Strategy Video Games That Are Easy to Play but Hard to Master
Due to the strategy genre'due south massive amount of subgenres, flavors, and variations, it can be an incredibly intimidating area of gaming to become into. Not to mention, some of the nigh popular and well-known strategy games accept many levels of complexity that require preparation, practise, and feel that the average histrion or curious enthusiast may not initially possess. Despite this seemingly overwhelming complexity and high bulwark to entry, the strategy genre is well worth the patience and time spent to experience some of the most rewarding and compelling works of art ever created.
The strategy genre'southward incredible flexibility and variety plays into its favor as at that place are a number of splendid games on the market that volition assist players curious in the genre immerse themselves in strategy equally a whole. In that location's of course the jump-into-the-deep-end arroyo of learning where players can pick the hardest and most complex games and work through them bit-past-bit. Notwithstanding, for a more than general and gradual introduction to the strategy genre, we composed a list of some of the best strategy games for beginners with i entry per franchise.
The Best Strategy Games For Beginners
fifteen. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K Games, Feral Interactive
Platform(s): PC, macOS, Linux, iOS, PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita, Android
Sometimes even grandiose games can act as solid first steps to fifty-fifty greater opportunities. XCOM: Enemy Unknown is non but the offset representative of the revitalized subset of XCOM-like games, it also happens to exist 1 of the best games for beginners to check out for this type of strategy game and other tactical part-playing games like it.
In XCOM, players will take the role of a secret arrangement that'southward fighting back confronting an alien invasion of Earth by researching technologies, progressing through the narrative, and engaging in challenging and exciting tactical battles. XCOM will teach players many skills, such as preparing for the unknown, tackling new challenges on the fly, and dealing with random number generation (RNG).
Sometimes RNG can be an incredible signal of frustration and the tactical battles tin can exist brutally hard due to a competent AI and complex battlefield. Nevertheless, XCOM has plenty of content and story to offering new players and as such is one of the all-time strategy games for beginners out there.
14. Stars in Shadow
Programmer: Ashdar Games
Publisher: Iceberg Interactive
Platform(s): PC
Space opera and sci-fi are hugely popular strategy games due to the inherent wonder and excitement games set in the stars provide. It'southward quite common to see sci-fi married with 4X strategy games, and Stars in Shadow is the all-time lightweight instance of the grand potential these games have.
Right off the bat, Stars in Shadow's vibrant and colorful aesthetic volition immediately catch the heart of the player, but this will just serve to atomic number 82 players into the game's compelling systems and features. Stars in Shadow is a great starting signal for beginners as information technology brings all the major 4X gameplay features to the table without doing too much to overwhelm players with numbers and intricate systems.
Sometimes just a minimal amount is enough to requite a sense to the histrion of what they can expect from similar games in the aforementioned subset or family unit of games. It's not the most original 4X game and the lack of more robust competitive systems limit its replayability, only Stars in Shadow still remains a sturdy launch pad for players to use to jump to bigger and greater games.
13. Civilisation 6
Developer: Firaxis Games, Aspyr Media
Publisher: 2K Games
Platform(s): PC, macOS, Linux, iOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android
I of the largest-scale games on the list and arguably one of the best-known strategy game series, Civilization 6 is an fantabulous introductory point into both grand strategy and 4X strategy games as a whole. The game'southward historical setting, emergent story-telling, and effective tutorial volition quickly hook beginners in the game's evolving world.
One way Civilization half dozen does this of course is with a solid tutorial, but even more so through the addictive nature of its gameplay loop, which will pull players into the game'southward world and show how the player's decisions and projects develop over time. Firaxis has had many years to work on this series, which is shown in the general refinement of the game's systems, as well as the unexpectedly uncomplicated grandiose systems like engineering science, civics, and construction.
As an intro to the grand strategy subgenre, Civilization half-dozen volition give players the tools necessary to make grand plans utilizing a variety of tools to see them come to fruition over the long-run. Due to its scale the game tin exist quite intimidating and might not be the all-time starting indicate into the strategy genre, but it's definitely a solid gateway to large-calibration empire level strategy games.
