Welcome back, master strategists! You’ve warmed up your brain with the first 11 incredible games. Now it’s time to dive into the back half of our list. These games take strategy to another level, from governing unpredictable medieval dynasties to surviving on a frozen wasteland or conquering the entire galaxy.
22 Best Strategy Games to Flex Your Big Brain – Part 1
Get ready for more tactical depth, grand-scale planning, and unforgettable stories.
Let’s finish this.
12. Humankind
A fresh take on the historical 4X genre. Instead of sticking with one civilization for the entire game, you evolve your culture era by era, mixing and matching traits from the Egyptians, Romans, Japanese, and more to create a custom hybrid civilization. This brilliant mechanic makes every playthrough unique and allows you to adapt your strategy on the fly. It’s a beautiful, deep, and incredibly flexible game that tells your story of human history.
13. XCOM 2
The turn-based tactics masterpiece. Earth is lost, and you command the last remnants of a resistance force fighting back against alien overlords. The gameplay is brutally tense and rewarding—every move matters, and a missed 90% shot can be devastating. The real magic is how it makes you care for your custom-made soldiers, whose deaths feel like a genuine loss. Managing your mobile base, researching tech, and going on guerilla missions creates an endlessly addictive loop.
14. Phoenix Point
From the creator of the original XCOM comes this spiritual successor with a terrifying twist. A mutating alien virus creates horrific enemies that evolve to counter your strategies. The aiming system lets you target specific enemy body parts, adding a fantastic layer of tactical depth. Beyond the combat, you must navigate a complex web of human factions on a global map, making alliances and enemies that shape the course of your war.
15. Crusader Kings III
Less of a traditional strategy game and more of a dramatic, character-driven medieval dynasty simulator. You don’t play as a nation—you play as a ruler and their heirs. Your goal is to grow your family’s power through marriage, diplomacy, intrigue, and outright war. The incredible AI brings the world to life with scheming vassals, rebellious children, and unexpected tragedies. It’s a storytelling engine where every game is a unique saga of love, betrayal, and power.
16. Europa Universalis IV
The ultimate grand strategy game for history buffs. You take control of any nation from 1444 to 1820 and guide it through centuries of history. This is a deep, complex game of managing empires, economies, trade, diplomacy, and religion. There’s no hand-holding, but the immense depth is its own reward. Forge your own alternate history and see if you can build a global empire that stands the test of time.
17. Stellaris
Civilization in space on a galactic scale. This grand strategy game lets you create your own custom alien empire—be it peaceful explorers, fanatical purifiers, or rogue robots—and explore a vast, randomly generated galaxy. The blend of exploration, diplomacy, economics, and epic space warfare is unmatched. The game is famous for its emergent storytelling, throwing cosmic horrors, ancient empires, and mysterious events your way.
18. Hearts of Iron IV
The most detailed World War II strategy game ever made. You take control of any nation during the most consequential conflict in human history and manage everything from its political policies and factory production to the specific design of its military divisions. The learning curve is steep, but the payoff is an unparalleled simulation of global warfare that rewards intricate long-term planning and strategic mastery.
19. Total War: Three Kingdoms
A high point in the Total War series, set in the romanticized history of ancient China. It masterfully blends the series’ iconic real-time battles with a character-focused campaign. The relationships between legendary warlords like Liu Bei and Cao Cao drive the diplomacy and politics, leading to alliances, betrayals, and epic duels between generals. It’s a beautiful and deeply strategic experience.
20. Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
A unique blend of XCOM-style turn-based tactics and real-time stealth. You control a squad of mutated outcasts—including a duck with a sniper rifle—exploring a post-apocalyptic world. The key is sneaking through the environment to set up perfect ambushes before combat even begins. It’s a challenging, atmospheric, and wonderfully weird tactical adventure.
21. Dune: Spice Wars
A fascinating blend of real-time strategy and 4X set in the iconic Dune universe. The goal is control of the spice Melange, but victory can be achieved through military might, political maneuvering, economic dominance, or cunning espionage. It perfectly captures the feeling of the books, forcing you to manage water supplies, avoid sandworms, and navigate the complex politics of the Landsraad. A must-play for Dune fans and strategy lovers alike.
22. RimWorld
Not just a game, but a story generator. You manage a handful of survivors who crash-land on a distant planet. Every colonist has a unique personality, and the game’s AI “storyteller” constantly throws new challenges and events at you—from pirate raids and alien infestations to psychic phenomena and social drama. The emergent stories that come from trying to survive and build a colony are hilarious, tragic, and utterly unforgettable.
BONUS: Frostpunk
A brutal society survival game where you must build and maintain the last city on a frozen Earth. The constant struggle against the cold is tense, but the real challenge comes from the impossible moral choices you must make to ensure humanity’s survival. Will you allow child labor? How will you feed everyone? This game will test your ethics as much as your strategic skills.
BONUS: Loop Hero
A brilliantly inventive and deceptively deep strategy game. Your hero walks an endless loop automatically, and your job is to place cards on the path to create the world around them—spawning enemies, placing terrain, and building your camp. It’s a game all about risk vs. reward: making the loop harder for better loot without getting your hero killed. It’s hypnotic, clever, and incredibly addictive.
There you have it! 22 of the absolute best strategy games to test your mettle and make you feel like a genius. Which one will you try first? Let us know in the comments, and remember to like and subscribe for more deep dives into the world of gaming
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