Those that like setting up a plan in video games are likely massive fans of the strategy genre. And while there have been many strategy games on other platforms, the mobile market has seen quite a few games come and go that are among some of the most popular strategy games out there.
Whether it's a combat-focused experience or one that serves more like a puzzle that requires extra thought, there are so many different strategy games that players can pick up on either iPhone or Android. However, there are only a few titles that truly stand out above the rest, especially ones that aren't free-to-play.
7 FNAF 6: Pizzeria Simulator
Not to be confused with a PC game within the same franchise, FNaF 6: Pizzeria Simulator is a game all about surviving each night inside Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria while also managing it during the day to make it a must-visit attraction for plenty of customers.
In a mobile spin-off of the Five Nights At Freddy's franchise, players will be tasked with purchasing various attractions, including animatronics, to set up that will bring people in to pay for the pizza. While management is a big part of the game, some of the sinister elements of the franchise come into play when in the Pizzeria at night.
6 Papa's Freezeria To Go
There are many mobile strategy games that are themed around running a restaurant of some kind. This is a running theme in many of Flipline Studios' games, but one of its best entries which has been released exclusively on mobile is Papa's Freezeria To Go.
The ice cream restaurant management game tasks players with balancing serving a bunch of customers at once while handling every area of the restaurant. Create a sundae, mix up ingredients, add toppings, and unlock upgrades and new items for the menu. Keep things moving and try not to make any major mistakes.
5 Dream Town Island
One of the biggest names in mobile strategy games is Kairosoft, a studio that has made numerous titles that fall under the management genre. A top game from them that has made waves on mobile is Dream Town Island, a simulator with many strategy elements when it comes to running the community.
Players will be put in charge of an island that is completely uninhabited. The goal is to make the location a massive attraction by building various businesses like movie theaters and restaurants. People will begin to move to the town and start raising families. The focus is on keeping families on the island for generations.
4 ROME: Total War
Another popular strategy franchise is Total War, most famously developed by Creative Assembly and published by SEGA. As part of SEGA's mobile push, one of the more iconic games in the franchise was ported to mobile. That means iPhone and Android users can play ROME: Total War.
Set in ancient times, the goal of Total War is to take on real-time battles in an attempt to conquer more land. Players can manage many aspects of their faction, including economy and religion. There are 19 factions that players can take charge of, including Egypt, Spain, and the Greek Cities.
3 Pocket City 2
City simulators can be some of the more overwhelming types of simulation strategy games. However, Pocket City 2 has been among the most approachable, especially for those looking for great mobile strategy games that are not free-to-play.
Setting up a city is no easy task, however. Players must set up zones to determine where they want to set up specific buildings and areas. There is a list of quests to take on, all of which can help the city continue to grow and thrive. Players also have an avatar that they can control within the city and also play mini-games.
2 Catan Classic
There have been a lot of board games that have been translated into video games. This is especially true on mobile platforms, but they can occasionally not be as high of quality. Luckily, games like Catan Classic show that board games can be ported well into video games.
The popular strategy game is completely true to the board game, with the game's original rules in place as individuals can play up to three other people in a round. The game is to dominate the board and walk away with the most settlements out of anyone else, along with some other win conditions focused on how well the player did.
1 Plague Inc.
The premise may hit a bit too close to home, but Plague Inc. has long been one of the more addictive mobile strategy games out there. Developed by Ndemic Creations, the popular game has accumulated well over 150 million downloads across iPhone and Android devices.
The player is the villain in the story of Plague Inc. as they are the ones in charge of releasing a disease and infecting as many countries as possible. Humanity won't go away lightly as it will try to fight the disease with vaccinations and other forms of disease prevention. Winning the game requires completely infecting the entire world.