Strategies on PC with the development of civilization. The best global strategies on PC are ready to launch - conquer your enemies

How do global strategies differ from ordinary ones? Its scale. In them we manage a huge state, an empire or the whole world, solving a large number of problems. The most popular are global strategies on a regular PC. There were attempts to transfer such projects to consoles, but the controls were not so hot, and gamers did not particularly like it.

Even such a niche category of games has hundreds of projects that are difficult to understand just by reading the description. So that you don’t waste time and choose a game to play within a few minutes, we have selected the best global computer strategies. Read their short review and then make your choice. Go!

Stellaris - conquering space

Let's start with a global 4X real-time strategy, where you need to develop in outer space, populating planet after planet. The game world is procedurally generated, and therefore each new playthrough will be unique and bring fresh impressions. In addition, with procedural generation, the gamer influences the development of the world. So, the realism of the game is worthy of praise.

Here you will be engaged in construction, influence the political life of the empire, and manage one or several planets at the same time. You will also have to ensure that each faction lives in peace, happy with its position. The role of a galactic emperor is a million times more complex than that of an earthly emperor. Therefore, get ready for real tests.

If you have not encountered the grand strategy genre before, you will almost certainly have difficulties in terms of control and understanding of what is happening on the screen. In order to understand all this, you will have to read guides and watch video after video from experienced gamers explaining the intricacies of the gameplay. At first it will not be easy to watch and play, but as soon as your knowledge becomes deep, you will be happy to delve into the development of the space state and achieve considerable success.

Galactic Civilizations 3 - feuds on a galactic scale

The third part of the popular series continues what the developers laid down from the very beginning. There won’t be any here either, but, on the other hand, the player’s role in fleet construction has been increased. Now you can control much more processes and influence the quality of finished mechanisms. This game can be called both a simulator and an economic strategy. But, first of all, this is a global military strategy in a space setting. You choose a planet with warlike inhabitants, and then lead your charges to victory over numerous enemies.

The project is worthy of adding to our list of the best global strategies, because the mechanisms of government management are well developed here. You can control the smallest processes, from mining minerals to installing additional armor shields on warships.

You may have to spend a lot of time learning all the functionality, but a life-saving video or written guide will help you figure it out. As expected, there is a cooperative here, so feel free to call your friends and start building a new wonderful world in the vastness of the vast galaxy.

Master of Orion - manage colonies

This game was released in 1996, but can still bring a lot of pleasure to fans of grand strategy games. Here the player can take control of one of the races and lead it to prosperity, extracting resources, fighting enemies and capturing new territories. The project is suitable for those who do not pay attention to graphics and value gameplay first.

The gamer will have to make an important choice at the very beginning - to choose the ideal race. The fact is that each race has features, using which you can achieve good results. On the other hand, if you lose sight of these features and “bend” your line, nothing will work out. A good tip is to study all the information about the races before starting the game. And then move on.

Interestingly, some of the processes here are borrowed from a more popular member of the “Association of Global Strategies” - “Civilization” became the inspiration for the developers who created a similar management system. Thus, it became possible to redistribute the inhabitants of the planet and set a specific occupation for each group. Someone will engage in agriculture, someone will be entrusted with industrial production, and so on.

Total War Warhammer 2 - the perfect strategy

Since the news appeared about the creation of the second part of the sensational fantasy offshoot “Total War”, the game has become the main object of discussion on thematic forums. Articles on popular resources, one after another, talked about how large-scale and fantastically spectacular the project would be. It was argued that the developers took all the best from the first part and decided to create the coolest strategy of our time. In fact, that’s what happened!

What are the strategies from “Total War” so famous for? In them, you not only manage your wards on a global map and take care of the economy. When times get tough, you can take an army and go cut down the enemy in real time on a real map with tens of thousands of units participating! That's why the series' projects always top the top global strategies. Those same cinematic massive battles that sent shivers down your spine, thanks to “Total War”, became available on the computer. From year to year, developers created new engines and improved them. With the release of the second part of “Warhammer” based on the legendary universe, it became clear that now this is one of the most advanced strategies in all respects. The graphics are off the charts, the functionality is excellent, and the musical accompaniment is amazing.

Of course, there are some small bugs and shortcomings, without mentioning which the review and description of the project would be too biased. But it is worth noting that the creators are in close contact with the community and quickly respond to all comments. The result is that updates with fixes are constantly coming out.

Sid Meier's Civilization VI - build a civilization

Already the sixth part of the strategy that has conquered the world has been released on personal computers and is delighting fans of the genre. For those who have never heard of “Civilization” - this is a global economic turn-based strategy where you can play for different cultures and civilizations. The gameplay is not real time, so there is some time to think. Conquer the world section by section. There are an incredible number of strategic possibilities:
- control construction;
- arm the army;
- conduct research;
- create new technologies;
- distribute resources wisely and so on.

This is probably the best turn-based simulator of the development of the world from ancient times to the space age. It is unlikely that there will be a project that can compete with “civa” in this regard.

Of course, a good player learns first. This rule works perfectly here. First, you need to find a training video on all the functions of the interface. This will be a good foundation for the future ruler of the world. But you don’t have to watch the video, figuring everything out on your own. If you wish, you can invite your friends and arrange a showdown on a global scale in the co-op.

