20 – Noble’s Life: Kingdom Reborn
I don’t even know if Noble’s Life: Kingdom Reborn is the kind of game that belongs here, just because I can’t figure out, for the life of me, if it’s more of a role-playing game or a kingdom simulator, but I think it’s fair to say that it’s a bit of both and that videogame genres are stupid. Set during the Hundred Years’ War, the Englishmen destroyed your estate, and now you’ll be rebuilding it. You’ll manage your estate by strategic decision-making instead of acting as an omnipotent know-it-all who can micromanage each aspect of daily life. This is an interesting historical title I can see garnering some kind of weird cult following, even its graphics have that “there’s something special going on” kind of a look.
There’s a prologue playtest coming soon, so just sign up for it.
19 – Ghost Keeper
In the year 2025 of our Lord, we’re still lacking strategy video games that let you play as the bad guys. The potential is so enormous (as proved by titles like Dungeon Keeper and the Dungeons series)! Fortunately, Ghost Keeper is here to let us wield the powers of the dead against the living. As Ghost Keeper, you’ll be leading an array of wicked minions (ghosts, demons, and monsters) to haunt the living and eliminate the members of the Brotherhood, those off-brand Ghostbusters coming to ruin your fun.
18 – Mars Tactics
Mars Tactics is a classic turn-based tactical combat game, falling in line with titles like XCOM and The Lamplighters League. It’s a game where sound tactical decisions are predicated on factors such as suppression, flanking, the use of cover, line of sight management, and the potential for friendly fire. While it adheres to the established conventions of the genre, it introduces a couple of new elements, such as the 390 Aim System, which empowers your troops to target anything within their line of sight, thus creating exciting tactical possibilities.
17 – Metropolis 1998
Metropolis 1988 caught my attention when I read online that the game will let players build every aspect of their cities. And when I say “every” aspect I don’t mean things like electrical power lines, police stations, and schools. What I mean is that it will let you build each individual division, of each individual house/or shop. It’s that detailed. Pair that up with a beautiful isometric art style and this game looks like something from my childhood.
16 – Anno 117: Pax Romana
As of right now, we know basically nothing about Anno 117: Pax Romana, but if the previous entry, Anno 1800 is anything to go by, then we are in for a treat with this one. Let’s just hope Ubisoft doesn’t pull a typical Ubisoft move and ruin what could be a great game. Yes, I’m looking at you, Star Wars: Outlaw and Assassin’s Creed: Shadows.
15 – Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II
The first Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is one of the best-rated Warhammer 40,000 video games ever. The game had you take up arms against the rise of the Necrons. Now, the legions of the Vargard Nefershah rise. You, the Magos Dominus Faustinius are called back to ensure the Necrons don’t succeed. Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II is very similar to something like XCOM, a single-player, turn-based strategy title with an overarching “grand-strategy” layer of territorial and base management. If you enjoyed the original, or just like the setting of Warhammer 40,000 this might be a game to keep an eye on.
14 – Band of Crusaders
This interesting, supernatural medieval strategy game caught my attention earlier this year with its dark themes and monstrous abominations: In Band of Crusaders, the sinful nature of medieval Europe gave rise to demonic manifestations that threatened to consume the entire continent. You’ll act as the Grandmaster of a knightly order and your task is to lead a crusade against the Archdemons. The tactical battles take place in real time, and “victory hinges on character synergies, smart use of abilities, and unit positioning”.
13 – Falling Frontier
I haven’t met a strategy game aficionado who isn’t excited by the prospect of getting their hands on Falling Frontier. Developed by Stutter Fox Studios and published by Hooded Horse, this is a sci-fi RTS where you’ll be able to design your ships, raid enemy supply lines, build space stations, and use asteroid fields as cover and ambush locations. Each new star system is procedurally generated and populated with planets, moons, asteroid fields, and nebulae. The combat system is promising full projectile simulation and a subsystems-based damage model. Love it!
12 – Football, Tactics and Glory: World
I love that Football, Tactics, and Glory: World just called itself “XCOM meets Football Manager” because it couldn’t be any more correct. I’m assuming you know what soccer (or football) is, so imagine that, but turn-based, where each turn you position your players, pass or shoot the ball, and make all kinds of tactical decisions you expect from something like XCOM, but instead of killing aliens, your scoring goals. Of course, you also have the meta-layer management aspect of XCOM, but instead of managing a counter-alien institution, you’re managing a football club.
11 – Total War: Star Wars
While we don’t know a whole lot about Total War: Star Wars, the fact that it was leaked by DualShockers fills me with the hope that the rumors might be true. I’m just curious to see how the typical line combat of Total War is going to translate to a Star Wars setting since the game’s engine isn’t built to handle squad-based gunfights. However, the Hero units of Total War: Warhammer and Total War: Three Kingdoms are perfect for Jedi and Sith. The only reason this game isn’t on my top 3 is because we know nothing about it.
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