10 Great PS4 Strategy Games That Are Fun from the Start

Strategy games come in all shapes and sizes, and there are plenty of intriguing options on the PS4 platform. Even though the PS4 is last generation hardware, there are still new strategy games scheduled to launch on the PS4 in 2026. As the category continues to evolve, it can be difficult to determine what the top choices are.

We've created a list of the best strategy games on PS4, from titles that are heavy on management, to card games, and those featuring turn-based tactics. No matter your preferences, the level of challenge you're looking for, or playstyle, there's something to sink your teeth into.

10 Marvel's Midnight Suns

Think Like a Hero

If you're a fan of both strategy games and the cast of Marvel superheroes, you're in luck! Marvel's Midnight Suns blends turn-based battles using cards with a compelling story, developing character relationships, and progression that's typically seen in RPGs.

Here, you play as the Hunter, who I would consider one of the most unique video game heroes because it's the first customizable original hero in the Marvel universe. Fully personalizing your appearance and choosing how your character reacts in certain scenarios plays a role in making you feel as if you belong among the iconic Marvel characters you will fight alongside.

Marvel's Midnight Suns is brought to you by the creators of the XCOM series, meaning you can expect a deep strategy game that rewards clever decision-making, but with superhero powers central to the combat.

9 Invisible, Inc

A Hidden Gem

Blending strategy with espionage, Invisible, Inc is a turn-based tactics game where stealth is key when you're breaking into dangerous corporations. Thanks to procedurally generated worlds, threats, and random loot, new challenges and plenty of replayability are on offer.

Invisible, Inc has a whole host of agents to choose from, each with their own abilities, augments, and weapons. One of my favorite agents is Internationale due to the fact she can scan electronics and access computers up to six tiles away.

If you want to embark on high-stakes missions in the field with a team of agents, Invisible, Inc is one of the best strategy games on PS4 for those who like to go undercover.

8 Northgard

The Life of a Viking

When it comes to must-play strategy games based around city building mechanics, Northgard is well-worth mentioning. Based around Norse mythology, you play as a clan of Vikings that set out to conquer new lands and grow their clan's power.

Leading a clan is challenging, but whether you're playing through the story, conquest mode, or in multiplayer, you're sure to find a clan that suits your play style. Establish your settlement on mysterious lands while juggling the workload of your Vikings, resource management, surviving harsh weather conditions, and so much more.

Compete with other clans to reach one of seven victory conditions, some of which are general and others are clan specific. The Fame win condition stands out to me as the most interesting to achieve because you see yourself become more influential as you grow your economy, all while gaining enough territory to earn the title of the King.

7 Desperados 3

Gunslinging Cowboys

From Vikings to the Wild West, Desperados 3 is a gritty tactical stealth game where the main protagonist, a bounty hunter named John Cooper, is on a quest for redemption. Despite having only five playable characters with their own set of skills, Desperados 3 offers a lot of freedom in how you approach scenarios and execute a plan.

Every level feels like a carefully crafted puzzle, which you can complete with a deadly set of weaponry, including toxic gas, bear traps, and Cooper's classic revolvers, among others.

The gameplay and story-driven elements truly shine, but this is further elevated by the epic showdowns taking place in stunning Wild West towns and environments.

6 Frostpunk

The Blizzard is Your Enemy

Frostpunk remains a top strategy game on PS4 as it combines survival mechanics with player choices that have real consequences for your society. As the name suggests, Frostpunk is set in a frozen world, and you must grow your city and ensure the survival of its citizens against the extreme conditions.

Mold your society by laying down the law, making decisions on how citizens live their everyday lives, and maintain morale to prevent rebellions against your rule. However, survival also means investing in new technology and embarking on risky expeditions. The need to plan ahead while reacting to crucial short-term scenarios makes Frostpunk the ultimate survival strategy experience for genre fans.

5 Sid Meier's Civilization 7

Travel Back in Time

It's hard to list the best strategy games on PS4 without mentioning Sid Meier's Civilization series, and Civilization 7 is the latest entry in the long-running franchise.

Civilization 7 takes the familiar formula of building an empire that stands the test of time to be the first civilization to achieve victory, and builds upon it. One of the biggest differences between Civilization 7 and previous entries in the series is that a playthrough is split into three ages, allowing you to change civilizations and adopt new bonuses. There's also the founding of towns rather than cities, the absence of barbarians, and more.

If you're looking for a 4X grand strategy experience that provides the opportunity to leave a legacy by building a powerful empire, I don't think you can go wrong with Civilization 7.

Reclaim Your Planet

Another staple of the genre, XCOM 2 is still considered one of the greatest strategy games on PS4 over ten years after its debut.

In an alternate reality where aliens rule Earth, you are the last line of defense tasked with eliminating the ruthless otherworldly beings once and for all. There are five soldier classes, each with their own skill trees, and the open-ended approach to gameplay means you decide how to increase support and when to engage in combat.

XCOM 2 pairs intense decision-making with unfamiliar settings that makes the layers of strategy extra rewarding when you complete any of the varied objectives on offer.

3 Slay the Spire

Journey Up the Spire

The strategy in Slay the Spire lies in its roguelike deckbuilder mechanics that encourage you to balance risk and reward. You build your deck of cards, of which there are hundreds to unlock, to fight your way through unusual enemies that attempt to stop your mission of climbing the ever-changing spire.

Additionally, relics are scattered throughout the spire that are used to enhance your deck and increase your power against challenging foes. Not only are there hundreds of items to discover, over 50 distinct combat encounters, and 50 limited-time events, but hundreds of hours worth of replayability as you improve and experiment with your deck.

Even if you aren't a fan of card games, Slay the Spire is easy to pick up and so incredibly addictive that it has the potential to be your new obsession.

2 Balatro

The Mayhem of Roguelike Tactics

Another roguelike deckbuilder that shines when it comes to ranking the best strategy games on PS4 is Balatro. Admittedly, Balatro does rely more on RNG in comparison to your traditional strategy games, because it requires you to build Poker hands to beat set blinds and bosses.

Despite this, there is strategy involved in building your deck with unique Joker cards that enable the creation of satisfying synergies. You must establish a strategy in the early game, while knowing when to adapt, and keep tabs on the cards you're playing.

There are so many enticing combinations in Balatro that no run is the same and the adrenaline-fueled gameplay is pure magic on all fronts.

1 RimWorld

The Ultimate Package

RimWorld takes the number one spot as the best PS4 game with strategy mechanics because of the way it delivers stories. RimWorld has AI storytellers that shape the course of your playthrough, as they control the events that are thrown at you, such as pirate raids and natural disasters. My favorite storyteller is Cassandra Classic because she lays down an increasing difficulty curve, but poses tense challenges.

Unlike colony simulators of a similar vein, colonists are survivors that have crash-landed, so you will have to manage all kinds of people and their skills, from noblemen to accountants, all with differing strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, colonists do interact with each other, perhaps becoming lovers, or engaging in fights.

With the sheer number of possibilities in RimWorld, no two games will ever be the same. Maybe you're repairing body parts, harvesting and selling organs, or trying to stop pets from accessing alcohol. RimWorld is guaranteed to keep strategy fans coming back for more well into the future.