Europa Universalis IV - huge map

In the genre of top turn-based global computer strategies, this is a real gem. When gamers are asked how Europa Universalis differs from the rest, they answer: “It has a very developed economic component.” Indeed, although war has a special meaning in this game world, it requires a large amount of funds to wage it. Using many interface functions, you will manage the economic life of the state on the global map and lead it to victory over the rest of the participants in the global conflict.

For the PC platform, Europa Universalis is well optimized, but weaker computers may experience difficulties - too many scripts are executed after each move.

The term 4X (global strategy) appeared, we explored, expanded, exploited and destroyed (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate) - that is, we lived in fantasy worlds. The genre has been experiencing something of a renaissance over the last five years, and while it's great to have options, you shouldn't mindlessly grab everything.

Not every grand strategy title is a game for everyone, so I've taken a look at all the major titles that have come out over the past few years and tried to summarize why you might (or might not) want to play them.

Make your move

Let's start with something unusual. Dominions 5 is a 4X game about warrior gods and their fantastic armies. At the very beginning of the game you create a deity. This deity may take the form of a furious dragon or a magical stone. Step by step, you gather armies, recruit wizards to search for apocalyptic spells, and distract the attention of the other gods.

The graphics in the game are, let’s say, old school. You'll need to scour the community files to find a decent custom map. But if you do this, and also read the instructions for the game, you will get a detailed strategy that creates crazy stories. In 4X games I'm used to controlling spaceships and cavalry, but only in the Dominions game I can send friendly troops of satyrs, wyverns, elemental spirits and ghosts against the Atlanteans. After a few trial games, you should be able to beat the AI in the game without any problems. But the game really shines in multiplayer.

Who is the game suitable for?: People are willing to put up with poor graphics in order to get a detailed magic system and control over great and diverse factions.

A unique blend of 4X and real-time, Rebellion has a faster pace than the rest of the list. Not only is it a standalone expansion, but it's also an improved version of Sins, so you don't have to worry about finding the original.

Who is the game suitable for?: For current RTS fans who want to get into 4X, and gamers who like to hit the ground running while maintaining a high pace of play. However, some home turn-based generals may find it a bit chaotic.

This turn-based fantasy grand strategy revolves around the characters Heroes and a faction leader called the sovereign, who can undertake RPG-style quests and is involved in many aspects of management beyond just combat.

Who is the game suitable for?: Fans of classic RPGs will feel right at home thanks to the local quest system, while customizable fantasy armies will likely attract the attention of fans of Warhammer and Hordes miniatures.

One of the most interesting features of the Endless Space universe (and its sequel). Much has to do with the ancient empire known as the Endless, and the quasi-magical Dust they left behind.

Who is the game suitable for?: A good entry point into space 4X, yet still able to challenge experienced players, and a compelling story for anyone interested in a good story beyond galactic domination.

If we crowned the autocrat of global strategies, there would be few competitors in the struggle for the throne. Take and lead one of the civilizations through the centuries from antiquity to modern times, trying to achieve different victory conditions - there is simply no equal in this famous series.

Who is the game suitable for?: Given the release of Civ 6, it's hard to recommend its predecessor, but the "five" often appears on sale at ridiculously low prices, so if you're not sure that you'll like the series, give it a try without dropping the full price on the new product. It is rightfully called a great game, especially the “Brave New World” add-on.

While most of the other games on our list place the player in a randomly generated world or galaxy, EU4 recreates an unusually deep model of the Earth from 1444 to 1821. You can lead any nation on the planet, from France to the Comanches, leading them through centuries of colonization, exploration and technological discovery.

Who is the game suitable for?: Considering the high praise the game has received, it's easier to say who it won't suit. The complexity of the simulation and the intricate systems of trade, war and diplomacy can be intimidating for newcomers to grand strategy games, but EU4's interface and tips do everything to help you get involved in the process and feel at least comfortable in it.

Take on the role of a demigod, fighting with your kin for control of the fragments remaining from a destroyed world. Eador is another 4X game that's hard to categorize, as it has 4X elements, RPG elements, and even tactical turn-based elements similar to board games.

Who is the game suitable for?: Eador's greatest strength is how it's structured compared to other grand strategy games. The game world is broken down into shards, each of which is a smaller version of the strategy map in games like Total War or , giving you the opportunity to enjoy something different from the standard huge maps or masses of static planets in the vastness of space.

Having transferred the formula, you are given the role of head of the first human colony on the alien planet, where you will have to lead its development and compete with other colonial concerns. The game mechanics will seem very familiar to you if you've played Civ 5.

Who is the game suitable for?: In my opinion, this is not a very good departure from the Civilization series, since Beyond Earth lacks the elements that made its relatives successful. While it does have some cool stuff, like a non-linear tech system that allows you to take your futuristic technology in many different directions, the game feels like a big-budget Civ 5 mod and fails to hold the player's attention for more than a couple of dozen hours.

Much like its sci-fi counterpart Endless Space, the epic story of Endless Legend is set in a richly detailed world with its own characters and backstory. Civilizations are highly customizable, and each has its own distinctive capabilities.

