Best strategy game on Reddit
197 reviews from r/gamingsuggestions, r/SteamDeck, r/4Xgaming and 10 more subreddits
197 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Stellaris
4.2
(9)
"All run great."
"Stellaris is amazing and there’s beaucoup DLC."
"I would say Stellaris is actually pretty solid."
"I'd suggest Stellaris or Galactic Civilization 3."
"I just started playing Stellaris, this being my first strategy game."
"Play stellaris if you thought it looked cool."
"Stellaris and civil are both grand strategy 4x games."
"I've put the most time into Stellaris."
"Stellaris."
#2
Civilization VI
4.8
(8)
"Civ 6 is currently $2.99."
"The best ones are CIV6 and Polytopia."
"Civilisation 6 is relatively simple and extremely fun"
"Civ VI is awesome"
"Civilization 6 runs like a charm on deck."
"Civ 6 is actually very easy to use basics and has alot of depth after learning basics."
"Civ 5 and 6 are great games with good onboarding."
"Civ 6 or if you want a fantasy version that is also pretty damn fun."
#3
Civilization
4.8
(8)
"Something turn based like Civ."
"Civilization or if he is into Sci-Fi Endless Space 2."
"Civilization for turn based, Age of Empires for real time, Sins of a Solar Empire for 4X"
"Some good examples are Civilization, Humankind, Endless Legend, Endless Space, Age of Wonders, Oriental Empires, and Stars in Shadow"
"The Civilization series is always mentioned as a good entry point into the strategy genre."
"Civilization is turn-based which means he can think about his choices as much as he wishes"
"Good ol civilization."
"Civilization is how I started"
#4
Age of Empires II
4.3
(6)
"Age of Empires 2. I believe almost everyone that like strategy games started with AoE."
"I enjoyed Red Alert 1, Age of Empires 2 and Caesar 3."
"AoE 2."
"Age of Empires 2."
"Age of empires 2."
"Age of Empires 2 would also be a good place to start."
#5
Civilization V
4.3
(6)
"Both play well on the deck."
"Civilization 5. Take your time with it."
"Civ 5 and 6 are great games with good onboarding."
"I think civ 5 is a good first 4x game."
"Civ v or Civ vi are solid to get started with."
"Honestly I'd suggest Civilisation 5 or Stellaris and just play on the easiest difficulty until you learn what you're doing."
#6
Manor Lords
4.6
(5)
"Manor lords is 100% what you are looking for."
"For a newer recommendation, check out manor lords, seems to be getting really good reviews everywhere."
"Manor Lord"
"Manor Lords has some RTS combat so maybe that"
"Manor lords is great on the deck!"
#7
RimWorld
4.8
(4)
"Rimworld for space wild west and cannibalism."
"Becareful as it is addicted."
"Rimworld has a surprisingly good deck controller layout built in."
"It can be hard but you can always play on easy."
#8
Factorio
4.8
(4)
"Definitely Factorio to see if you're into the Automation type gameplay."
"If you like to build stuff, Factorio is amazing on the deck"
"Factorio is great, Satisfactory is also good but takes time setting up the key binds"
#9
Crusader Kings III
4.5
(4)
"Paradox games like crusader kings 3 and stellaris are good. Stellaris might be one of my all time faves"
"All run great."
"Crusader Kings 3, watch a couple of youtube vids so that you can get the basics down."
"Crusader Kings III"
#10
Space Empires IV
4.3
(4)
"If you want the first, Space Empires IV is pretty nice."
"Space Empires IV leaps to mind because not only do you have to carefully control your research, resources, and ship count."
"Space Empires IV and V are fun."
"If you want one that's fun but with a very dumb AI, Space Empires 4."
#11
XCOM
4.3
(4)
"Like Xcom 1,2 or heartstone + magic the gathering...."
"Xcom (1 or 2)"
"Xcom (1 or 2)"
"Xcom 1 and 2 are difficult but very fun"
#12
Oxygen Not Included
4.0
(4)
"Is a pretty intense colony/base building survival and management game."
