Putting together a list of the Top 50 Strategy games is like grabbing a handful of pins and seeing which one hurts the most. Like every pin that pricks, every game involves some form of strategy. Sure, we're a discerning bunch--not to mention absolute suckers for punishment--so we decided to stick our hands in anyway to see what we'd come out with. While you're in mood, watch 1UP's U-Stream of the beta testing for the brand new Starcraft 2 game.
Among you, there will be doubters, nay-sayers and the like. But we have faith that this is the creme de la creme of the strategy games currently available. To make it through this list, we recommend that you keep your mouse hand ready, limber up those hotkey fingers, and prepare for total war. Because frankly, that's what most of these titles are about.
And after all, if you disagree with us you can always let us know in the comments section. So let's not waste time gathering resources. It's time to jump into action.
Jai Shaw - Wed. Nov. 10, 2010 at 10:36:54 PM
Some not so well known titles
Stormcraft was a suprisingly good stratergy game that was banned in the US Stars! was a pretty deep space sim that I had a lot of fun with Majesty is a lot of fun also as a Kingdom sim
James Jonny - Wed. Nov. 10, 2010 at 01:29:23 AM
action games
http://www.gamesaction.co
James Jonny - Wed. Nov. 10, 2010 at 01:25:52 AM
action games
<a href="http://www.gamesaction.co"> action games </a>
Zielony Kocur - Tue. Nov. 2, 2010 at 08:00:18 PM
HOMEWORLD
HOMEWORLD
Sindre Haugland - Sat. Oct. 16, 2010 at 11:32:07 AM
Another..."HEY, What about...?!"
Caesar 3!!! I haven't tried the fourth one yet, but by the looks of it, I think it is too much graphic. Yes, there is such a thing. My following top 5 would be: Heroes 3 Transporter Tycoon Deluxe and Age of Empire 3 But yeah....Caesar 3 is most definably the greatest game ever!!
Sindre Haugland - Sat. Oct. 16, 2010 at 11:35:56 AM
...
defiantly! Oh!...And Red Alert. (1,2,3,4,5.....) Yes.
Rickard Nyman - Sat. Oct. 2, 2010 at 06:28:39 PM
HoMM
Too me, the 1st strategy game would be either Totala Annihilation, the first one. Or Machines, by Acclaims. Those 2 are freaking awesome. Atleast machines, with the option to see from inside your unit! Bloody amazing, even tho it was created 1999! Also, Heroes of might and magic 3, is a legend of time.
Chudzo Skruo - Sat. Sep. 25, 2010 at 02:24:13 AM
...
btw more than 30% of games are not "STRATEGIES"!!! for example sacrifice is RPG not strategy and many others are just 3d action etc.... Even there missing some really famous games I think that everyone will agrees when I say there should be age of empire only once for whole serie as well as other games should be there listed only once, cause list of 50 is to short for all good strategies :) And also I think that everyone will agreethere is missing follows really famous strategies as: SETTLERS! TRANSPORT TYCOON! C&C! btw company of heroes is too young to be a legend!
Chudzo Skruo - Sat. Sep. 25, 2010 at 02:28:45 AM
..
as I read from comments I forget Panzer general famous game :) maybe stronghold it is not so old and known game as the other there but I think in this time it already should be part of the legendary games by the way in my opinion black&white was not strategy but only game for the children :)) but maybe I was so pissed of from the start of the game that I do not continue to the later maybe "more" strategic part of it.
Chudzo Skruo - Sat. Sep. 25, 2010 at 02:35:48 AM
...
and the last, someone wrote there about age of empire should be in top 5:), I think this list is not about 1st 2nd 3rd its just list of 50 great strategies... Even I think settlers should be TOP1 :D really old game and famous until this time, as well as HEROES of might and magic or C&C or age of empire :), anyway there is many coppies of real time strategies like C&C or Age of empire (games inspired from oldest game dune) so maybe there should be more special place for games not so similar, cause they bring the new style to "single strategies" and was not copy of something even there stay the fact C&C or starcraft or age of empire was so specific that they should not be called as copy :).
Mar - Tue. Sep. 14, 2010 at 02:30:14 PM
X-COM Is the BEST!!!!
yeah X-com ROCKS!!! but where is Xcom TFTD and apocalypse ?
