Tactical and strategic games have been a part of the video game industry for decades at this point. While there are examples of games that have had an element of strategy in them for a while, such as the Pokemon or Final Fantasy series with their turn-based combat, modern tactical entries are on the rise again, as seen with the immense love for the Warhammer 40,000 franchise and its numerous games, or the ever popular Counter-Strike series.

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The best grand strategy games are often played out over several centuries, with some leaning into the immersion and role-play aspects of these eras.

A part of what makes these games enjoyable is the cooperative element, a feature that always proves popular with players. However, not every tactical game is available to play in co-op, such as XCOM 2 when it shut down its multiplayer. Many other games involving tactics are still available with co-op, ranging from more typical strategy titles to military shooters.

10 Wasteland 3

84% Positive Reviews On Steam

The Wasteland series is a surprisingly old franchise, nearing its forty-year anniversary, dating to 1988. Taking place in a post-apocalyptic setting, Wasteland 3 involves squad-based gameplay in a turn-based system. A pioneer for the post-apocalyptic genre, even the Fallout series was inspired by Wasteland.

A large part of this game is the dynamic RPG element, where characters and decision-making are center stage. Mature themes are dominant, implementing violence, gore, and sexual content as would be expected for a post-apocalyptic theme. The co-op mode only allows for two players, but the characters that are controllable can be split between users. Players can even separate from each other and do their own thing as long as both are at equal levels.

9 Rainbow Six: Siege

86% Positive Reviews On Steam

The Rainbow Six series had been around for a while before Siege came along, but the 2015 release propelled the franchise into stardom.

With similar features to its previous iterations, such as various tools and gadgets to execute strategies, Rainbow Six: Siege contained updated controls and graphics. Similar to Counter-Strike, Rainbow Six: Siege’s main gameplay revolves around two teams competing against each other in various game modes involving objectives. The game separates teams into five players that control different Operators in order to emerge victorious.

8 Counter-Strike 2

87% Positive Reviews On Steam

Games like Unreal Tournament and Quake may have been released before the original Counter-Strike, but the Half-Life mod only further proved the popularity of the FPS genre.

With a very simple premise, Counter-Strike involves a team of players planting and detonating a bomb while the other team tries to stop them. The absurdly high skill ceiling is where this game showed how important tactics can be. Important in regular play, professional teams demonstrated just how dominant team play and strategy will be when used correctly.

7 Ready or Not

88% Positive Reviews On Steam

Recently released on Steam, Ready or Not has shot up in popularity. The game focuses on the experience of SWAT teams as they infiltrate and take down hostile scenarios with impressive graphics and immersive gunplay.

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There are a wide variety of shooters out there for players to choose from, and that includes tactical shooters with impressive levels of realism.

Praised for its tactical gameplay, Ready or Not offers a selection of weaponry, each with different attachments for specific situations. Scenarios must be approached realistically, following rules of engagement and relaying commands to other members of the team. The incapacitation of enemies is also a solution to situations that can be executed via the use of non-lethal weapons. If this non-lethal force is chosen, handcuffs must be used as the A.I. can be devious, playing dead in order to get the jump on players later.

6 Halo Wars: Definitive Edition

91% Positive Reviews On Steam

Halo Wars was an attempt to bring the classic 2000s Halo series to the strategy genre, and a rather successful one at that.

The game features elements from the main FPS games, with the different Covenant and UNSC vehicles and troops being present. Halo Wars follows the UNSC human faction battling against the antagonistic Covenant and offers an insight into events before the main games, taking place before even Halo: Reach. Much like other RTS games, Halo Wars only allows for two-player co-op, but still follows the single-player campaign and doesn’t offer an alternative multiplayer story.

5 Arma 3

91% Positive Reviews On Steam

When it comes to milsims, the Arma series has taken the cake for the most well-known, even spawning DayZ, a game that originated as a mod for Arma 2.

Arma 3 is the latest of the main series entries, with the developers, Bohemia Interactive, doing such a good job on these games that they have created simulators for real-world militaries. In Arma 3, players have access to numerous vehicles and weapons, with the cooperative element featuring campaigns to progress through. There are also various DLCs that can be downloaded to add to the already impressive content.

4 Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition

95% Positive Reviews On Steam

Before Larian Studios became a household name in 2023 with their release of Baldur’s Gate 3, they were still making highly popular fantasy tactical RPGs.

Much like Baldur’s Gate 3, Divinity: Original Sin 2’s combat is executed via a turn-based system. With environmental effects, vast amounts of armor, weapons, spells, and a plethora of different classes to choose from, it seems like Divinity: Original Sin 2 was a precursor to Baldur’s Gate 3. Just look at both games’ trailers on Steam, and they look incredibly alike. Even the co-op is similar, allowing for four players to go off and cause shenanigans in the world.

3 Total War: Medieval 2 - Definitive Edition

95% Positive Reviews On Steam

The Total War franchise has so many entries that picking one as the definitive best is nigh impossible. With different games that span numerous time periods and hold various gameplay features, the series is a goldmine for anyone who favors the tactical and strategic. Despite this, Total War: Medieval 2 - Definite Edition stands as the highest-rated in the series on Steam.

The co-op element permits players to embark on different campaigns, which, as the name suggests, takes place during the medieval period, specifically from 1080 to 1530. Most obviously, the game can take place in Europe, but also in the Middle East and Africa.

2 Door Kickers 2: Task Force North

96% Positive Reviews On Steam

• Released: November 4, 2020
• Developer: KillHouse Games
• Platforms: PC

A sequel to the original Door Kickers, Door Kickers 2: Task Force North is almost a birds-eye view Ready or Not.

In Door Kickers 2: Task Force North, players must enter buildings and take down enemies using tactics, communication, and utility. An interesting feature comes in the form of line of sight. Since the game takes place in a birds-eye view, areas of the map can be seen anywhere, but the player will only truly know what’s inside a room by breaching it, creating a strategic element where infiltrating must be dealt with tactically.

1 Baldur’s Gate 3

96% Positive Reviews On Steam

Larian Studios’ breakout game, Baldur’s Gate 3 has proven to be one of the most popular games in years. The game takes ideas implemented from their previous game, Divinity: Original Sin 2, and works on those foundations to deliver an immersive narrative and strategically driven experience.

Based on the Dungeons and Dragons universe, Baldur’s Gate 3 can host up to four players who can explore the world and most likely make mistakes that will lead to combat situations. The game is vast, with various weapons, armor, spells, and classes that all play into each other. Even the dialogue can be tactical, with careful planning needed on what to say in order not to anger a character.

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