Putting together a list of the Top 50 Strategy games is like grabbing a handful of pins and seeing which one hurts the most. Like every pin that pricks, every game involves some form of strategy. Sure, we're a discerning bunch--not to mention absolute suckers for punishment--so we decided to stick our hands in anyway to see what we'd come out with.
Among you, there will be doubters, nay-sayers and the like. But we have faith that this is the creme de la creme of the strategy games currently available. To make it through this list, we recommend that you keep your mouse hand ready, limber up those hotkey fingers, and prepare for total war. Because frankly, that's what most of these titles are about.
And after all, if you disagree with us you can always let us know in the comments section. So let's not waste time gathering resources. It's time to jump into action.
Jr Leal - Tue. Dec. 13, 2011 at 08:42:04 PM
Truth
good list, but once again another fanboy has managed to overrate Starcraft... Truth be told it is Total War, Supreme Commander, Homeworld, Age of Empires, World in Conflict, Warcraft 3, and Command and Conquer Generals that will always be the ruling titans in the video game RTS world. Starcraft is only popular because of the use map setting games, good marketing strategies, and the overly addicted Koreans that worship esports (luckily only Korea worships esports lol). If you give Starcraft a unbiased review and comparison to other RTS games you will quickly realize just how overrated and overhyped Starcraft really is. Everyone knows Justin Bieber sucks as a music artists, he's manufactured and not a real artist like Johnny Cash or Tupac etc.,.. Starcraft IS the Justin Bieber of the RTS gaming world, period.
Jr Leal - Tue. Dec. 13, 2011 at 08:43:14 PM
Truth 2
Oh yes, Chess is actually the King of the strategy world. There is no competition for that age old strategy champion.
Ron Juntak - Mon. Oct. 31, 2011 at 03:04:12 AM
Chess!!
wtf no chess?..chess is obviously the best strategy game of all time
Elrize Janse van Vuuren - Tue. Nov. 1, 2011 at 12:37:46 PM
XD
Lol, agreed!
Markus Kramp - Sat. Sep. 10, 2011 at 06:16:53 AM
someone123
have to agree that the browsing for the article sucks...could have all been on one long page. but i miss Disciples 2 from Strategy First on this list....god that was a great game at the time...
Markus Kramp - Sat. Sep. 10, 2011 at 06:16:50 AM
someone123
have to agree that the browsing for the article sucks...could have all been on one long page. but i miss Disciples 2 from Strategy First on this list....god that was a great game at the time...
Kristaps Ragovskis - Thu. Sep. 8, 2011 at 11:15:58 PM
There are missing real strategy games!!
Common, you call them strategy games?I could call only few of them real strategy games! Where are games like Stronghold Crusaders Sid.Meria Alpha Century Cossacks These are by far best made strategy games I know!
Michael Johnsson - Tue. Aug. 30, 2011 at 12:30:33 PM
Seriously
5 titlers per page? What is this? And no way to browse it easily neither. This is just bad man
James Hassinger - Tue. Aug. 16, 2011 at 05:33:45 AM
Top 5 make sense except for CoH, and where's C&C?
Top 5 makes sense, glad to see Homeworld getting some recognition since it's usually left off, but CoH? Not that great, yes it's a RTS but it doesn't even come close to the classic Command & Conquer. C&C started the whole C&C world, we have over a dozen RTS games because of C&C, how can that *not* be in the top 5? Actually I just realized C&C didn't even make the list! W...........t..............F............... O_O
NakedRobber.com - Fri. Jul. 22, 2011 at 10:18:50 AM
Awesome!
Fantastic List and love the depth of having a top 50!! We threw our own top 10 list and added a dash of some ignorant geek humor: http://www.nakedrobber.com/2011/07/top-10-strategy-games-of-all-time/
Sebastian Skarpaas - Fri. Apr. 15, 2011 at 03:24:01 AM
Not thorough
Chris Plante should do his research better. Several of these listings shouldn't be here at all (although I can reason to the point where I agree with most of these). HEARTS OF IRON 3 (!!!) ACHTUNG: SPITFIRE! (!) How in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD can you miss out on these?!?! It's just ridicolous! Sorry, I can't take this list seriously now. Information erased from memory *beep*
Sebastian Skarpaas - Fri. Apr. 15, 2011 at 03:24:00 AM
Not thorough
Chris Plante should do his research better. Several of these listings shouldn't be here at all (although I can reason to the point where I agree with most of these). HEARTS OF IRON 3 (!!!) ACHTUNG: SPITFIRE! (!) How in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD can you miss out on these?!?! It's just ridicolous! Sorry, I can't take this list seriously now. Information erased from memory *beep*
Jeremy Eames - Fri. Mar. 11, 2011 at 05:33:18 PM
Europa 1400
I would also move to add Europa 1400 to the list. its the only game out there simulating economic progression through the middle ages in both turn and real tme.
