Military strategy games might be in shortly supply, but there are still many gems to be informed about. This article takes a look at the top 10 military strategy games currently available. Lets’ begin.
10. Ultimate General: Civil War
Ultimate General: Civil War expands upon its predecessor Ultimate General: Gettysburg. Lead the troops as commander of either the Confederate or Union army. This tactical simulator brings you into full control of complex and innovated mechanics such as morale, composition, and equipment. The level of tweaking you can make to your army is one of the game’s most unique features. You can get really granular in your choices such as selecting your guns, appointing commanders and naming units. The real-time action is fluid and beautifully drawn providing a continuing array of tactical challenges. PC and iOS.
9. Valkyria Chronicles and Valkyria Chronicles Remastered
Combining elements from a typical strategy game with tactical RPGs, Valkyria Chronicles brings players into a beautifully rendered 1930s Europe. You play on the side of the Federation, hoping to bring down the Empire’s crushing grab for power. Armed with a variety of character types you can deploy your forces to build on each other’s strengths. The unique turn-based battle system, BLiTZ (Battle of Live Tactical Zones), allows the player to see the field from the highest overhead view down to unit level and even direct control of a single character’s aim. The original game is available for PC and PS3, the remastered version with improved graphics is available for PS4.
8. Halo Wars 2
This real-time strategy game set in the Halo universe pits your armies against a new enemy that threatens to destroy everything you love. Playing it on Xbox is nowhere near as easy as on the PC, but if you’re a console gamer it’ll still do the job. The cinematics and character acting are superb. Fans of the Halo universe will enjoy getting to explore new areas while seeing familiar faces like Warthogs and Scorpions. The multiplayer modes introduce fun ways to compete with your friends such as “Firefight” where you fend off waves of enemies while trying to obtain and objective. For PC and XO.
7. Starcraft II: Legacy of the Void
In the second installment of Blizzard’s Starcraft, you play Hierarch Artanis, leader of your people, the Protoss. Armed with a fleet of battleships you prepare face the evil forces aligned against you in this real-time strategy masterwork. In campaign mode, you earn new specializations for your army and upgrades to your flagship as you progress. Co-op and PVP multiplayer modes add more ways to enjoy the game including new specialized units. The feel of the game can be a little serious at times but with co-op mode you can join a friend to stomp the heck out of the AI. Overall, it delivers plenty of fun and re-playability. PC only.
6. World of Warships
The third in a series from Wargaming (World of Tanks, World of Warplanes), World of Warships is a real time strategy MMO that is free to play online. Select a flag to fly under and build your fleet from over 200 types of ships dating back to WWI. Realistic graphics and challenging elements like the weather will draw you in and keep you playing. One interesting fact about this series is that you can port resources between games to increase your progress in any of the three arenas of battle. PC only.
5. Company of Heroes 2
Another sequel on the list, Company of Heroes 2 holds up to its award-winning predecessor with brutal tactical combat. In this game, you play as the Soviet Union during the German invasion of 1941. There is a lot to keep track of as you may end up with your forces divided on several fronts. While some of the missions are a bit too pitilessly realistic, there are opportunities for heroism and ingenuity. Not everything is explained well, but most of the gameplay is thankfully pretty intuitive. Campaign mode is good if sometimes panic-inducing. The Theatre of War missions are best things about the game, which include co-op, solo and AI scenarios. Multiplayer is much more satisfying than playing the AI since you never know what crazy thing your opponent will throw at you. PC only.
4. Total War: Warhammer
Total War: Warhammer is the latest in the Total War franchise for PC. The critically acclaimed title brings players into the popular Warhammer fantasy universe. The turn-based strategy game uses real-time tactics to pit army against army. This game builds on the other Total War titles by adding new features such as flying units (dragons), a much-expanded roster of body types, and a big selling point: diverse factions with special abilities such as Orcs and Vampires. Multiplayer mode unlocks another playable faction, Arthurian knights of Bretonnia. The humor and gameplay in this title are deeply satisfying.
3. XCOM 2
This turn-based strategy game is the sequel to the award-winning XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Set on Earth after an alien invasion, humans must come together to rid the planet of the extra-terrestrial occupation. Procedurally generated maps, unexpected traps, and high stakes missions will keep you white-knuckled and glued to your seat as you battle to save humanity. The ability to customize your characters is a mixed blessing as even the best strategies sometimes fail in the face of bad luck. Seeing your favorite characters die can leave you distraught – or add more fuel to your need to eradicate the alien scum. Available on Steam, for XO and PS4.
2. The Banner Saga 2
This sequel to the original turn-based strategy game, Banner Saga, picks up immediately where the first game left off. Set in a dying world you must lead your people, the Vikings, against the Dredge, stone-like warriors bent on destruction. While being thrown in the middle of a story might be irritating to those who didn’t pick up the first game, it’s easy enough to get oriented. The second installment improves on the original with greater variety in combat and even better storytelling. The art is simply stellar, coupled with excellent gameplay and well-developed characters, Saga 2 is a clear winner. Available for PC, XO, PS4, Android OS and iOS.
1. Hearts of Iron IV
The latest in the Hearts of Iron series for PC, the fourth installment delivers a gritty, real-world WWII simulation with incredible depth and complexity. Lauded for its intricacy, the game demonstrates a real understanding of the politics of war. Beautiful graphics and intuitive navigation immerse the player in strategic decision making such as how to divide military resources, refining political and economic policies that have a real impact on outcomes. Real-world issues like daylight, weather, and terrain directly affect military action. You can play as any of a number of nations, forge alliances and spend political capital for advantage. Rewriting history is just one of the fun aspects of this grand game of war. Single player and multiplayer modes available. Only for PC.
