units in achieving a specific goal.
6 Tactical Strategy Games With The Best Mercenary Systems, Ranked
Mercenary systems often play a big role in tactical strategy games, and there are so many great games out there that use this mechanic effectively.
What makes Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War 2 fantastic value is that there are 6 playable factions, and each is different from the others in abilities, troop types, and combat tactics. In effect, this is 6 games in one. Unlike some RTS games, it is well worth playing through every faction in Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War 2.
6 Endless Space 2
Over 100 Hours To Complete
Endless Space 2
Endless Space 2 is a Strategic Space Opera set in a mysterious universe.
Your story unfolds in a galaxy that was first colonized by God-like beings known as the “ENDLESS," who rose and fell eons ago. All that remains of them are mystical ruins, powerful artifacts, and a strange, near-magical substance known as Dust.
ES2 takes the classic “one more turn” formula to new heights. You will explore mysterious star systems, discover the secrets of ancient races, build colonies on distant planets, exploit trade routes, develop advanced technologies of unthinkable power; and, of course encounter new life forms to understand, to court or to conquer.
As a leader, you have to manage your populations like never before as they react dynamically to your decisions and to their environment, expressing their will through political parties, dictating the laws that your Senate can pass. Will you be a beloved natural leader or will you manipulate your populations to your benefit?
Epic Space Battles
Watch your fighters fly past huge cruisers while lasers rip their hulls apart in epic real-time space battles. Detailed after action reports will help you adapt your strategy for the next confrontations.
Design your ships, assemble your fleets and carefully adapt your battle plans to overcome your enemies. Once you think you’ve done it all, take it online against seven other players.
Lead one of eight civilizations, each with a unique playstyle affinity and story quest, and build great stellar empires capable of imposing your vision on the Galaxy!
Find out more about the Academy and its powerful cast of Heroes, that you can recruit and train to become fleet admirals, system governors or influential senators.
Press ‘Space’ anytime to activate the Amplified Reality view and reveal in-depth contextual information about your systems, trade routes, diplomatic stances and even your ship stats during battle!
- Released
- October 6, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Amplitude Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Grand Strategy, 4X
As 4X strategy games go, Endless Space 2 is somewhat unique in the way it plays. Firstly, this is an entirely turn-based gam e, with nothing automated for the player. Within each turn, the player has to visit every planet, sector, and fleet to set up their next move. The player also has to manage the resource production of every colony and the local research trees, meaning this is a game that is heavy on micromanagement.
Because of the complexity of the game, a 100% playthrough will take more than 100 hours. And, of course, there is plenty of scope for replays by changing the starting parameters for the map or creating a unique faction. Overall, Endless Space 2 is a great value.
5 XCOM 2
Increasingly Hard Challenges
XCOM 2
- Released
- February 5, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Platform(s)
- Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, RPG
XCOM 2 combines a strategic layer via the world map and tactical turn-based combat during missions. Players are tasked with overthrowing an occupying alien force by building and operating a resistance network across the globe.
A single playthrough in XCOM 2 takes around 30 hours. However, there is a good reason why XCOM 2 gets a place on this list, even though a playthrough is quite short. The game offers an increasing difficulty for players to overcome. From easy, with save and reload enabled, to Ironman mode, with save and reload disabled. Completing the game in the hardest setting with Ironman enabled is very difficult indeed, and it will likely take hundreds of hours due to many failed attempts.
4 Manor Lords
Spend Endless Hours Admiring The Land
Manor Lords
- Released
- April 26, 2024
- Developer(s)
- Slavic Magic
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, City Builder
Manor Lords combines strategy with crafting and settlement-building mechanics. A visually stunning game, that has surprisingly deep gameplay. It is hard to describe what Manor Lords is. An attempt would be to say that it is a strategy game that allows the player to switch to a first-person perspective and explore the fruits of their efforts.
Because of this spectator-like feature, Manor Lords offers great value. Players can spend many hours simply watching the population of villages, farms, and settlements going about their daily business.
3 Stellaris
Infinitely Replayable
Stellaris
- Released
- May 9, 2016
- Developer(s)
- Paradox Development Studio
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- 4X, Grand Strategy
Combining grand strategy on a galactic scale with real-time fleet combat, Stellaris is renowned as a game that helped define the genre. With a strikingly simple UI, the game makes managing a complex empire across a large map very simple.
Stellaris is infinitely replayable. Players can choose from a long list of unique empires to play or create a custom one. The map options are deep, allowing for almost every scenario to be set up for a new game. For example, players can choose how many A.I.operated empires they wish to play against and how strong they should be. Some players have thousands of hours recorded playing the base game alone, and when the abundance of DLC is added, the replayability is further extended.
2 Crusader Kings 3
Be Prepared To Spend Hours Just Planning
Crusader Kings 3
- Released
- September 1, 2020
- Developer(s)
- Paradox Interactive
- Platform(s)
- PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Grand Strategy
As 4X games go, few are as complex and offer such deep gameplay as Crusader Kings 3. This is one of the most well-thought-out strategy games of all time. The gameplay revolves around the standard strategy game trope of sustaining and expanding an empire. But where Crusader Kings 3 stands out is in the sheer number of different gameplay mechanics that can be used to reach different goals.
Crusader Kings 3: 27 Tips For Newcomers To Grand Strategy Games
Crusader Kings 3 can be an intimidating title for newcomers. Here are some things to know for gamers who don't usually play grand strategy games.
The main story playthrough will take around 40 hours on its own, and then there are all the extra campaign options and scenarios to complete as well. The game is almost infinitely replayable, as the player can choose to create custom empires and specific starting scenarios. Overall, Crusader Kings 3 offers outstanding value for strategy game fans.
1 OpenRA
There Is No Better Value Than Free
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, MacOS
- Released: October, 2023
- Developer: Community project
- Genre: Real-time strategy
First place on this list goes to a free game because what can be better valued than free? OpenRA is a community project that aims to recreate the original Command & Conquer: Red Alert game. One of the most widely acclaimed RTS of all time.
The gameplay has been recreated accurately, with both campaigns playable. For some years, it was impossible to buy the original Red Alert game, and OpenRA was the only way to experience this cult classic. In 2020, a remastered version of the game was released, but by this stage, OpenRA was complete and could be downloaded for free.