12. Ultimate General: Gettysburg
Developer: Game-Labs
Publisher: Game-Labs
Platform(south): PC, macOS, Linux, iOS
Historical conflicts are some of the most pop settings for complicated wargames and as a event many hardcore wargames tend to be every bit complex as the history they're trying to capture. However, in that location are a select few of these wargames that deed as easier gateways into the world of deep wargaming, with Ultimate General: Gettysburg and its follow-upward Civil War beingness solid starting points.
Gettysburg has all the hallmarks of a hardcore wargame: detailed weapon functioning, combined artillery tactics, methodical move, attention to detail, morale, troop stamina, and ammunition direction. There are so many things at play that tin can immediately cause consternation for new players, but the pleasant bird'due south-eye view perspective, likewise as the comfortably simple and intuitive control organization, volition ease players into the complexity that makes up Ultimate General: Gettysburg.
Gettysburg will assist players capeesh general battle geography and how the positioning of units and their support equipment can lead to quantum success or quick defeat. The scenarios are designed more like puzzles than free-flowing sandbox engagements, simply they still provide a lot of fun and help teach the concept of combined arms warfare.
eleven. Field of Celebrity 2: Medieval
Developer: Byzantine Games
Publisher: Slitherine Software
Platform(s): PC
Some of the main limitations of chess is that it'southward an abstract wargame that doesn't do a neat task of modelling historical conflict, nor a skillful chore of illustrating the result of terrain on gainsay. Field of Glory 2: Medieval, itself based on a tabletop miniatures strategy wargame, is a dandy alternative or historical footstep up from chess, every bit it authentically models warfare of the High Middle Ages.
Aside from the solid visualization and representation of Medieval combat, Field of Glory 2 teaches the role player patience, precision, and the power to sympathize the terrain. One of the biggest challenges of learning more expansive and complex strategy games is understanding the interactions of economic science, politics, or battles, in the case of tactical games, with geography as terrain alone can flip any number of situations on their head.
Field of Glory ii does have a lot of intricate mechanics to wade through for new players, simply as a plow-based game, beginners volition have every run a risk to poke and prod at the diverse mechanics and features when playing their outset skirmishes. Graphically the game may be less impressive than even some of the smaller-scale games on the listing, Field of Glory two: Medieval more than makes upwardly for it with what it tin teach players nearly tactics and historical warfare.
ten. 2 Signal Infirmary
Developer: Two Point Studios
Publisher: SEGA
Platform(s): PC, macOS, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
For something more than medically-oriented, Two Indicate Hospital is a truthful management game in every sense of the give-and-take that lets players create a functioning hospital that's both effective and absurd. One of the game'south primary selling points is its endearing and silly sense of humor that immediately takes the border off of the stress of running a hospital.
2 Bespeak Hospital is probably the best entry point into management games, non only with its aesthetic, theme, and plentiful compelling mechanics, but also with how the game structures and introduces new content and mechanics to the actor. An chemical element that players will demand to exist ready for when looking into the direction subgenre is that many games can feel punishing from trial-and-error, rely quite heavily on spreadsheet-style logistics tracking, or be gear up for accented precision in their deportment.
The developers of Two Point Infirmary paced their game out every bit they introduce mechanics steadily without overwhelming the role player, while leaving room for inefficiency and creativity, every bit well as precision and discipline. It can be a long game with many specifics and mechanics to acquire, but as a first entry into the management subgenre, Two Indicate Hospital can't be beat.
9. Cities: Skylines
Developer: Colossal Order, Tantalus Media
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Platform(s): PC, macOS, Linux, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Not all strategy games are nigh intense activeness or multi-tasking nether constant pressure of some danger. Sometimes it'due south important to sit back, relax, and create something impressive and Cities: Skylines fits the mould perfectly.
Cities: Skylines is a no-pressure city-builder strategy game where players are tasked with building a mod city of their dreams without any particular guiding objective driving the player's actions. In a fashion, the game can be considered as the Minecraft of metropolis-builder strategy games where the goal is to get crazy and let the creative juices menses to create something amazingly satisfying.
Cities: Skylines is by no means a small-scale game, as players will need to better the happiness of their neighborhoods in parallel with cities growing both horizontally and vertically, even if at times the game tin can also experience somewhat aimless. The lack of objectives, though, doesn't hamper the feel too much and gives new players a depression-toll and enjoyable entry into the city-architect subgenre.
eight. Frozen Synapse
Programmer: Way 7
Publisher: Mode 7
Platform(s): PC, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
Some of the virtually of import skills to learn from strategy games are foresight and predictive planning. Frozen Synapse, a WEGO tactics game, or a simultaneous plough-system game, is an splendid game to help players develop the skill to programme alee.
