10.Total War: Warhammer II
You can’t round up PC strategy games without something from theWarhammeruniverse or a game from theTotal Warfranchise, so why not do both at once?
Total War: Warhammer IIeschews the historical backgrounds the franchise is known for, opting for the originalWarhammer(ie. not 40,000) universe. That said, the epic real-time battles you know and love are still the spotlight.
9.XCOM 2
Another game from Firaxis,XCOM 2is much more of a tactics game, featuring on controlling individual units in battles with aliens who have taken over the earth.
It has even less of a strategic layer than its predecessor, but that lets you focus on what this game does best: the combat.
8.Invisible, Inc.
Strategy games usually focus either on completely eliminating your enemy or capturing or defending a given objective. Stealth, if it’s used at all, is usually minimal.
Invisible Inc.turns this all on its head as it’s essentially a turn-based stealth game. This rachets up the tension considerably, making this a nail-biting experience.
7.Into the Breach
AfterFTL, it would have been easy for developer Subset Games to crank out another similar game. Instead it made a completely different type of game.
WhileInto the Breachkeeps the punishing difficulty, it presents its levels as almost strategic puzzles, meaning there is usually an ideal way through a situation, even if you don’t always see it.
Related:The Best Indie Game Soundtracks of All Time, Ranked
6.StarCraft II
Forget about the originalStarCraft, evenStarCraft II: Wings of Liberyis almost too old to be on this list. Considering its later expansions though, as well as its massive fanbase, it needs to be mentioned.
Real-time strategy tends to be fading in favor of turn-based games and MOBAs, but this game shows it can still be done right.
Related:The Best Free Single-Player PC Games You Can Play Offline
5.Age of Wonders: Planetfall
Speaking of Sid Meier, if you missSid Meier’s Alpha Centauribut don’t thinkCivilization: Beyond Earthscratches that same itch, you might want to check outAge of Wonders: Planetfall.
Like those games, this is a 4X in a sci-fi setting, but developer Triumph Studios citesFalloutandHyperionas inspiration for its lore.
4.Civilization VI
The name Sid Meier is forever tied with turn-based strategy, and ifCivilization 6is any indication, he and developer Firaxis Games aren’t showing any signs of slowing down.
While it hasn’t yet gathered the suite of expansions its predecessor boasts, there’s still plenty of game here for strategy fans.
3.Europa Universalis IV
Somewhat similarly toCrusader Kings 2(and from the same publisher),Europa Universalistakes an even higher overview.
Paradox’s grand strategy games aren’t for everyone, but if you enjoy these types of games, few do it better than this latest entry in the series.
2.Stellaris
Stellarismay have a sci-fi setting, but it’s far fromSins of a Solar EmpireorHomeworld. While there is plenty of space combat, there is also plenty of minding your citizens that you can’t ignore. If you’ve ever wanted a game where space-gerrymandering is a valid tactic, here you go.
Related:The Best Real-Time Strategy Games on PC
1.Crusader Kings II
Most strategy games focus on war, and while that is a major part ofCrusader Kings II, it’s far from the only part.
While it may not show it in the form of shiny graphics, this game is filled with political intrigue, backstabbing, and bloody family drama that wouldn’t feel out of place inGame of Thrones—so much so that the game even got aGame of Thronesspin-off.
How About PC Games for Crappy PCs?
If you’ve got a hankering for strategy gaming but don’t have an especially powerful PC, some of the games in this article should still be fairly playable. What if you’re not only looking for strategy games, though?
While gaming PCs keep getting bigger, more powerful, and even more adorned with extraneous lights, the barrier of entry to PC games is actually getting lower.
Read next:The Best Lightweight PC Games for Crappy Computers
