When it comes to games, there are a lot of different types that you can play. One such genre of gaming that has been fairly popular globally is strategy games. Strategy games, make you think more and allow your strategic skills to develop. Especially, strategy games on PC have been very popular as they have some of the best graphics and easy controls as well.
Some of the best strategy games on PC have been known to have millions of players worldwide. If you are looking for some new strategy games to try which have been considered the best strategy games on PC, then this article is for you. We have listed down the 20 best strategy games that are available to play and can be played on a PC with the least requirements as well.
Below are The Best Strategy Game On PC
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
When we talk about strategy games, Age of Empires is considered among the most popular and one of the biggest open worlds to play. The Age of Empires 2; Definitive edition was released in the year 2019 and was co-developed by Tantalus Media, which Xbox Game Studios published. The game puts the user in command of a civilization, where the time period has been set as the middle ages.
The player needs to help evolve the civilization by completing a lot of new challenges. It has over 35 different civilizations and covers almost 1000 years of history. It is one of the most played strategy games on PC and should definitely be a part of your game list to play.
Total War: Medieval II – Definitive Edition
The game was released in the year 2006 and is still one of the most playable games in the genre of strategy games. What makes this game one of the best strategy games for PC, is the refined gameplay and extensive content that it offers. The game not only allows the player to play in their own way but also changes many historical events from history.
The game also provides a lot of unpredictable scenes and conditions for the players which are spontaneous and exciting to handle using a strategy. If you are a hardcore fan of strategy games, then this one should be seriously on your list.
Company of Heroes
It is one of the best gaming franchises in the segment and is considered to be the best strategy game on PC. The game was released in 2006 and still holds a lot more for people to play right now. The game is great for PCs that do not have a heavy-duty configuration. It means that even a PC with a budget configuration can run it easily. The game is based on a World War II environment and uses real-time strategy in the war to win it.
The game not only provides the user with complete control of the war but also allows them to relive many great moments of the popular war in the past. As a player, you will have complete control over the ground, air, and artillery forces. You can also play the game with friends which makes it a lot more engaging.
Sid Meier’s Civilization V
This game has a completely separate fan base due to which it is considered to be one of the most engaging strategy games on PC. The game was released in the year 2010 and the gaming franchise started in the year 1991. The game provides both historic and modern touch to the gameplay.
It comes with a deep system of diplomatic and military warfare where you will have to think about each step you take. Every decision taken in this strategy game will not only impact the units but also the population living in the country.
Stellaris
In the list of best strategy games on PC, Stellaris places it as one of the most popular games since its release in 2016. This game has been specially made for people who are looking for strategy games that are based on space. The game provides you with the entire galaxy to explore and develop your own kind of them. The game has great graphics, and smooth gameplay and is very challenging to master at the same time.
The best part about the game is that the elements you play with are not predefined. You will face random planets, challenges, races, etc, based on your gameplay. Since the game provides random elements, you will have to use a different strategy every time to make sure you succeed.
Into the Breach
Into the Breach was released in the year 2018 and provides something different from the old strategy games in the market. The game will allow the users to control pilots who will be controlling the mecha. Their responsibility is to protect the citizens from giant enemies called Vek. Vek is enemies that are strong and have risen from the depths of the earth. The map is small and is divided into many square slots as well.
There are a lot of different weapons available with the mechs, which can be further customized and upgraded as you win against the enemy. The game also has different timelines. If you lose a battle in one timeline, you can send one of the mechs to a different timeline to win the same war again. The concept is similar to the movie terminator.
Command & Conquer Remastered Collection
The game is a remastered version of the original and was released in the year 2020. One of the best pc strategy games, it is now available for users in 4K, which makes it a lot more attractive to look at. The game is a classic and with the new version, the graphics have been upgraded to 4K, along with new content and an improved interface.
The game also comes with support mods which allow more customization. The game has hundreds of missions to complete and also has a great multiplayer mode. If you are looking for a real-time strategy game, then this is surely one game you should play.
