10 – Age of Empires IV

Every single time anyone mentions the Real-Time-Strategy genre, it’s inevitable that Age of Empires II is the game that instantly comes to mind. However, the seminal RTS that was released way back in 1999 is slowly being replaced by its newer, more engrossing brother, Age of Empires IV.

I jumped into Age of Empires IV earlier this year and had an absolute blast playing through the campaigns, with the English and Russian ones being the particular high points for me. Age of Empires IV most likely will never reach the levels of fame, acclaim and influence its predecessors had, but it’s a very good game in its own right. Each faction manages to feel particularly unique and the different evolutionary paths for crossing over ages are an interesting way to keep gameplay varied and engaging.

For twenty bucks it’s well worth it for the single player alone.

9 – Anno 1800

The game that brought back Anno to modernity. Anno 1800 is set in the 19th century, during the Industrial Revolution, and combines elements of city-building, economic and supply-chain simulation and small tidbits of naval warfare.

As a ruler, your job is to build and maintain a thriving metropolis, discover the wonder of industrialization, manage trade routes, and production chains, launch expeditions and, last but not least, build diplomatic relations and enact the best policies.

The only reason Anno isn’t higher on the list this time around is because I’ve seen cheaper.

8 – Xenonauts 2

The definition of better be safe than sorry. And the reason why that saying is still widely used today. Make no mistake about it, Xenonauts 2 is, for the better and worst, the original Xenonauts, but better in every aspect.

My fear that Xenonauts 2 was going to suffer from the fact that it isn’t XCOM 2011 was quickly dismantled, but I don’t think that fear was unfounded, as every other game games immediately compared to it. Phoenix Point was a decent game (minus the performance issues), and it never garnered much sympathy from its audience. Gears Tactics is fantastic fun, and rather innovative, but it’s now burrowed deep amongst Locust. Even games from the 2K Studios suffer from not being XCOM. Chimera Squad is a phenomenal game with the best story in the series by a light-year, set after the invasion took place, and humans and aliens have to learn how to live with one another, and despite that, Steam reviews hover between mostly positive or mixed. Marvel: Midnight Suns, one of my favorite games of all time was a commercial flop because, instead of opting for the more classic turn-based gameplay, it implemented an (excellent) card system.

Xenonauts 2 might only be halfway through, but I can confidently recommend it. With the existence of Xenonauts 2, there’s almost no reason to return to the first Xenonauts, unless for nostalgia or the setting. I’ll keep on playing it during its 9 month-stay in Early Access. I’ll gladly present it with a 4-star review, with another one to go, to be awarded if the final product ultimately delivers on its promise and potential. Xenonauts 2 presents an unmissable opportunity for both series veterans and newcomers to lead humanity’s charge against the extraterrestrial menace. Xenonauts 2 is shaping up to become a triumphant evolution of a classic.

7 – Second Front

This is a deceivingly traditional wargame, slapped with some digital lipstick and disguised as something new. It is a World War II turn-hex-based, 3D tactical game at the squad level, meaning that every unit you control is either a squad, a vehicle, a gun, a tank, or officers. The combatants have a go at each other in turns, but not quite as you would expect it. You see, every turn is comprised of four distinct moments: an explicit “movement and fire”; a reaction fire phase; an advance phase that lets you move one more hex; and a recovery/melee phase when routed units have a chance to regain their composure and engage in melees.

Second Front excels in the amount of detail it packs into every single unit and almost every single engagement. I’ve called it a “Magnum Opus despite all its flaws” in my review.

At launch, the game features 48 scenarios, 40 different types of infantry units, and more than 200 tanks, vehicles, and guns. Add to that the game launched with Steam Workshop integration working from the get-go (and it already has an extra 53 scenarios), and a very robust mission editor and Second Front is sure to keep you entertained for ages.

6 – Jagged Alliance 3

Sometimes, you just got to admit you were wrong. And how wrong I was. When Jagged Alliance 3 was first unveiled at the tail end of 2021, Strategy and Wargaming reacted more with “ugh!” than “yay!” – “Again, similarly to what was said about Men of War II, I don’t think Jagged Alliance 3 will ever be able to capture the magic that made the previous games so great when they first came out. The landscape of gaming just isn’t the same anymore, especially when it comes to the turn-based-tactical sub-genre, where there are so many great games out there that JA3 won’t get away without being compared to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, Gears Tactics, Phoenix Point, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate- Daemon Hunters, Marvel: Midnight Suns and so many other. Can the team behind JA3 differentiate their game enough to make it stand out? By the looks of their 2022 showcase trailer, the answer is firmly negative“-However, after spending more than two dozen hours with the game, it’s fair to say those first impressions were totally wrong, and Jagged Alliance 3 is fantastic. A serviceable meta-layer that’s more tycoon-management/RPG, interwoven with complex turn-based tactical skirmishes creates the basis for one of the year’s best turn-based tactical games.

