Best of
The best strategy games
Strategy games reward thinking ahead instead of fast fingers. Whether you plan turn by turn in peace or direct a battle in real time, the better plan wins in the end. This list covers both camps, from an approachable start to spreadsheet-deep.
This list in numbers
- 126 games in this category
- 89 average rating of the top 30
- 40 median playtime in hours
- 27 release years covered (1999 to 2026)
- 11 of 30 playable in co-op
- 17 of 30 are cheap or free
Why these three lead
Baldur's Gate 3 takes the top spot with 95 out of 100, followed by Fire Emblem: Three Houses at 93 and Slay the Spire at 93. All three clear the 89 point average of this list, and the gap to the rest of the field is small enough that your own taste matters more than the ranking.
How this list is put together
I start from every game in the database that fits this category, currently 126, and sort them by the aggregated critic rating. The 30 highest scoring titles make the list. No publisher can pay to appear here, and the affiliate links have no effect on the order. The full method is explained under how I pick.
- 01 95/100
Baldur's Gate 3 Details
A turn based D&D role playing game with enormous freedom of choice and an unusually reactive world. Almost every solution to a problem is acknowledged by the game, no matter how creative.
PCPlayStationXbox - 02 93/100
Fire Emblem: Three Houses Details
Described in detail under The best JRPGs
- 03 93/100
- 04 93/100
Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos Details
The Reforged version tells the rise of Arthas and the four factions' battle for Azeroth with reworked visuals. Its campaign, hero units and map editor shaped the strategy genre and laid the groundwork for DotA.
- 05 91/100
Crusader Kings III Details
A medieval dynasty simulation game about ruling noble families across generations, weaving intrigue and securing successions. Every character has their own personality and relationships, creating emergent stories.
PCPlayStationXbox - 06 91/100
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Details
The turn based role playing game is considered one of the deepest of its kind, with a combat system that cleverly combines environmental interactions and elemental damage. Up to four players can explore a huge, reactive world together, where almost every action offers multiple solutions.
PCXboxPlayStationSwitchMobile - 07 91/100
Dota 2 Details
Two teams of five heroes engage in epic battles on a complex map with hundreds of possible item and ability combinations. The enormous depth makes the game demanding but also extremely rewarding.
- 08 90/100
- 09 90/100
Into the Breach Details
A turn based tactics game in which mechs defend small grid maps against giant insect monsters. Every enemy move is fully visible in advance, so losses almost always come down to misjudgment rather than luck.
PCSwitchMobile - 10 89/100
- 11 89/100
StarCraft II Details
The classic real time strategy title pits three very different races against each other in a fight for the galaxy, demanding fast reflexes as well as smart economic play. The single player campaigns tell an epic space conflict, while the multiplayer is still played competitively today.
- 12 89/100
- 13 88/100
Albion Online
Albion Online is a cross platform sandbox MMO where gear entirely defines a character's power instead of levels. Players build guilds, control territories and engage in high stakes PvP fights.
PCMobileXbox - 14 88/100
Besiege
In this physics based construction sandbox, players build medieval siege machines from wooden beams, wheels and explosives to storm castles and solve puzzle levels. The chaotic physics engine delivers as much joy as spectacular failures.
PCXboxPlayStationSwitchMobile - 15 88/100
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
In an alternate Cold War, the Allies face off against the Soviet Union in over the top battles featuring quirky units like Tesla tanks. Its campy B-movie humor and accessible real-time strategy gameplay made it a fan favorite.
- 16 88/100
Hearthstone Details
In this accessible collectible card game, players build their own deck from spells and creatures of the Warcraft world. Quick rounds and a high luck factor make it easy to learn but hard to master.
PCMobile - 17 88/100
Kingdom Rush
A classic tower defense game where towers are placed along paths to stop waves of fantastical enemies. Humorous heroes and constantly new enemy types keep every level fresh.
MobilePCXboxSwitch - 18 88/100
- 19 88/100
Pikmin 4
Tiny alien Pikmin are commanded to solve puzzles, gather resources and rescue stranded astronauts. The new dog companion Oatchi brings fresh mobility options to the proven strategy adventure.
Switch - 20 88/100
Total War: Shogun 2 Details
A historical strategy game set in feudal Japan that combines turn based realm management with massive real time battles. Samurai clans fight to unify the land through diplomacy, economy and military tactics.
- 21 88/100
Worms Armageddon Details
Armed earthworms battle each other turn based with an arsenal of ludicrous weapons like the Holy Hand Grenade sheep. Destructible 2D terrain and pure chaos make every match a party favorite.
PCPlayStation - 22 87/100
Anno 1404: History Edition Details
Set in medieval times, players build thriving trade cities, deal with oriental merchants and raise towering cathedrals. This remastered edition of the fan favorite brings modern resolutions and includes all expansions.
- 23 87/100
Bloons TD 6
A tower defense game with monkeys targeting colorful balloons to stop endless waves. Deep upgrade trees, a co-op mode and regular events provide long term motivation.
MobilePCPlayStationXboxSwitch - 24 87/100
Dispatch
Dispatch is a superhero workplace comedy where every choice matters. As the leader of a chaotic team of misfit heroes, players coordinate missions across the city while juggling office politics and personal relationships.
XboxSwitchPCPlayStation - 25 87/100
Europa Universalis IV Details
A historical grand strategy game guiding a nation from the early modern era into the 19th century through diplomacy, trade, colonization and war. Countless expansions make the simulation extremely detailed and deep.
- 26 87/100
Heroes of Might and Magic III
The classic turn based fantasy strategy game has heroes roam an overworld map, grow towns and command armies in tactical battles. The HD Edition preserves the original charm at a sharper resolution.
PCMobile - 27 87/100
Sid Meier's Civilization V
As the leader of a civilization, players steer its fate from antiquity to modern times through diplomacy, research, culture or war. This turn based strategy game with a hexagonal grid is considered one of the most accessible in the series.
- 28 87/100
Sid Meier's Civilization VI Details
Across millennia, you lead your own civilization from the Stone Age to the Space Age, using diplomacy, war and culture as paths to victory. The infamous "just one more turn" feeling is baked right into its design.
PCPlayStationXboxSwitchMobile - 29 87/100
Stronghold Crusader
In the deserts of the Crusades era, players build castles, manage economic cycles and wage siege battles against iconic AI opponents like Saladin. Its combination of castle building and military strategy made it one of the most beloved strategy games of its era.
- 30 87/100
Wasteland 3
The turn based role playing game sends a team of rangers into snowy post apocalyptic Colorado, where morally difficult decisions shape faction politics. Tactical combat and a reactive narrative with many consequences take center stage.
PCXboxPlayStation
Worth reading on this
Common questions
- How many games of this kind are in the database?
- There are currently 126. This page shows the 30 with the highest critic rating, so nothing below that cut is missing by accident, it simply scored lower.
- What is the single best pick right now?
- Baldur's Gate 3, with 95 out of 100. That said, the top of this list sits within a few points, so the second or third entry may fit your evening better.
- How much time do these games ask for?
- The median across this list is about 40 hours. 5 of the 30 entries are finished in fifteen hours or less if you are short on time.
- Can I play these with friends?
- 11 of the 30 entries support co-op. The rest are built as single player experiences.
Prefer a recommendation tailored to tonight instead of a list? The finder takes three minutes.
Find your next game →