10 Strategy Games With The Best Exploration

The strategy genre may have started out as more of a PC-focussed niche, but it has quickly evolved into one of the dominant forces on the market. Developers have tackled the genre with an incredible amount of creativity and variety, leading to all forms of titles ranging from futuristic sci-fi to stone-age city builders. Whether you want to chart the far-flung stars of some unknown galaxy or set up a work town in a New Era colony, the strategy genre has something for just about everyone.

While exploration may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of the many strategy games on offer, it actually plays a pivotal role in many of them. Competing for resources or discovering new technologies is often central to progress in these games, and the following titles in particular will reward those with a curious mentality.

10 Dune: Spice Wars

Beware the Sandworms

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the desert planet of Arrakis has a scarcity of resources. In this definitive RTS for fans of the Frank Herbert series or the more recent Denis Villeneuve movies, you'll take on the role of a military commander fighting a campaign in the open desert, but there is plenty of reason to explore beyond the harvest of spice.

Not many places are actually safe to remain still on, particularly around the resource-rich spice fields, which also have the giant predatory sandworms to look out for. On top of that, you'll need raw materials, water and solari in order to run a successful campaign. Games are usually a chess match as you compete to control different territories and secure strategic resource deposits. While it might not be the deepest RTS we've ever seen, Dune: Spice Wars is definitely a solid entry for the sci-fi genre.

9 Dawn of Man

A Unique Approach To Ancient Exploration

Not many games try to take on the challenge of a prehistoric setting, but Dawn of Man is one which manages to do so particularly well. This game isn't about pushing through and advancing into the future, but rather about building a stable community and gradually improving it day-by-day. Since resources and technology will be pretty scarce, it's up to you to head out and find them for yourself.

There are plenty of reasons to explore the surrounding environment, whether hunting for mammoths and wolves in order to make pelts for the winter, or finding a source of water, wood or metal ore. One thing which really makes Dawn of Man stand out in this department is the absence of any kind of map, which forces you to learn the terrain and navigate based on geographical landmarks like rivers and mountains.

8 Sins of a Solar Empire 2

Incredible 4X Space Action

Following in the footsteps of the beloved Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion, this highly acclaimed sequel is among the best 4X sci-fi games around, particularly for those who are fans of exploration and combat. Managing fleet positions and resource chains are crucial elements to surviving, and you'll need to have as much awareness of the interplanetary layout as possible in order to out-maneuver your opponents.

Not only does the game reward the daring, but it's also a visual masterpiece. For my money, it's arguably the best looking sci-fi RTS around today, even among the likes of Ixion, Homeworld Remastered and Stellaris. The game features tonnes of ship designs, resource types and research to unlock so that every player can progress in their own way.

7 Wartales

Every Move Matters

Wartales is one of the best medieval RPGs to come out in recent years, and its turn-based combat is reminiscent of titles like the XCOM series in how it demands almost chess-like strategic thinking. However, this game is far more than a simple party-based strategy game. Wartales' vast open world is deep in its own original lore and is fascinating to explore for a number of reasons.

Not only will you come across new quests and characters, but the members of your own party will also develop skills as they travel. Whether it's in cooking, smithing, thievery or any number of other 'Professions' Wartales leans into this experience-based model of progression. The varied terrain also makes exploration particularly interesting. One moment you might be traversing an eerie, plague-infested swampland, while later you could be reporting to a grand coastal castle to attend a vibrant feast.

6 X4: Foundations

Reach For The Stars

X4: Foundations is arguably one of the best space sims out there, and one with more mechanics than is possible to mention in a few paragraphs. Your goal is to literally build a space empire from scratch, with everything from fleet management and factory design to trade routes and military tactics. While there is certainly a lot to learn for new players, it is an incredibly rewarding experience when you invest time into it.

Exploration is key in the game as you look to optimize your trade routes with different factions in relation to your production facilities. However, this is an oversimplification of what is an incredibly ambitious game. One area in which X4: Foundations particularly excels is with its authentic, dynamic game world, which is constantly evolving economically and militarily, even if you aren't actively involved with it. For those looking for a grand-scale, immersive sci-fi experience, X4: Foundations could be just the ticket.

5 Age of Empires 3

An Icon of the Genre

The Age of Empires series has been a staple of the strategy genre for a long time and was one of the first to really integrate excellent resource mechanics alongside city building and combat. Exploration is an important part of any Age of Empires game, but I feel that this particularly comes to the fore in Age of Empires 3, which also offers a number of interesting ways to explore and discover the surrounding game world.

Starting off with just a small area around your wagon, the game actively encourages exploration as you hope to come across various points of interest. There are plenty of treasures and tombs lying around, as well as livestock and predators you can tame to fight alongside your forces. Given the colonial era of the game, there are also many ways to traverse, including by boat and hot air balloon.

4 Empires of the Undergrowth

An Extremely Innovative Insect RTS

Empires of the Undergrowth is certainly a unique RTS in the sense that you manage ant colonies rather than human or fantasy armies, and it is also one which both forces and rewards exploration. Starting out below ground with a Queen and a few workers, your job is to build up the colony and conquer the surrounding environment, battling threats both above and below the surface.

One key resource in Empires of the Undergrowth is food. While you might be able to find some underground, the best spoils are undoubtedly located above ground. As such, the game naturally pushes you to explore both regions in order to maximize the size and effectiveness of your colony. Exploration happens in a seamless manner and is easily one of the best aspects of this insect-focused strategy title.

3 Stellaris

Sci-Fi On An Unimaginable Scale

Few sci-fi games quite manage to capture the sense of wonder and uncertainty that comes with exploring the frontiers of the universe. Limited by your movements between systems, each new grav-jump becomes a die roll as to what you may find in the next system. Will it be a sentient race of friendly aliens, an abandoned Ecumenopolis or the dwelling of a terrifying ancient Leviathan? In Stellaris, you never know until you get there.

The sheer variety of planets, races and political persuasions, even in the base game, is enough to keep you guessing every time you send a ship out to an unknown system. In a dynamic and ever-evolving game world, it means that the game has near infinite replayability and nearly always brings out a surprise or two.

2 Crusader Kings 3

The Ultimate Medieval Politics Game

Crusader Kings 3 is arguably the greatest medieval strategy game of all time, particularly when it comes to politics, diplomacy and interpersonal relations. While conquest and consolidation are a major part of the game as a ruling figurehead, the Wandering Nobles DLC introduces a game-changing Adventurer mechanic, which lets you and a small party of followers travel freely throughout the game world.

This means that the game is effectively never over even if your dynasty is ousted from power, and it can lead to some epic storylines as you return from abroad to reclaim your homeland. On top of that, the Adventurer mechanic adds tonnes of new content, including quest objectives to complete and unique character interactions.

1 Anno 1800

Sail For The New World

Not many strategy games are able to give you the sense of adventure and exploration that Anno 1800 manages to do. While you can easily sit back on a single island and build up your resources through trade, the real fun of the game is to be had in sailing for the New World — quite literally. Players can explore both the Old World and New World, which each have vastly different production and resource chains.

On top of that, the numerous DLC for the game also open up new maps in the Arctic and an Africa-inspired region called Enbesa. Sending ships out and equipping them appropriately for expeditions is one of the keys to gaining an advantage over your rivals in Anno 1800, but it never feels like you are stepping away from your primary duties of managing and maintaining your colonial Empire.