Turn-based strategy games highlight the more intellectual aspects of the genre; the respite provided by “turns” enables us to think, ponder, and plan our moves with as much expert precision as we are able to muster.
For the PC, there is a huge selection of turn-based games that span every imaginable subgenre of strategy. In this article, we rank the top ten turn-based strategy games so you can pick the one you like best.
Cantata
Afterschool Studio’s Cantata follows the ongoing conflict between three factions on an extraterrestrial world in a way that’s a little bit XCOM and a little bit Advance Wars. The pixel art for the units is excellent, and the maps are full of bizarre landmarks and otherworldly vegetation.
To succeed, whether you’re playing as Humans, Machines, or Aliens, you’ll need to make use of the special powers of your chosen faction.
Even in its current state of development, Cantata is a lot of fun to play, having only recently entered early access. Along with mod support, additional story chapters are in the works, which bodes well for the finished product.
According to the developers, early access won’t last more than a year. As a result, the full launch should happen no later than the spring of 2023.
Songs Of Conquest
Lavapotion’s Songs of Conquest are the perfect solution for Heroes of Might and Magic fans longing for the show’s heyday.
Anyone who has played the classic series will recognize the gameplay right away, but the streamlined economy and proper game balance give it all the features a contemporary gamer would want.
Songs of Conquest are not to be missed because it features four factions, powerful spells, and breathtaking pixel art.
The developers are actively interacting with the community to create the best possible player experience, and the early access version includes two complete campaigns and a number of skirmish maps for single-player or online games.
Although Songs of Conquest’s full release is anticipated to occur sometime in the first half of 2023, the early access version is totally worthwhile.
Battletech
Battletech lets you command a group of mech-piloting mercenaries through a series of massive robot battles while following a model that is quite faithful to the classic tabletop game.
Aside from the actual battles, tinkering with your own set of completely customizable mechs is a lot of fun once you get the hang of it.
After steel meets steel, there are numerous factors to take into account, including positioning, speed, and weather. After you complete the first few missions, you will realize that this is not the kind of turn-based game you can just force your way through.
However, Battletech rewards your patience with an abundance of tactical choices. You can dismantle armor from a distance, engage in mecha fisticuffs up close, render pilots helpless, or simply use flamethrowers to overheat the other side’s mechs.
Gears Tactics
In recent years, XCOM’s turn-based tactical hegemony has faced a lot of opposition. Some have been excellent, others not so much. Even though the Gears of War third-person shooter series is well-liked, we were still surprised by how well Gears Tactics, its turn-based tactics spin-off, performed.
This game, which takes place before the events of the first Gears of War, is essentially a series of tactical battles connected by a story and a few simple progression mechanics.
There is no strategy layer, and although there is some persistence for the main characters, the game’s main focus is on loot and some simple skill trees. Although it is not flawless, its flaws serve to further emphasize how strong the rest of it is.
Civilization VI
The most recent (and possibly best) installment in the illustrious Civilization series. The best 4x strategy games to date include Civilization VI without a doubt.
While it doesn’t completely reinvent a wheel that has already been well-polished, it does move the series in a different direction by introducing a number of small but important changes like districts, governors, and a more involved research tree.
Old World
Old World is the ideal fusion of Crusader Kings and Civilization, and it was created by 4X veterans. As your Bronze Age empire expands from a small group of settlers to a thriving state, you’ll also need to maintain good relations with the noble families and ensure the continuation of the royal line.
Choose carefully because the people you appoint to run your cities and command your armies will have a big influence on the game.
Because Old World was designed with seasoned strategy gamers in mind, it may appear a little complicated at first. However, once you’ve mastered its system, you’ll be able to watch the sunrise as one more turn turns into ten, then fifty, and so on.
King Arthur: Knight’s Tale
King Arthur was reportedly taken to the island of Avalon to await his eventual return to rule Britain after dying at the Battle of Camlann.
According to Neocore Games’ interpretation of the story, something went wrong en route to Avalon, and as a result, Arthur returned as a terrifying undead tyrant. You must assemble the Knights Of The Round Table in your role as Arthur’s archenemy Mordred in order to overthrow the terrifying king.
In this grim fantasy roguelite, no two campaigns are alike, and your decisions will have an impact on everything from the knights who will join your quest to the tools at your disposal.
For players looking for a deep-dive experience, King Arthur: Knight’s Tale offers a full-length campaign with lots of replayability.
Battle For Wesnoth
We aren’t exactly spoiled for free turn-based strategy games to choose from. It’s not a genre that lends itself well to a F2P business model. But fortunately, Battle for Wesnoth is free to play, making it obviously better than F2P games.
Yes, this turn-based fantasy strategy game is entirely open source. There are hours of excellent content inside, with a huge variety of campaigns to try and a ton of unit types to learn.
The best part is that your units return throughout your campaigns, so even though you’ll engage in massive battles and lose units left, right, and center, you’ll still feel like you’re moving forward as the survivors level up and gain experience.
Unity Of Command 2
Unity of Command 2 is a superb strategy game that also serves as a great entry point into the world of online multiplayer shooters.
Although UoC has always had a trace of “puzzle” DNA within it, which is still true but not to the same extent as the first game, a few repeats of the same mission will play out the same thanks to changing the scenario design and adding in new elements like HQ’s and more meaningful meta-campaign.
The second installment of Unity of Command 2 transports players to the more well-known areas of the Western Front. It begins with the closing moments of the conflict in North Africa, then moves on to the invasion of Sicily in Italy, and finally lets you relive the Normandy campaigns.
Dominions 5
Dominions 5 is still one of the best turn-based strategy games because of its astounding variety and the sheer size of its conflicts. It may not be a well-known turn-based game, and you would never know from its crude graphics that it was released only five short years ago.
Dominions 5 is both a massive toybox and a turn-based strategy game, putting aside the fact that you get to create your own god. There are 900 spells, thousands of different unit types, and 80 different nations, all based on literature and mythology, to be found inside.