"For a thermodynamics sim loosely based on real life."
"There's also: Oxygen not included"
#13
Age of Empires
4.0
(4)
"Age of Empires is new, so it’s got a lot of players, buzz, and new servers."
"Age of Empires series"
"Age of Empires a bit more free range in movement than civ5 or Stelaris."
"Age of empire series and civilization series have very good tutorial session"
#14
Kingdoms and Castles
4.0
(4)
"I enjoyed Kingdoms and castles - just get mods for larger map sizes and additional buildings and have fun making fortified island castles and setting up trade routes to supply your colonies"
"It’s very low stakes but it has a very ‘cute’ aesthetic: kingdoms and castles."
"Kingdoms and castles works very well! Solid 60fps, but the battery isn’t great and the fans kick on really loud."
"Kingdoms and Castles maybe?"
#15
Warcraft II
4.7
(3)
"I personally started with Starcraft 1 and Warcraft 2 back in the day, although my personal favorites are WC3 and XCOM 1."
"Go old school and try WarCraft 2. It's the best RTS game ever."
"Gonna be controversial here and say warcraft 2, or even 3."
#16
Age of Mythology
4.3
(3)
"Age of Mythologie Retold or Civ and if you have more experience I can recommend Age of Wonders 4"
"Age of Mythology is pretty forgiving."
"Age of mythology for real time strategy."
#17
Against the Storm
4.3
(3)
"Both are incredible city builder/strategy games."
"Check out Against the Storm."
"Another vote for Against the storm. Plays excelent on the deck"
#18
Warcraft III
4.3
(3)
"I personally started with Starcraft 1 and Warcraft 2 back in the day, although my personal favorites are WC3 and XCOM 1."
"Warcraft 3."
"Warcraft 3 was great, but I did hit a difficulty wall at some point."
#19
Master of Orion 2
4.0
(3)
"If you want to go old school, get Master's of Orion 2."
"My favorite strategy game is an oldie but a goodie. Master or Orion 2."
"Master of Orion 2 in its day."
#20
Northgard
4.0
(3)
"Northgard!!"
"Came across Northgard which scratched the itch for a while."
"Northgard is a great addictive lil strategy game"
#21
Banished
4.0
(3)
"Banished - large scale builder, more focused on production chain etc and not individual settlers."
"I remember Banished was pretty good."
"Banished works well and is simple and satisfying."
#22
Endless Legend
4.0
(3)
"If he likes a fantasy settings try Endless Legends, good pace and easy to follow."
"I think endless legend is free right now on Steam."
"Endless Legend"
#23
Command and Conquer
4.0
(3)
"Command & Conquer (probably any of them really."
"Command and Conquer remakes"
"These might be a bit too old for your liking, but I'll mention them anyway since they were my introduction to the genre growing up."
#24
Slay the Spire
5.0
(2)
"Slay the Spire is incredible."
"Slay the Spire"
#25
Star Wars: Empire at War
5.0
(2)
"Star Wars Empire at War or Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion and II."
"Star wars empire at war"
#26
Master of Orion
5.0
(2)
"It's really hard to top MOO1/ROTP."
"For me, MOO1 and clones like ROTP are the distilled essence of 4X."
#27
Starcraft
5.0
(2)
"Starcraft II"
"I personally started with Starcraft 1 and Warcraft 2 back in the day, although my personal favorites are WC3 and XCOM 1."
#28
Ozymandias
5.0
(2)
"Ozymandias is a nice little stripped-down 4X game."
"I’d recommend Ozzymandias. It has a unique concept of a strategy without the need to micromanage hoards of units"
#29
Battle for Polytopia
5.0
(2)
"Battle for Polytopia is a stripped-down Civilization game (reminds me most of Civ 2)"
"Polytopia, Into the Breach (Netflix), XCOM/2, Armello, Civ Rev 2, Northgard."
#30
Anno 1800
4.5
(2)
"All very good and complex games."
