30 – Forgotten But Unbroken
Forgotten but Unbroken is yet another one that came to my attention during a Steam Fest, but failed to impress me, at least when compared to Classified France, which is looking like it’s going to be its biggest competitor. The available demo was janky and that was enough to make me weary about it. Hopefully, before the game’s released it gets better and things will improve.
29 – Fragile Existence
Yet another Hooded Horse published title, Fragile Existence is a space real-time-strategy game where your job is to save humanity from extinction. It’s looking very similar to Planetary Annihilation, the only thing I can’t figure out from the trailer is that if the combat will be interplanetary or not, even though it certainly looks like it. If it isn’t, it’s one hell of a missed opportunity and very disappointing.
28 – Frostpunk 2
More survival than a city builder, more societal critic than an engrossing videogame, the first Frostpunk was a game that impressed when it came out simply because it wasn’t afraid of asking tough questions: Would you rather everyone die of cold? Or that just a couple members of the community starve to death to liberate resources needed elsewhere? Should you force 24-hour shifts on every adult? Or maybe implement child labour? Are you willing to risk the lives of many to rescue just a few? I’m curious to see how Frostpunk 2 will surpass the original, both in human drama and gameplay mechanics.
27 – General Staff: Black Powder
Dr. Ezra Sidran is putting together an end-all-be-all solution for every wargamer looking to fight their battles during the age of muskets. With decades of experience in artificial intelligence research and plenty more as a wargame designer since the 1980s, Sidran has been quietly putting together the most advance AI ever seen in a videogame.
Such is his confidence in the work he’s been developing over the last five or so years that every step of the AI’s thinking is displayed for you, should you wish to peer under the hood. Realistic and complex chains of command, a fantastic art style, and the unlimited ability to build your own battles make General Staff: Black Powder stand tall amongst the competition.
26 – Headquarters: World War 2
This game was aptly described in a Youtube comment as “Battle Academy but with the graphical fidelity turned up to 11″, if that’s going to be the case is still up for debate at this point in time. But destructible environments, cover system, fully fledge campaigns, and what looks to be a detailed battle system make this turn-based-tactical game covering the Normandy invasion a respectable entry in my “to look out for in the next year” list. Headquarters: World War 2 also looks great.
25 – Homeworld 3
“After all these years?”, asked Blackbird Interactive. “Always”, the fans answered, with cheerful tears streaming down their eyes. The premier space strategy series is back and looking better than it ever did. Long gone are the drab and desertic sceneries of Kharak, and back is the colourful infinity of the cosmos, now filled with the presence of space derelicts that bring 3D elements into the maps, offering fleet commanders even more opportunities to showcase their military genius. As with the previous games, everyone is expecting a banger of a campaign filled with danger, high stakes, and wonder in Homeworld 3.
24 – Infection Free Zone
Two things are certain: death and taxes. Unless you’re a zombie, in that case only taxes and zombie video games. Infection Free Zone comes from the same studio that developed 112 Operator and 911 Operator (both decent games in their own right). Ever wanted to know if you would survive a Zombie infestation in your home town? This is the time to do it, as IFZ will allow you to play on any city in the world, using real geographical data. A couple of months back I played the prologue on a Steam Fest and was rather impressed by its simple controls, base building and scavenging mechanics.
It’s worth to keep it on a wishlist.
23 – Manor Lords
Manor Lords was the only game that managed to scratch the itch that was left by Stronghold all those years ago. Everything in this game is just… chef’s kisses. The graphics are absolutely astonishing, the town building and management aspects are as intricate and detailed as they come, and to top that off a military system that takes into account individual equipment and stats, weather conditions, terrain, formations, fatigue, different melee stances… oh please just finish it already!
22 – Mars Tactics
Mars Tactics is a classic turn-based tactical combat game, falling in line with titles like XCOM and The Lamplighters League. It’s a game where sound tactical decisions are predicated on factors such as suppression, flanking, the use of cover, line of sight management, and the potential for friendly fire. While it adheres to the established conventions of the genre, it introduces a couple of new elements, such as the 390 Aim System, which empowers your troops to target anything within their line of sight, thus creating exciting tactical possibilities.
Your troops will evolve and develop distinct personalities shaped by their experiences on the battlefield. From inexperienced rookies scavenging for weapons and ammunition to battle-hardened veterans commanding armoured vehicles and calling in air strikes, you’ll witness their transformation into invaluable assets in your pursuit of victory. Adapt your strategies to accommodate their growth and craft truly exceptional squads that can meet the challenges of your missions head-on.
21 – Menace
A couple of months ago, the studio behind the vicious Battle Brothers announced Menace, a new turn-based strategy title. Now they’ve released a couple of gameplay snippets that look both charming and extremely gory.
Strategy Games | Strategy and Wargaming 
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