7 – Hearts of Iron IV
Recently, I published a list about the best wargames for beginners, with Hearts of Iron IV proudly occupying the number one spot, for several reasons: Its sleek interface, focus on national politics, military matters and weapons production, I I am of the firm opinion that the game is the undisputed king of World War II grand strategy in 2025, and a perfect entryway for newcomers to the genre. With Hearts of Iron IV, the game series went from being a relatively well-known game, but mostly relegated to the fringes of strategy gaming, to a massive, multi-million sales hit.
This game focuses on military production, logistics, and battlefield command, allowing players to build a devastating war machine. But I am of the firm opinion that the game’s strength lies in its expansive national focus trees that provide a compelling narrative, whether you’re following a historical path or a completely alternative one, making each playthrough unique and tailor-made. The game’s longevity is fueled by its constant stream of new DLC and a massive modding community. I can hardly wait to know what Paradox Interactive has in store for Hearts of Iron V.
6 – Total War: Warhammer III
No matter what your stance is on Total War’s shift towards fantasy, it’s undeniable that that move was met with commercial success and fanfare from fans of Old World Warhammer. While each of the entries in the series had its strong and weak points, they all culminated in Total War: Warhammer III, powered by the gargantuan, fully realized Immortal Empires campaign map, where the trilogy comes together at its best, and hundreds of factions fight for the dominance of the biggest and most challenging Total War map ever made. Its greatest strength is the incredible asymmetry of its factions; each race, from the Daemons of Chaos to the stoic forces of Grand Cathay, plays in a fundamentally different way, and each of the factions has a very special playstyle, as they should.
5 – Terra Invicta
If XCOM is the go-to game when it comes to alien-invasion turn-based tactical combat, then Terra Invicta is what happens when you zoom out a lot and manage the events before and during the alien invasion takes place at a strategic (interplanetary) level. The game was built by the team behind the (in)famous and loved Long War Mod, and since its release, the title has fully matured into a masterclass of hard sci-fi grand strategy capable of rivaling games like Distant Worlds and Stellaris.
The game uniquely splits its focus between a geopolitical shadow war on Earth and a space battle simulator. You lead one of seven human factions in a race to prepare for an alien invasion, managing everything from national economies to your fleet’s orbital mechanics, and not everyone is on board when it comes to stopping the alien menace. Heck, some might even want to join them! The game’s steep learning curve is certainly its greatest barrier, but if you keep up with it, there’s a very compelling experience waiting for you, and one that’s unrivalled by any other game. If you’re a player looking for a real challenge and strategic depth, and love a bit of sci-fi, then Terra Invicta is the game for you.
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