Introduction

As we get older, the world gets a bit more complicated, and the long afternoons and evenings we once spent playing without a care in the world might seem like they’re long gone. I have very fond memories of my childhood playing strategy games, and sometimes it just feels right to go back and replay some games that were an integral part of me while growing up.

In this list, I’m going to go over the 10 games I play whenever I want to take myself back to the late 90s and early 2000s, when I was but a wee lad who didn’t have to think about a career, a job, or life troubles as a whole. Given the fact that I’m drawing from my memories, this list is going to be quite personal, but I still think you can find some great games for you to enjoy in 2026, and maybe even revive some forgotten memories of your own.

If you enjoy this kind of article, make sure to check out my other strategy gaming lists as well!

10 – Empire Earth

I enjoy Empire Earth for the same reason most of you also do. It’s Age of Empires meets Civilization. Unlike the first, Empire Earth doesn’t limit itself exclusively to a specific time in History; instead, it tries to encapsulate the entire human existence, from the Stone Age, all the way into the distant, not yet lived future. And unlike the former, it doesn’t take place in turns, but in real-time. The most interesting part of Empire Earth is how it managed to make every age interesting by constantly introducing new elements, from simple melee combat to ranged engagements, flying units, nuclear weapons, and even mechs that could traverse oceans. What a game.

9 – Red Alert 2

I had quite an introduction to strategy games, as Red Alert 2 was the second PC game I had ever played, right after Age of Empires 2. No wonder I fell in love with this genre from such an early time in my life, whenever the first two things I booted up on my pc were two absolute classics. Even in 2026, Red Alert 2 stands the test of time as one of the greatest RTS games ever made, with its timeless artstyle and graphics, goofy but loveable FMV sequences, and of course, unique unit design and some of the best unit control in the history of strategy games. If you’re more of a younger guy or are just looking for something a bit more different, you can’t go wrong with Tempest Rising, too.

8 – World War 2: Frontline Command

Most of you are probably wondering, “What the heck is this game? I have never heard about it”. Well, you and a lot of other people haven’t heard about it. In fact, I cannot recall a single person that I know of who has played it. I know it’s real and that it exists, because I still have my physical copy of it. The best way to describe it to you would be as a precursor to Company of Heroes. Now that I think about it, it might have actually been the first time I played a World War 2 strategy game. Unlike the other games I was used to at the time, World War 2: Frontline Command was brutal. The line of sight was oppressive, units could be suppressed, and the enemies could even hear gunfights and move to investigate. The game gets better and better the further you move into the campaign, as new vehicles and equipment become available. I think the game is now considered abandonware, so if you look around, you’ll find it.

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