Kaspar Klærke - Wed. Mar. 9, 2011 at 12:49:31 AM
Panzer Generals (the original one) from SSI?
Loads of great games, but I miss my personal favorite: Panzer Generals from SSI. Amazing game with ammo and fuel concumption and a AI, that became better strategically, when you increased difficulty, unlike Orion, where the AI just had millions of small shipsblowing your planets up, before you even had time to build 100 yourself ;) And Hearts of Iron series... very nice games endeed
Tsoutsou Mproutsou - Wed. Mar. 2, 2011 at 11:12:26 PM
Erepublik - Online strategy game
http://www.erepublik.com/en/referrer/Kotsovolos
James Dalessio - Fri. Feb. 11, 2011 at 08:34:26 PM
XCOM
How can the original xcom be ignored! I would put it number one and I've played most of these games.
James Dalessio - Fri. Feb. 11, 2011 at 08:34:26 PM
XCOM
How can the original xcom be ignored! I would put it number one and I've played most of these games.
Tsabickos Pardalos - Thu. Feb. 10, 2011 at 07:22:50 AM
RED ALERT 2-3
HI I THINK YOU MISS SOME 1: RED ALERT 2 2: RED ALERT 3 : AGE OF EMPIRE... ALL 4 : STARCRAFT ALL 5: STRONGHOLD 6: TIBERIAN SUN -WAR- FIRTS DADECADE...
Dane Jago - Sun. Jan. 16, 2011 at 04:25:13 AM
It should have been all total war
Nothing can compare to the total war series, Everything else is peanuts compared to Rome or Medieval 2, nothing comes remotely close.
Linuz Palmqvist - Thu. Jan. 20, 2011 at 06:37:25 AM
,
word
Javkhlan Mytilene - Mon. Jan. 3, 2011 at 02:21:51 AM
red alert 2
red alert 2
Eero Kronbäck - Mon. Dec. 27, 2010 at 01:56:08 PM
Pirates!
I dont think that Sid meier's Pirates! is an strategy game and just want to say that I don't agree with this list so much.
Eero Kronbäck - Mon. Dec. 27, 2010 at 01:57:57 PM
triple post...
sorry for TRIPLE post......I don't know what happened.
Jeffrey Do - Tue. Jun. 21, 2011 at 01:52:02 AM
Sid Meier's Pirates is a strategy game.
Sid Meier's Pirates has been made twice. The second version admittedly less strategy-looking. The original Sid Meier's Pirates is one of the best strategy games ever made; it's right up there with Civilization and Sid Meier's other games. You should play the first one sometime. It is my second favorite game and I highly recommend it. If after you play Pirates, and you still don't think it's a strategy game, I honestly don't know what to say.
Eero Kronbäck - Mon. Dec. 27, 2010 at 01:56:08 PM
Pirates!
I dont think that Sid meier's Pirates! is an strategy game and just want to say that I don't agree with this list so much.
Eero Kronbäck - Mon. Dec. 27, 2010 at 01:56:08 PM
Pirates!
I dont think that Sid meier's Pirates! is an strategy game and just want to say that I don't agree with this list so much.
Apogee Dwell - Sun. Dec. 26, 2010 at 04:39:50 PM
SMAC
No Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri? I found it far superior to any of the other Civ games from both a gameplay and atmosphere standpoint.
Paul Field - Thu. Feb. 17, 2011 at 01:52:32 PM
SMAC
Second that. Alpha Centauri defines 'depth'
Geno Snyder - Fri. Dec. 17, 2010 at 04:10:48 PM
HOI2!??!
What No Hearts of Iron 2?????