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition
The game was originally launched in the year 2003 and was extremely popular among strategy game players. Later, it was released again in the year 2014 with more content and better graphics. This game is well deserved in the list of best strategy games for PC. It has some of the best reviews by players and has a lot to offer as well. The extended version has 18 nations to play with and allows you to expand it and become one of the largest nations on the planet.
There are over 100 military units on offer, each one with different characteristics. They can be deployed on air, sea, and land as per the user’s strategy. At the same time, the user will also have to upgrade the building and technologies in the nation to make sure they have an extra edge in the fight.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
This tactical RTS game was released in the year 2016 and since then it has made players fan of it due to its stealth and flawless execution feature. The game allows you to play out of five different players. Each of these five players comes with different abilities and skills. You will have to select one character and will have to use the environment to make the perfect advancement.
You will have to understand the environment, look at the enemy and plan your attack accordingly. The game is based on Japanese culture and each mission requires you to plan accordingly, or your player will die. The game requires a lot of strategies to deal with multiple enemies single-handedly.
Men of War: Assault Squad 2
If you like the game Company of Heroes, then you will definitely like this game as well. It is a great alternative to Company of Heroes and has almost similar elements to play with. The game is based on the same World War II environment and has 5 different factions in which the payer can participate. The game has both single-player and multiplayer modes.
It has over 200 different soldiers, and vehicles and provides a different battle environment each time you play it. The best part about the game is that you can also play it as a third-person shooter while keeping the strategy-building element.
Total War: Shogun 2
It is considered to be one of the best pc strategy games and one of the best games in the Total War franchise. The game was released in 2011 and the environment takes place in 16th-century Japan. As a player, your aim will be to achieve dominance in your area across the country. You will be strategically fighting other clans like Oda, Tokugawa, and more.
These clans have warrior monks, samurai warriors, and more. The gameplay mechanics have been made in a way that the player could understand easily. Also, the game not only has ground battles but naval battles as well for the control of the seas in Japan. Overall, it is a great game and would be fun to play for hours.
Total War: Warhammer
It is definitely the best strategy game on PC, and there is no second doubt about it. The game was released in 2004-2008 and has millions of fans worldwide. It allows the player to use real-time tactics and strategies to win the game. Every battle in the game is intense and filled with difficulty. The main storyline is that the entire universe is at war and you will have to use real-time strategy to win it.
The game is no less than a run full of excitement, engagement, and action. It is one of the must-have games on the list and will surely make you a strategy game fan.
XCOM 2
A game that combines strategy and science fiction, is what XCOM 2 offers. The game is also available on gaming consoles like Nintendo Switch. You will be playing as the commander of the XCOM resistance, which will face the alien invasion on earth. You will have to stop them from using various strategies, weapons, and classes of soldiers to win the game.
The game will provide you with various missions where you will start with basic weapons and a small team. Slowly, as the game progresses, you will be able to upgrade and get a bigger group of soldiers and upgraded weapons.
Hearts of Iron IV
It is one of the most engaging strategy games on PC and is also one of the most popular strategy games. It was released in the year 2016 and since then it has made its own market. It is one of those strategic games that includes every component that you would want. Based on the World War II era, the game allows you to have control over a faction of soldiers that can attack through land, air, and sea, as per the strategy you use.
The environment will also be a big element as it may change the weather of the place or time at which the war is being fought. The game also has diplomacy, politics, upgrades, and more which affects the course of actions during the missions ahead of you.
Age of Mythology: Extended Edition
As the name suggests, the game is based on the middle age era where it takes a lot of elements from the Age of Empires franchise. The game has three kinds of civilization, which are the Greeks, Norsemen, and Egyptians. The gameplay is simple as you will have to build a strategy where your group is able to expand and become the most powerful.
For this, you will get various weapons, soldiers, magical powers, and more. Also, this game can be played in multiplayer mode with friends. It was released in 2014 and is an upgraded version of the original classic.
