Highlights
- Hedgewars: A cutesy and addicting turn-based game with delightful art style, making it stand out in the artillery genre.
- Cannon Brawl: A fast-paced and fun game where players protect their base while destroying their opponent's, with the unique twist of using a blimp pilot for different abilities.
- Supreme Commander: A deep and challenging Real Time Strategy game with hours-long missions and a huge map, where resource management is as crucial as building a strong army.
Artillery Strategy is a video game genre that has been around for a long time. The concept of these games is usually simple: two or more players going head to head to destroy each other, but the execution is varied.
The genre had humble beginnings. The first widespread artillery game, Artillery Duel, was published in 1982 on the Bally Astrocade. Since then, however, the number of games on offer has exploded and grown to exist on all gaming platforms. With so many games on offer, the question remains; what are the best artillery strategy games to play?
10 Hedgewars
Hedgewars is a turn-based online game that relies on the most straightforward application of the artillery genre. Players control a team of hedgehogs and use weaponry like hand grenades and homing bees to take the other team down. The art style here is what makes the difference. Hedgewars is a delight to look at for players.
Hedgewars is already incredibly addicting and is simple to learn but hard to master. The cutesy world and character design make it stand out among the rest.
9 Cannon Brawl
Cannon Brawl is a fast-paced, action-packed offering for players seeking something in the genre that is different and almost relaxing. Players must keep their base safe while also destroying their opponent's base. Everything on the map can be damaged; buildings can be damaged by simply destroying the ground directly underneath them. Buildings are dropped by a blimp controlled by a pilot of the player's choosing.
Cannon Brawl is a lot of fun, with a concept that has been seen many times. The blimp pilot keeps it interesting, as each option has different abilities and can upgrade different things. For a lighter option, Cannon Brawl is a great choice.
8 Supreme Commander
Supreme Commander is a Real Time Strategy (R.T.S.) game, one of the genre's defining games. Players start simple, controlling only a single unit, but as the game progresses, the size of the artillery increases. Each mission has the potential to last hours, even in the early game, and the map can become huge. This game's lore is as deep as the most detailed RPGs.
The depth of Supreme Commander makes it so excellent. Resource management is just as crucial as having the best and biggest army, making it a real challenge. Supreme Commander can be incredibly frustrating to get the hang of, but the payoff is worth it.
7 Company Of Heroes 3
Company of Heroes 3
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Released
- February 23, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Relic Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Company of Heroes is one of the most well-known artillery strategy franchises in gaming. While all three installments are fantastic picks, the third brought something different. With an improved campaign map, player choice leads the way in this game. The story is dynamic, with different endings depending on players' choices throughout the campaign. The tactical pause allows the strategy to be even deeper as players can queue actions instead of having to decide all their moves in the heat of battle. Even features included in the past franchise entries have been improved, such as environmental destruction.
Company of Heroes 3 includes everything that has made the series one of the most well-loved in the genre and adds even more for players to explore.
6 World Of Tanks
World of Tanks is another giant in the genre. As an MMO, players can take on different enemies whenever they want to. There are six battle types, meaning players can try another if one objective isn't working. For a team-based option, players can drop into random battles which involve two teams going head-to-head.
The sheer variety makes World of Tanks such a strong game. The different battles and game modes mean there is something for everyone, and players can either focus entirely on one aspect of the game or become a jack-of-all-trades.
5 Worms W.M.D.
The Worms series should be familiar to any fans of the artillery strategy genre. There have been Worms games for almost as long as the genre has been. W.M.D., however, is the best option. Unlike many of the more recent installments in the series, this game returns to its roots and improves on them. There are no classes here and no water physics. However, vehicles and stationary turrets are introduced, forcing players familiar with the typical Worms-style strategy to rethink and consider new angles to take down their opponents.
Worms W.M.D. marked a significant change for the franchise, but it was a welcome change. W.M.D. represents Worms at its most interesting, and that is what makes it the best.
4 Wargame: Red Dragon
Set in an alternate reality Cold War, Wargame: Red Dragon is as enjoyable as it is complicated. The units that the player controls can be affected by more than just being destroyed. Units can suffer from lowered morale after heavy attacks, which can even make them stop responding to commands. The key to Wargame: Red Dragon is holding on to deployment zones. This can be very difficult without some thought-out strategy and clever maneuvers from players.
Wargame: Red Dragon is brilliant, as it takes the players' units and humanizes them, albeit in a small way. The Cold War artillery units are beautiful and hard to control. When players master this, though, Wargame: Red Dragon will surely rack up many hours.
3 Foxhole
Foxhole is an MMO game for players who enjoy controlling everything about their virtual war effort. When the game is launched, players must choose between two factions and are then spawned into a town. This game heavily focuses on logistics, as players must manage their supplies and work together to ensure their war effort is successful. There is a real need for cooperation and collaboration in Foxhole, which is precisely what makes it so attractive as a strategy game; no player is alone, and even beginners can get involved.
Players manage everything in Foxhole. Even shells are created by the players. It is a brilliant representation of the value of teamwork in a war, which is not necessarily explored in other artillery strategy games.
2 Total War: Warhammer
Total War: Warhammer combines the typical gameplay of the Total War series with the fantasy classes of the ever-popular Warhammer Fantasy series. The result of this is an excellent R.T.S. with an exciting premise. Players choose between four factions from the Warhammer world and participate in battles and maneuvers to win the game. Typical of the Total War series, there is a focus on city-building and diplomacy across the factions. However, this installment also makes changes - the most key is the introduction of magic.
Taking the artillery theme and applying it in a fantasy setting changes things up, making this game different from others that long-time devotees of the genre will know. However, it keeps the strong and enjoyable roots of the Total War formula, making this the best of both worlds.
1 Hell Let Loose
Hell Let Loose
- Platform(s)
- PS5 , PC , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- Released
- July 27, 2021
- Developer(s)
- Black Matter
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter
Hell Let Loose hinges on its battles. There are two game modes, but each mode involves the same core concept - a 50v50 battle between two factions. Hell Let Loose is all about communication. Each unit is assigned a leader, and one player in each faction is designated as the commander. These players can communicate in voice chat directly in the game. The commander is critical to the strategy side of this game, as they take charge of the team, vehicle deployments, and supply drops, to name a few. Everything costs resources, and commanders must balance their needs with the team's resources.
Hell Let Loose is the best artillery strategy game available. It is a true war simulation that relies on organized and strategic players to win chaotic and sprawling battles.