Global turn-based strategies on PC. Strategies on PC with the development of civilization

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Top best strategies that can be played online or online with friends and random opponents, description of ways to play

Strategies are games in which you can feel like a king, ruler, and even God. They do not feature dynamic gameplay (as in shooters), but they force the player to think logically, develop tactics, and make various decisions. Victory in them depends on the user's ability to foresee the future actions of the opponent, coordinate the actions of his army and calculate his strength.

At other times, strategies are not only battles between thousands of troops. Behind the entertainment lies a complex economic system, the development of which will also bring you victory in the game. And sometimes there are no battles at all - some developers produce exclusively economic strategies based on some kind of business (or in other areas).

In any case, the strategies can keep you glued to the screen for a long time. In this article, we have presented the TOP best strategies on PC of all time, in which you will find decent games. They can be played with friends, teaming up against AI, alone, or against other users. For convenience, the strategies are presented in the form of a list that describes their main advantages.

Of course, you can express your opinion in the comments on the articles, and those who don’t have time to download strategies on a PC can look at the list of the best rated online browser strategies that you can start playing right now.

Warcraft III - online

Out: 03.06.2002

Genre: real-time strategy with RPG elements

The essence of the game lies in the uniform construction of a base, pumping up heroes and recruiting an army. For each game stage and situation, different actions are prioritized, of which there are an inexorable variety, which in itself determined the incredible success of the game among gamers. It is worth noting that different races have different priorities, which creates a certain abstract balance.

Of course, the game achieved success primarily because the history of Warcraft is quite old, and the first game in the series was released back in 1994 on DOS, which allowed it to win crowds of fans at the dawn of the gaming industry. The entire Warcraft series has a deep and thoughtful history, on which the plot of Warcraft III is based, although it is not important here, it is necessary for the full perception of the game.

For the most part, the game received recognition for its good balance of races and atypical gameplay for those years, which marked the beginning of a new era of strategies.

• Balanced hero leveling system;
• Balanced economic system;
• Interesting solo company;
• Balan races;
• You can play online;
• The graphics are outdated.

You can play Warcraft online on servers: Tangle, Garena, iCCup.

Heroes of Might and Magic III - online

Out: 28.02.1999

Genre: Turn-based strategy with RPG elements

Although the series of “heroes” is quite old, it has never acquired a significant plot. First of all, in the games of the series, the gameplay and gaming component are valued, and the plot is not at all important.

The gameplay itself boils down to the fact that the player needs to destroy all opponents on the map. Initially, the player has an undeveloped castle and one hero under his command. The castle is gradually upgraded by constructing new buildings, which opens up access to hiring new creatures. The hero can be upgraded in battle, or by distributing gold from chests to your troops. To win, it is enough to destroy all enemy heroes and capture all castles.

There are a total of 9 races in the game (specifically in the third part), including:

• Castle – people;
• Stronghold - elves;
• The tower is the residence of magicians;
• The fortress is a swamp;
• Citadel - barbarians;
• Inferno - demons;
• Necropolis - undead;
• Dungeon - command underground creatures;
• Conjugation – command the elements of the elements.

Each race has its own orientations, advantages, and special skills. For example, necropolis can raise the dead, inferno can turn its defeated fighters into demons, and so on.

Only the 3rd and 5th parts of the game are in demand among players, while the rest either fall short in gameplay or have too good graphics that make your eyes bleed out. We are talking about the excessive detailing of the 6th and 7th parts of the game, which played a disservice. The players did not like the fourth part because of the terrible models and textures.

It is the third part of the heroes that is considered the genius of the series, which is why large tournaments are still held for it and there is a significant gaming community. The problem with online play in Heroes 3 is the length of the matches, because some games lasted up to a month in real time.

If you want to try your hand at online play, we recommend visiting the heroesworld portal, which contains all the useful information.

• Expanded economic system;
• Developed leveling of heroes;
• Balance of gaming needs (in leveling, construction, hiring creatures, etc.)
• You can play online;
• Balanced combat;
• The presence of an unofficial team that is constantly improving the game.

Civilization Series

Out: 1991-2016

Genre: global turn-based strategy

Initially, the game captured the minds of players with its interesting gameplay, which boils down to balancing the army, economy and development (and later culture) of the nation. The game also has a certain historicity, because all nations actually existed.

To win this game you need to skillfully create cities, build trade networks between them, enter into alliances and betray allies, create an army balance that matches your economic development and wisely develop technology.

