The most interesting strategy games released in 2018
All the best and most popular games of the year, upcoming releases, and hits from the past. Use filters to narrow down search.
Total War: Warhammer II - Rise of the Tomb Kings
Strategy
January 23, 2018
Rise of the Tomb Kings is the first large expansion to the 2017 strategy game called Total War: Warhammer II, set in the iconic universe known from the tabletop wargame. This DLC has been developed by the British studio Creative Assembly and introduces the titular Tomb Kings faction.
Mobile Empire
Strategy
January 25, 2018
An economic strategy game, which places the player in charge of a company that operates on the mobile device market. The player designs cell phones (later on in the game, also such devices as augmented reality glasses), recruits new employees, and reacts to current trends and world crises. All of this is done to gain an upper hand over the competitors over time and bring one's company to a leading position on the market.
Meteorfall: Journey
Strategy
January 25, 2018
Being a mobile production, Meteorfall is a funny card game with roguelike elements, inspired by such titles as Dream Quest or Dominion. In contrast to other productions from this genre, the title does not focus on PvP, but lets the player control the hero and fight the deadly Uberlich.
Railway Empire
Strategy
January 26, 2018
An economic strategy game created by an experienced studio, Gaming Minds, in which the player becomes an owner of a railroad company. Their task is to take control of the entire market and turn their company into an empire. Since the game takes place in XIX and XX century, the technology of the entire society is constantly changing. The key to success is to not only build new railroads and invest in new trains and train stations but also to use innovative technologies (divided into five historical periods), build factories, buildings in which you can repair your vehicles and provide tourists with attractions. Our competition, controlled by AI, is always on our heels – the fight for keeping our position on the market requires us to hire spies and saboteurs. Railway Empire offers a campaign mode and single missions, in which players must complete very specific goals. In addition to the aforementioned modes the players can also select a free mode that allows them to develop their virtual business without any goals imposed on them.
Anno Online
Strategy
January 31, 2018
Browser version of the popular series of economic strategies, which debuted in 1998 and lived to see several parts, set in different eras. The game was created by the experienced German studio Blue Byte - known mainly for the Battle Isle series and The Settlers saga, including its bestselling browser version. The action takes us to a stylized medieval world, where our task is to develop new cities, built on the islands we control.
Wildlife Park Gold Reloaded
Strategy
February 2, 2018
A remastered edition of a 2003 economic strategy game; both versions were developed by the B-Alive studio. Apart from the base game, Wildlife Park Gold Reloaded contains the Wild Creatures DLC. This new edition brings improved visuals and a new head-up display.
Wartile
Strategy
February 8, 2018
Wartile is an RTS with elements of card and board games. The game takes place in a dark fantasy world inspired by the Norse mythology. We control a party of vikings on a raid. Gameplay focuses on real-time battles between groups of warriors. Each of them has their own strengths and weaknesses, and the key to victory lies in taking advantage of them. Another important gameplay element is the deck of cards built by the players. Those cards will not only power up our warriors, but also activate both offensive and defensive actions. Cards also play an important role in exploration. Battles take place on three-dimensional maps that are divided into hexagonal tiles, and lay of the land, which is an important tactical element that should be taken under consideration when we are preparing our strategy. As a result, Wartile brings to mind a turn-based strategy that somehow takes place in real-time. Along with the story driven campaign Wartile offers a multiplayer mode. The game uses Unreal Engine 4.
Attack of the Earthlings
Strategy
February 8, 2018
A turn-based strategy, in which we take control over a breed of overgrown insects who have to confront the sinister humans. To drive the aggressors out of the planet X13, the insects must act in secret, setting traps for people and eliminating them by using the element of surprise.
Hand of the Gods: Smite Tactics
Strategy
February 20, 2018
A turn based strategy game with card game elements. Smite Tactics is set in the universe of the popular MOBA game Smite. It takes place in a magical land, in which mythological deities fight each other. A battle in Smite Tactics features two deities chosen from a large pantheon. Each deity has unique abilities and can summon additional units onto the battlefield by using the right cards. The actions take place alternatively until one side wins. The game also features a leveling-up system — each won battle earns you new cards and experience points, which you can use to upgrade your stats. The game focuses on multiplayer battles, featuring various leagues and online rankings. There are also story campaigns for single player fans, in which you play against the AI. The visuals of Smite Tactics utilize the advanced Unreal Engine 4.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
Strategy
February 20, 2018
A refreshed version of Age of Empires, a real-time strategy game that debuted in 1997. Microsoft, the company responsible for the new version, focused not only on improving the graphics so that they now support 4K resolution, but on recording a new version of the symphonic soundtrack as well. The title contains the contents of the basic version of the original game and of the Rise of Rome expansion pack. The single player scenarios were expanded with new narrative features. In Age of Empires: Definitive Edition the player is leading civilizations from various regions of the world to war. The gameplay is focused on expanding the base, obtaining resources, recruiting army and participating in dynamic battles. A modernized interface makes controlling the battlefield easier. In addition to single player modes, the title offers multiplayer mode based on Xbox Live.
Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of CaoCao
Strategy
February 21, 2018
A turn-based strategy game that takes the players to China during the era of the Three Kingdoms. The main protagonist is the titular Cao Cao, who is tasked with conquering China. In addition to a story mode, the game features three multiplayer PvP modes.
Stellaris: Apocalypse
Strategy
February 22, 2018
The fourth expansion for the well-received space strategy game by Paradox Interactive. The main feature of the DLC are huge units, including the mighty Colossi that can destroy whole planets. The expansion also adds new bonuses, additional career paths for the more peaceful players, and space pirates.
