Strategy games come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, across a variety of platforms though not all of them achieve a rating for Everyone. Some strategy titles are too intense or violent for younger audiences and therefore receive a higher rating to help protect those that are younger.
For players that are looking for more mature strategy games, then they need not look further than these titles. They have not only been praised by players due to the enjoyable content, but these games have also been rated with an ESRB rating of Mature 17+ due to the nature of the gameplay in these strategy titles.
8 RimWorld
RimWorld is not only a classic on PC but has also made its way to consoles where it has continued to be an interesting real-time strategy title that tasks players with looking after their inhabitants on alien planets.
While attempting to survive on these alien planets, the player and their survivors will find themselves at the mercy of alien creatures as well as raiders that will show their people no mercy. This can lead to utter bloodshed which makes the Mature rating unsurprising as the bigger the assault the greater the bloodshed can be.
7 Myth: The Fallen Lords
Another incredibly gory real-time strategy title is Myth: The Fallen Lords, even this classic title that was published in 1997 on PC managed to earn itself a 17+ rating for its blood and gore. Even with such low graphics it's easy to see the blood that soaks the battlefield from either side as the player takes part in tactical battle.
This is one of Bungie's best-selling games from before the release of Halo that truly showed what they were capable of crating especially through this 3D battlefield that allowed players to prepare the most lethal of armies.
6 Sacrifice
Real-time strategy games continue to be not only brilliant strategy titles but also the ones that are most likely to be rated mature. However, Sacrifice takes a step away from realism as it's set in a fantasy world supplying players with countless spells to use on their opponents.
Not only were players able to be the commander ordering their troops into combat, but Sacrifice was one of the first games to allow players to then take on the role of a combatant. Therefore, players can fight alongside their units to help solidify the victory all while being part of the action.
5 Company Of Heroes
Games set during historical time periods such as Company of Heroes being set in World War 2 is another title that has been deemed for a mature age of players. Not only is this game brilliant for how it approaches the time-period, but it also has an amazingly well-thought-out single-player campaign that starts with the invasion of Normandy.
Besides this, Company of Heroes is simply a great strategy game that players from 2006 and even now still enjoy playing as they plan the advancement of their troops over enemy territory while still being quite the challenge to play.
4 SpellForce 3 Reforced
This RPG with real-time strategy mechanics not only mixes up genres in a way that is enjoyable for players but also creates a fantasy Middle Ages setting that players were eager to explore. SpellForce 3 Reforced is quite the gory game with cutscenes showing intense violence as well as the combat itself being incredibly deadly.
The only issues players may face while attempting this role-playing game is the steep learning curve that may scare away some players. Those that are looking for a gory and violent strategy RPG experience are sure to be in for a thrilling adventure.
3 Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers
Returning to Military titles Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers is a tactical phenomenon that was also released in the year 2006. Players can control fire teams of infantry through twelve intense battlefields as they hope to outsmart their opponent in real-time combat.
Like any good game about warfare players have a wide variety of lethal weaponry to use against their opponent that is sure to put a dent in their defenses or even blast right through them. Players can take these battles online to even face their friends on the battlefield or work together to achieve co-op objectives.
2 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War – Dark Crusade
Warhammer is a franchise that has done well both as a table-top experience as well as a virtual strategy game for players to experience on PC. Dawn of War – Dark Crusade is one of many Warhammer games that have not only received a Mature rating but has also been greatly loved by its player base.
Not only is the content for this game taken from an actual Warhammer set, it also has enough content to make one of the best standalone titles players have been able to experience. Alongside its great strategical combat, the campaign itself also has a lot of replay value to it.
1 Utawarerumono: Mask Of Deception
However, out of all the available strategy games with a 17+ Mature Rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board, Utawarerumono: Mask Of Deception one of the best turn-based strategy titles that contains a well-thought-out story.
Combining intense bloody combat with a visual novel style story-telling Utawarerumono amazed players on both PC and PlayStation. It should be noted that a vast majority of the gameplay in this game is the visual novel with few moments using the turn-based combat though this doesn't stop these moments from being violent and thrilling.