A simple example: if you only invest in the army, there may come a time when your soldiers will fight with sticks, and the enemy will already have tanks. You can also invest only in development, but then your civilization can be destroyed by ordinary barbarians, and you will never have time to develop.

It is precisely because of the diversity of the gameplay and the variability of development that many call Civilization the best strategy of all time.

At the moment, an online game with random participants is available on Steam, allowing you to test your strengths and skills.

• Unique economic system;
• Unique research system;
• Balance of nations and play styles;
• Advanced multiplayer;
• Expanded political system.

In 2016, a continuation of the legendary series was released, Civilization 6 became the best turn-based strategy of the year on PC.

XCOM series

Out: 1993-2016

Genre: step-by-step strategy

The famous strategy about protecting the earth from the invasion of alien invaders. You are a special squad of professionals, the only stronghold of humanity in the struggle for survival. Study alien technologies, take them into your arsenal and destroy your enemies!

The gameplay of the game is tied to the tactical and economic components. Tactical includes battles with opponents, flights to the landing site or landing site of alien ships, development of fighters, choosing the right perks for them, and so on. Economic - development of the base, the right choice of technology, additional rooms, waste of resources and other things. Also, after the battle, the player receives trophies from the dead, which can then be sold on the black market or used independently in battle.

Many highlight XCOM as one of the best strategy games on PC.

• An interesting system for leveling up fighters;
• A variety of game cards;
• Many battle strategies;
• An interesting system of research and leveling up the base;
• Extraordinary endings.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert

Out: 1996-2008

Genre: real time strategy

The so-called “cranberry” strategy. For reference, cranberries are considered to be an unrealistic presentation of the inhabitants and ideology of the USSR, including its territory after the collapse. The game is built on this non-existent ideology. The action takes place in a parallel universe where there was no World War II, so all nations, including the USSR, were able to develop and become incredibly strong.

Later, a time machine was invented that allowed one to change the course of history. For example, the third part of the game takes place when the Russians decide to kill Albert Einstein in the past. Sending to the past was successful, the USSR captured almost all of Europe, but the war did not end - it was just the beginning.

The gameplay is standard for games of this genre, namely, you need to develop your base, hire soldiers, equipment to completely destroy opponents on the map.

• Fascinating plot;
• Balance of Nations;
• Unique combat units;

Space Rangers

Out: 23.12.2002

Genre:“epic game” with elements of RPG, turn-based strategy, arcade, text quest.

A game about a war in intergalactic space between intelligent races. The player can play almost all races, except for the Klisans and Dominators - hostile semi-intelligent races that receive orders from the main ships, which control their behavior. The entire plot of the game tells about the war of the peaceful races of the commonwealth against the above-mentioned invaders.

The main advantage of the game is the gameplay. As you may have noticed, the game does not have a specific genre, since it is absolutely difficult to classify it into any genre. But the game is often singled out as the best strategy game because players spend most of their time controlling their spaceship in separate systems. There are also arcade elements in the game, namely, when flying between systems, you can stumble upon hostile nodes, where the game turns into real-time battle.

RPG elements manifest themselves in leveling up the skills of your captain, playing the role of a good ranger or an evil pirate smuggler. Elements of a text quest appear in some tasks that NPCs give to the player, or, for example, during visits to prisons, where the player balances between being released as quickly as possible and not dying at the hands of fellow inmates. In the latest versions of the game there are also battles with robots on planets in real-time strategy mode.

As you can see, the potential of the game is incredibly high, and it can rightfully be called one of the best RPGs of all time, not only due to the unique gameplay, but also nice graphics, random generation of maps, planets, tasks and other things, which allows you to start the game again and again .

• A unique game world that is randomly generated in each new game;
• Developed system for playing a game role;
• A good mix of many genres;
• Exciting text tasks;
• Nice graphics.

Stronghold: Crusader

Out: 2002-2014

Genre: real time strategy

A classic strategy game in which you act as the ruler of a small city. Your task is to equally develop military and economic power. In gaming companies you can play both the role of the cruel Arab ruler Saladin and the role of the King of England Richard the Lionheart.

The gameplay, as mentioned earlier, lies in the equal development of the army and the economy. Due to its unusual gameplay, the game received recognition. Some of the game's features include:

• Your servants need to build personal houses that provide the maximum number of army;
• It is necessary to develop the food industry, because your entire military machine may perish simply because of hunger. This also creates the possibility of prolonged sieges of castles, forcing the enemy to decay from hunger;
• Almost all fighters cannot be hired just like that - they need to create weapons and armor, and for this it is necessary to collect resources.