Sebastian Skarpaas - Fri. Apr. 15, 2011 at 03:34:32 AM
HOI3
HoI 3 rather :) While a sequel, it's simply... better for its time. And more long-lived. Mods and expansion adding to that if preferred
Saša Vujasin - Tue. Dec. 14, 2010 at 01:37:52 PM
????
no battle for middle earth??.. o.O
Jai Shaw - Wed. Nov. 10, 2010 at 07:36:54 PM
Some not so well known titles
Stormcraft was a suprisingly good stratergy game that was banned in the US Stars! was a pretty deep space sim that I had a lot of fun with Majesty is a lot of fun also as a Kingdom sim
James Jonny - Tue. Nov. 9, 2010 at 10:29:23 PM
action games
http://www.gamesaction.co
James Jonny - Tue. Nov. 9, 2010 at 10:25:52 PM
action games
<a href="http://www.gamesaction.co"> action games </a>
Zielony Kocur - Tue. Nov. 2, 2010 at 05:00:18 PM
HOMEWORLD
HOMEWORLD
Sindre Haugland - Sat. Oct. 16, 2010 at 08:32:07 AM
Another..."HEY, What about...?!"
Caesar 3!!! I haven't tried the fourth one yet, but by the looks of it, I think it is too much graphic. Yes, there is such a thing. My following top 5 would be: Heroes 3 Transporter Tycoon Deluxe and Age of Empire 3 But yeah....Caesar 3 is most definably the greatest game ever!!
Sindre Haugland - Sat. Oct. 16, 2010 at 08:35:56 AM
...
defiantly! Oh!...And Red Alert. (1,2,3,4,5.....) Yes.
Rickard Nyman - Sat. Oct. 2, 2010 at 03:28:39 PM
HoMM
Too me, the 1st strategy game would be either Totala Annihilation, the first one. Or Machines, by Acclaims. Those 2 are freaking awesome. Atleast machines, with the option to see from inside your unit! Bloody amazing, even tho it was created 1999! Also, Heroes of might and magic 3, is a legend of time.
Chudzo Skruo - Fri. Sep. 24, 2010 at 11:24:13 PM
...
btw more than 30% of games are not "STRATEGIES"!!! for example sacrifice is RPG not strategy and many others are just 3d action etc.... Even there missing some really famous games I think that everyone will agrees when I say there should be age of empire only once for whole serie as well as other games should be there listed only once, cause list of 50 is to short for all good strategies :) And also I think that everyone will agreethere is missing follows really famous strategies as: SETTLERS! TRANSPORT TYCOON! C&C! btw company of heroes is too young to be a legend!
Chudzo Skruo - Fri. Sep. 24, 2010 at 11:28:45 PM
..
as I read from comments I forget Panzer general famous game :) maybe stronghold it is not so old and known game as the other there but I think in this time it already should be part of the legendary games by the way in my opinion black&white was not strategy but only game for the children :)) but maybe I was so pissed of from the start of the game that I do not continue to the later maybe "more" strategic part of it.
Chudzo Skruo - Fri. Sep. 24, 2010 at 11:35:48 PM
...
and the last, someone wrote there about age of empire should be in top 5:), I think this list is not about 1st 2nd 3rd its just list of 50 great strategies... Even I think settlers should be TOP1 :D really old game and famous until this time, as well as HEROES of might and magic or C&C or age of empire :), anyway there is many coppies of real time strategies like C&C or Age of empire (games inspired from oldest game dune) so maybe there should be more special place for games not so similar, cause they bring the new style to "single strategies" and was not copy of something even there stay the fact C&C or starcraft or age of empire was so specific that they should not be called as copy :).
Mar - Tue. Sep. 14, 2010 at 11:30:14 AM
X-COM Is the BEST!!!!
yeah X-com ROCKS!!! but where is Xcom TFTD and apocalypse ?
Abhilash Suresh - Thu. Sep. 2, 2010 at 06:39:29 AM
My Choices...
I love games like Age of Empires II: Age of Kings and its expansion (my first strategy game) though its 2D , then I also prefer games like the Command and Conquer: Red Alert, Tiberian Sun, Generals and their expansions.. and most of all.... Im an addict to Warcraft 3 and frozen throne only because of its amazing map title DOTA All stars :D Game on people
Marc - Tue. Aug. 31, 2010 at 06:37:12 AM
Weak
Panzer General II probably the greatest game ever made -_-
Zeeshan Shafqtat - Mon. Aug. 23, 2010 at 11:52:39 AM
ARSENAL EXTENDED POWER and MAJESTY 2
I wonder if any one of you have ever tried ARSENAL EXTENDED POWER and MAJESTY 2. I like Majesty 2 very much, bec they have given a new idea of strategy, you have to just decide the strategy and sit back and relax. your warriors will play themselves on the strategy. like you cannot order any unit to do this..... how amazing .......