Who is the game suitable for?: Based on the time-tested elements of 4X, it was not afraid to go bigger and mix them up in a way that even old players who were already tired of the genre became interested. In addition, EL will be welcomed by those who are eager to explore a superbly crafted fantasy world in a new and interesting setting.

Warlock is very close to how I imagined a high-quality reworking of Civilization in a fantasy way. All the neutral factions on the map serve a greater purpose than just being an annoyance at the very beginning of the game.

Who is the game suitable for?: Due to its relative simplicity and adherence to genre templates, Warlock is a good first step for those who want to join the ranks of fantasy grand strategy fans. In addition, it has good humor, in comparison with such more severe and majestic colleagues as Endless Legend and Fallen Enchantress.

Allowing you to explore the stars in real time with the ability to pause, Distant Worlds boasts one of the strongest models of civilian economy (able to run on autopilot while you manage political objectives) that I have seen in a grand strategy game.

Who is the game suitable for?: In addition to being an overall great 4X strategy game, Distant Worlds is able to attract those players who value the ability to explore. The strategy succeeds where many other sci-fi games have failed: here space truly feels endless.

Like Sins of a Solar Empire, this game can also be written into 4X/RTS hybrids. It stands out for its deeply developed systems of diplomacy and planetary development.

Who is the game suitable for?: Star Ruler 2 is close to the maximum in its difficulty, and the huge amount of minute control of systems available to the player looks simply intimidating for a beginner. However, if you're a fan of massively animated space battles, the game may be worth the candle.

A contender for the title of “blockbuster” among global strategies, GalCiv III is by far the most polished and expensive project.

Who is the game suitable for?: If you're tired of the monotonous victory conditions, then one of the biggest positive changes that appeared in the series was the transformation of "victory" into a set of goals from which you can choose the appropriate one, which greatly diversifies the gameplay.

The first truly global strategy transferred to space. Stellaris takes the historic Paradox formula to the stars, allowing you to control the military, political and economic aspects of your space empire.

Who is the game suitable for?: Fans of grand strategy games will feel right at home in Stellaris, but players accustomed to more traditional 4X games will need to take some time to get the hang of it. The game focuses much more heavily on politics, and elements like the form of government and the will of citizens play a significant role in it.

The most recent incarnation of the famous series doesn't have a lot of innovation, but it still plays well, justifying the decent price with big-name voice actors.

Who is the game suitable for?: Despite its novelty, MoO is a typical global strategy, since its predecessor in 1996, improved only by new graphics. An excellent start for absolute beginners, and even seasoned ones get a shiver when John de Lancie cries about the war that is brewing between his empire and yours.

The game builds on the best ideas of its predecessor, this time offering even more unique stories for each of the interstellar empires.

Who is the game suitable for?: By this point on the list, it should come as no surprise that true connoisseurs of interactive storytelling should pounce on anything with the word “Endless” in its name. Endless Space 2 is perhaps a better introduction to the genre than the first game, as it has greatly improved the way it delivers immediately relevant information to the player.

Civilization has emerged from its cocoon to reveal the most incredible transformation and fresh approach in the history of the series. Plus, Sean Bean is there.

Who is the game suitable for?: Yes for anyone who likes . What can you add about Civ 6 that hasn't already been said? Even the most seasoned veterans of the series will find many new challenges and opportunities in it, but the game remains one of the most beginner-friendly grand strategy games.

A true classic - the first 3D game from Blizzard and one of the best strategies in principle.

When it released in 2002, Warcraft III had it all. Wonderful graphics, which, thanks to the unique style, look good even now, exciting gameplay with role-playing elements that influenced the entire RTS genre, a gorgeous plot in a well-thought-out universe, and support for mods.

If it weren't for Warcraft III, there would be neither DotA nor the MOBA genre as such.

2. XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Tactical strategy on PC in which you need to defend the Earth from aliens.

The main thing about XCOM is the constant need to take on challenges. Who should you send on a difficult mission: a veteran who will have a better chance of winning, or a newbie who you won’t mind losing? Which one should be given more powerful armor or a gun? Should you order the fighters to attack the strongest alien or deal with the smaller enemies first?

Every aspect of the game - managing the base, changing character equipment and the battles themselves - is incredibly exciting.

3. Company of Heroes

In appearance this is the most ordinary strategy game, but in reality Company of Heroes is one of the most humane games about war. This is because the player rarely has more than a few squads under his command (unlike several dozen units in traditional RTS). You worry about the fighters as much as you do about yourself and build tactics in such a way as to ensure their survival.

With an advanced graphics engine for its time and thoughtful missions, Company of Heroes shows the brutality of war. No matter how hard you try, people still die - this is the price of victory.

4. StarCraft II

StarCraft II is the world's premier eSports strategy game. Every millimeter of the map, every character's special ability, every building available for construction - everything is mathematically verified to generate the most exciting matches. It’s not for nothing that tournaments in the game take place almost every couple of weeks, and the prize pools in them reach up to $700,000.

If you don't really like microcontrol and multitasking, then StarCraft II also has a great single-player campaign. It has an excellent plot about the confrontation between three races and various types of missions. Plus, you don’t have to click the mouse so much to complete it.

5. Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak

6. Supreme Commander

The spiritual successor to Total Annihilation, which improves and expands on the ideas of the original. Essentially, this is a game about leisurely battles of huge people on giant maps.

