Most Revolutionary Strategy Games Every Fan Should Experience

Strategy games have gained popularity over the years and moved from a niche, PC-specific genre to something of a mainstream phenomenon. Whether it's amassing giant, futuristic armies and sending them to clash with one another, or micromanaging different squads and construction types to optimize your military industrial complex, these games put players in the shoes of commanders and tacticians rather than the soldiers on the ground.

The following games have each contributed their own share to the genre and pioneering many of its key features, which we now take for granted. Fortunately, many games in the strategy genre have aged incredibly well due to their focus on solid mechanics, with less need for details and graphical fidelity. Nonetheless, these classic strategy titles have withstood the test of time and are ideal for players to try even today.

10 Company of Heroes 2

World War 2 Done Properly

The World War 2 setting can feel done-to-death at times, but if you're going to do it, you might as well get it right — Company of Heroes gets it, for the most part; absolutely spot on. Few strategy games are able to replicate the intensity and tragedy of war quite so well as Company of Heroes, and though it might be a controversial choice, the second game is my personal favourite in the series.

While the first game does still hold up well, the updated UI and visual improvements of the sequel will be much more appealing to modern players. Company of Heroes 3 also receives unfair criticism in my opinion, and though it contains smaller maps and army sizes than before, it makes up for it with a much more varied faction and unit set to choose from.

A Unique Squad-Based Pioneer of the Genre

There are so many XCOM clones out there nowadays that we almost take for granted how revolutionary it was when it was first released. Building on the foundations of its 1994 predecessor, the 2012 version brought a whole new form of sci-strategy to the mainstream and has since gone on to influence the likes of Jagged Alliance, Phantom Doctrine, and the Wasteland series.

Combining strategy with elements of classical board-game dice rolling, XCOM revolutionized the way in which turn-based strategy games can be formulated. Where the game went a step further than most others was in its grand campaign, which let players deploy to various warzones around a constantly evolving map.

Customizing characters and seeing them gain experience over time also added an extra layer of emotional investment when gearing up to defend humanity from aliens. While XCOM 2 is generally revered more than its predecessors, the original games still have plenty to offer, though it is not necessary to play the earlier games to understand or enjoy the sequel.

8 Blood Bowl 2

Far More Addictive than You Might Think

When it comes to innovative and original strategy games, it's hard to think of many that stand out more than Blood Bowl. Based on the original tabletop board game set in the Warhammer universe, this game perfectly blends both luck and skill along with brutal combat and sports strategy. Choosing from a variety of different races, including Elves, Orcs, Dwarves and Vampires, players will have to utilize their different skillsets in order to overcome opposing teams.

The concept is loosely based on a simplified version of American football, only with a lot of added chaos and the possibility of death. What makes the game so appealing is its unpredictability. While strategy is of primary importance, a lot of hard work can be undone with a poor dice roll. Similarly, some spectacular plays can be pulled off if the roll works in your favour — but you just never know which way it is going to go. Blood Bowl 2 is widely considered the best in the series and serves as a perfect starting point for new players.

7 Stellaris

Large-Scale Intergalactic Politics and Warfare

Stellaris is one of those games you can easily sink 100+ hours into without even realizing. A range of deep and complex systems, from planetary and political management to military production and interspecies diplomacy, mean that there really is no other sci-fi grand strategy game quite like it. The huge variety of races and ideologies present in the game are also quite staggering, and the roster is only growing as new creatures, robots and mechanics are added with every DLC.

The sci-fi setting isn't the only thing that separates Stellaris from its other Paradox Interactive counterparts. The game has some of the best battle mechanics in a Paradox game and lets players control individual units and determine the outcome of battles first-hand rather than with simulations. Overall, Stellaris is a must-play for any fans of grand strategy or sci-fi strategy in general.

6 StarCraft 2

Putting Strategy Games on the Map

StarCraft 2 was really a revolutionary title when it comes to the popularity of the strategy genre. This highly competitive PvP game introduced whole new audiences to strategy games and popularized them as a viable e-sport rather than the traditional FPS and racing genres. The game also has a very engaging and well-polished story, so it appeals to both single player and multiplayer fanbases alike.