The unique element of WEGO games is that players program orders for their turn at the same time as their opponent so sentinel it play out once all parties are set up. This ways that tacticians demand to come with their orders non necessarily where the opposing forces are currently positioned, only where they're likely to go.
This system tin can be quite challenging and heed-angle to larn, equally it's i of the less common control systems that balks at established traditions found in most turn-based strategy games. Notwithstanding, this is exactly part of the fun of playing Frozen Synapse, not only for its power to requite valuable skills to new players, but to testify the weirder and more artistic side of the strategy genre equally a whole.
vii. Bad North
Developer: Plausible Concept, Oskar Stålberg
Publisher: Raw Fury
Platform(southward): PC, macOS, Linux, iOS, PS4, Xbox I, Nintendo Switch, Android
Many games like Company of Heroes and Ancestors Legacy have meaning squad direction and strategic planning components that take some skill getting used to. Bad North is an excellent pocket-sized-scale game that sees players commanding squads of soldiers defending islands from an unstoppable encroaching force of Viking-inspired enemies.
Bad North gives plenty of opportunity for players to practice their micromanagement skills with squad special abilities and positioning to maximize the effect of terrain, too every bit strategic controlling with isle hopping to get the greatest benefit from special equipment and money. Not only that, only the game has a striking minimalist aesthetic with slap-up sound-visual feedback to assistance players empathise the quickly developing combat state of affairs as enemy ships embankment onto the islands.
Bad North can be punishing and at times bulldoze players into no-win scenarios, forcing frustrating restarts and when the hordes come up in forcefulness, it can definitely get overwhelming if players aren't prepared. Still, if y'all're looking for the best strategy game for beginners with addictive gameplay systems, Bad North isn't a bad pick.
6. Sons of Ra
Developer: Pharaoh Hound Games
Publisher: Pharaoh Hound Games
Platform(s): PC
The classic RTS subgenre is infamous for its intimidation factor and steep learning curve from the demanding micro intensive gameplay, but Sons of Ra is a solid jumping off point without being a archetype RTS itself. It's a competitive belfry defense game where players skirmish in lane-based combat, casting powers, and placing towers to proceeds an advantage over their opponent.
Sons of Ra does a great job of capturing that constant hectic flow that players will surely experience in classic RTSs similar Historic period of Empires or Command and Conquer past humid downward resource direction and the push-of-war style of combat to their absolute bones components. The game volition help players go used to quick commands, judging the correct timing to launch an assail, and how to utilize the correct tools to achieve local victories.
The control scheme of Sons of Ra is unproblematic and inviting, which volition minimize the fourth dimension needed to acquire it and focus more on actually developing your own playstyle and aptitude for micromanagement. The game does lack collaborative modes, so information technology tin certainly be intimidating facing off against human opponents, but it volition inevitably prepare players to the inevitable jump to more than demanding strategy games.
5. Kingdom: Two Crowns
Developer: Stumpy Squid, Fury Studios, Coatsink
Publisher: Raw Fury
Platform(s): PC, macOS, Linux, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android
Many strategy games with multiplayer systems commonly end upwards pitting players against i another. Nevertheless, not all strategy games exercise this exclusively and contest isn't always the all-time way for beginners to be introduced to the genre with Kingdom: 2 Crowns being a great example of a cooperative strategy game.
Kingdom is a simplistic metropolis builder and survival game, quite like to Vedelem, simply it differentiates itself with a vibrant pixel art aesthetic and 2nd aeroplane. Most importantly, Kingdom Two Crowns lets two players act as the leaders of a settlement, which means the challenge is less about how to outdo one another and instead working collaboratively to overcome the game'south nightly challenges.
This makes Kingdom a cracking game for mentorship and learning teamwork without getting bogged down in the minutiae, detail, and complication of the game'south commands. It can become repetitive at times, as it doesn't really exercise much beyond the baseline urban center building and survival, but the collaborative courage gives this type of game a fresh twist and great entry point for new players.
iv. Vedelem: the Golden Horde
Developer: Castle Roaches
Publisher: Breda University of Applied Sciences
Platform(s): PC
One of the tricky things to judge for strategy beginners is when to up the challenge and learn new skills under pressure. Vedelem is an first-class, minimalistic city builder and survival strategy game with light elements of existent-time tactics that helps players ease into the challenge of multi-tasking different gameplayer facets.