Matches in Supreme Commander rarely last less than an hour. This time is needed to build a base with a balanced economy and prepare enough combat units to destroy the enemy.

Supreme Commander is a grand strategy game in every sense. The number of fighters on one side sometimes reaches a thousand, and you need to think through your actions at least 10 minutes in advance.

7. Total War: Shogun 2

Among the games in the Total War series, it is difficult to choose the best, but Lifehacker settled on Shogun 2. Of all the modern parts, it is perhaps the most complete, concentrated and understandable even for beginners.

In Total War: Shogun 2, the player takes on the role of the head of a clan in medieval Japan. The goal is to take over the entire country. To do this, you can use diplomacy, economics, and even intrigue - sending assassins and spies.

But the main thing is, of course, epic battles, in which it is very important to correctly place your troops on the location.

8. Age of Empires II HD

In Age of Empires II, the player needs to lead a civilization through several eras: the Dark Ages, feudalism, the castle era, and so on. You can play as one of several factions, such as Japan, Mongolia or the Celts.

The main feature of the game is the combination of resource management with military operations. When fighting in Age of Empires II, it’s not enough to just raise an army; you also need to build a powerful economy by building houses, quarries and sawmills, and cultivating fields.

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10th place - The Political Machine 2016

Year of issue: 2016
Developer: Stardock

The Political Machine 2016 is an election race simulator from Stardock, the fourth game in The Political Machine series, in which the player leads an election campaign to be elected President of the United States. The goal is achieved by traveling from state to state in which the player receives money and ratings to achieve the final goal.

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9th place - Urban Empire

Year of issue: 2017
Developer: Kalypso Media

Urban Empire is a successful combination of urban planning and political simulator. The city in the game is ruled by a dynasty of measures, around whom their rivals are constantly weaving intrigues. The player will have to build infrastructure, create entire districts, use power to pass certain laws for the city, participate in political processes and even bribe his rivals. The city begins its development in the 1820s and experiences 5 different eras, each of which implies its own dangers and opportunities.

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8th place - PeaceMaker

Year of issue: 2007
Developer: ImpactGames

A political simulator in which the player has to choose a side in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is necessary to react and make social, political and military decisions. Critics note that the game is very realistic and forces the player to understand the essence of the situation.

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7th place - President for a Day: Corruption

Year of issue: 2015
Developer: Serious Games Interactive

President for a Day: Corruption is a strategic simulator of the president of an African country. The player's responsibilities will include solving various social, economic and military problems. How to resolve them depends only on your actions.

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6th place - Crisis in the Kremlin

Year of issue: 1991
Developer: Sphere, Inc.

In the story, we have to play as the General Secretary of the CPSU (incorrectly called the President during the game) in the period from 1985 to 2017. The player can choose reformer Mikhail Gorbachev, nationalist Boris Yeltsin or conservative Yegor Ligachev as the main character. The game features political jokes quoted by the KGB chairman, depicting the misfortunes of the Soviet people in a humorous light. There are many inscriptions in Russian to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the game.

5 Victoria II

5th place - Victoria 2

Year of issue: 2010
Developer: Paradox Interactive

In Victoria II you can play as any of the 271 countries in the world from 1836 to 1936. The player has access to a number of tools that have both direct and indirect effects on the internal processes taking place in the state. Unlike the previous game in the series, Victoria II has virtually no strictly predetermined historical events tied to a specific date. Instead, a system has been introduced according to which certain events occur when certain conditions are met. The entire working population of the world in the game is presented in the form of separate groups, each of which has a specific profession, nationality, religion, literacy level and political views. Every resident of the country can migrate, get a job (or lose it), change profession, and also has certain needs for goods. The entire population is divided into 12 types.

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4th place - Tropico 5

Year of issue: 2014
Developer: Haemimont Games

There are four different eras available in Tropico 5, ranging from the Colonial Era, World Wars, Cold Wars, and Modern Times, allowing you to progress from the 19th to the 21st centuries. El Presidente now has a dynastic family that will be present on the island. In addition, functions in the areas of trade, research, upgrades and exploration have been redesigned. Thanks to multiplayer, diplomacy allows players to share resources, builders and electricity. In addition, they can help each other with money. Finally, players can compete and even declare war on each other.

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3rd place - SuperPower 2

Year of issue: 2004
Developer: GolemLabs

The game features planet Earth with almost all states at the beginning of 2001. In SuperPower 2 the map is spherical and extended. Many elements of the game are realistic. The population, GDP, geopolitical relations and military equipment are identical to the real ones, which are in service with the respective countries. As in real life, states are members of various international organizations, such as the UN, CIS, NATO and others, less known. In addition to the traditional focus on military units for global strategies, SuperPower 2 has macroeconomic regulation tools: the Central Bank refinancing rate, income tax and enterprise tax, which differs for sectors of the economy.

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2nd place - Democracy 3

Year of issue: 2013
Developer: Positech Games

There is no foreign policy, all diplomacy comes down to humanitarian assistance, laws on foreign investment and the like. There is no war at all (although there are armed forces, and occasionally it happens that the strength of the army affects the outcome). The main essence of the game is to satisfy all segments of the population, while keeping the budget in the black.

