10 Great Strategy Games that are Fun from the Beginning

The strategy genre is one that has become increasingly popular in recent years, and given rise to many classic titles and franchises over the decades. Whether it's the Age of Empires series with its settlement mechanics or the more direct engagements of the Total War series, the genre certainly has a lot to offer and plenty of unique games with their own individual approach to it.

The following games are not only among the very best in class, but are also perfect to jump into right from the get-go, whether its through campaigns or even going into battle immediately. With intuitive controls, good tutorials or just very accessible gameplay, each of these titles will have you falling in love with the strategy genre all over again.

10 Imperial Glory

Napoleonic Warfare at its Most Atmospheric

While perhaps an obscure title, Imperial Glory still holds up today as one of the best colonial-era RTS games ever made. The focus on realistic weapons, movement, and ballistics help to create an authentic battlefield atmosphere which surpasses many other titles in the genre.

On top of that, the game offers a grand campaign where you can choose from a number of the leading European powers, and while it might not be as deep as a Total War title in that regard, the battlefield combat and tactics more than make up for it. Imperial Glory might not be an easy game to master, but it's a lot of fun and relatively easy to learn to the basics.

9 Homeworld Remastered

A Strategy Game with a Focus on Story

Homeworld is not just an average sci-fi strategy game set in outer space. It tells one of the best narratives in the entire genre and is one of the most visually striking of its time too. The combat, while relatively simplistic, does have strategic elements to be wary of. Ship selection and timing will be important if you want to get through each encounter with minimal casualties.

While the third game in the series was a disappointment to some, the first two still very much hold up today. You can even get both of the first two games in the Homeworld Remastered Collection, which updates the visuals and makes the game even more impressive.

8 Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

Fighters, Arm Up!

The Command and Conquer series has been an industry leader in the strategy genre for decades now, but in my opinion, none have managed to top the 2007 classic, Tiberium Wars. With a very simple and intuitive gameplay loop, you can jump right in and learn everything you need to in just a couple of hours.

With three distinct factions each with similar progression systems but wildly different playstyles, there's really something for everyone to enjoy in this RTS gem. On top of that, the campaign is a lot of fun and tells a great story, but the real action is to be found in large-scale 8-player Skirmishes. It's no wonder that more recent titles like Tempest Rising have taken so much inspiration from this game.

7 Empires of the Undergrowth

Conquer the Great, or Miniature, Outdoors

One of the most original RTS games to release in recent years, Empires of the Undergrowth puts you in command of ant colonies with the goal of survival and conquest. Pitting you against rival colonies and all sorts of other dangerous wildlife such as frogs, lizards, and dragonflies, your task is to not only protect your own nest, but build a thriving colony and make use of the surrounding resources.

Taking place both above and below the surface, you will have to balance scouting expeditions and resource management with unit production and upgrades if you want to succeed. A solid campaign with a fun twist on the "mad eugenicist" makes the game very easy to get into as well as to master, while new DLC content and multiplayer help to keep the game fresh.

A Turn-Based Sci-Fi Classic

For those that have played it, it's easy to see how so many "XCOM clones" are popping up these days. The formula of turn-based combat with an almost board-game style dice rolling chance system makes every encounter feel tense and unpredictable, but you can still utilize strategy to great effect.

Taking place on a grand global scale, your task is to defeat a tyrannical alien force using a squad of specialized soldiers. With your small squad, you'll take on various missions and scenarios to liberate areas and tame the enemy threat over time. In addition to its addictive strategic combat, XCOM 2 also makes you feel that you've come to "know" your troops, which is an added incentive to prevent them from ending up on the "Memorial Wall".

5 Age of Empires 3

The Ultimate Laid Back Strategy and Settlement Sim

Age of Empires 3 is a great strategy game if you have just a few hours to kill, but want an immersive historical experience with city building, resource management, and army production. While it might not be the most complex game militarily, there are a lot of moving parts to manage and the game blends them all seamlessly in a way that is very easy to get to grips with.

Whether you want to play as a dominant European powerhouse, a noble Samurai clan, or one of South America's warrior-tribes, Age of Empires 3 has all bases covered and is, for my money, the best game in the series. The campaign also teaches the game's mechanics well and is one of the stronger strategy campaigns out there.

Warfare on the Grandest Scale

The original Mount and Blade: Warband was certainly a tough act to follow up on, so developers TaleWorld Entertainment decided to play it safe by essentially delivering more of the same. But this works to the game's credit, and what it may lack in innovation, it more than makes up for with all the positive qualities that made the original so beloved.

While the game leans into its RPG elements, there is still a large strategy component at play. In addition to managing your forces in battle, you also have to be wary of their upkeep and needs on the main campaign map. Choosing when and who to fight is also critical to surviving in a dynamic and constantly evolving game world.

3 Crusader Kings 3

Political Intrigue which Puts Game of Thrones to Shame

Crusader Kings 3 is one of the more unique strategy games you'll find, and if you're a fan of political intrigue, diplomacy, and medieval history, you won't find many better titles in the genre. The game immediately throws you into an ever-changing game world where hundreds of rival Houses are looking to claim your titles and ensure that they maintain their hold on the political ladder.

Starting out as a humble noble, or even a rogue adventurer, you can work your way up to establishing entire empires and declaring Holy Wars which reshape the map as we know it. While it can be a lot to take in at first, you'll soon be up to speed and coming up with all kinds of machinations of your own to ensure your dynasty has a good legacy.

2 Stellaris

Inter-Planetary Annihilation

Another Paradox Interactive title which showcases their talent in the strategy genre is the sci-fi epic Stellaris. With some of the most complex race and faction mechanics in any sci-fi game, Stellaris lets you choose from many different types of species, governments, ideologies, and development types which ensure that no two playthroughs ever feel the same.

Starting out with just a few discovery ships and unknown planets in the distance, you can grow your chosen faction into an inter-planetary juggernaut with a dominant fleet, waging war on anything and everything in your path. The innumerable different playstyles and the addition of some solid DLC content ensure that Stellaris remains the pinnacle of sci-fi strategy on the grandest possible scale.

1 Rome 2: Total War

A Classic from a Beloved Franchise

The Total War series has been a staple of the strategy genre for decades now, and it's hard to choose a definitive best title from among them. When it comes to choosing the one which best throws players into the action, Rome 2 is a great example and perfect for newcomers to the strategy genre.

Starting out with the simple goal of reclaiming Corsica and Sardinia from the Etruscan League, you can soon expand into full-blown warfare with either Carthage or the Gaulic states to the North. From there, your imperial conquest of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East begins.