60 – Hearts of Iron IV
Hey! It’s one of the first games I have ever reviewed when I started Strategy and Wargaming in 2016 when it was still called One Hex Away. Hearts of Iron IV is a(nother) Paradox’s grand strategy game, but one that’s set during World War II, where players take control of a nation and guide it through the complexities of war, diplomacy, and military strategy. The game allows players to manage everything from resource production and military units to political decisions and global alliances, all while engaging in massive military operations over land, sea, and air. The amount of options available makes Hearts of Iron IV one of the games with the biggest amount of replayability in this list. Even taking control of a minor nation and avoiding getting into the war is an endeavor worth experiencing. While the military aspect of Hearts of Iron IV isn’t as in-depth as that of its predecessor, the political aspect more than makes up for it, with every decision having far-reaching consequences for the course of History. While not the most realistic of strategy games in this list, it’s certainly one of the most fun, and sometimes even one of the funniest.
59 – Phoenix Point
Julian’s Galoph comeback to the gaming scene after his massive 90s hit with XCOM came in the form of Phoenix Point, a turn-based tactical strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity fights for survival against mysterious creatures from the ocean. Similar to XCOM, players command a team of elite soldiers, each with customizable abilities and equipment, and must strategically fight off the alien threat while managing resources, researching new technologies, and building up a global resistance. The game features a deep combat system that emphasizes positioning, cover, and tactical decision-making. It also has a targeting system that allows players to weaken certain enemies by damaging their limbs or dealing extra damage against their weak points, putting an even bigger emphasis on unit positioning and proper target acquisition. The game came a long way after a poor launch, but in 2025 it’s definitely one of the best turn-based games out there.
58 – War On The Sea
War on the Sea is a real-time tactical strategy game set during the Pacific Theater of World War II. Players command naval fleets, engaging in intense sea battles using a variety of historically accurate ships and aircraft. The game focuses on both strategic fleet management and tactical combat, where decisions about positioning, resource allocation, and timing can shift the course of battle. War on the Sea offers an engaging and authentic experience, and it’s one of the best naval games set on the Pacific.
57 – Terra Invicta
Terra Invicta is a grand strategy game set in the near future, where players take control of one of several factions vying for dominance over Earth and beyond. Created by the team known for building up the Long War mod for XCOM, the game is a massive departure from its origin: Terra Invicta tries to blend political, military, and economic strategy as players manage their faction’s resources, conduct diplomacy, and ultimately prepare for an interstellar conflict. The goal is to secure humanity’s future by gaining influence, advancing technology, and outmaneuvering rivals, while also facing the looming threat of an alien invasion, and sometimes, even other threats that might be way closer to home than one might imagine. The game’s still in Early Access and in active development, and just a couple of weeks ago it got a new, massive update. It’s a much more elaborate experience than the XCOM game that inspired it, but if I were to describe it, it’s probably a lot more accurate to how an alien invasion would pan out.
56 – Command & Conquer: Generals
I could just write Command & Conquer: Generals and be done with this entry because even those of you who might be new to the strategy and wargaming genres have certainly heard about one of the best and most iconic real-time strategy games ever made! Set in the modern-day (at the time of release), Generals puts players in charge of three factions —the United States, China, and the Global Liberation Army—and has them engage in some of the most over-the-top and insane missions ever seen on an RTS campaign.
55 – Cold Waters
Cold Waters is a real-time naval strategy game that puts players in command of a Cold War-era nuclear submarine. Despite sounding quite an intimidating prospect, Cold Waters is a masterclass on how to build a complex game, with extensive mechanics while keeping everything so simple that even players who know nothing about it can just pick it up and start playing and learn on the go. With that being said, the game isn’t easy- in fact- players must navigate tense, high-stakes missions in hostile waters, engaging in stealth-based tactical combat against enemy vessels using sonar, torpedoes, and advanced sonar systems. The game features a highly detailed simulation of submarine warfare.
With its immersive underwater combat, realistic naval simulation, and tactical depth, Cold Waters offers a thrilling and authentic experience for fans of military strategy and naval warfare for naval strategy enthusiasts in 2025.
54 – Gears Tactics
What do you get when you combine one of my all-time favorite franchises of all time, Gears of War with one of my all-time favorite strategy games, XCOM? Well, you get the perfect disappointment! But one which despite failing to garner a massive audience, is still very close to my heart. You see, Gears Tactics is a turn-based tactical strategy game set in the Gears of War universe, where players command a squad of elite soldiers in intense, grid-based combat. The story follows a group of soldiers fighting against the emergence of the deadly Locust Horde before the events of the original Gears of War series. I think the game is expertly well-designed and perfectly encapsulates the nature of the combat in the Gears of War universe. Combat happens at a close range, your Gears are powerful heroes, and they can chain combos together with ridiculously bloody results. The on-rails campaign has some amazing moments, as well as some very memorable boss fights. Personally, I think that Gears Tactics is an amazing title well worth your time and money in 2025.
53 – Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
Hey! It’s the second-best Warhammer 40,000 strategy game ever created! Do you want to know what’s the first? Well, you’ll have to wait for part two of this list! Released by Slitherine in Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector is a turn-based tactical strategy game set in the iconic Warhammer 40K universe, where players command a squad of the brand new Primaris Space Marines in brutal, tactical battles against hordes of Tyranids in Ball Secundus. It’s a fantastic turn-based strategy game that has only gotten better since subsequent DLCs added the Sisters of Battle, the Necrons, the Daemon of Khrone, the Orks, T’au, and the Sisters of Battle. The game really shines on its multiplayer, featuring a very active scene.
52 – Company of Heroes 2
My love for the Company of Heroes games is well known, but most of my positive adjectives are often directed towards the first game. It’s time to show Company of Heroes 2 some love as well since it’s probably the most-played Company of Heroes game of all time and one of the best-selling real-time strategy games ever. Set on the Eastern Front during World War II, the game takes the formula of squad-based tactics that made the previous game so successful but transports it to the chaotic battlefields of Eastern Europe. It’s very much the same experience, but with a lot of new units, new maps, new campaigns, new tactics to experiment with, and new challenges to overcome. The Western Front also makes an appearance with the addition of the Ardennes DLC, which added a dynamic campaign to the game.
51 – Total War: Shogun 2
Now we welcome the second Total War entry on this list, with Total War: Shogun 2, the fan-favorite game set in feudal Japan during the 16th century. You’ll be taking control of a clan and vying for dominance in a war-torn nation during the Sengoku Jidai period. Being a Total War game, it should come as no surprise that the formula is pretty much the same as every other game: combining large-scale tactical battles with deep strategic management, where players must manage resources, economy, and diplomacy. What sets Total War: Shogun 2 apart is that it was every system was perfectly fitting for the conflict portrayed, the battle system was absolutely on-point, and the setting is one of the most fascinating periods of Japanese history. Its two massive expansions: Rise of the Samurai and Fall of the Samurai extend the timelines of Shogun 2 to before the Sengoku Jidai period and well into the 19th century.
Join Me Next Week For Part 2 Of “The Best Strategy Games To Play In 2025”
And there you have it, folks! The first of three parts on my “Best Strategy Games To Play In 2025”. Join me next week where we will find out which strategy games occupy the places from 50 to 25!
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