In some ways, Vedelem is a kind of historical version of Plants vs Zombies, just with significant differences found in the wider map and more in-depth considerations for paths of set on and resource management. The raiding Mongol hordes take a multifariousness of units that can come from all sorts of unexpected angles and players will need to prepare structural and army defences to counter these raids.
The existent-time structure of the game is perfectly fitting to develop multitasking skills under constant threat of assail. Information technology may be a pocket-sized game with piddling else to offer beyond the initial premise, merely Vedelem is a free strategy game, making it i of the most accessible beginner strategy games without an entry price.
three. Plants vs Zombies
Developer: PopCap Games
Publisher: PopCap Games, Electronic Arts
Platform(southward): PC, macOS, iOS, PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Android, PS Vita, Blackberry 10
One of the more than light-hearted games on the list, Plants vs Zombies sees players defending the backyard of an eccentric pot-wearing beau from a horde of zombies while utilizing a colorful cast of plants. This game gives beginners an introduction to both the survival and tower defence force types of strategy games.
Plants vs Zombies isn't a complicated game by whatsoever means, every bit players will just need to identify down plants of diverse kinds to keep the hordes of zombies at bay, all while the cutesy and cartoony artful will disarm and invite players of any skill level to bask the ensuing on-screen hilarity. Despite its silly appearance, the game will teach strategically-minded botanists how to bargain with evolving enemies, shifting circumstances, and drastic tactical situations nether constant pressure, requiring a measure of multi-tasking.
The fact that Plants vs Zombies is a real-time game also adds to the sense of tension and will incentivize players to larn how to human activity nether stress. The game lacks competitive multiplayer, but the idiosyncratic hordes will undoubtedly keep players on their toes and maintain a consistent fun kind of danger.
2. Into the Breach
Programmer: Subset Games
Publisher: Subset Games
Platform(s): PC, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Stadia
When dipping your toe into the large wide body of water of strategy games, it'south wise to accept time to movement from one familiar indicate to some other, while also introducing new and exciting elements that hint at what'due south available. If chess is an excellent gateway to the strategy genre as a whole, then Into the Alienation is the best gateway into the world of the strategy genre.
Into the Breach has a very like construction to chess in that unit control is simple and maps are limited in telescopic, but there are several systems that throw interesting curveballs to keep players on their anxiety. Maps have varied terrain, each unit of measurement has unique abilities and equipment, and enemies evolve over fourth dimension, meaning players will have to adapt their tactics consistently as the game progresses.
Luckily, Into the Breach isn't too overwhelming and its bite-sized skirmish approach to missions volition give beginners a risk to take their time to get acquainted with the game's systems. It may not be as competitive or information technology may not have such a high skill ceiling as Chess, Into the Alienation nonetheless provides plenty content to keep players busy, too as introducing them to the roguelike strategy subgenre.
1. Chess Ultra
Programmer: Ripstone
Publisher: Ripstone
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Ane, PS4, PS VR, Nintendo Switch, HTC Vive, Oculus Rift
Chess is undoubtedly the ultimate strategy game for beginners. Considering of how ubiquitous the game is in the mod cultural zeitgeist, it's piece of cake to find an opponent or tutor and Chess Ultra does this while making this venerable game expect oh then beautiful in the procedure.
Chess' pattern also lends itself to being an excellent introduction to the strategy genre, with Chess Ultra giving players a wide range of virtual platforms to choose from that all-time suits their setup. The game scenario never really changes, the sides have equal resource and units, unit command is quite simple, at that place's plenty of fourth dimension to call up through a move and programme due to the game'south turn-based construction, and there's an incredibly high skill ceiling.
These features volition hands give beginners a taste of the cadre concepts of the genre, such as forward planning, resources efficiency, trading, and nigh importantly strategic and tactical decision-making. Most of all, chess' incredible potential for actor growth and development through contest makes it the ultimate strategy game for beginners.
READ NEXT: The Beginner'due south Guide To Strategy Game Subgenres
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