Strategy gamers are a rarer breed. They enjoy getting stuck into the spreadsheets, bogged down in the minutiae, really pouring over the small stuff. For some people, this sounds far too much like getting another day job, but for the strategy gamer, it’s fulfilling, another way to excel.
If this sounds like you then the good news is that there’s a whole world of games out there that are made with you in mind. We’ve picked just a small handful that it’s possible to play on PC, so that whether you’re at the work computer on your lunch break, or sat at home in your pajamas, you’re just as able to play these brilliant titles.
Poker
Starting off with an often overlooked game, poker is one of the kings of the strategy world. Card games may not have the flashy graphics of some of the other releases but at their core, many of them are some of the most complex strategy games around. Poker is a great choice for PC gamers as it’s so easy to find a site to play at online.
More than this, once you’ve learned the rules of Texas Hold’em, you can move onto playing Omaha poker online or five-card stud. The options for expanding your gaming repertoire are massive and so easy to access that adding at least one or two card games to your arsenal is a must.
Crusader Kings 3
Now on the third installment, the team behind Crusader Kings 3 has got the formula down to a tee. Fans of previous releases will love the newest one even more than any of the predecessors. There’s all of the same truly evil gameplay, but with a totally overhauled user interface that hauls things all the way from the dark ages right up to the present day.
The meat of the game lies in conquering the map using your military strength, or your cunning in other ways. Diplomacy with your fellow players, religious might and sometimes sheer wealth will all help you along in your quest to conquer. However, one of the most brilliant parts of this game is in the stories that run through it. Often games that focus on might over all else, leave out some of the human elements, but not Crusader Kings 3.
Each of the characters has their distinct personality complete with quirks that can make your gameplay a little easier or a whole lot more difficult, but always infinitely more entertaining. Hatching plots with fellow leaders is always a good way to use those intrapersonal skills to further your own agenda. If you’re the kniving kind of strategist, that thrives on sneaking around and a little deception here and there then you might find yourself right at home in Crusader Kings 3.
Civilization VI
This series is never far from the top of the best multiplayer games lists and the newest version is no exception. Civilization VI builds on the success of its predecessors, bringing to the table new leaders, updated graphics and more map options than ever before. If you’ve not played any of the previous versions then you’ll need to dedicate a little time to getting started, as this isn’t a plug in and play kind of title. However, once you’ve worked your way through the tutorial, we guarantee you’ll be hooked.
The aim of the game is to achieve one of four victories, domination, religion, tourism, or science. It’s usually accepted that the way to get there is by founding cities, defending them against your neighbours, and making them either scientific hubs, religious strongholds, areas of extraordinary culture and beauty, or just enormous military camps.
Of course, there should always be a combination that allows for growth, but working out the finer details is something that’s best discovered by playing. If you want to get involved then the base game is a good place to start, but there are some pretty crazy deals on Steam at the moment if you buy the expansion packs as part of a bundle. Watch a few YouTube videos and see if this game is the sort of thing that you’ll be spending some time on, if so, it might be worth snagging those deals.
Offworld Trading Company
Offworld Trading Company is our final choice for strategy gamers. Designed by Soren Johnson, who incidentally worked on Civilization IV, this game differs quite a lot from our last suggestion. The aim of the game is to try and make as much profit as possible out of the planet Mars. If you’re into economics then you’ll be in heaven with this game. You’re encouraged to accumulate as much wealth as possible and at the same time keep your competitors out of the marketplace.
Whilst in Civilization VI you can deploy a few tanks and wipe out a city completely, in this game it’s better to use your cash and your resources as your main weapons. Think carefully about what order you need to build things in, when to sell assets that are underperforming and when to pounce on other people’s companies. This game might not be about warmongering, but it is certainly ruthless.