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1st place - Power and Revolution: Geopolitical Simulator 4

Year of issue: 2016
Developer: Eversim

Power and Revolution is the fourth part of the line of computer games in the Geopolitical Simulator strategy genre, in which the player acts as the head of state or the leader of an opposition party. The player’s responsibilities include solving economic, social, and military problems. Among the advantages, players note a detailed world where everything is interconnected; new scenarios and game mode for the opposition. The disadvantages are an outdated engine and a large number of bugs.

website/XGO

Top best strategies that can be played online or online with friends and random opponents, description of ways to play

Strategies are games in which you can feel like a king, ruler, and even God. They do not feature dynamic gameplay (as in shooters), but they force the player to think logically, develop tactics, and make various decisions. Victory in them depends on the user's ability to foresee the future actions of the opponent, coordinate the actions of his army and calculate his strength.

At other times, strategies are not only battles between thousands of troops. Behind the entertainment lies a complex economic system, the development of which will also bring you victory in the game. And sometimes there are no battles at all - some developers release exclusively economic strategies based on some kind of business (or in other areas).

In any case, the strategies can keep you glued to the screen for a long time. In this article, we have presented the TOP best strategies on PC of all time, in which you will find decent games. They can be played with friends, teaming up against AI, alone, or against other users. For convenience, the strategies are presented in the form of a list that describes their main advantages.

Of course, you can express your opinion in the comments on the articles, and those who don’t have time to download strategies on a PC can look at the list of the best rated online browser strategies that you can start playing right now.

Warcraft III - online

Out: 03.06.2002

Genre: real-time strategy with RPG elements

The essence of the game lies in the uniform construction of a base, pumping up heroes and recruiting an army. For each game stage and situation, different actions are prioritized, of which there are an inexorable variety, which in itself determined the incredible success of the game among gamers. It is worth noting that different races have different priorities, which creates a certain abstract balance.

Of course, the game achieved success primarily because the history of Warcraft is quite old, and the first game in the series was released back in 1994 on DOS, which allowed it to win crowds of fans at the dawn of the gaming industry. The entire Warcraft series has a deep and thoughtful history, on which the plot of Warcraft III is based, although it is not important here, it is necessary for the full perception of the game.

For the most part, the game received recognition for its good balance of races and atypical gameplay for those years, which marked the beginning of a new era of strategies.

Balanced hero leveling system;
Balanced economic system;
Interesting solo company;
Balan races;
You can play online;
The graphics are outdated.

You can play Warcraft online on servers: Tangle, Garena, iCCup.

Heroes of Might and Magic III - online

Out: 28.02.1999

Genre: Turn-based strategy with RPG elements

Although the series of “heroes” is quite old, it has never acquired a significant plot. First of all, in the games of the series, the gameplay and gaming component are valued, and the plot is not at all important.

The gameplay itself boils down to the fact that the player needs to destroy all opponents on the map. Initially, the player has an undeveloped castle and one hero under his command. The castle is gradually upgraded by constructing new buildings, which opens up access to hiring new creatures. The hero can be upgraded in battle, or by distributing gold from chests to your troops. To win, it is enough to destroy all enemy heroes and capture all castles.

There are a total of 9 races in the game (specifically in the third part), including:

Castle – people;
Stronghold - elves;
The tower is the residence of magicians;
The fortress is a swamp;
Citadel - barbarians;
Inferno - demons;
Necropolis - undead;
Dungeon - command underground creatures;
Conjugation - command the elements of the elements.

Each race has its own orientations, advantages, and special skills. For example, necropolis can raise the dead, inferno can turn its defeated fighters into demons, and so on.

Only the 3rd and 5th parts of the game are in demand among players, while the rest either fall short in gameplay or have too good graphics that make your eyes bleed out. We are talking about the excessive detailing of the 6th and 7th parts of the game, which played a disservice. The players did not like the fourth part because of the terrible models and textures.

It is the third part of the heroes that is considered the genius of the series, which is why large tournaments are still held for it and there is a significant gaming community. The problem with online play in Heroes 3 is the length of the matches, because some games lasted up to a month in real time.

If you want to try your hand at online play, we recommend visiting the heroesworld portal, which contains all the useful information.

Expanded economic system;
Developed leveling of heroes;
Balance of gaming needs (in leveling, construction, hiring creatures, etc.)
You can play online;
Balanced combat;
The presence of an unofficial team that is constantly improving the game.

Civilization Series

Out: 1991-2016

Genre: global turn-based strategy

Initially, the game captured the minds of players with its interesting gameplay, which boils down to balancing the army, economy and development (and later culture) of the nation. The game also has a certain historicity, because all nations actually existed.

To win this game you need to skillfully create cities, build trade networks between them, enter into alliances and betray allies, create an army balance that matches your economic development and wisely develop technology.

A simple example: if you only invest in the army, there may come a time when your soldiers will fight with sticks, and the enemy will already have tanks. You can also invest only in development, but then your civilization can be destroyed by ordinary barbarians, and you will never have time to develop.

It is precisely because of the diversity of the gameplay and the variability of development that many call Civilization the best strategy of all time.

At the moment, an online game with random participants is available on Steam, allowing you to test your strengths and skills.

Unique economic system;
Unique research system;
Balance of nations and play styles;
Advanced multiplayer;
Expanded political system.