What separates StarCraft 2 from other RTS sci-fi games is the unpredictability of each match. Rather than sticking to a core gameplay loop of gathering resources, assembling troops, and then launching attacks, StarCraft's maps feel alive with danger and opportunity, and its highly varied factions also allow for a wide range of playstyles and tactics. Nothing captures the intensity of late 2000s gaming quite like hauling your PC over to a friend's house to play a four-way StarCraft 2 LAN tournament, and if you missed out on that, I feel sorry for you.

5 Age of Empires 3

The Ultimate Historical RTS with Base Building Mechanics

The Age of Empires series was really revolutionary in the way that it combined city-building mechanics with basic military strategy. While Age of Empires 2 was arguably the most revolutionary title when it came out, I'd argue that Age of Empires 3 is the best one for modern players to experience.

Not only does the game feature an incredibly wide range of cultures and nations to play as, but it is also very well-balanced, contains an interesting campaign, and also advancement through different ages. Age of Empires is a slightly more laid-back title compared to other violent strategy games, and while the combat can still be very intense at times, the real joy is in watching your own particular civilization flourish.

4 Crusader Kings 3

Manage a Dynasty Across Generations

If you're a strategy fan and you haven't tried a Crusader Kings game yet, stop what you're doing and go check it out right now. Easily one of the most innovative, original, and downright addictive strategy series of all time, Crusader Kings has you managing a family dynasty over the course of hundreds of years — complete with war, espionage, politics, romance and much, much more.

No other grand strategy title manages to make its events feel quite so personal and human, but Crusader Kings 3 in particular has an in-depth trait and experience system which means every character feels truly unique and no two playthroughs are ever the same. With the addition of several expansions over the years, players can now create dynasties across a huge variety of cultures stretching from Iceland to Japan.

3 Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

Warning: Our Base is Under Attack

Command and Conquer has long been at the forefront of the RTS genre, but has always brought fresh ideas and innovations with every release. Rather than focussing purely on combat, the Command and Conquer series combines building, defense and resource management with realtime tactics, and no entry exemplifies this better than Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars.

While the Red Alert series tends to get more acclaim these days, Tiberium Wars is a great starting point for newcomers and introduces the collecting, construction, assembly, and upgrade playloop in a way that is very easy to understand. The formula has gone on to heavily influence games like Tempest Rising, which uses a similar resource mechanic. One area the Command and Conquer series also excels in is its solid and cinematic campaigns — an element which is often weak in strategy games.

2 Sid Meier's Civilization V

Progress Through the Ages

It's impossible to make a list of revolutionary strategy games without mentioning the Civilization series. While the jury is still out on which particular entry is the best, it's fair to say that for modern audiences, the one I would be most likely to recommend is Civilization 5. In terms of turn-based grand strategy games, Civilization is the standard to which most other games aspire to — with deep diplomatic and progression mechanics which are genuinely satisfying to engage with.

What makes the Civilization games more unique than other grand strategy games is the fact that they don't just focus on a limited time and place, but instead let you progress through the ages from primitive tribalism to modern military superpower. The reason Civ 5 is generally prefferred to the later games is that it is the last one in the series to have more of a "serious" aesthetic, rather than the more cartoony designs of later entries.

1 Rome: Total War

The Ultimate Strategy Experience

When it comes to strategy games, there's really no way you can look past the Total War series as the definitive title in the genre. While Shogun and Medieval certainly paved the way, it was Rome: Total War that truly captured the imagination of an entire generation and made them interested in historical strategy games, RTS military tactics, and grand turn-based campaigns.

While the original Rome: Total War happens to be my own personal favorite, along with Shogun 2, there is truly something for everyone in this series. Whether it's playing in Medieval Europe or Ancient Egypt, or even in more fantastical worlds such as Mythical Greece or the Warhammer universe, the Total War series really has it all and is one of the most iconic strategy games of all time.