Jagged Alliance 3 is a fantastic return to form, and proof that in competent hands, the turn-based tactical genre can always get better. Finally, after all these years, we can say that Jagged Alliance is no longer a strategy series that had its high point in the mid-90s, and everything that came after is just the result of untalented studios riding the IP to snatch an easy paycheck. Jagged Alliance 3 is not only one of the best games in the series but one of the best games to come out in 2023. I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially on sale.

5 – Marvel: Midnight Suns

It’s hard to put into words just how amazing Marvel: Midnight Suns really is. The best way to describe it is XCOM meets Marvel, meets Persona 4, in a genre-blend that works surprisingly well. There’s an overarching story with surprising plot twists and heroic moments. The battles are done using a well-designed and complex card system that creates ample opportunity for customizability and player expression. After every mission, you’ll spend some time on the Abbey (the party’s base), where some side-quests take place, you unlock new costumes, explore its grounds, uncover every character’s motivations and personal dreams and demons (some literally), upgrade cards, customize your Hunter’s room and looks. It’s a lot. It reminds me fondly of games from yesteryear, with just so much content I can see myself playing it for another hundred and fifty hours (yes, that’s how long it took me).

It’s a shame that the departure of Jake Solomon and the poor commercial performance of the title placed a burial stone on further content, but what’s already there is more than enough, and I’m predicting that this is going to be a cult classic in a few years.

4 – Starship Troopers: Terran Command

Starship Troopers: Terran Command is a videogame that screams homage and exudes reverence for the films of the franchise. A stellar presentation in combination with an expansive campaign that’s going to last you a good dozen hours before you’re done with it, allied with a fantastic friendly and enemy unit variety that is both movie-accurate and interesting to play with, plus the tactical conundrums present that are sure to stir some of your brain cells to make Starship Troopers an obvious purchase. If you’re either a fan of the franchise or want to play one of the best real-time strategy campaigns since the release of the first Company of Heroes and Starcraft II, Starship Troopers don’t fret.

“Despite some of the bugs and lighter criticism, I can’t help myself and must award Terran Command a Strategy and Wargaming Golden Seal of Approval. Starship Troopers: Terran Command is what happens when the theme meets the mechanics with exquisite care. You made the Federation proud!”

3 – Gates of Hell: Ostfront

The real Men of War replacement, Gates of Hell: Ostfront got out in 2021, after being five years in the making. Not only was it extremely well received by their predecessor’s community but, developers have been bent on building up on top of the very solid foundation the laid out for what is- arguably- the best World War 2 RTS out right now. With several beefy free updates under its belt and three amazing DLCs, for 7 dollars you can’t go wrong with Gates of Hell. The recent Gates of Hell: Liberation DLC isn’t up for sale, but if you’re able to fork up the 25 bucks it costs it’s well worth the asking price too. If you really want to jump into it, get the Call to Arms – WW2 bundle with everything included.

2 – Against The Storm

Strategy gaming darling Hooded Horse recently published Against the Storm– a roguelike city-builder- to raving reviews and audience acclaim, with the game garnering an astounding 95% positive review rating on Steam, making it one of the best Strategy Games around, and possibly the best-rated strategy title of the year. 

Despite the recent release, the game is currently 35% off its original price of 29,99 down to 19,49. An absolute bargain for what must be the most innovative city builder of the last half a decade. This, to me, is a must buy

1 – XCOM: Ultimate Bundle

XCOM is a turn-based tactics game where players lead a squad of soldiers to fight against an alien invasion, and XCOM: Ultimate Bundle has all the alien-busting action you will need for months. The bundle has 2 mainline games (with their respective expansions), and the excellent Chimera Squad spin-off.

They all offer some good enough narratives, but the main draw is a challenging campaign that will keep you engaged for dozens of hours. XCOM’s graphics still hold up pretty well, more than a decade later, and the tactical battles are still absolutely fantastic. Permanently losing an invaluable team member never loses its punch. You could argue, for some reason, that XCOM 2 should be here, but If you’re looking for a turn-based tactical game, you cannot go wrong with this reboot of the 90’s original.

“The remake of the early 90’s turn-based darling. It alone reinvigorated the turn-based strategy genre by streamlining the management aspects of the meta-narrative and base-building and by making tactical battles more concise, less grindy, and less frustrating than their predecessors. Enemy Unknown can be directly credited as the game that brought an obscure genre into the spotlight. Buy this one before getting the second.”

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