In 2016, a continuation of the legendary series was released, Civilization 6 became the best turn-based strategy of the year on PC.

XCOM series

Out: 1993-2016

Genre: step-by-step strategy

The famous strategy about protecting the earth from the invasion of alien invaders. You are a special squad of professionals, the only stronghold of humanity in the struggle for survival. Study alien technologies, take them into your arsenal and destroy your enemies!

The gameplay of the game is tied to the tactical and economic components. Tactical includes battles with opponents, flights to the landing site or landing site of alien ships, development of fighters, choosing the right perks for them, and so on. Economic - development of the base, the right choice of technology, additional rooms, waste of resources and other things. Also, after the battle, the player receives trophies from the dead, which can then be sold on the black market or used independently in battle.

Many highlight XCOM as one of the best strategy games on PC.

An interesting system for leveling up fighters;
A variety of game cards;
Many battle strategies;
An interesting system of research and leveling up the base;
Extraordinary endings.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert

Out: 1996-2008

Genre: real time strategy

The so-called “cranberry” strategy. For reference, cranberry is considered an unrealistic presentation of the inhabitants and ideology of the USSR, including its territory after the collapse. The game is built on this non-existent ideology. The action takes place in a parallel universe where there was no World War II, so all nations, including the USSR, were able to develop and become incredibly strong.

Later, a time machine was invented that allowed one to change the course of history. For example, the third part of the game takes place when the Russians decide to kill Albert Einstein in the past. Sending to the past was successful, the USSR captured almost all of Europe, but the war did not end - it was just the beginning.

The gameplay is standard for games of this genre, namely, you need to develop your base, hire soldiers, equipment to completely destroy opponents on the map.

Fascinating plot;
Balance of Nations;
Unique combat units;

Space Rangers

Out: 23.12.2002

Genre:“epic game” with elements of RPG, turn-based strategy, arcade, text quest.

A game about a war in intergalactic space between intelligent races. The player can play almost all races, except for the Klisans and Dominators - hostile semi-intelligent races that receive orders from the main ships, which control their behavior. The entire plot of the game tells about the war of the peaceful races of the commonwealth against the above-mentioned invaders.

The main advantage of the game is the gameplay. As you may have noticed, the game does not have a specific genre, since it is absolutely difficult to classify it into any genre. But the game is often singled out as the best strategy game because players spend most of their time controlling their spaceship in separate systems. There are also arcade elements in the game, namely, when flying between systems, you can stumble upon hostile nodes, where the game turns into real-time battle.

RPG elements manifest themselves in leveling up the skills of your captain, playing the role of a good ranger or an evil pirate smuggler. Elements of a text quest appear in some tasks that NPCs give to the player, or, for example, during visits to prisons, where the player balances between being released as quickly as possible and not dying at the hands of fellow inmates. In the latest versions of the game there are also battles with robots on planets in real-time strategy mode.

As you can see, the potential of the game is incredibly high, and it can rightfully be called one of the best RPGs of all time, not only due to the unique gameplay, but also nice graphics, random generation of maps, planets, tasks and other things, which allows you to start the game again and again .

A unique game world that is randomly generated in each new game;
Developed system for playing a game role;
A good mix of many genres;
Exciting text tasks;
Nice graphics.

Stronghold: Crusader

Out: 2002-2014

Genre: real time strategy

A classic strategy game in which you act as the ruler of a small city. Your task is to equally develop military and economic power. In gaming companies you can play both the role of the cruel Arab ruler Saladin and the role of the King of England Richard the Lionheart.

The gameplay, as mentioned earlier, lies in the equal development of the army and the economy. Due to its unusual gameplay, the game received recognition. Some of the game's features include:

Your servants need to build personal houses that provide the maximum number of army;
It is necessary to develop the food industry, because your entire military machine may perish simply because of hunger. This also creates the possibility of prolonged sieges of castles, forcing the enemy to decay from hunger;
Almost all fighters cannot be hired just like that - they need to create weapons and armor, and for this it is necessary to collect resources.

If you play against the computer, you will notice that it creates monotonous castles, which, however, are not so easy to break through if the enemy is one of the strong ones. Still, this is one of the disadvantages that can quickly discourage the desire to play. The main potential of the game is revealed in multiplayer maps, which can be played online using Hamachi or Tangle. It is also worth noting that a clear disadvantage is that the player is tied to the starting point - it is impossible to build buildings near the enemy’s castle.

Unique production and economic system;
Expanded construction capabilities;
Not a bad company;
You can play online with friends.

Kings bounty

Out: 2008-2014

Genre: real-time strategy role-playing game with turn-based battles

The unusual combination of the genre makes the game quite interesting for beginners, and the beautiful graphics without excessive detail are pleasing to the eye. It is worth noting that in the later parts of the game it is possible to enable a 3D game mode, which must be played with appropriate glasses.

The player can choose between three classes: warrior, paladin and mage. Each of them conducts battles in their own way. For example, a warrior has an increased number of creatures, a mage attacks opponents with spells, and a paladin is something in between.

The game takes place in a fictional fantasy world, which is inhabited by fairly canonical magical creatures such as vampires, demons, and elves. The player acts as a treasure hunter, on whose shoulders rests the fate of preserving the world. First, he will have to become a great hero, recruit an army of mystical creatures in order to fight the evil henchmen.

