70 – Stronghold Crusader HD
Avid readers of Strategy and Wargaming will roll their eyes as they stop Stronghold Crusader HD in yet another list of mine, but hey, what do you want? It’s my list! Besides, Stronghold Crusader is still one of the best real-time strategy games ever made. What other games do you know that combine intense castle-building, resource management, and large-scale medieval combat in the unforgiving deserts of the Middle East during the Crusades? I’ll wait.
With its expanded maps, and enhanced graphics, Stronghold Crusader HD takes the classic gameplay of the original Crusader to new heights and it’s one of those games I go back to every year to play for a couple of hours. It’s still as fun in 2025 as it was when it first came out, in 2002. Fortunately, a new Stronghold Crusader Definitive Edition is coming out soon which is looking pretty damn amazing.
69 – Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance
I swear that one day I’ll get around to reviewing Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance! It’s one of the best real-time tactical strategy games to have come out in the last 5 years. Set in the post-apocalyptic world of the Terminator universe, players command a resistance group fighting against the ruthless machines led by Skynet, using a combination of infantry, vehicles, and advanced technology in tactical battles. The game focuses on tactical unit placement, fields of fire, resource management, and mission planning while capturing the essence of the Terminator franchise’s intense, futuristic warfare. The best aspect of it is how realistic the whole thing is (yes, really!). I wish Slitherine would take the basis created for this game and use it to build something set in World War 2 or modern-day conflicts.
68 – Songs of Conquest
Songs of Conquest is a turn-based strategy game that blends tactical combat, kingdom management, and rich lore in a beautifully handcrafted fantasy world. It’s the closest thing we have to a modern Heroes of Might and Magic. If you know, you know: Players control powerful warlords, each with unique abilities, as they lead their armies through strategic campaigns and capture towns to expand their domain. The game features a mix of tactical battles, exploration, and resource management, with a focus on unit synergy and spellcasting. I played quite a lot when it came out, and despite not having enough time to review it, I was very impressed by its vibrant pixel art style and the hand-crafted campaign.
67 – Regiments
Regiments is a real-time strategy game set during the Cold War, where players command military units in large-scale, tactical battles. Featuring a focus on brigade-level combat, players deploy infantry, tanks, and artillery while managing logistics, resources, and battlefield positioning to outmaneuver their enemies. This sounds a whole lot like the Wargame series of titles, doesn’t it? Well, Regiments is pretty much an indie version of that. Created by one man, Regiments is quite the achievement, even though my review of it was very unflattering, but that might be because I don’t really enjoy this niche sub-genre of games. But hey, if you like those, then Regiments might be a good way to break the monotony of being limited to what Eugen has been cooking for the last decade or so. Besides, Regiments is an exclusively single-player focus, while Wargame and WARNO are mostly multiplayer-oriented.
66 – Scramble: Battle of Britain
Look, I’m surprised that Scramble: Battle of Britain got released without much fanfare by Slitherine at the tail-end of 2024, into Steam’s Early Access program since it’s one of their most unique products. A turn-based World War 2-era fighter plane with a lot of simulation aspects, set during the iconic Battle of Britain. Players control a squadron of RAF pilots as they defend British airspace from waves of German Luftwaffe bombers and fighter planes. The game focuses exclusively on air-to-air combat, squadron management, and dynamic missions. I’m hoping that the game gets a procedural campaign sometime soon because the idea of managing my squadron of pilots during the whole Battle of Britain is something that tickles my historian brain just the right way. I know it’s on the roadmap, but I cannot wait to get my hands on it. Besides, its focus on fast-paced dogfights and squadron coordination makes it a standout choice for strategy enthusiasts in 2025. Oh, and the game just recently added multiplayer, so there’s that.
65 – Total War: Rome 2
The presence of a couple of Total War titles is an inevitability when you’re discussing the best strategy games you can play in 2025, so let’s start this off by placing Total War: Rome 2 in here. While Total War: Rome 2 might have flopped hard when it came out, years of improvements and fixes turned this ugly duck into a beautiful swan, beloved by pretty much everyone who enjoys the Total War formula of turn-based grand strategy and massive real-time strategy battles. Set during the rise of the Roman Empire, you’ll be doing what Romans did best: expanding your empire until you can no longer keep it together, and things inevitably break down due to infighting, economic woes, and a lack of cultural cohesion. With its massive amounts of DLC, there’s a lot to love in Rome 2 if you’re willing to give it a go. And it’s also a beautiful game to boot.
64 – Field of Glory II: Medieval
Hey! It’s one of my favorite games of all time! Field of Glory II: Medieval is a turn-based strategy game set in the medieval period, where players command armies in realistic and detailed tactical battles. As commander, you’ll take control of a variety of medieval units, from pretty much every existing faction from medieval history, with hundreds of unique to pick from, including knights, archers, cavalry, siege engines, footmen, spearmen, crossbowmen, and even early firearms. With those you’ll wage war in premade historical battles, set up your skirmishes, or take your army on a campaign against those pesky Frenchmen during the Hundred-Year War! It’s one of the best strategy games to play in 2025, especially if you’re the kind of person who loves medieval history. I can’t think of another game that recreates medieval battles with this incredible level of detail and complexity. If you prefer antiquity, Field of Glory II is equally amazing as well.
63 – Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front
Remember me saying how Battle Academy is the friendliest of war games? Well, Graviteam Tactics: Mius Front is the exact opposite of Battle Academy. Battle Academy is easy to get going, while Mius Front has one of the gnarliest user interfaces ever made. BA is simple and its turn-based battles can be over in less than an hour, while Mius Front’s battles happen in real-time (yes, real, real-time). BA has simple combat mechanics, while Mius Front has the most realistic and detailed simulation of World War 2 tactical combat ever created, ever. It emphasizes realistic tactics, the importance of terrain, force composition, and every little thing that must be accounted for if you want to win on the rough battlefields of the Eastern Front. Want to call artillery? Better have communications set up correctly! Want your troops to shoot at the enemy? You’ll need to properly position them. Want to capture a town? Prepare for a long and grueling battle. It’s hard to put into words how detailed Mius Front is, but if you’re looking for a proper, realistic World War 2 game at the highest level of detail possible, then Mius Front is the game for you, and not even Combat Mission comes close to it.
62 – Football, Tactics & Glory
If Football Manager is the game for pure tacticians, then Football, Tactics & Glory is the turn-based equivalent for those who like to give a helping hand (or foot) on the field! You’re still playing the role of a football manager, guiding their team through matches where each action, from passing to shooting, is determined by you, on a strategic grid-based system. The game focuses on building a strong squad, developing tactics, and making key decisions during matches, all while managing the team’s resources and progression through the leagues. It’s a very interesting take on football and a lovely game with tons of team management. It’s like the XCOM of football, making it a standout choice for strategy and football fans in 2025.
61 – Command: Modern Operations
Command: Modern Operations is a game better described as: overwhelming, or as a full-time job, because this is a real-time strategy simulation game that focuses on modern warfare, offering players the chance to command and control complex military operations since the end of the Second World War until this day and age. Featuring a vast array of realistic weapons, units, and vehicles (its database alone has tens of thousands of entries for military hardware), players must plan and execute high-level military strategies across land, sea, and air. The game’s attention to detail, including real-world application of military tactics and doctrine, terrain, and geographical factors. If you can stand its steep learning curve, Command: Modern Operations is one of the most immersive and amazing military strategy games you can play in 2025.
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