Strategy games allow you to recreate epic historical battles or engage in a struggle for supremacy in futuristic fantasy worlds. The strategy game genre encompasses a wide range of real-time or turn-based video game types .
There are many titles out there, so we’ve compiled a list of strategy games structured by platform: PC, consoles, and mobile. Check out our pick of the ten best strategy games to play in 2023, from the latest releases to classic reboots.
Total War: Warhammer 3 – Total war with blood and gore
If turn-based PC games are your thing, Total War: Warhammer 3 is a must for you in 2023. The game keeps it fresh thanks to DLC packs (Ogre Kingdoms, Champions of Chaos and Blood for the Blood God III) , which add playable races, new warriors, and bloody effects.
Total War: Warhammer 3 is hands down the best real-time strategy game. Its scope is so vast that you will probably still be playing it in 2024!
Pharaoh: A New Era – A Classic Reboot
How about a remake of a classic strategy video game? Pharaoh: A New Era is a 4K reboot of the city building game Pharaoh, released in 1999.
Recreate one of the world’s greatest civilizations and achieve immortality in one of the best strategy games to play in 2023. You can also play The Queen of the Nile: Cleopatra expansion. Don’t forget to win the favor of the Egyptian gods!
Crusader Kings 3 – Back to the Middle Ages
The scale of this strategy game demonstrates the versatility of medieval games . You return to the Middle Ages to lead your own dynasty and explore a medieval world of knights, peasants, spies and jesters.
You can choose to rule through fear or become a leader beloved by your subjects. Besides the large-scale battles typical of military strategy games, you’ll have to be cunning to achieve victory.
There are five expansions on PC, including Royal Court with a customizable throne room to impress guests, and a sixth, titled Tours and Tournaments, which is slated for release on the fairly near horizon.
Total War: Three Kingdoms – Defeat your enemies and unite China
Strategy in war games can take us on adventures in times we never could have known. This is exactly what Total War: Three Kingdoms does by combining the best turn-based strategy game and real-time strategy games.
The twelfth game in the Total War franchise, Total War: Three Kingdoms is set in China in the 220-280 era. Your mission is to crush your enemies and unify China under your rule.
DLCs include Yellow Turban Rebellion with three additional playable factions, Mandate of Heaven which adds a prequel campaign, and Fates Divided with a campaign in the Battle of Guandu.
The best strategy games on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch in 2023
Blood Bowl 3 – New Levels of On-Pitch Brutality
What happens when you merge a version of American football games and ferocity? Blood Bowl 3 follows on from Blood Bowl 2, a parody of America’s favorite sport.
Be relentless and crush your opponents with brute force. But don’t forget to plan your strategy – it’s important in American football!
Company of Heroes 3 – Relive World War II Battles
Try out this latest addition to the Company of Heroes series of military strategy games, which takes you to the campaigns of World War II in Italy and North Africa.
Extras such as the tactical pause mechanic, allowing you to pause the game, take stock of the situation, program a sequence of commands and launch devastating attacks, make this title one of the best strategy games.
The Settlers: New Allies – New campaigns revitalize a classic strategy game
This best strategy game to play in 2023 is a reboot of a 30 year old German video game created for the Commodore Amiga. The Settlers: New Allies is just the latest in a long line of strategy games.
Now this updated city-building game boasts state-of-the-art graphics and a world to explore through one of three factions.
As one of many online strategy games , it allows you to compete against other players or the AI in your fight for hegemony, with new options such as the ability to patrol or maintain your position.
The 13 campaign missions give you plenty of opportunities to explore this fantastic world.
Age of Empires VI: Anniversary Edition – New Civilizations for 2023
This anniversary edition celebrates 25 years of one of the best strategy games on PC with two new civilizations: the Malians of West Africa and the Ottoman civilization, as well as eight new maps.
You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to strategy games from the Age of Empires franchise, available on a multitude of media. Last year, the expansions Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition – Dynasties of India and Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition – Knights of the Mediterranean were both released with additional civilizations, new maps and new game mods . Something to keep you busy throughout 2023!
The best strategy games on iOS and Android in 2023
Civilization VI – A classic strategy game
Sid Meier’s Civilization game series tops the board game charts for 2023. The good news is that you can play Civilization VI on iOS and Android devices as well as PlayStation 4, Xbox One and the Nintendo Switch.
Choose a civilization and rule in the style of one of 20 rulers, from Catherine de’ Medici in France with her formidable spy network to Gandhi in India with her peaceful influence.
Leaders Passes add new international politicians such as the Great Negotiators Pack featuring Abraham Lincoln. The latest Civilization VI Leader Pass released in March 2023 is The Great Builders Pack which includes Sejong, Ludwig II, and Theodora.
Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming – Relive the famous TV series
The Game of Thrones series ended in 2019, but you can still get your fix with the Game of Thrones: Winter is Coming video game, one of a growing number of free online strategy games. This MMORTS is officially licensed by Warner Bros.
Interactive Entertainment and features the characters of the famous television series. Become the master of Westeros in one of the many free strategy games available on iOS and Android in 2023.
This concludes our ranking of the ten best strategy games of the year 2023. There is something for everyone in this selection, so let yourself be tempted by discovering great strategy games or rebooting classic games and updates via the latest DLC packs.