Ollie Axe Ollie Axe - Sat. Aug. 14, 2010 at 07:57:01 AM
The Top My Opinion
yo warcraft slip from the list but i think warcraft 3 is good too aom was good one too but aom is jus like aoe better graphics let's say stronghold is a good one too and that one should been in the top at least one of the series rise of nations was good too abd starcraft deserve it's place to be #1 game ever seen i think it's a good top it's got some missings but it's a very good one good job yo!!! peace
Alex Cantelas - Sat. Aug. 7, 2010 at 12:45:48 PM
Anarchist
Another good 1 is Praetorians...
Pahak Rai - Tue. Aug. 3, 2010 at 10:33:15 AM
yesss!!! stronghold
stronghold is wat holds the strategy among strategy games
Rune Jeppesen - Fri. Jul. 9, 2010 at 03:47:55 AM
Best RTS ever
The best RTS game I have tryid so far is by far Generals Zero hour.. then Supreme commander forged alliance, 3 age of empires 2, age of kings. 4 age of mythology. 5. Red alert 2... well that just my list :D I really hope they make a Generals 2, because Generals zero hour, had so much to offer. The best thing was that just were totally depending on your depots for cash, but you had a another way as well to get cash. Hackers, black markets and suply drops. This is something all new RTS games lacks... you only have a few resourses and if you havent got out and captured some more resourses you lost the game... games are so fast now a days. 10-15 min max. Just look at starcraft 2. the games are over before they actualy begins... such a shame :( let me know what you think
Uri Goodman - Wed. Jul. 7, 2010 at 03:25:25 AM
missing games
as mentioned earlier - age of mythology and lord of the rings battle for middle earth and generals zero hour but all in all good list
Victor Galimbertti - Mon. Jul. 5, 2010 at 12:04:16 PM
Missing
As mentioned by others: Stronghold!!! Also Master of Magic.
Stefanos Varsanis - Mon. Jun. 28, 2010 at 07:26:18 PM
Imperialism 2
Ever tried Imerialism?Now that is what you call a STRATEGY game.Only got past the introductory level.Try it out.
Frane Å ustiÄ - Fri. Jun. 25, 2010 at 06:41:52 AM
Age of mythology
AOM is great game with great gameplay it deserved to be at least in top 5!!!!
Davy Jacobs - Sat. Jun. 19, 2010 at 06:50:20 AM
Panzer General
Best TBS game eva, enough said
Kaspar Klærke - Wed. Mar. 9, 2011 at 12:50:57 AM
hell yea!
'nuff said
Chris Alpha - Sun. Jun. 13, 2010 at 05:31:06 AM
Best Strategy Games Ever
Red Alert 2 + Yuri's Revenge Age of Mythology + Expansion Age of Empires 1 + Rise of Rome Age of Empires 2 Rome Total War + Expansions Medieval 2 Total War + Expansion Warhammer series The Lord of The Rings
Dave Hughes - Sun. Jun. 6, 2010 at 08:42:29 PM
ya ok
i dont agree have u *********s not played lord of the rings battle for middle earth that game tops your entire list
Hubert Strzemilowski - Tue. Jun. 1, 2010 at 10:36:38 AM
i agree with 98% of it
i would of added stronghold legends on the 1st place and starcraft 7th
Fatih Sarıkaya - Thu. May. 27, 2010 at 05:29:19 PM
c&c generals zerohour best of every strategy games
c&c generals zerohour best of every strategy games
Diako Moeini - Sun. May. 23, 2010 at 04:37:45 PM
Not a good list
Dude u missed out on so many games. Age of mythology, Age of empires III, Warhammer: Dawn of war II etc, Cossacks etc ...
Gary Sutherland - Sun. Jul. 18, 2010 at 09:43:11 PM
AOE III?
