Strategy games were once practically non-existent in the console market, save for notable exceptions and ill-fated attempts (such as Starcraft’s remarkably awkward landing on the Nintendo 64). However, over the years, several titles have emerged to deliver their micro-management goodness to living room accessible formats — particularly when it comes to the Xbox line of consoles.

If someone is looking to channel their inner armchair general, then Xbox Game Pass has several titles that are right up their alley. Whether directing the nuanced machinations of a galaxy-spanning empire is their bag, or they'd prefer just telling wacky invertebrates when to sling bombs at one another, Game Pass has got a strategy game for them.

Updated June 19, 2024 by Mark Sammut: Strategy games on Game Pass are relatively plentiful, at least when their potential to keep players engaged for months is taken into account. At the end of July 2024, a city-builder strategy sim will launch on Microsoft's service; in the meantime, subscribers can check out the original Frostpunk.

Age Of Empires 4: Anniversary Edition

Metascore: 83

After spending more than a year as a PC exclusive, Age of Empires 4 made its way to Xbox consoles in August 2023. Relic and World's Edge's project garnered a primarily positive reception upon launch, with many regarding it as a safe but polished continuation of arguably the most beloved and popular RTS franchise of all time. Launching with four campaigns and eight civilizations (although two more were added later on), AoE 4 offers a great deal of content for solo players, along with containing an active and robust multiplayer scene.

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Xbox owners have two Age of Empires at their disposal, while PC Game Pass subscribers can play through the entire series thanks to the inclusion of the original trilogy's definitive edition. All four games are fantastic by most metrics, and an argument could certainly be made that AoE 2 is the best RTS game of all time. However, newcomers should start with AoE 4, especially if they plan to try their hand at multiplayer.

Halo Wars

Metascore: 82

Though many people associate the Halo name with the mainline entries that are straightforward FPS titles, Halo Wars takes the series in a new direction in terms of genre. Players are treated to grand-scale skirmishes involving factions from the Halo universe in a highly approachable RTS title. Since the game was made specifically for the Xbox 360, it features one of the most comfortable controller configurations for an RTS on a console. The story takes place before the events of the first Halo game, detailing what happened to the UNSC crew of the Spirit of Fire.

Halo Wars 2 is also available on Xbox Game Pass and serves as a fine continuation of its predecessor. In some ways, the sequel is superior to the first game, although it is certainly designed with non-RTS fans in mind. Therefore, people who want to spend more time in this universe but are reluctant to jump into a genre they are not familiar with can rest easy in knowing that Halo Wars 2 is for them.

Wartales

Metascore: 79 (PC)

A sandbox RPG with turn-based combat and player-driven gameplay, Wartales combines popular concepts to create something fresh and, more importantly, niche. Depending on the person, the lack of a main story could either be enticing or off-putting, and their reaction is likely to determine if they will fall in love with Shiro Games' project or not. That said, if the idea of leading a ragtag group of mercenaries across a medieval-style world in search of contracts, food, and success sounds fun, then they should give Wartales a go, regardless of whether they generally prefer to follow a standard questline structure. And, to be clear, the campaign tells plenty of small-scale stories while allowing room for players to craft tales that are solely their own.

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Wartales is complicated. In an expansive and visually impressive sandbox, players lead 12 characters with traits, skills, and professions on a directionless journey beyond their need to make a living and survive. The latter is literal too, and the mercenaries must be kept fed, clothed, and paid; after all, they are people with needs and wants. The "strategy" and "tactical" elements are most apparent in the grid-based combat system, which shares similarities with the likes of Fire Emblem and Divinity: Original Sin. Most contracts/quests involve a combat scenario, and these battles tend to be quite difficult and could result in the death of the player's party members (if they die, they are gone). Furthermore, the game also complements the strategy genre by constantly requiring players to make tough and occasionally hopeless decisions.