Homeworld Remastered Collection
This strategy game is the best strategy game on PC when it comes to fighting with naval power. The game is a real-time strategy game that allows the player to control a large fleet of ships. This game in particular, not only has the remastered version but also the classic version of the game.
The game can be played for hours and hours which makes it never boring. The overall graphics are good and it is surely fun to play with your friends or even alone.
Stronghold Crusader HD
The game is originally from 2002 but was again released in the year 2012 with additional content and improved graphics. By far, it is one of the best versions of the game and truly deserves to be called the best strategy games on PC. The game is set in the location of Syria and you will be the Sultan of the country. You will have to design a fortress and build a city that you will also be defending. The game has more than 100 missions to play but is definitely not easy.
It is one game that will test out all your strategic skills and will make sure that it becomes as hard as possible. The difficulty level in the game is high, which is why it might take you a long time to complete the game. Although difficult, it is very challenging and engaging as well.
Invisible, Inc.
It is a turn-based tactical strategy game that was released in the year 2015. It includes elements like espionage, tactical strategy, and more. The missions are very challenging and will provide you with tasks where you will have to infiltrate a location using strategy and stealth.
Also Read: Best Strategy Games on Android
You will have a team of agents who will work for you and the selection can be customized as per your choice. The game provides unique missions every time and is one of the best tactical strategy games in the segment.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
The game brings in strategy along with space and a sci-fi environment. In this game, all the advanced factions are in threat from one another and you as a player will have to evolve better than others to remain strong. You can trade, research, explore and conquer your enemies to stay as the strongest faction. The warships in artifacts can also be upgraded to make sure that you stand a chance against the enemies.
Endless Legend – Emperor Edition
Last on the list is this game which was released in the year 2014. It is actually a fantastic strategy that allows you to use various means to win the game. You will have various factions to choose from. The game will allow you to explore and investigate, fight and negotiate based on the faction you have.
Therefore, it becomes important to have the strongest factions. Each of these factions will be offered different missions and you will have the option to make a decision on action. Depending on your action, the game will advance.
Best Strategy Games on PC in Order
We have listed the Best Strategy Games available on PC below in no particular order.
| Game Name | Release Date | Developer |
| Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition | November 14, 2019 | Xbox Game Studios |
| Total War: Medieval II – Definitive Edition | 10 November 2006 | Creative Assembly |
| Company of Heroes | September 12, 2006 | Relic Entertainment |
| Sid Meier’s Civilization V | September 24, 2010 | Firaxis Games |
| Stellaris | May 9, 2016 | Paradox Development Studio |
| Into the Breach | February 27, 2018 | Subset Games |
| Command & Conquer Remastered Collection | June 5, 2020 | Petroglyph Games |
| Rise of Nations: Extended Edition | September 14, 2017 | Big Huge Games |
| Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun | December 6, 2016 | Mimimi Productions |
| Men of War: Assault Squad 2 | 15 May 2014 | Digitalmindsoft |
| Total War: Shogun 2 | 15 March 2011 | Creative Assembly |
| Total War: Warhammer | 24 May 2016 | Creative Assembly |
| XCOM 2 | February 5, 2016 | Firaxis Games |
| Hearts of Iron IV | 6 June 2016 | Paradox Development Studio |
| Age of Mythology: Extended Edition | May 8, 2014 | Ensemble Studios |
| Homeworld Remastered Collection | February 25, 2015 | Relic Entertainment |
| Stronghold Crusader HD | September 18, 2009 | Firefly Studios |
| Invisible, Inc. | May 12, 2015 | Klei Entertainment |
| Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion | March 1, 2011 | Ironclad Games |
| Endless Legend – Emperor Edition | October 05, 2015 | Amplitude Studios |
Verdict
So here are some of the best strategy games for PC that you can buy and play on your system right now. Most of these games can also run on a normal PC without the requirement of any heavy graphics or configuration. So go ahead and play these top-in-the-list strategy games that will engage you for hours and hours of gameplay.