The Thrill of Command In Grand Strategy Games
It’s fun to look back at the history of grand-strategy games and see how far it has come since the inception of strategy games as a genre. In 2025, the grand strategy genre stands as one of the most rewarding and complex forms of gaming, and some of the most appealing to a larger audience of players. These are not simple games of point-and-click, quick reflexes, and RTS-mayhem; they are sprawling, intricate simulations that demand patience, intellect, and a love for history or a taste for world-building and sci-fi and fantasy.
With a focus on long-term planning, deep resource management, and a narrative that is often entirely one of your own making, grand strategy games offer an unparalleled level of replayability and immersion. From the annals of ancient history to the far reaches of space, this list compiles the ten best grand strategy games that have defined the genre and continue to captivate players in 2025. Each title has been chosen for its enduring quality, its active community, and the unique experience it provides. Expect the usual suspects of Paradox Interactive, Total War, and some other surprise appearances you might not be expecting! Grab a cup of coffee or your favorite beverage, sit back, relax for a bit, and let’s go over the best grand strategy games you can play in 2025.
10 – Victoria 3
Victoria 3 had big shoes to fill after the massive hit that the fan-favorite Victoria 2 was. After a rough launch in 2022, Victoria 3 is now becoming a top-tier grand strategy game for those who prioritize economic and social simulation over military conquest. A series of major updates and DLCs, including the recent Charters of Commerce and Sphere of Influence expansions, have refined its already deep systems. With Victoria 3, the game shines in its simulation of the 19th and early 20th centuries’ social dynamics, where players manage a nation’s industry, trade, and population with a level of detail that is unmatched in the genre. These mechanics were so well received that they’re getting transformed and adapted to the coming Europa Universalis V. Victoria 3 is a very unique game, set in a very unique timeline, one that no other game is brave enough to touch.
9 – Field of Glory: Kingdoms
Field of Glory II and its acclaimed standalone expansion, Field of Glory II: Medieval, quickly rose in the medieval ranks to become beloved games in the turn-based strategy genre. Fast forward a couple of years, and Slitherine did the next best thing and released Field of Glory: Kingdoms, a game that takes the Field of Glory II franchise from its turn-based strategy battles to the grand strategy stage, and did it so in a way that the game can hold its own against other behemoths of the genre.
The game is a semi-realistic simulation of the late Middle Ages, where you manage your dynasty, navigate a web of feudal loyalties (not to the same extent that Crusader Kings 3, but good enough for a game like this), and engage in the kind of slow-burn political and military conflicts that defined the era. The game’s innovative “WEGO” turn system, where you and your opponents plan your moves simultaneously, creates a tense and unpredictable strategic experience, and is actually a lot more realistic than the real-time Crusader Kings 3, because during the Middle Ages, you could not see what your opponent’s armies were doing in real-time.
What truly sets Kingdoms apart is its seamless integration with its sister title, Field of Glory: Medieval. When a major battle occurs on the campaign map, you have the option to export it and play it out on a separate tactical battle map, with every unit and general you’ve carefully managed. The recent “Rajas and Tribes” DLC, which expands the map to include the Rajput kingdoms of India and other African realms, has further enhanced the game.
8 – Total War: Rome II
Despite its age and a rough launch more than a decade ago, Total War: Rome II is now widely considered a cornerstone of the grand strategy, turn-based strategy, and real-time strategy genre in 2025, thanks to its enduring “one-two punch” of turn-based empire management and epic real-time battles. The game was massively worked on and improved by Create Assembly, got a bunch of amazing DLC, but even more important, what’s keeping the game alive to this very day is the incredible modding community, which has transformed the game into a nearly endless sandbox.
Mods like the well-established “Divide et Impera” have turned it into a semi-realistic historical simulation with thousands of units, while others provide new factions, graphical overhauls, and completely game conversions. I know that a lot of you guys don’t consider Total War games to be grand strategy, but I do, and any sensible person will, too! Leave a comment if you disagree!
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