Frostpunk

Metascore: 84

Due to being primarily a city management sim, Frostpunk was almost left out of this discussion; however, the game has enough strategic elements to warrant a recommendation. More importantly, Frostpunk is all-around fantastic and arguably among the best projects on Game Pass, irrespective of genre. Ultimately, strategy is all about measuring different pathways in search of the optimal route, knowing full well that each choice has consequences. Most city builders are founded on this structure, but Frostpunk does a better job than most at emphasizing the weight of these decisions.

Set in a frozen hellscape, players are put in charge of a small group of people who are trying to start fresh in a world that very much wants them dead. Starting with very little to their name and living in harsh conditions that will test any leader's mettle, Frostpunk challenges players to survive rather than thrive. Even when the hub starts to gain more city-like qualities and the citizens can focus on expansion rather than just making ends meet, things never get easy, and a total collapse could be just one disaster away. At every step of the way, players will have to make decisions that will almost certainly attract the derision of some folks, and they will eventually have to deal with that anger. Frostpunk can be a rage-inducing experience that makes total annihilation seem like the best outcome; however, it is always captivating.

Dungeons 4

Metascore: 76 (PC)

Game Pass Ultimate's PC version has some Dungeon Keeper representation thanks to EA Play, but that won't mean much to players who only have access to Xbox. Despite its legacy, Dungeon Keeper looks set to remain a thing of the past as EA has shown little interest in revisiting the franchise; consequently, fans must look elsewhere to get their fill of evil. The most obvious spiritual successor is the Dungeons series, which has produced a couple of cult favorites that have not really broken into the mainstream consciousness. The 2023 entry did not change that, but it is a fine and charming game that should keep someone busy for a couple of weeks.

The concept is simple: world domination requires building an army and demolishing heroes. Dungeons 4 understands that the fun parts of these games are the base building, unit development, and all-out wars, so the campaign emphasizes these elements as much as possible. The result is an efficient project that does not waste a lot of time, despite featuring a fairly lengthy campaign. The performance can struggle at times, and some of the story's later missions do threaten to get repetitive, but the overall experience is a positive one. Multiplayer is also an option for those who want to test out their strategic master plans against non-AI opponents.

Humankind

Metascore: 77

Taking a break from its Endless franchise, Amplitude Studios created Humankind, an ambitious 4X strategy game that allows players to work their way through seven eras. Starting out as nomadic tribes, players will gradually roam unclaimed land as they find food, survive, and slowly start to set the groundwork for a civilization. Eventually, they can move over to the Ancient Era, which is where the campaign opens up through the introduction of Cultures. Humankind's scope is incredible and flexible, granting users quite a lot of freedom in how they want to lead their civilizations.

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Incorporating diplomacy, religion, and even turn-based combat, Amplitude cast a wide net as it sought to cover as many preferences and play styles as possible. Surprisingly, most of the game's mechanics and ideas are fleshed out well, making most avenues for growth viable. Humankind can be overwhelming at times, but it is not a bad option for 4X beginners. The game is available on PC and Xbox.

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

Metascore: 73

Similar to its predecessor, Warband, Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord combines a few different genres to create a package with no direct peers in the gaming landscape, despite sharing similarities with many prominent names. Set in Calradia, players are dropped in a world defined by battle as they set out to leave their mark on history. From humble beginnings, players will steadily amass an army en route to conquering towns and villages, with the end goal being to dominate the whole map.

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During physical conflicts, players can join their soldiers on the field, engaging in epic wars that are chaotic, bloody, and irresistibly fun. Outside the battlefield, Bannerlord opens up a range of management and strategy options that will dictate the player's growth, reputation, and presence. Due to casting a wide net, Mount & Blade 2 is not the deepest strategy game on Game Pass, but it is ambitious and addictive.

Inkulinati

Metascore: 78 (PC)

After spending roughly a year in early access/game preview, Inkulinati finally made its proper debut in February 2024, coming out to a reasonably positive reception. As the Xbox Game Pass strategy game had been available to the public already, its full launch did not garner too much attention, which is a shame as Yaza's project is one of the genre's more imaginative releases in quite a while. Presented via ancient manuscripts, the gameplay revolves around leading troops of (generally but not exclusively) animals in over-the-top battles against other small armies. The combat follows a turn-based structure, allowing players to move one unit at a time. Each Beast (or Tiny) comes with special abilities and limitations, and the former moves are brought to life through colorful and often humorous animations.