I still have AOE III in the box, and I've tried it a number of random times, but it doesn't even compare to AOE II or many of these others. Nor does age of mythology, although it's a fun break from AOE II
Atul Pimple - Thu. May. 20, 2010 at 12:54:00 AM
Age of Mythology
why isnt Age of Mythology in the list
Vuk Bibic - Mon. Aug. 9, 2010 at 11:07:08 AM
Age of Mythology
AGE of myghtology is surcently the best game ever I played it since my fourth year and I completed it like 20 times
Sebastian Skarpaas - Fri. Apr. 15, 2011 at 03:29:34 AM
No
I have a copy of Age of Mythology and it's been gathering dust since the first run-through. You can't seriously think that it should be on this list, when every single of these other games have been/are so much greater.
Jeffrey Do - Tue. Jun. 21, 2011 at 02:11:02 AM
Yes.
You made it through a run through. That's just as good if not better than some of the games on the list. Overlord should be knocked off of the list. It doesn't belong on this list. It wasn't a great game. I doubt most people have actually done one play-through in that game. Age of Mythology actually have play life and you actually use strategy in it. Age of Mythology is definitely one of the great Strategy games. The music, the sound, at the time great graphics(and it is still not ugly to look at), the depth, and the variety is definitely something worth mentioning and puts it over many of the games on the list.
James Hassinger - Tue. Aug. 16, 2011 at 05:24:01 AM
Agree with No
Age of Mythology wasn't good
James Hassinger - Tue. Aug. 16, 2011 at 05:24:01 AM
Agree with No
Age of Mythology wasn't good
Amer El-Samman - Wed. May. 19, 2010 at 05:46:21 PM
the best strategy game
settlers 4 in there its an amaazing real time strategy game, it should be first on there
Amer El-Samman - Wed. May. 19, 2010 at 05:48:31 PM
settlers 4
settlers 4 is the best real time strategy and should be on there
Jose Perez - Wed. May. 19, 2010 at 04:39:41 PM
Missed out 4 great games
Sigh... Ground Control? C&C Tiberian Sun? Universe at War? Empire at War? Even if Universe at War isnt particularly innovative, Empire at War's space battles are great at giving the feel of the movies. C & C Tiberian Sun fullfills the fast-paced combat section, and Ground Control is a TACTICAL real-time strategy game. Still, a good list. Note: Ground Control available as freeware, though multiplayer is disabled.
Jonathon Loo - Mon. May. 17, 2010 at 09:08:59 AM
Missed out 3 great games
Comon guys, you missed out some of the greatest games: Syndicate: Research guns, hypnotize a crowd to to your bidding, jack cars and also being a hard game Jagged Alliance 2: With over 50 mercs, whatever turn based strategy game modeled modern warfare? Dark Reign: Some of the best AI and interface of "modern" RTS, the first to include multiple elevations and rush/anti rush tactics, not to mention realtime line of site.
Johan Stendal - Tue. Apr. 20, 2010 at 05:33:47 AM
Tiberian Sun
nice list and all but where the **** is C&C Tiberian Sun? comeon, great visuals, perfect gameplay, long and interesting campaings, sinister music, great fun all in all.
Thorsteinn Evans - Tue. Apr. 6, 2010 at 11:20:26 AM
Thanks.
Thank you so much. I just had about 20 HELL YEA moments. :)
Chris Plante - Thu. Apr. 8, 2010 at 08:47:33 AM
Np
Glad you liked it!
Eric Sheppard - Sun. Mar. 14, 2010 at 09:26:09 PM
Stronghold?
Hey, come on guys....how does stronghold crusader not make it on this list? It's a classic and at least deserves the 30th spot. How many other games do you know that simulate castle life? None.
Chris Plante - Mon. Mar. 22, 2010 at 07:16:37 AM
Stronghold
Stronghold never really clicked for us. However, we flirted with including Firelfly's weird Sims-clone Space Colony.
Renos Georgiou - Tue. Apr. 13, 2010 at 04:58:03 PM
AoE & AoM
Em, did you even bother to consider Age of Empires 1 or Age of Mythology?
Elton Rasch - Fri. May. 14, 2010 at 11:07:35 AM
Stronghold yes!
It's really the best castle and middle age simulator... other game, who should be added to this list, is cossacks... a great one!
Mondher Bouazizi - Sun. Jun. 13, 2010 at 12:57:09 PM
Age of Empires 2
If you think that Age of Empires 2 isn't the best game ever seen, then you got a problem !
Robin Tellebo - Mon. Aug. 16, 2010 at 03:23:13 AM
Why?
Why simulate castle life when you can... DESTROY life in the castle?