10 – Anno 117: Pax Romana
If Nova Roma is cute-looking and brings elements of the supernatural into the fray, then Anno 117: Pax Romana is its more serious and grounded brother. This up-and-coming installment in the beloved Anno city-building and strategy series transports players to the heart of the Roman Empire in 117 AD. As a Roman governor, you’ll be tasked with establishing and expanding your empire across diverse provinces, including the vibrant Mediterranean lands of Latium and the mysterious, untamed Celtic territories of Albion. This entry into the franchise introduces a unique choice system, allowing players to decide their path: will you be a loyal servant of the Empire, focusing on economic growth and trade, or will you choose the path of rebellion and expansion through dominance? Similarly to any other Anno game, the basics are all about creating intricate and complex production chains, detailed citizen needs management, and setting up beautiful sprawling cities. New features include the ability to construct buildings diagonally and a deeper focus on the impact of building placement. We are now waiting to see how the military aspect of the game plays out. Hopefully, it’s going to be a lot more in-depth than any other games in the series.
9 – Prison Architect 2
The Prison Architect 2 development cycle has gone through some wild rides, hasn’t it? From rumors it was being canned, to delays and reformulations, it looks like Paradox Interactive is going to commit to it. The fact that it stands amongst the top 25 most wishlisted strategy games should be reason enough to bet some serious chips on it. Building upon the beloved prison management simulation from 2015, bringing the complex world of correctional facility design and operation into full 3D. Players will once again step into the role of warden, tasked with constructing and managing every aspect of their penitentiary, from cell block layouts and resource allocation to staffing and inmate rehabilitation programs. A significant evolution from its predecessor, the move to a fully three-dimensional environment allows for multi-floor prison designs, offering new verticality and creative freedom in the building of new prisons. Inmates are also more sophisticated, now forming relationships, making decisions based on their needs and desires, and interacting with the prison environment in more dynamic ways, leading to complex social dynamics that players must manage.
8 – MENACE
MENACE is a highly anticipated turn-based tactical RPG from Overhype Studios, the creators of the acclaimed Battle Brothers. They are now taking their penchant for hardcore and tough-as-nails strategy games and venturing into a gritty sci-fi future. Players command a diverse strike force of marines, mercenaries, and even criminals in a distant, lawless system cut off from the core worlds, responding to distress calls across various planets. The game blends deep tactical combat with a compelling strategic layer, where your choices impact relations with local factions and grant access to vital resources and upgrades. Combat is characterized by its deadliness, featuring fully destructible environments (again!), realistic firearms mechanics like suppression and flanking, and the constant threat of permanent squad leader loss, each of which has a unique background and story. Between missions, players return to their strike cruiser, the TCRN Impetus, to manage their crew, upgrade their ship, and make strategic decisions on a dynamic world map. MENACE promises a challenging and highly replayable experience, with procedural content ensuring that every campaign unfolds differently, making it a compelling prospect for fans of squad-based tactical combat and strategic depth.
7 – Europa Universalis 5
If Europa Universalis 5 is number 7, aren’t you surprised to find out which are the top 5 most wishlisted games? There are a lot of surprises there, I’m sure. For me, at least, there was. This highly anticipated title is the next iteration in Paradox Interactive’s flagship grand strategy series, promising to redefine the genre with unprecedented depth and simulation. Beginning in the Middle Ages, in the year 1337, during the Hundred Years’ War, players will guide hundreds of historical nations through five centuries of history, all the way to the Age of Revolution in the 19th century. Europa Universalis 5 is going to introduce a fully simulated population system, where every citizen’s culture, religion, and social class impact national development, alongside a vastly expanded and detailed world map with granular topography, vegetation, and climate.
6 – Anvil Empires
This one looks interesting, and it has certainly convinced a couple hundred thousand of you as well. Anvil Empires is an ambitious massively multiplayer game that thrusts thousands of players into a persistent online world of medieval conquest. Developed by Siege Camp, known for Foxhole, this title focuses on large-scale collaboration, allowing players to work together to build sprawling empires, wage war, and conquer in a dynamic, player-driven sandbox. A core feature is the ability for up to 1000 players to participate shoulder-to-shoulder in massive real-time melee battles and large-scale sieges, creating epic, organically instigated conflicts. If the game is anything like Foxhole, I’m sure it’s going to be quite successful, and the historical crowd among you will love it. It certainly looks mighty amazing right now.
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