The gameplay looks something like this: you walk around the world map in real time, and when you come across enemy units, a turn-based battle mode starts, where the hero can use a book of magic and spirits. Looks like a classic turn-based battle. As you walk around the map, you can communicate with the characters that inhabit the world, complete tasks for them, receive rewards, hire troops, buy items, and so on.

Interesting character leveling system;
Many artifacts and unique creatures;
Interesting combat system;
Not boring quests;
Nice cartoon graphics;
Many games in the series are made in the same style.

StarCraft II - online

Out: 26.06.2010

Genre: real time strategy

An equally exciting game from the creators of Warcraft – Blizzard. The plot of the game tells about the battle of three cosmic races: the Zerg, the Protoss and the Terrans. Unlike Warcraft, the game is more dynamic and lacks heroes, which completely changes priorities in battles.

StarCraft also has a rich story, but it is presented to players during story cutscenes, making you merely an observer rather than a maker of the story.

Each playable race has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, Protoss units have many additional abilities that must be used at the right time, otherwise the army will be quite weak. Considering that the game itself is very fast, you need to have fast playing and thinking skills to succeed in the game.

StarCraft can rightfully bear the title of the best strategy game on PC of all time.

The game can be played online through the Blizzard game downloader.

Race balance;
Balanced economy;
Fast pace of the game;
You can play online;
Regular tournaments from official developers.

Warhammer 40,000 series of games

Out: 1999 - 2009

Genre: real time strategy

Warhammer is a fairly popular game not only in computer form, but also in card form. The history of the game appeared long before the development of the computer sphere (in 1983) in America, which determined the success of the series.

The history of the world tells of bloody wars for control of the galaxy, grandiose betrayals and ascensions, and so on. The games in this series are not tied only to the strategy genre, because there are both CCG and action branches.

The most famous games in the series for the general public: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, tell the story of a war for control of one designated planet between the game races. The player chooses one of the sides in the war, which has unique units and battle tactics. In the future, your task will be to seize control of the entire planet. Some games in the series divide the gameplay into two stages: global turn-based control and real-time strategy. The first mode is simply choosing a point of attack, and the second is the actual battle. In battle, you need to rebuild your base, capture key points that bring one of two resources - influence, strengthen them and attack enemy bases. It is worth noting that the main objective of the game is to destroy all enemy buildings.

Almost all Vakha strategies can be played through hamachi.

Deep history;
Race balance;
Each race has its own unique characteristics;
Interesting system for improving units;
Interesting company.

Company of Heroes

Out: 2006-2009

Genre: real time strategy

The plot of the game follows such films as “Saving Private Ryan”, “A Bridge Too Far” and the television series “Band of Brothers”. The action takes place during the Great Patriotic War.

The gameplay is a classic RTS with wargame elements. Many note that the game is reminiscent of the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series due to the fact that the player can independently choose the weapons with which his platoons will fight. Troops also have a combat morale scale, which affects the effectiveness of soldiers. For example, if a platoon comes under machine gun fire, its morale drops sharply, which reduces its shooting and running speed. In addition, when a squad member who was holding a weapon dies, it does not disappear, but remains on the ground where it can be picked up. The next feature of the game is the system of unit ranks, which with each increased level of fighters allows them to improve their characteristics, which creates a certain convention that units are not just meat.

Wargame elements also include the fact that the player can install defensive structures himself, increasing the effectiveness of fighters. All the ditches, sandbags, etc. can be occupied by your fighters to increase their effectiveness. Since the game can maintain a small limit, and the combat speed is quite low, the result is an entertaining combat simulator. Of course, this game is not singled out as the absolute best strategy, but it deserves to be at least a nominee.

Interesting game missions;
Unusual gameplay;
The feeling of real battles is created;

Cossacks Series

Out: 2001-2016

Genre: economic strategy

The game stands out for its gameplay, which is based on the balance of economic and military power. The correct construction of the economy has a key role in the game, because even if you skillfully use military forces, skillfully withdraw them, divide them into groups, opening the horizon for a volley of guns, then sooner or later, with a weak economy, you will lose to the player who is more focused on economic component. Firstly, a player with a strong economy can simply spam units - he does not need to think about their safety, because there are always resources. Secondly, the availability of resources such as coal and iron determines the ability of shooting units to attack. If there is no coal or iron, the fighters cannot shoot. Food also plays an important role, as it is a constantly consumed resource. Therefore, if your population is growing, then your food infrastructure should grow accordingly.

The game also stands out in that each player can recruit a huge number of troops, which allows the use of diverse gaming strategies. Among the types of troops you can find: cavalry, melee units, ranged units, artillery. In addition, the game has technical development that allows you to recruit stronger and more technologically advanced troops.

Many players are betting that the third part of the series will be the best strategy game of 2016!

Dependence of military power on the economy;
Many battle strategies;
The need to balance economics and military strength.

Anno 1404

Out: 2009-2010

Genre: economic strategy

The plot is tied to a parallel reality, which, however, repeats real historical prototypes, such as the Crusades, the dawn of early forms of capitalism, and so on.

