Strategy titles are a classic enjoyment of many players as they can combine nicely with other genres as long as it leads a player to have to think about their actions. With titles like Crusader Kings, or Cities: Skylines being some big names available that strategy lovers are likely to have tried, they may be looking for something new that perhaps isn't made by the usual developers.
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That's where sites like Itch.io come in handy. On this website, players are likely to find plenty of indie titles varying in genres, including strategy titles, that deserve more love than they get. Players are likely to find fun free games to try or perhaps even the beta of a possible extraordinary title. One thing that's for certain, is that they are created by small teams that deserve attention and that's why these are by far the best strategy games players can find on Itch.io.
8 Your Only Move Is HUSTLE
An Online Turn-Based Fighting Game
- Status: In Development
- Developer: ivysly
Your Only Move is Hustle is a turn-based fighting game that allows players to also simulate some of the most intense battles any player may have seen using stick men. When playing alone, players can simulate epic battles through watching the two stick men they control hash it out in front of their very eyes.
Meanwhile, playing online has more of a tactical flair, as players will need to predict their enemies' moves before it's their turn. While it may be tempting to use every superpower available, a strategic mind should mix in defensive moves to be the last one standing.
7 Tiny Islands (2019)
Build A Tiny Island Strategically
- Status: Released
- Developer: David King Made Some Games
Players are free to create their own tiny island with limits in Tiny Islands (2019), the game is in a simplistic drawn style and players are handed randomly generated tiles to make up their eventual island. Each piece can only be placed on a certain line and combining certain pieces together will score the player points.
While players can take a more relaxed approach to Tiny Islands (2019) for those that truly want to rack up points, they will need to consider carefully where each piece goes and which one of the two options they select each time.
6 Waterworks!
Deck-Building Games Can Be More Than Combat
- Status: Released
- Developer: scriptwelder
Waterworks puts the player in charge of the water supply for the medieval town of Grudziadz. Players will need to use their management skills to make sure that not only every house has a steady supply of water using pipes, but also enough water to deal with the other scenarios that happen around town.
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As the game progresses, the times will change and so will the player's technology. Recruiting more units to help manage the water problems will also lead the player to discover new things that will further improve their influence with the townsfolk. If the player's influence drops, then it's game over.
5 Shogun Showdown
A Promising Strategy Deck-Builder
- Status: In Development
- Developer: Roboatino
Inspired by titles like Darkest Dungeon, Shogun Showdown is a deck-building roguelike title that encourages players to die, so they learn from their mistakes. Position is important in this strategy title as being in the right place can see the player avoid immense damage.
Upgrading the player's attack tiles as well as finding new ones will see the player eventually learn the ideal combos needed to perfect their playstyle before they finally showdown against the Shogun. Along this journey, the player will even find new characters to try that also have their own playstyles for an interesting experience with plenty more in store.
4 Slice & Dice
A Challenging Dice Game
- Status: Released
- Developer: tann
Players control five characters in an epic adventure of twenty levels. Each of the levels has an abundance of monsters for the player to defeat and losing a single battle will cause the player to start once again from the beginning.
Players don't attack in the usual fashion with Slice & Dice, as they have a different dice for each character in their possible attacks or defenses. This can lead to some unlucky moments, though the game still puts a heavy focus on tactical thinking when deciding what to put on each dice.
3 Demon Slayer
Strategy Survival Mechanics In A Platformer
- Status: Released
- Developer: Zenteku
One of the most popular styles of indie games to be popular on Itch.io is those that mimic the retro titles that many players grew up enjoying. The same can be said for Demon Slayer, which not only has an excellent pixel art style, but also intense gameplay that will see players planning every move if they want to survive.
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Staying true to its retro roots, this also causes players to strategize their every move as one loss of life will see them permanently dead for that run, and needing to start again. This combined with the various puzzles within will leave many scratching their head to make it to the end.
2 Mindustry
Classic Tower-Defense Title With Factory Building Elements
- Status: Released
- Developer: Anuke
While Mindustry may not be the first to combine tower-defense with factory building, it still has made quite a name for itself on Itch.io. Players will need to work on their factory in order to improve their defenses if they hope to make it through the waves of enemies.
Creating conveyor belts will automatically send ammo to the player's turrets, while collecting resources and building them into other materials in the factory will create the structures needed to defend themselves further. This, combined with a map editor, means players can make their own maps to attempt to beat to create the ultimate strategy of defense.
1 Backpack Hero
Inventory Management Meets Roguelike
- Status: Published
- Developer:Thejaspel
Out of all the strategy games available on Itch.io, one of the best that players have enjoyed that has since progressed further to be available on other platforms is Backpack Hero. This title, which sees the player playing as various rodents, is more than their average deck-building roguelike, as it's important to consider how the player orders the things in their backpack.
Players will find themselves strategizing both in and out of combat as they attempt to defeat the foes ahead of them while also attempting to fit as many things in their pack as possible. Not to mention that some of those resources can then be used to rebuild their town.