Introduction
With 2025 coming to a close, it’s time to look back and reflect on the state of strategy games and wargames and, for the most part, I think that 2025 has been an incredible year for strategy fans, delivering a wave of new releases, early access success stories, definitive editions, and bold experiments that pushed the genre forward in new and innovative ways.
From visually stunning RTS throwbacks to deep grand-strategy epics and inventive tactical gems, this year proved that strategy games are more diverse and more polished than ever, and there has never been such a great time to jump into the genre and experience what it has to offer. Whether you’re into city-building, real-time warfare, wargaming, or turn-based decision-making, the best strategy games of 2025 offer unforgettable campaigns, clever mechanics, and countless hours of thoughtful gameplay. In this list, I’ll highlight the 15 titles that defined my year, celebrating what makes each one special and why they’re absolutely worth playing right now.
Remember that this list is a reflection of the titles I have played so far, so my favorites might differ from yours. If that’s the case, please share in the comments below what other great games have come out in 2025 and why they would make it into your best games of 2025 list.
15 – Age of Darkness: Final Stand
Age of Darkness: Final Stand was the first game I reviewed in 2025, and it stands out because it’s one of the few games that took the premise created by They Are Billions almost a decade ago and built upon it. It’s an intense survival RTS blending base-building, hero-driven combat, and massive nightmarish hordes that push your defenses to the limit. I particularly enjoyed its campaign. In fact, it’s the only reason the game is even on this list; it’s because few real-time strategy games have me going back every day, for just a couple of minutes, to try and advance the campaign a little bit. The missions designed for the campaign are also pretty good and a throwback to late 90s and early 2000s RTS campaigns. If you’re the kind of player looking for a new take on They Are Billions, but with a great campaign, then Age of Darkness might be the game you’re looking for. Just don’t expect much more outside of that.
14 – Commandos: Origins
My preview of Commandos: Origins was not the most flattering, but after another delay to polish things up, the game ended up being rather good, and in my opinion, the worthy successor the series needed. Commandos: Origins brings the iconic real-time tactics series back with a modern overhaul that captures everything fans loved about the classics while pushing the formula into 2025 standards by including more recent mechanics, from more recent experiments with the genre (looking at Mimimi Games, of course), such as the synch-kills and complete rework of the game’s control systems. The game’s meticulously crafted maps, sharper stealth mechanics, and more dynamic enemy behaviors make every mission a tense puzzle of timing, distraction, and precision in execution. Visually, it stands out with richly detailed WW2 environments, but the animations could have been just a little bit smoother. But aside from that, I think it’s hard to fault Commandos: Origins.
13 – Cataclismo
Cataclismo is the first castle-building strategy game of 2025! Imagine Stronghold, but with the darker, fantasy vibes of Age of Darkness, and you would be somewhat close to what Cataclismo is. It’s a real-time strategy game where players can build their castles in a modular way, allowing for plenty of creativity, crazy layouts, and totally impractical but cool-looking fortresses. Of course, every now and then, the enemies will come in waves, putting your wall-engineering skills to the test. The game also looks really sleek, with a clean, striking art style.
12 – Armored Brigade 2
The first Armored Brigade was quite an experience, and quickly rose to become one of Slitherine and Matrix’s most beloved Cold War wargames. The only limitation to the game being mode enjoyable was its lack of a third dimension. Armored Brigade 2 did just that. The second entry still pushes large-scale, real-time Cold War warfare to new tactical heights in 2025, by delivering one of the most detailed simulations available, like its predecessor, but now it does all of that in 3D. The new 3D engine gives vehicles, terrain, and ballistics far more clarity and immersion without sacrificing the series’ complexity. Better yet, it makes reading the terrain a lot more obvious, and the game is a lot more fluid because of that, as decisions are taken faster and with a higher degree of certainty. Of course, a whole host of new things were added, such as a more detailed communications system, better AI, a dynamic weather system, an infantry rework, new units and scenarios, and a lot more. If you’re the kind of player looking for a Cold War era wargame to sink hundreds of hours into, Armored Brigade 2 is the game for you.
11 – Two Point Museum
I don’t think I need to introduce most people to the Two Point series of games, but the quick rundown is that these are some of the best tycoon games around, and Two Point Museum is no exception. This latest entry by Two Point Studios brings the charm and humor of the series into the world of museums, delivering one of 2025’s most creative management sims. Players will build and create their own museum, complete with themed wings, bizarre exhibits, and lively visitor interactions. Its cartoony and silly art style, alongside playful animations, make even the busiest museum feel warm and welcoming, and like a video game. As all video games should be. Don’t be fooled by its looks, tough, because underneath all this apparent silliness is a deep management sim that will require every ounce of your attention to make your museum a hit with visitors, and you’ll be rather busy the whole time doing it.
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