The gameplay is tied to economic warfare and the development of colonies and settlements. You, as an effective ruler, need to correctly calculate the distribution of resources for the development of cities and conduct diplomatic relations. The combat component of the game is divided into sea and land battles, however, the opportunity to wage war is not immediately open, but later becomes one of the elements that helps to defeat opponents.

All states are divided into two types: European and Eastern. A European country cannot fully develop without spices and quartz, produced only in the east, which naturally determines the need for active trade, which is also one of the main ways to earn gold. One of the key tasks in urban planning is the construction of large cultural elements such as cathedrals or mosques.

Developed economy;
An interesting process of urban planning;
Advanced diplomacy system.

Total War series

Out: 2000-2015

Genre: global strategy

Some semblance of historical strategy. Actions take place on the global world map in different periods of time - it all depends on the part of the game. The player can choose any of the presented countries and subsequently capture the entire map, depending on the established victory conditions.

But it is not for its plot and historical component that this game is singled out as the best strategy on PC, but for its gameplay. It is built on the step-by-step movement of armies, the development and capture of cities in various countries. Battles take place in real time, where the player acts as a commander, places his troops on the map and directly leads the battle. There is also a politics mode where the player makes alliances, declares wars, exchanges resources, and so on.

Interesting policy system;
Interesting in-game battles in real time;
A developed system of internal events (crusades, jihads, etc.);
An advanced system for improving cities, depending on their location.

Disciples

Out: 1999-2010

Genre: turn-based strategy with RPG elements

The game takes place in the cruel fantasy world of Nevendaar, where dark forces constantly strive to awaken. Companies for all nations are available to the player to complete. It turns out that the player himself weaves the whole story. There are a total of five nations available in the game, including:

Hordes of undead - servants of the ancient goddess of death Mortis;
The Empire is a race of people under the protection of the supreme angels;
Legions of the Damned - Betrezen's demonic minions;
The Elven Alliance is a united army of elves led by Queen Ellumiel;
Mountain clans are harsh foothill people led by a high king.

The gameplay is classic strategy. The player’s task is to intelligently explore the territory and upgrade the army. Oh yes, unlike other strategies, here you can only hire minions of lower levels, who then need to be upgraded, gaining experience in battle. Overall, the combat system in Disciples is unique, which is what made the game so successful. At the beginning, the player starts with one capital and a hero. The capital is a unique city guarded by a very strong creature, so it is almost impossible to break through the capital from the very beginning. The war is being waged over sources of magic - one of the resources and separate outposts that allow you to hire troops far from the capital.

A unique system for leveling up creatures;
Races are not alike;
Race balance;
An interesting system for using magic;

Age of Empires game series

Out: 1997-2007

Genre: real time strategy

Quite an old game that can also claim to be the best PC strategy of all time. The main advantage of this game is custom tournaments with large prize pools reaching up to 100 thousand dollars. The reason for such sums for such an old game is its fans from rich countries who can afford to spend such sums on organizing tournaments.

The gameplay itself comes down to a balance between technology, economy and army. Each nation can move between 5 eras in battle:

Age of Exploration;
Age of Colonization;
The Age of Fortresses;
Industrial Age;
Age of Empire.

Each era opens up new research, types of troops and buildings. If you switch between eras early, without spending money on an army, then most likely you will be crushed by “homeless people”, and if you focus only on hiring troops, then most likely the enemy will crush you with a more high-tech limit.

Many players argue that to play effectively in AOE, you just need to be able to move your troops away from volleys of siege weapons and archers, which leads to low army losses and increased economic development, due to reduced resource consumption to maintain the combat limit.

Play AOE online with friends or random players via Steam, Tangle or Hamachi.

The need for skillful balancing of all game aspects (economy, troops, research, construction);
Balance of all races (in the latest version);
Tournaments with large prize pools;
Average game speed.

Age of Mythology

Out: 01.12.2002

Genre: Real-time strategy

Age of Mythology is somewhat similar to the game described above, but still has different roots and features that allow you to build a more interesting game.

The key feature of the game is the replacement of eras with the worship of gods, which bestow special powers and new mythical creatures with special characteristics and skills, such as fire or poisonous breath, freezing a key unit, etc.

Unlike AOE, where the player only has a human and siege limit, AOM also has a mythic limit, consisting of mythical creatures such as giants, dryads, rocs and others. AOM does not have such significant prize pools as AOE, but it also has its own community, among which relatively regular tournaments are held.

You can play AOM online via Steam, Tangle or Hamachi.

It is necessary to correctly balance all game aspects (economy, troops, research, construction);
Balance of all races and deities;
You can play online;
Average game speed.

Settlers 7

Out: 23.03.2010

Genre: RTS, city planning simulator

A simulator of building cities that subsequently create a vast kingdom. The main task of the game is to correctly place buildings and create transport connections between them. The player can develop his kingdom in three directions, including:

Military production;
Scientific approach;
Trading perspective.

Each development path will ultimately lead the player to victory. For example, if you choose the military path, then the focus of your development will be the army, which will subsequently try to crush your enemies. The scientific path will help you defeat your opponents with technology, and the trade path will help you capture the best trade routes on the entire map, which will give you an advantage over your opponents. Each development path includes unique units.

Critics highlight good artificial intelligence, but a weak storyline.

Good artificial intelligence;
Expanded urban planning capability;
Equality of development paths (economics, military development and technology).