Inkulinati has a robust single-player mode that should keep most players engaged for a good few hours, and Journey Mode should prepare them well for multiplayer battles. Unsurprisingly, the game also comes with PvP, and these duels tend to be even more intense than the PvE variants. That said, Inkulinati focuses on local player rather than online action, which is certainly a choice in this day and age.

Slay The Spire

Metascore: 88 (PS4)

A popular deck-builder, Slay the Spire's roguelike structure has allowed the game to maintain its relevancy. Players pick a character and receive a deck along with a unique power in the form of a relic. From there, they enter the spire, a tower consisting of multiple levels filled with enemy encounters and culminating in a boss fight. Along the way, players unlock new cards in the form of loot.

Slay the Spire constantly reshuffles the player's deck as they receive a fresh batch for every turn, along with a few energy cards that determine how many actions they can turn. Along with eradicating their opponents, players must also develop a strategy on how to counter the enemies' revealed moves.

Stellaris

Metascore: 81

If strategy games are a rare sight on consoles, then grand strategy Xbox games are something of a mythological creature. However, Stellaris adapts to the platform in fine fashion.

Featuring nuanced layers of resource management, diplomacy, and even interstellar warfare, players will have all sorts of empire management to contend with as they guide their species through the stars — speaking of species, there’s a wide variety to choose from. From religiously fanatical frog people to democratic felines, players can truly design the spacefaring civilization of their dreams (or nightmares).

Gears Tactics

Metascore: 82

Despite its reputation for being a gritty third-person, cover-based shooter, the Gears of War series is set in an engrossing world, and the games usually feature gripping narratives. So, even though Gears Tactics took the turn-based-strategy route, it is a thoroughly entertaining title thanks to the universe it is set in and the lore it provides.

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Gears Tactics is a prequel to the first Gears of War game, but it also connects to plot points seen in later titles in the series, such as Gears of War 4 and Gears 5. The top-down perspective suits the narrative well, as COG soldiers are deployed across a map, eliminating Locust enemies and clearing out objectives.

Crusader Kings 3

Metascore: 83

Crusader Kings 3 started as a PC exclusive, but the grand strategy RPG eventually made its way to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Paradox's project builds upon the foundations of its predecessors, delivering an engaging and challenging experience that covers a wide spectrum of themes and mechanics.

Taking over a dynasty and leading it through multiple generations, Crusader Kings 3 blends complex mechanics with strong characters who have plenty of personality to them. While the game has the lofty ambition and large-scale scope synonymous with the grand strategy genre, Crusader Kings 3 also delivers personal stories.

Best Strategy Games On Xbox Game Pass For PC

Unsurprisingly, Xbox Game Pass for PC has a far more robust selection of strategy games. The genre has historically flourished on computers, with the mouse + keyboard setup complementing the pinpoint controls required by these titles. While console owners only have a small selection of games to pick from, the PC scene is considerably more impressive.

For those with Xbox Game Pass for PC, here are a handful of the best strategy games on the subscription service.

Against The Storm

Metascore: 92

Although not garnering as much attention as a few other late-2023 releases, Against the Storm was among the year's best projects across a plethora of genres and subgenres. If someone is into city-builders, strategy titles, or even roguelites, they need to try this game as it might scratch a hard-to-reach itch. Set in a fantasy world that looks pretty but is extremely dangerous due to storms that periodically destroy everything outside the main city, players are tasked by their queen to gradually explore the unknown and find a solution.

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This process involves establishing settlements that can dig deeper into the woods, and each mini-village has an expiry date; consequently, players have to make regular smart decisions if they want to progress and satisfy their ruler. By randomizing quite a few key elements, Against the Storm makes unpredictability one of its cornerstones, ensuring players cannot simply rely on a winning formula to get them through each situation. As with most city-builders, players are in charge of workers who need to be kept happy, something that is easier said than done.