If you play against the computer, you will notice that it creates monotonous castles, which, however, are not so easy to break through if the enemy is one of the strong ones. Still, this is one of the disadvantages that can quickly discourage the desire to play. The main potential of the game is revealed in multiplayer maps, which can be played online using Hamachi or Tangle. It is also worth noting that a definite disadvantage is that the player is tied to the starting point - it is impossible to build buildings near the enemy’s castle.

• Unique production and economic system;
• Expanded construction capabilities;
• Not a bad company;
• You can play online with friends.

Kings bounty

Out: 2008-2014

Genre: real-time strategy role-playing game with turn-based battles

The unusual combination of the genre makes the game quite interesting for beginners, and the beautiful graphics without excessive detail are pleasing to the eye. It is worth noting that in the later parts of the game it is possible to enable a 3D game mode, which must be played with appropriate glasses.

The player can choose between three classes: warrior, paladin and mage. Each of them conducts battles in their own way. For example, a warrior has an increased number of creatures, a mage attacks opponents with spells, and a paladin is something in between.

The game takes place in a fictional fantasy world, which is inhabited by fairly canonical magical creatures such as vampires, demons, and elves. The player acts as a treasure hunter, on whose shoulders rests the fate of preserving the world. First, he will have to become a great hero, recruit an army of mystical creatures in order to fight the evil henchmen.

The gameplay looks something like this: you walk around the world map in real time, and when you come across enemy units, a turn-based battle mode starts, where the hero can use a book of magic and spirits. Looks like a classic turn-based battle. As you walk around the map, you can communicate with the characters that inhabit the world, complete tasks for them, receive rewards, hire troops, buy items, and so on.

• Interesting character leveling system;
• Many artifacts and unique creatures;
• Interesting combat system;
• Not boring quests;
• Nice cartoon graphics;
• Many games in the series are made in the same style.

StarCraft II - online

Out: 26.06.2010

Genre: real time strategy

An equally exciting game from the creators of Warcraft – Blizzard. The plot of the game tells about the battle of three cosmic races: the Zerg, the Protoss and the Terrans. Unlike Warcraft, the game is more dynamic and lacks heroes, which completely changes priorities in battles.

StarCraft also has a rich story, but it is presented to players during story cutscenes, making you merely an observer rather than a maker of the story.

Each playable race has its own advantages and disadvantages. For example, Protoss units have many additional abilities that must be used at the right time, otherwise the army will be quite weak. Considering that the game itself is very fast, you need to have fast playing and thinking skills to succeed in the game.

StarCraft can rightfully bear the title of the best strategy game on PC of all time.

The game can be played online through the Blizzard game downloader.

• Race balance;
• Balanced economy;
• Fast pace of the game;
• You can play online;
• Regular tournaments from official developers.

Warhammer 40,000 series of games

Out: 1999 - 2009

Genre: real time strategy

Warhammer is a fairly popular game not only in computer form, but also in card form. The history of the game appeared long before the development of the computer sphere (in 1983) in America, which determined the success of the series.

The history of the world tells of bloody wars for control of the galaxy, grandiose betrayals and ascensions, and so on. The games in this series are not tied only to the strategy genre, because there are both CCG and action branches.

The most famous games in the series for the general public: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, tell the story of a war for control of one designated planet between the game races. The player chooses one of the sides in the war, which has unique units and battle tactics. In the future, your task will be to seize control of the entire planet. Some games in the series divide the gameplay into two stages: global turn-based control and real-time strategy. The first mode is simply choosing a point of attack, and the second is the actual battle. In battle, you need to rebuild your base, capture key points that bring one of two resources - influence, strengthen them and attack enemy bases. It is worth noting that the main objective of the game is to destroy all enemy buildings.

Almost all Vakha strategies can be played through hamachi.

• Deep history;
• Race balance;
• Each race has its own unique characteristics;
• Interesting system for improving units;
• Interesting company.

Company of Heroes

Out: 2006-2009

Genre: real time strategy

The plot of the game follows such films as “Saving Private Ryan”, “A Bridge Too Far” and the television series “Band of Brothers”. The action takes place during the Great Patriotic War.

