Introduction
Having written a couple of lists about the new strategy games coming in 2026, I have decided to challenge myself and put together a definitive ranking of the games I’m most excited for, to play in 2026, and rank them by order of interest. Hopefully, this list will also highlight some of the best up-and-coming strategy games releasing in 2026, and you might even add a couple to your very own wishlist.
This list will primarily describe why I am excited about the games themselves, rather than providing a detailed description of the game. I have played some of these and even written previews on some, which I’ll link in their respective entries.
Let me know if you agree with my ranking in the comments, or better yet, let me know your top ranking of games you’re most excited to play in 2026.
10 – Empire Eternal
I’m of the firm opinion that the Empire Earth series should have never ceased production, and that the first game in the series was such a special game that we should all be paying taxes to keep a development team working on it for perpetuity. All jokes aside, I have very fond memories of playing that seminal RTS in the early 2000s, as it’s one of the best forgotten RTS gems of the early 2000s. Empire Eternal, an RTS being published under the banner of MicroProse, is the closest thing to an Empire Earth we are going to get in 2026. For those of you unaware of what Empire Eternal is, it is a mix between Age of Empires and Civilization, where you take control of your civilization in real-time and advance it through the ages, from the Stone Age until the far future.
9 – The Last General
I’m not sure if this is just wishful thinking or if The Last General is going to be able to fully deliver on its premise of allowing players to lead their massive armies across expansive battlefields that might have up to 400 square km, with economy and production into the mix. No matter the outcome, the simple fact that this is a one-man endeavor and is looking like it’s coming together rather nicely is enough to impress me and earn The Last General a spot on this list. I’m hoping this is a Manor Lords kind of situation, where a single man can deliver a unique experience strategy players can’t find anywhere else.
8 – Dust Front RTS
If Dust Front RTS manages to deliver on its premise, I’m sure that a year from now, when I’m putting together the list of the best games I have played in 2026, it’s going to be occupying a top 3 spot. In an RTS set in a dystopian, dieselpunk planet covered with the remnants of thousands of previous wars, players take control of hundreds (or thousands) of units as they fight against humans and monsters. The game’s aesthetic of dark greys and reds is striking, and the animation quality of each killing machine on screen is beautiful to behold.
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