Into the Breach
Strategy
February 27, 2018
A 2D turn-based strategy game set in an original science-fiction universe developed by the creators of FTL: Faster Than Light. In Into the Breach the player controls small squads comprised of mech robots that protect what remains of humanity against the lurking deep underground aliens. The battles in the game take place on relatively small and procedurally-generated 2D battlefields. They are covered with 64 squares, between which both the player and their opponent can move their units. One’s objective is to defend civilian settlements against the aliens. Missions are quite short; however, they pose a considerable logic challenge and offer the players freedom in how they decide to carry them out. Moreover, the player can equip their machines with new weapons and select pilots to operate them – the pilots’ unique abilities have a significant impact on the result of each battle. The retro 2D visuals somewhat resemble what one may have experienced in FTL.
Command: The Silent Service
Strategy
March 1, 2018
Fourth stand-alone expansion to the well-known strategy game Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations. This time the subject of the add-on are submarines - production shows their use in various war theatres. WarfareSims studio is responsible for her creation.
Pit People
Strategy
March 2, 2018
A 2D tactical strategy game developed by The Behemoth - an independent American studio. The player is taken to an unusual universe which combines the features of classic fantasy with science-fiction; moreover, the entire adventure is filled with absurd humor. A story campaign constitutes the core of this experience - it can be completed either solo or in the co-op mode for two players. The gameplay as such has two branches here - on one hand, the player traverses the game world in real time, visiting different places (such as towns), taking quests from NPCs and gathering gold, as well as different items; on the other hand, the player fights turn-based battles on maps covered with hexes. Pit People distinguishes itself among other representatives of the genre by the presence of the narrator - this figure not only comments on the events on the screen, but also influences them in order to make the job of the player-controlled characters harder. Additionally, the game offers a competition-based mode for 4 players (two teams fight one another).
Northgard
Strategy
March 7, 2018
A real-time strategy taking place in a fantasy universe inspired by Nordic mythology and the Viking way of life. Northgard allows the players to lead a group of Vikings, who after years of tedious exploration have found a mysterious, resource-rich land. To attain their goal of fame and fortune, they will have to face numerous dangers scattered across the new land. Northgard’s gameplay is based on classic real-time strategy games such as Age of Empires, Age of Mythology, or The Settlers. Aside from resource gathering, building settlements, and battles with dozens of units, the game introduces survival elements - the player receives the duty of keeping his clan safe through long, frosty winters. The clan will be facing bloodthirsty wolves, undead warriors, and various mythical creatures, including giants, with whom we can create an alliance. Northgard employs 3D graphics with a light, cartoonish design, while the game itself is seen from an isometric perspective.
Crest
Strategy
March 8, 2018
An indie god simulation strategy game. You play as a deity and your task is to lead your followers through various stages of social development. The matters are made more difficult by he fact that you do not control your followers directly and can only influence their behavior through commandments, which can be interpreted in various ways, very often incorrectly.
Surviving Mars
Strategy
March 15, 2018
A science fiction economic strategy game developed by Haemimont Games and published by Paradox Interactive. The title is a city builder in which the player must design the first human settlement on Mars. Being a manager of a space colony requires the player to take care of many matters - the survival and well being of the colony inhabitants depend on it. The colonists won’t survive for long without access to oxygen and water, and the advanced technology of the colony requires a steady supply of energy. What makes things even harder is the fact that the systems constructed by the player can be broken by environmental conditions: the water tanks can freeze and the solar panels can be deactivated by a sandstorm. Additionally, the agency that sponsored the whole mission has specific requirements – if the player had chosen a profit-driven corporation as a sponsor, then he must remember to create a mine for valuable resources and a system that will transport these resources to Earth. Each inhabitant of the colony is a unique character with specific traits and parameters impacted by his living conditions. A happy colonist can decide to have children while a constantly stressed worker will grow psychical traumas. The title is a sandbox which is partially unpredictable due to the mysteries – events and scenarios inspired by classic science fiction tropes.
Exorder
Strategy
March 19, 2018
A turn-based strategy game that takes place in a fantasy world during an interregnum. The story campaign follows the adventures of princess Beyla and prince Tristan. They are fighting for succession after the dead ruler. The title also features a multiplayer mode, in which up to four players can play through the Internet or the hot seat mode.
Europa Universalis IV: Rule Britannia
Strategy
March 20, 2018
Rule Britannia is an expansion to the PC Windows strategy game called Europa Universalis IV. This add-on is the so-called immersion pack that focuses on developing one of the nations - in this case, Great Britain. The expansion introduces new decisions and naval doctrines. The religion list now includes Church of England. Moreover, during the game, the players get to participate in the initial stages of the industrial revolution.
Pizza Connection 3
Strategy
March 22, 2018
Another entry in the series of economic strategy games in which the player assumes the role of an owner of a pizzeria. The first game in the series debuted in 1999 and its sequel was released one year later. In the third installment the player is tasked with transforming a small business into a giant network of restaurants scattered across the world. Like before, one of the greatest attractions of the game is a pizza creator that enables the player to create his own versions of the titular dish by using more than 75 ingredients. In addition to that, the player must take care of his business – manage the restaurants and employees, decorate the buildings and perform market analyses. From time to time he must also face his competition, not always according to the rules of fair play. The main mode of Pizza Connection 3 is a story campaign. It starts in Rome, but gradually the player conquers other markets as well. The title also offers a sandbox mode in which the player can freely expand his business. It is worth mentioning that it is the first three-dimensional entry in the series.
AirMech Strike
Strategy
March 30, 2018
An action game and RTS hybrid developed for multiplayer matches. When playing AirMech Strike, the players take over consecutive bases and recruit new units to eliminate the enemy forces and conquer their headquarters. Players control directly only a single unit - the remaining proteges can receive generic orders, and the Artificial Intelligence takes care of the rest.
