Whether you fancy yourself as a creative thinker or even something of a Machiavelli, one way to demonstrate your skills is to enter the proving grounds of strategy games. Of course, the very first and most crucial decision you will need to make is choosing which of the many strategy games on the market you will play. Luckily, you can get a rundown of the best on the market, below.
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
No strategy-based post is completed without mentioning Age of Empires, and in the 2nd edition, you will have access to everything that makes this franchise great. Yes, that includes the remastered game itself, and the many expansions that go with it.
Of course, it's entirely your choice as to whether you opt to play through the conflicts of the Spanish and Aztecs, the English and the Scots, or any of the other scenarios on offer.
Politics and war
Offering fun MMO play Politics & War is a browser-based game where you control a country of your own making. Of course, that means you also get to choose precisely how you rule this country of your own creation which means making the tough political, social, and military decisions a ruler must face.
The great thing about Politics and war is that you can choose to play cooperatively with friends and work together to create peace and wealth, or pit the might of your armies against strangers, fighting to the death for the very existence of your nation. Indeed, you can also reverse the situation too and wage war against your friends and cooperate with strangers if you choose. There is even a vibrant discord community where you can find people to play with online.
Sid Meier's Civilization 6
Addictive doesn't even begin to cover it when talking about Sid Meier's Civilization 6. Unlike many of the other games here, this title is less about military strategy and more focused on the overall strategic development of an empire over 100s of years. Indeed, if you are looking for a game where you can build a rich cultured civilization then Sid Meier's Civilization 6 is the choice for you. Just don’t complain to us when you are still up at 3am because you just can't close it down!
Stellaris
A stalwart of the galactic conquest genre Stellaris is a must for anyone that loves strategy in space. This Paradox Interactive classic gives you free rein to interact with the galaxy as you please. Whether that means playing as a war-mongering race intent on cleansing the system of anyone that doesn’t belong to their ranks, or as a politically savvy culture that uses trade and alliance to forge a federation that spans the known universe.
Total War: Warhammer
One of the many Total War titles mentioned here, Total War Warhammer succeeds where many games fail and brings a tabletop experience to the digital world. Based on the tabletop franchise developed by Games Workshop, Total War: Warhammer leans heavily towards dark and military fantasy as your empire pits its wits and might against a plethora of races including Greenskins and Dwarves!
One of the best things about Total War: Warhammer is that it combines real-time battles with turn-based management. This is something that means you get all the excitement and adrenaline of the fight, and plenty of time to ensure your empire is robust enough to survive whatever is thrown at it. (as long as you make the right decisions, that is!)
Factorio
If you love strategy games, but fancy a break from war, then Factorio might just be the game for you. Complex, but incredibly fun Factorio is all about generating enough defenses with the factory that you build to protect you from the alien world you find yourself in.
Indeed, Factorio combines logistics, automation, and strategy for a fulfilling and challenging experience that you won't want to miss.
Total War: Shogun 2
Set in the time of Samurais in ancient Japan Shogun 2 is an interesting spin on the total war series. Developed by Sega, the fate of Japan is in your hands as you try your best to unite the many separate clans and overthrow the Shogun, ushering in a better and more enlightened age.
Of course, getting clan leaders to pledge allegiance to your cause, and go against the shogun is a complex and challenging task. One that will require a subtle blend of military might in the form of Samurai, and clever intelligence and espionage work, something mainly dealt with by a team of Geishas.
Oh, and if that wasn't enough to be going on with, you will need to think carefully about decisions such as opening up Japan to foreign culture, something that could bring vital advanced weaponry for your cause, but also endanger the traditions and culture that you are fighting for.
Command & Conquer Remastered Collection
Anyone familiar with the Strategy genre will have heard of the Command & Conquer games. Indeed, they are both iconic and foundation to the industry. The good news is that it is now possible to get all the Command & Conquer games in one remastered collection, which means you can avoid having to boot up your PC from 25 years ago to get your fix!
XCOM 2
Create an elite team of experts, craft a base, and research ways to vanquish your alien foes! These are the essential elements of all the XCOM games. However, unlike in the first game XCOM, in XCOM 2 the aliens have already taken over the earth and you need to put a crack resistance team to fight back.
Of course, the aliens have nefarious intentions that your resistance will need to put a stop to. Don't for one minute think that it will be an easy ride either, as you can expect no quarter from the invaders. Instead, your strategy skills will repeatedly be put to the test with only the best and most creative thinkers being able to succeed. Why not test your mettle, and see if you make a grade, oh, and save the entire human race before it's too late as well?
