Strategy games come in all shapes and sizes. These range from real-time strategy games such as StarCraft and turn-based strategy titles like XCOM, all the way to granular grand strategy games like Hearts Of Iron 4. These games are packed with player agency and unbridled decision-making, rewarding thoughtful and intentional choices.

Strategy games have been around for a long time, with many tabletop games falling into the genre in one way or another. As a result, these games have had plenty of influence on the industry as a whole. Titans such as Civilization, and the others listed below, have had widespread effects on the entire strategy game genre.

3:27

Related

Most Replayable Strategy Games

Strategy games tend to be in general quite replayable, but the following titles definitely provide the most bang for one's buck.

8 Slay The Spire

A Pioneer Of The Rogue-Like Deck-Builder

It's worth noting that games such as DreamQuest and Zachtronics' Ironclad Tactics attempted to bring deck-building to video games years prior. However, Slay The Spire was among the first video games to popularize the classic tabletop mechanic in the digital space.

Slay The Spire was also among the first to combine deck-building with a rogue-like structure, popularizing an addictive gameplay loop that spawned an entire genre. Games such as Wildfrost, Griftlands, and Balatro may not have existed without the success of Slay The Spire.

7 XCOM: UFO Defense

Popularizing Hardcore Turn-Based Strategy

The original XCOM no doubt had an impact on the turn-based strategy genre — more specifically, grid-based strategy games. Its impact can be seen in modern games such as Gears Tactics, Mario & Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and Phoenix Point. The same influence even shows up in grid-less games like Marvel's Midnight Suns.

XCOM's combination of grid-based tactics, strategic decisions, customizable characters, and meta-progression make for a particularly engaging gameplay loop. XCOM's influence can still be seen today, though many games take inspiration from its successors, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and XCOM 2.

6 Dungeon Keeper

An Innovative Combination Of Strategy And Management

Released all the way back in 1997, Dungeon Keeper is a classic game that combines strategy and management mechanics with a unique theme. Dungeon Keeper is influential due to its combination of unique mechanics, with its darker theme that puts players in the shoes of the villain.

Many games have taken influence from Dungeon Keeper in recent years, predominantly in the indie game scene. Games such as War For The Overworld, KeeperRL, and Dungeons all owe their success to this 1997 classic.

5 Age Of Empires

Innovating Cornerstone Mechanics Of The RTS Genre

With the first game in the series releasing back in 1997, Age Of Empires has had plenty of time to influence the genre with its focus on base-building, real-time strategy, and research. Games such as Stronghold, STAR WARS Galactic Battlegrounds, and the Cossacks series would arguably not exist without Age Of Empires paving the way.

Related

Best Real-Time-With-Pause Strategy Games

RTS games can feel a bit daunting. Thankfully, these RTS games with pause available let players rethink their strategies whenever they need to.

Releasing within a few years of games like Command & Conquer and the original StarCraft (and the same year as the aforementioned Dungeon Keeper), Age Of Empires also helped solidify the gameplay loop and overall structure of real-time strategy games. As it expanded, the Age Of Empires franchise continued to innovate on cornerstone mechanics of the real-time strategy genre, such as resource management, base-building, research, and unit production.

4 Command & Conquer

Brought The RTS Genre To The Mainstream

One of the best-selling strategy games of all time, Command & Conquer is an old-school RTS that spawned an abundance of sequels and brought the genre into the mainstream. Command & Conquer was a wildly accessible strategy game, especially in comparison to similar games at the time, which likely played a role in its commercial success.

The sheer success of Command & Conquer and its further innovations on the RTS games that came before (Dune 2, Warcraft) allowed it to propel the RTS genre into the mainstream. There's no doubt that this had a wild influence on the games that would follow in its wake.

3 StarCraft

Cementing Real-Time Strategy As An Esport

StarCraft, released in 1998, is arguably responsible for cementing real-time strategy as a valid esport. Thanks to the game's sequel, released in 2010, StarCraft has remained popular as both a game and an esport ever since, though its popularity has unfortunately waned over recent years.

StarCraft's innovative use of asymmetric factions and well-balanced mechanics allow for an abundance of strategies. This is evident today, as professional StarCraft is far from stale, despite Blizzard's lack of support for the title.

2 Dune 2

The First Major Real-Time Strategy Game

This retro RTS game is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of the genre. Dune 2 was among the first to bring base-building, resource management, and army production into a well-rounded package, cementing the pillars of real-time strategy game design.

Related

Best Strategy Games Only On PC

Currently, these great strategy games can only be enjoyed on PC. From Xenonauts 2 to Thronefall, there's something for everyone for fans of the genre.

Dune 2 also featured somewhat asymmetric factions, each of which had a unique unit type. This would later be seen in other real-time strategy games, the most notable being Blizzard's iconic StarCraft. It may not be played much today, but the genre as we know it wouldn't exist without Dune 2.

1 Civilization

Dominated The 4X Strategy Genre For Years

Sid Meier's Civilization and the series of games that followed have dominated the 4X strategy genre for years. This is in large part thanks to their accessible nature, especially when compared to other games in the grand strategy genre.

Civilization has gone on to inspire games such as HUMANKIND, Old World, and Stellaris. Furthermore, Civilization's pioneering of the genre has no doubt had an influence on subsequent releases in the grand strategy and 4X genres.

MORE

20 Best Indie Strategy Games

Fans of strategy games will love these titles from indie developers.