The gameplay is a classic RTS with wargame elements. Many note that the game is reminiscent of the Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series due to the fact that the player can independently choose the weapons with which his platoons will fight. Troops also have a combat morale scale, which affects the effectiveness of soldiers. For example, if a platoon comes under machine gun fire, its morale drops sharply, which reduces its shooting and running speed. In addition, when a squad member who was holding a weapon dies, it does not disappear, but remains on the ground where it can be picked up. The next feature of the game is the system of squad ranks, which with each increased level of fighters allows them to improve their characteristics, which creates a certain convention that the squads are not just meat.

Wargame elements also include the fact that the player can install defensive structures himself, increasing the effectiveness of fighters. All the ditches, sandbags, etc. can be occupied by your fighters to increase their effectiveness. Since the game can maintain a small limit, and the combat speed is quite low, the result is an entertaining combat simulator. Of course, this game is not singled out as the absolute best strategy, but it deserves to be at least a nominee.

• Interesting game missions;
• Unusual gameplay;
• The feeling of real battles is created;

Cossacks Series

Out: 2001-2016

Genre: economic strategy

The game stands out for its gameplay, which is based on the balance of economic and military power. The correct construction of the economy has a key role in the game, because even if you skillfully use military forces, skillfully withdraw them, divide them into groups, opening the horizon for a volley of guns, then sooner or later, with a weak economy, you will lose to the player who is more focused on economic component. Firstly, a player with a strong economy can simply spam units - he does not need to think about their safety, because there are always resources. Secondly, the availability of resources such as coal and iron determines the ability of shooting units to attack. If there is no coal or iron, the fighters cannot shoot. Food also plays an important role, as it is a constantly consumed resource. Therefore, if your population is growing, then your food infrastructure should grow accordingly.

The game also stands out in that each player can recruit a huge number of troops, which allows the use of diverse gaming strategies. Among the types of troops you can find: cavalry, melee units, ranged units, artillery. In addition, the game has technical development that allows you to recruit stronger and more technologically advanced troops.

Many players are betting that the third part of the series will be the best strategy game of 2016!

• Dependence of military power on the economy;
• Many battle strategies;
• The need to balance economics and military strength.

Anno 1404

Out: 2009-2010

Genre: economic strategy

The plot is tied to a parallel reality, which, however, repeats real historical prototypes, such as the Crusades, the dawn of early forms of capitalism, and so on.

The gameplay is tied to economic warfare and the development of colonies and settlements. You, as an effective ruler, need to correctly calculate the distribution of resources for the development of cities and conduct diplomatic relations. The combat component of the game is divided into sea and land battles, however, the opportunity to wage war is not immediately open, but later becomes one of the elements that helps to defeat opponents.

All states are divided into two types: European and Eastern. A European country cannot fully develop without spices and quartz, produced only in the east, which naturally determines the need for active trade, which is also one of the main ways to earn gold. One of the key tasks in urban planning is the construction of large cultural elements such as cathedrals or mosques.

• Developed economy;
• An interesting process of urban planning;
• Advanced diplomacy system.

Total War series

Out: 2000-2015

Genre: global strategy

Some semblance of historical strategy. Actions take place on the global world map in different periods of time - it all depends on the part of the game. The player can choose any of the presented countries and subsequently capture the entire map, depending on the established victory conditions.

But it is not for its plot and historical component that this game is singled out as the best strategy on PC, but for its gameplay. It is built on the step-by-step movement of armies, the development and capture of cities in various countries. Battles take place in real time, where the player acts as a commander, places his troops on the map and directly leads the battle. There is also a politics mode where the player makes alliances, declares wars, exchanges resources, and so on.

• Interesting policy system;
• Interesting in-game battles in real time;
• A developed system of internal events (crusades, jihads, etc.);
• An advanced system for improving cities, depending on their location.

Disciples

Out: 1999-2010

Genre: turn-based strategy with RPG elements

The game takes place in the cruel fantasy world of Nevendaar, where dark forces constantly strive to awaken. Companies for all nations are available to the player to complete. It turns out that the player himself weaves the whole story. There are a total of five nations available in the game, including:

• Hordes of undead - servants of the ancient goddess of death Mortis;
• The Empire is a race of people under the protection of the supreme angels;
• Legions of the Damned - Betrezen's demonic minions;
• The Elven Alliance is a united army of elves led by Queen Ellumiel;
• Mountain clans are harsh foothill people led by a high king.