"I would highly recommend it!"
#31
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
4.5
(2)
"I personally started with Starcraft 1 and Warcraft 2 back in the day, although my personal favorites are WC3 and XCOM 1."
"Not grand strategy, but XCOM Enemy Unknown is a great game."
#32
StarCraft II
4.5
(2)
"Starcraft 2 campaign is the best introduction to RTS."
"StarCraft 2 is an excellent introduction to RTS."
#33
Plants vs Zombies
4.0
(2)
"You could try Plants vs Zombies."
"Plants vs zombies"
#34
Tropico 6
4.0
(2)
"Tropico 6"
"Less obvious: Tropico 6 (or any of them)."
#35
XCOM 2
4.0
(2)
"My favorites are XCOM 2 with the War of the Chosen DLC."
"Xcom 1 and 2 are difficult but very fun"
#36
Stronghold Crusader
4.0
(2)
"The classics such as Stronghold Crusader and Age of Empires 2."
"Stronghold Crusader 1 you can get it for like 2$ on sale."
#37
Galactic Civilizations IV
4.0
(2)
"GalCiv 4, Distant Worlds 2 are all very different and very good."
"I enjoyed Galactic Civilisations 4 a lot recently."
#38
Frostpunk
4.0
(2)
"Frostpunk is super fun."
"I love frostpunk but neither of them should be your first step into strategy."
#39
Warcraft
4.0
(2)
"If she liked Clash Royale, Warcraft Rumble is very similar except more PvE focused."
"Or even go to warcraft 2 tides of darkness."
#40
Timberborn
4.0
(2)
"This one also runs super well on the Steam Deck."
#41
The Battle for Polytopia
4.0
(2)
"Polytopia has been my go to game for the last couple of weeks…"
"You're looking for a game called "The Battle for Polytopia." It’s free on mobile."
#42
Supreme Commander
4.0
(2)
"Supreme Commander?"
"Supreme Commander... aka SupCom."
#43
Microsoft
4.0
(2)
"Age of Empires 2. The William Wallace starting tutorial is great."
"I suggest you check out Age of Empire IV."
#44
Age of Empires IV
5.0
(1)
"I suggest you check out Age of Empire IV, Age of Mythology: Retold, City Skylines 2, Dune: Spice Wars, Humankind, Grears Tactics, Jusic World Evolution."
#45
Stronghold
5.0
(1)
"Stronghold 2/ Legends."
#46
Dawn of War
5.0
(1)
"Dawn of War 1."
#47
Sword of the Stars
5.0
(1)
"Sword of the Stars."
#48
Distant Worlds
5.0
(1)
"Distant worlds."
#49
Creative Assembly
5.0
(1)
"For me, Total War on iPad is the best."
#50
Subset Games
5.0
(1)
"Into The Breach. Just like their other game FTL."
#51
Larian Studios
5.0
(1)
"Divinity original sin (1 and 2) is highly recommended."
#52
Paradox Interactive
5.0
(1)
"Cities Skylines, Prison Architect, Dwarf Fortress."
#53
Crying Suns
5.0
(1)
"*Crying Suns* :) "
#54
Solaris
5.0
(1)
"Solaris is a spaced-based slow paced strategy game with simple mechanics and diplomacy based aspect."
#55
Mount & Blade
5.0
(1)
"Mount & Blade: Warband and Mount & Blade: Bannerlord are exactly this."
#56
Stranded
5.0
(1)
"Stranded- Alien Dawn. I freaking love this game and can't seem to find anything like it."
#57
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
4.0
(1)
"Red alert 2 : command and conquer"
#58
Endless Space 2
4.0
(1)
"I am a bit bias but, ES2? 😋"
#59
Starsector
4.0
(1)
"Starsector with nexerelin"
#60
Paradox
4.0
(1)
"If you want to get into paradox games, start with the game in your favorite setting."
#61
Total War
4.0
(1)
"If you want a way to ease into grand strategy, you could start with total war."
