Summary
Strategy games cover a wide variety of genres, ranging from the high-speed real-time battles ofStarCraft 2to the turn-based strategy ofDarkest Dungeon. Within the many sub-genres of strategy, however, lie many tropes.
While these titles aren’t devoid of conventional gameplay, each of them offers a unique twist, setting, and/or innovation that tackles the genre from a different angle. FromDune: Imperium’s careful blend of classic tabletop mechanics, toCobalt Core’s tactical deck-building, there’s something here for all kinds of strategy fans.
Balatrois a unique, addictive title that combines the casino game, Poker, with traditional roguelike deck-builder gameplay. This results in gameplay that’s truly distinctive, naturally combining luck with strategy, the latter of which mostly revolves around manipulating the former.
Fans of games such asSlay The Spireand evenLuck Be A Landlordmay enjoyBalatrofor its unique blend of strategic gameplay and score-attack loop. However, players who dislike losing to bad luck may want to steer clear, as a well-crafted strategy will only get players so far.
This turn-based strategy game stands out with itsdistinctive steampunk setting, memorable character designs, and unique combat system. InSteamWorld Heist, players take part in a variety of tactical, turn-based shootouts, but are given the ability to manually aim their weapons.
This unique system allows players to trick-shoot enemies by bouncing bullets off walls, resulting in gameplay that blends skill with strategy in equal measure. For fans of turn-based strategy, steampunk settings, and the charm of sci-fi such asFirefly,SteamWorld Heistmay be worth a look.
Cobalt Corechallenges players with duking it out instrategic space battlesusing a variety of cards, building a deck over the course of each run that represents the actions of their crew. The tranquil atmosphere, relaxing music, and charming pixel art all help makeCobalt Corea unique experience, but this title overcomes the trappings of the roguelike deck-builder genre with a distinctive tactical twist.
Both the player and enemy ships can move during combat, and cannons must be lined up correctly to hit the opposition. Players can also use this mechanic to avoid incoming fire, resulting in a unique experience that offers a careful blend of strategy and tactics.
Dungeon Of The Endlessis adark and grittystrategy roguelike with heavy elements of tower defense and resource management. Players can expect runs to go from quiet and calm to utterly desperate in a matter of moments, makingDungeon Of The Endlessa consistently thrilling experience.
This gameplay is unique not only for the genre-bending that it does but for the urgency it provides players despite its nature as a strategy game. Fans of tower defense, real-time strategy, and resource management are sure to enjoy this unique title.
Combining elements of the 4X and real-time strategy genres,Dune: Spice Warsmay at first seem familiar, but the flavor presented by the many systems at play is certainly unique. This is primarily due to the game’s variety of win conditions and the careful blend of politics, warfare, espionage, and infrastructure.
In keeping with the source material, environmental hazards also play an important role in the gameplay, factoring into when and where players move their armies.Every playable factioninDune: Spice Wars, from the oppressive Harkonnens, to the sneaky Smugglers, has a unique playstyle. This dramatically improves the replay value of the game, preventing its unique gameplay from becoming stale.
Theroguelike deck-buildergenre has become highly saturated with somewhat repetitive experiences since the popular release ofSlay The Spire, butWildfroststands out with its unique gameplay loop and charming cartoon art style. The level of polish on display inWildfrostis admirable, but it’s the strategic gameplay that gives it staying power.
Wildfrostuses counters to keep track of each character’s turn, which it dubs “cooldown.” Character (and enemy) cooldowns count down every time the player takes a turn. Any given deck is made up of characters and spells, much likeHearthstone, but players can move characters around at will without spending a turn. All this combined givesWildfrosta distinctive flair.
BetweenFTL: Faster Than LightandInto The Breach, Subset Games have offered playersdistinctive strategy gamesthat challenge and delight in equal measure.Into The Breachplays closer to a puzzle game, but there’s a variety of strategic and tactical decisions to be made throughout each run.
Into The Breachtasks players with defending against an alien invasion with a squad of unique mech-suits. What makesInto The Breachunique, however, is its commitment to fairness, telegraphing enemy attacks and hazards with no restraint. This results in truly refreshing gameplay that takes the frustration out of losing and elevates the strategy elements, bolstered further by the ability to undo and reset turns.
8Dune: Imperium
A Unique Blend Of Worker-Placement And Deck-Building
This digital adaptation of thepopular board game, set in the iconic universe of Frank Herbert’sDune, is an innovative combination of deck-building and worker-placement mechanics that offers a uniquely strategic experience. Players need not be knowledgeable about tabletop games to enjoyDune: Imperium, as its tutorial does a superb job of teaching the core mechanics, and the slick, intuitive user interface keeps the moment-to-moment gameplay relatively painless.
Dune: Imperiumtasks players with sending agents to collect resources, which players then use to manipulate their odds of obtaining new cards, winning conflicts, or completing secret objectives. Agents are controlled via the game’s cards, many of which feature two benefits, one of which is triggered when played, and the other when left in hand. This results in a truly unique gameplay loop that’s only elevated by the game’s diverse variety of playable leaders, each with its strengths and weaknesses.