The gameplay is classic strategy. The player’s task is to intelligently explore the territory and upgrade the army. Oh yes, unlike other strategies, here you can only hire minions of lower levels, who then need to be upgraded, gaining experience in battle. Overall, the combat system in Disciples is unique, which is what made the game so successful. At the beginning, the player starts with one capital and a hero. The capital is a unique city guarded by a very strong creature, so it is almost impossible to break through the capital from the very beginning. The war is being waged over sources of magic - one of the resources and separate outposts that allow you to hire troops far from the capital.

• A unique system for leveling up creatures;
• Races are not alike;
• Race balance;
• An interesting system for using magic;

Age of Empires series of games

Out: 1997-2007

Genre: real time strategy

Quite an old game that can also claim to be the best PC strategy of all time. The main advantage of this game is custom tournaments with large prize pools reaching up to 100 thousand dollars. The reason for such sums for such an old game is its fans from rich countries who can afford to spend such sums on organizing tournaments.

The gameplay itself comes down to a balance between technology, economy and army. Each nation can move between 5 eras in battle:

• Age of Exploration;
• Age of Colonization;
• The Age of Fortresses;
• Industrial Age;
• Age of Empire.

Each era opens up new research, types of troops and buildings. If you switch between eras early, without spending money on an army, then most likely you will be crushed by “homeless people”, and if you focus only on hiring troops, then most likely the enemy will crush you with a more high-tech limit.

Many players argue that to play effectively in AOE, you just need to be able to move your troops away from volleys of siege weapons and archers, which leads to low army losses and increased economic development, due to reduced resource consumption to maintain the combat limit.

Play AOE online with friends or random players via Steam, Tangle or Hamachi.

• The need for skillful balancing of all game aspects (economy, troops, research, construction);
• Balance of all races (in the latest version);
• Tournaments with large prize pools;
• Average game speed.

Age of Mythology

Out: 01.12.2002

Genre: Real-time strategy

Age of Mythology is somewhat similar to the game described above, but still has different roots and features that allow you to build a more interesting game.

The key feature of the game is the replacement of eras with the worship of gods, which bestow special powers and new mythical creatures with special characteristics and skills, such as fire or poisonous breath, freezing a key unit, etc.

Unlike AOE, where the player only has a human and siege limit, AOM also has a mythic limit, consisting of mythical creatures such as giants, dryads, rocs and others. AOM does not have such significant prize pools as AOE, but it also has its own community, among which relatively regular tournaments are held.

You can play AOM online through Steam, Tangle or Hamachi.

• It is necessary to correctly balance all game aspects (economy, troops, research, construction);
• Balance of all races and deities;
• You can play online;
• Average game speed.

Settlers 7

Out: 23.03.2010

Genre: RTS, city planning simulator

A simulator of building cities that subsequently create a vast kingdom. The main task of the game is to correctly place buildings and create transport connections between them. The player can develop his kingdom in three directions, including:

• Military production;
• Scientific approach;
• Trading perspective.

Each path of development will ultimately lead the player to victory. For example, if you choose the military path, then the focus of your development will be the army, which will subsequently try to crush your enemies. The scientific path will help you defeat your opponents with technology, and the trade path will help you capture the best trade routes on the entire map, which will give you an advantage over your opponents. Each development path includes unique units.

Critics highlight good artificial intelligence, but a weak storyline.

• Good artificial intelligence;
• Expanded urban planning capability;
• Equality of development paths (economics, military development and technology).

The genre that we will talk about today can hardly be called super popular among gamers, but every year new turn-based strategies and RTS are released in which you can fight with other nations, tribes or aliens. At the same time, among the thousands of games available, there are those that every self-respecting gamer should play. We offer the Top 20 best strategies in history.

Cities: Skylines

Until last year, SimCity 4 was considered the best city-planning simulator without any alternative. In 2013, EA tried to restart the franchise, but it was a real fiasco: fans were dissatisfied with many bugs and the unsatisfactory scale of the new game. After the release of Cities: Skylines in 2015, gamers forgot about the existence of SimCity: the new project amazed with its scale, customization capabilities, and the high level of detail of the cities. Moreover, the developers have released an official modding toolkit, allowing gamers to change the game as they please. Users immediately began to release mods, thanks to which new modes, types of buildings, junctions, cars and much more appeared in the game.

In September, the first update for Cities: Skylines was released, adding dynamic time of day changes, as well as making the economic model more complex and realistic.