#62
Age of Rivals
4.0
(1)
"**Age of Rivals** (card-based)"
#63
Nintendo
4.0
(1)
"Advance Wars is pretty simple."
#64
Blizzard
4.0
(1)
"StarCraft 2 is free and has a very active community."
#65
Square Enix
4.0
(1)
"Sea of stars octopath traveler 1 and 2."
#66
Ubisoft
4.0
(1)
"Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a more light-hearted xcom."
#67
Colony Sim
4.0
(1)
"Against The Storm is interesting, as it's kind of a short-term, roguelike base building strategy game."
#68
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
4.0
(1)
"Civ 6/ not exactly what you’re asking for but bannerlord runs beautifully."
#69
Age of Wonders 4
4.0
(1)
"Age of Wonders 4."
#70
Songs of Conquest
4.0
(1)
"Songs of Conquest is a blast imo."
#71
Pharaoh
4.0
(1)
"I’m digging “pharaoh” (it’s old AF) right now, controls quite well"
#72
Terra Nil
4.0
(1)
"Terra Nil is a lot of fun."
#73
Into the Breach
4.0
(1)
"Into the Breach is a good intro game for turn-based strategy"
#74
Halo Wars 2
4.0
(1)
"Halo Wars 2. If my 7 year old son can figure it out you can do."
#75
Bad North
4.0
(1)
"Look up Bad North . It's a tower defense (in this case island) and it's not too complicated"
#76
Master of Orion (2016)
4.0
(1)
"Master of Orion (2016) is a great beginner 4x."
#77
Total War: Shogun 2
4.0
(1)
"Total War Shogun 2: Set the campaign to easy."
#78
Divinity
4.0
(1)
"While it's not 4X, there's also Divinity and Divinity 2. Quite strategy oriented."
#79
Civilization Revolution
4.0
(1)
"Civilization Revolution and Halo Wars simplified the strategy game format to function on consoles."
#80
Planetary Annihilation: Titans
4.0
(1)
"Planetary Annihilation: Titans. It's still an RTS, but very basic when compared to practically any other."
#81
Command and Conquer 3
4.0
(1)
"Command and conquer 3 kanes wrath"
#82
Hexarchy
4.0
(1)
"I'm going to recommend one that I didn't see in the top ~20 comments: Hexarchy."
#83
Galactic Civilizations III
4.0
(1)
"I'd suggest Stellaris or Galactic Civilization 3."
#84
Age of Wonders: Planetfall
4.0
(1)
"Age of wonder planetfall"
#85
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
4.0
(1)
"Please go and try the original warcrafts."
#86
Hearts of Iron IV
4.0
(1)
"Hearts of iron 4."
#87
Empire Earth
4.0
(1)
"Empire Earth and Empires Dawn of Modern world."
#88
Empires Dawn of Modern World
4.0
(1)
"RTS strategy, but low difficulties turns it almost to peaceful 3D village builder."
#89
Tooth and Tail
4.0
(1)
"Tooth and Tail is an indie game."
#90
Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes
4.0
(1)
"Fallen Enchantress:Legendary Heros is really excellent for a strategy intro game."
#91
Homeworld
4.0
(1)
"One of my favorite RTS growing up was Homeworld."
#92
Dawn of Man
4.0
(1)
"Dawn of man is so chill and relaxing."
#93
Baldur's Gate 3
4.0
(1)
"My favorites are XCOM 2 with the War of the Chosen DLC, and Baldur's Gate 3."
#94
Red Alert
4.0
(1)
"The Red Alert series, it has humor and is worth playing."
#95
Heliopolis Six
4.0
(1)
"Try out Heliopolis Six."
#96
Red Alert 2
4.0
(1)
"The classics Red Alert 2, Red Alert 3."
#97
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
4.0
(1)
"I still like Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion."
#98
Sins of a Solar Empire
4.0
(1)
"Sins of a Solar Empire if you like the combat to have some RTS element."
#99
Distant Worlds 2
4.0
(1)
"For me it is Distant Worlds 2."
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