Other City-Builders On Xbox Game Pass & PC Game Pass:

City-builders are essentially their own genre, although they do share a lot of things in common with strategy or simulation games. Against the Storm incorporates more strategy mechanics than most city-builders, but the following Game Pass titles are worth noting for anyone fond of these types of releases:

• Airborne Kingdom
• Cities: Skylines
• Cities: Skylines 2 (PC Game Pass)
• SimCity/SimCity 2000/SimCity 4 (PC Game Pass)
• SteamWorld Build

Rise Of Nations: Extended Edition

Metascore: 89

Although not carrying the same name recognition as Age of Empires, Total War, or Civilization, Rise of Nations is still highly regarded within the strategy gaming sphere. The 2003 original features nations from across human history, and they can all be played within any of the game's eras. Gameplay-wise, Rise of Nations is more economy-driven than most of its contemporaries, with the focus being on expanding a nation's territory through sustainable growth rather than just overwhelming enemies via brute strength.

Like many of these titles, Rise of Nation's multiplayer was its main selling point. Nowadays, lobbies are not particularly active; however, the game also includes an extensive single-player campaign as well, one that is more than good enough to justify a recommendation. The Extended Edition also contains the Thrones and Patriots expansion pack, which is fantastic and some might argue even superior to the base game.

Dungeon Keeper 2

Charming Classic With A Unique Setting & Gameplay Loop

Bullfrog Productions' time in the sun came to an end in 2001. While the company's run was fairly short-lived in the grand scheme of things, projects like Populous, Syndicate, Theme Park World, and Dungeon Keeper ensured Bullfrog would not be forgotten anytime soon, particularly by strategy and management fans. Out of all those licenses, Dungeon Keeper and its sequel are probably the most fondly remembered, although Populous' influence on the God game genre cannot be understated either. Through EA Play, PC Game Pass subscribers can play a few of Bullfrog's masterpieces, specifically both Populous and Dungeon Keeper games. All four titles are worth checking out, and while they might seem antiquated through a modern lens, the games are still quite a bit of fun to play.

Dungeon Keeper 2 is slightly divisive as it swapped its predecessor's 2D visuals for 3D, a change that dates the sequel more than its predecessor. However, fundamentally, it is still the same experience as its decorated ancestor. Cast as an overlord, players are put in charge of a dungeon as they lay out traps to capture heroes trying to sneak in. The goal is to expand the dungeon's size and achieve world domination. Fairly challenging, the strategy game has a lengthy single-player campaign that is more than capable of keeping something entertained for a few weeks.

Command & Conquer Remastered Collection

Metascore: 82

In 1995, Westwood Studios released Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn, changing the real-time strategy genre for the better. The series went on to produce a couple of fantastic sequels such as Red Alert, Tiberian Sun, and Red Alert 2, before fading into nothingness during the 2010s. Nowadays, EA seems happy to leave the license untouched, with the only PC entry of the last five years being a compilation package containing revamped versions of Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert. This iconic franchise deserves better, although that has nothing to do with the quality of the Command & Conquer Remastered Collection.

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Developed by Petroglyph Games, who have ties to Westwood, the 2020 release serves as a love letter to the franchise's glory days and comes packed with three expansions and a range of bonus content. At their hearts, these are still the same games that defined the '90s, but Petroglyph still implemented a wide range of changes to ensure they are accessible to both a modern and nostalgic audience. While the presentation can seem a bit simplistic compared to contemporary strategy games, Command & Conquer's core mechanics are still rock solid, and they are enhanced by charming writing.

BattleTech

Metascore: 78

A turn-based tactics game about warring mechs, BattleTech’s complexity, and unforgiving nature mean the game is better left for veterans of the genre. For those who have mastered XCOM and are looking for something similar, BattleTech is the strategy game for them.

In the single-player campaign, players serve as commanders trying to put together an arsenal of mechas, and the responsibilities go beyond just the battlefield. Managing resources and cash flow are almost as important as strategically outmaneuvering the enemy units, and the game handles both aspects well.

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