Summary
Allowing players to live their power fantasies of empire building, world domination, and influencing global politics, thegrand strategy genre often encourages player freedom. The genre is generally dominated by Paradox Interactive with their juggernaut series likeHearts of IronandCrusader Kings, but there are plenty of other developers creating excellent entries in the genre.
There are many reasons why such great games remain relatively unknown, whether they are polarizing or have slightly underwhelming review scores, a lack of substantial coverage and poor sales, or possibly even their initial release coinciding with a much more popular game. Here are some of the best lesser-known and forgotten grand strategy games, ranked based on a combination of their overall quality and general popularity with those who are aware of them.
Setduring the late 19th centuryand leading into the early 20th century,Pride of Nationsfeatures eight of the great powers of the time as playable nations. Everything is highly detailed, from the complex world economy to the deep and strategic military building, as players navigate their country through industrialization, colonization, and conflict with rivals.
Developed by Ageod and backed by grand strategy specialists Paradox Interactive as publishers,Pride of Nationsnever reached the heights of their other titles. Some reviewers found the challenge and complexity to be insurmountable barriers, but others who persevered enjoyed the highly detailed and historically accurate depiction of the tumultuous time period.
7Imperiums: Greek Wars
Manage Your Corner of the World and Become the Ruler of Ancient Greece
Agrand strategy set in Ancient Greece,Imperiums: Greek Warsmixes the history and politics of the Greco-Persian world with the mythology and heroic tales of the time. Choosing one of 30 playable factions, ranging from city-states within the Hellenic world to crumbling empires on its outskirts, the game begins in 359BC and sees each region vying for control of the known world.
Some players find the economy and military tactics to be quite complicated, but they are sophisticated and engaging for those with the patience to learn. There is a surprising amount of depth to AI-controlled characters, from their carefully considered trades to their views on rivals committing war crimes, and they will punish any poor choices made by the player.
6Civil War 2
Manage a Nation During the Civil War With High Detail and Historical Accuracy
Set during the American Civil War and featuring a highly detailed map of the USA, plus parts of Mexico and the Caribbean,Civil War 2is often praised for its historical accuracy. There are various scenarios to take on and test the skills of any master strategist, though the main appeal is the Grand Campaign, where players pick a side and attempt to win the war.
The map is split into over 3000 different regions with rivers and climate being somewhat integral to success. There are also over 400 leaders and more than 1000 different units during the conflict, but even the most careful planning can be undone by scripted historical events that must be managed effectively.
Set during the period spanning 1918 to 1950in an alternate historywhere World War One never ended,Kaiserpunkblends city-building with grand strategy. Building and managing complex supply lines can be overwhelming at first, but those who gain a thorough understanding of the gameplay mechanics find it incredibly rewarding.
There are over one hundred regions that can be engaged with, either through diplomatic means or warfare, with players finding ways to exploit or even incorporate neighboring areas into their own sphere of influence, though they must be careful to avoid unrest and uprisings. PerhapsKaiserpunkflew under the radar slightly due to the proximity of its release to the launch ofCiv VII, but those who played it at the time foundKaiserpunkedifying.
4Revival: Recolonization
Oversee the Rebirth of the Post-Apocalyptic Planet
After a brutal catastrophe that almost caused the extinction of humankind, it’s time to rebuild the Earth inRevival: Recolonization. Players are tasked with terraforming their section of the planet and protecting their survivors as humanity seeks to flourish, but rival factions, aggressive animals, and uncontrollable automatons maypresent a threat and initiate combat.
Random events present issues, such as irregular climate activity, zombie outbreaks, or bans on the use of certain weapons, so success is often based on quick adaptation. Some surprises can be exploited, however, such as finding powerful items from the days before the near-extinction event. The only real gripe for many is the lack of multiplayer.
3Alea Jacta Est
The Die is Cast
Appropriately taking its name from the famous Julius Caesar quote as he crossed the Rubicon River,Alea Jacta Estallows players to relive and replay some of the most significant Roman civil wars. Across five campaigns, there are hundreds of renowned leaders, events, and units from Roman history, covering over 2800 regions in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Not only must players develop and sustain their armies during these intense conflicts, but they also must ensure that civilian life remains harmonious and maintain trade with friendly neighbors. The depth of gameplay mechanics and relative complexity ofAlea Jacta Estmay be off-putting for some, but mastering it can be incredibly rewarding.
2Dominions 6 - Rise of the Pantokrator
Achieve Godhood and Become the Pantokrator
Set in a fantasy world inspired by various mythologies, fantasy and horror literature, plus the history and culture of many nations,Dominions 6 – Rise of the Pantokratorfeatures a diverse cast of leaders to choose from. Playersmanage a loyal kingdomas one of the many Pretender Gods, each vying for ultimate superiority to become the new Pantokrator.
These Pretender Gods can be anything ranging from a powerful tree or a Lovecraftian monstrosity to something akin to a Norse deity. Their vast array of powers and spells are based on their chosen dominion, and powerful technologies can give them an extra edge in battle. There are no flashy graphics here, and gameplay can be quite demanding to truly grasp, but it’s a deeply enriching experience for veteran strategists.
1Star Dynasties
Build a Legacy That Lasts for Generations
Often described asCrusader Kingsin space,Star Dynastiessetsthe task of building an empireacross multiple planets and star systems that carries on through the generations. As one of the surviving remnants of humanity after the destruction of Earth, players control their interstellar kingdom with the goal of expanding and forging alliances to become the dominant power.
Each generation can differ from the last, just as with any dynasty, and all can fall victim to the deep political intrigue, or thrive on it. Procedural generation makesStar Dynastieshighly replayable as players craft their own storylines in this grand space opera with plenty of diverse characters. The fates of entire colonies can be sealed by one key decision.