Abhilash Suresh - Thu. Sep. 2, 2010 at 09:39:29 AM
My Choices...
I love games like Age of Empires II: Age of Kings and its expansion (my first strategy game) though its 2D , then I also prefer games like the Command and Conquer: Red Alert, Tiberian Sun, Generals and their expansions.. and most of all.... Im an addict to Warcraft 3 and frozen throne only because of its amazing map title DOTA All stars :D Game on people
Marc - Tue. Aug. 31, 2010 at 09:37:12 AM
Weak
Panzer General II probably the greatest game ever made -_-
Zeeshan Shafqtat - Mon. Aug. 23, 2010 at 02:52:39 PM
ARSENAL EXTENDED POWER and MAJESTY 2
I wonder if any one of you have ever tried ARSENAL EXTENDED POWER and MAJESTY 2. I like Majesty 2 very much, bec they have given a new idea of strategy, you have to just decide the strategy and sit back and relax. your warriors will play themselves on the strategy. like you cannot order any unit to do this..... how amazing .......
Ollie Axe Ollie Axe - Sat. Aug. 14, 2010 at 10:57:01 AM
The Top My Opinion
yo warcraft slip from the list but i think warcraft 3 is good too aom was good one too but aom is jus like aoe better graphics let's say stronghold is a good one too and that one should been in the top at least one of the series rise of nations was good too abd starcraft deserve it's place to be #1 game ever seen i think it's a good top it's got some missings but it's a very good one good job yo!!! peace
Alex Cantelas - Sat. Aug. 7, 2010 at 03:45:48 PM
Anarchist
Another good 1 is Praetorians...
Pahak Rai - Tue. Aug. 3, 2010 at 01:33:15 PM
yesss!!! stronghold
stronghold is wat holds the strategy among strategy games
Rune Jeppesen - Fri. Jul. 9, 2010 at 06:47:55 AM
Best RTS ever
The best RTS game I have tryid so far is by far Generals Zero hour.. then Supreme commander forged alliance, 3 age of empires 2, age of kings. 4 age of mythology. 5. Red alert 2... well that just my list :D I really hope they make a Generals 2, because Generals zero hour, had so much to offer. The best thing was that just were totally depending on your depots for cash, but you had a another way as well to get cash. Hackers, black markets and suply drops. This is something all new RTS games lacks... you only have a few resourses and if you havent got out and captured some more resourses you lost the game... games are so fast now a days. 10-15 min max. Just look at starcraft 2. the games are over before they actualy begins... such a shame :( let me know what you think
Uri Goodman - Wed. Jul. 7, 2010 at 06:25:25 AM
missing games
as mentioned earlier - age of mythology and lord of the rings battle for middle earth and generals zero hour but all in all good list
Victor Galimbertti - Mon. Jul. 5, 2010 at 03:04:16 PM
Missing
As mentioned by others: Stronghold!!! Also Master of Magic.
Stefanos Varsanis - Mon. Jun. 28, 2010 at 10:26:18 PM
Imperialism 2
Ever tried Imerialism?Now that is what you call a STRATEGY game.Only got past the introductory level.Try it out.
Frane Šustić - Fri. Jun. 25, 2010 at 09:41:52 AM
Age of mythology
AOM is great game with great gameplay it deserved to be at least in top 5!!!!
Davy Jacobs - Sat. Jun. 19, 2010 at 09:50:20 AM
Panzer General
Best TBS game eva, enough said
Chris Alpha - Sun. Jun. 13, 2010 at 08:31:06 AM
Best Strategy Games Ever
Red Alert 2 + Yuri's Revenge Age of Mythology + Expansion Age of Empires 1 + Rise of Rome Age of Empires 2 Rome Total War + Expansions Medieval 2 Total War + Expansion Warhammer series The Lord of The Rings
Dave Hughes - Sun. Jun. 6, 2010 at 11:42:29 PM
ya ok
i dont agree have u *********s not played lord of the rings battle for middle earth that game tops your entire list
Hubert Strzemilowski - Tue. Jun. 1, 2010 at 01:36:38 PM
i agree with 98% of it
i would of added stronghold legends on the 1st place and starcraft 7th
Fatih Sarıkaya - Thu. May. 27, 2010 at 08:29:19 PM
c&c generals zerohour best of every strategy games
c&c generals zerohour best of every strategy games
Diako Moeini - Sun. May. 23, 2010 at 07:37:45 PM
Not a good list
Dude u missed out on so many games. Age of mythology, Age of empires III, Warhammer: Dawn of war II etc, Cossacks etc ...
Gary Sutherland - Mon. Jul. 19, 2010 at 12:43:11 AM
AOE III?
I still have AOE III in the box, and I've tried it a number of random times, but it doesn't even compare to AOE II or many of these others. Nor does age of mythology, although it's a fun break from AOE II
Atul Pimple - Thu. May. 20, 2010 at 03:54:00 AM
Age of Mythology
why isnt Age of Mythology in the list
Vuk Bibic - Mon. Aug. 9, 2010 at 02:07:08 PM
Age of Mythology
AGE of myghtology is surcently the best game ever I played it since my fourth year and I completed it like 20 times
Amer El-Samman - Wed. May. 19, 2010 at 08:46:21 PM
the best strategy game
settlers 4 in there its an amaazing real time strategy game, it should be first on there
Amer El-Samman - Wed. May. 19, 2010 at 08:48:31 PM
settlers 4
settlers 4 is the best real time strategy and should be on there
Jose Perez - Wed. May. 19, 2010 at 07:39:41 PM
Missed out 4 great games
Sigh... Ground Control? C&C Tiberian Sun? Universe at War? Empire at War? Even if Universe at War isnt particularly innovative, Empire at War's space battles are great at giving the feel of the movies. C & C Tiberian Sun fullfills the fast-paced combat section, and Ground Control is a TACTICAL real-time strategy game. Still, a good list. Note: Ground Control available as freeware, though multiplayer is disabled.
Jonathon Loo - Mon. May. 17, 2010 at 12:08:59 PM
Missed out 3 great games
Comon guys, you missed out some of the greatest games: Syndicate: Research guns, hypnotize a crowd to to your bidding, jack cars and also being a hard game Jagged Alliance 2: With over 50 mercs, whatever turn based strategy game modeled modern warfare? Dark Reign: Some of the best AI and interface of "modern" RTS, the first to include multiple elevations and rush/anti rush tactics, not to mention realtime line of site.
Johan Stendal - Tue. Apr. 20, 2010 at 08:33:47 AM
Tiberian Sun
nice list and all but where the **** is C&C Tiberian Sun? comeon, great visuals, perfect gameplay, long and interesting campaings, sinister music, great fun all in all.
Thorsteinn Evans - Tue. Apr. 6, 2010 at 02:20:26 PM
Thanks.
Thank you so much. I just had about 20 HELL YEA moments. :)
Chris Plante - Thu. Apr. 8, 2010 at 11:47:33 AM
Np
Glad you liked it!
Eric Sheppard - Mon. Mar. 15, 2010 at 12:26:09 AM
Stronghold?
Hey, come on guys....how does stronghold crusader not make it on this list? It's a classic and at least deserves the 30th spot. How many other games do you know that simulate castle life? None.
Chris Plante - Mon. Mar. 22, 2010 at 10:16:37 AM
Stronghold
Stronghold never really clicked for us. However, we flirted with including Firelfly's weird Sims-clone Space Colony.
Renos Georgiou - Tue. Apr. 13, 2010 at 07:58:03 PM
AoE & AoM
Em, did you even bother to consider Age of Empires 1 or Age of Mythology?
Elton Rasch - Fri. May. 14, 2010 at 02:07:35 PM
Stronghold yes!
It's really the best castle and middle age simulator... other game, who should be added to this list, is cossacks... a great one!
Mondher Bouazizi - Sun. Jun. 13, 2010 at 03:57:09 PM
Age of Empires 2
If you think that Age of Empires 2 isn't the best game ever seen, then you got a problem !
Robin Tellebo - Mon. Aug. 16, 2010 at 06:23:13 AM
Why?
Why simulate castle life when you can... DESTROY life in the castle?