Endless Legend

The global strategy, which seamlessly combines elements of fantasy and science fiction, gives gamers the opportunity to play both as a race of carnivorous insects, the Necrophages, and as strange Cultists, expanding their possessions by “absorbing” other factions. In total, there are 8 races available in the game with unique features and mechanics.

The plot of the project in some ways is reminiscent of “Game of Thrones” - gamers will have to fight for survival in the dark era of the decline of the planet Auriga - a harsh winter comes unexpectedly and brings death to all races. The game has all the elements of a classic strategy - a huge game world, a developed technological tree, scarce resources, a system of diplomacy and trade. The developers have provided many main and secondary quests.

Crusader Kings II

Another global strategy in a medieval setting. Gamers are reincarnated as a monarch, striving with all his might to expand his influence in medieval Europe (the period of 769 – 1453 is covered). To achieve this goal, he weaves complex intrigues, treacherously attacks his closest allies, and does not hesitate to kill friends and relatives if they get in his way. The game is designed for thoughtful gamers who like to spend hours understanding complex menus, as well as studying terrain features on maps before bloody battles.

At the center of the project are not abstract nations and states, but dynasties. In the game you can meet many real-life historical characters, each of whom has their own strengths and weaknesses. Over time, players become attached to members of the dynasty, who grow up, get married, have children, die.

Civilization V

There is hardly a gamer in the world who has not heard of this game. Civilization is the most famous, popular and successful global strategy in the history of gaming. The developers have added many mechanisms, heroes, resources, units, and technologies to the game that make it exciting and dynamic. At the same time, the authors did not bother with realism: for example, the Mongols and Aztecs could become the most highly developed nations, and the bloodthirsty Gandhi could be the first to press the “nuclear button” and start a war of all against all. However, this ahistorical nature and absurd scenarios are what make the game a real hit.

In the game you will have to make difficult decisions on the development of the economy, military and social spheres, and choose a political regime. All this has a decisive impact on the reputation and development trajectory of a nation. The graphics of Civilization V are significantly improved compared to previous series, and the redesigned combat system makes battles exciting. In addition, strategy fans constantly post new mods and maps on Steam, so you can enjoy the game endlessly.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

In many aspects, Dawn of War is a traditional RTS - gamers will have to build a base, extract resources, and repel enemy attacks. At the same time, in the game you can already see elements that will soon appear in Company of Heroes: new mechanics, factions, unit morale and much more.

The most attractive thing about Dawn of War is the tension that permeates all missions: you need to constantly move forward, capture and hold territories. At the same time, the generators and strategic resources of the captured points are rapidly depleted. Therefore, players often do not have time to catch their breath - they need to be on the move all the time.

The Dark Crusade update introduced new factions and unique mechanics: gamers can play for the Eldar, Orcs and Imperial Guard.

Total War: Shogun 2

The sequel to the popular RTS can be bluntly called the most successful game in the Total War series. The Creative Assembly took into account the mistakes made in the previous project - Empire, which was an ambitious project with a lot of bugs, and decided to polish the gameplay of Shogun 2 to perfection. She succeeded brilliantly: the Shogun map is diverse and will force gamers to solve many tactical puzzles. At the same time, it is relatively small, which will undoubtedly appeal to fans of battles.

When it comes to visuals, Shogun II is the most attractive game in the series so far. Of course, Rome and Attila boast significantly more realistic graphics, but Shogun II has something much more important - a unique style. The fate of large-scale battles is decided in individual duels, and cherry tree flower petals fly over the battlefield.

Modders have released many new maps, modes, and updates for Shogun 2.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown/Within

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a turn-based strategy game that pits gamers against an alien invasion. Players send squads of six elite fighters to battle alien forces. Battles take place in fields, cities and on board spaceships.

The central XCOM base is like an ant farm, in which there is a scientific department (responsible for the development of technology), a medical unit (in which characters recover after battles), and an intelligence department (where gamers monitor the movements of aliens). Players themselves decide whether to invest available funds in the development of new types of weapons, the deployment of interceptors, or the conduct of combat operations.

Thanks to the Enemy Within update, which came out a year after the release of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, the game added a new faction - EXALTA terrorists, as well as new mechanics.

StarCraft II

The sci-fi RTS StarCraft 2 is a game about the confrontation between iron-clad cowboys, disgusting aliens and space elves. This is a classic real-time strategy game where you collect resources, build armies, and try to kill your opponent before he kills you. Often the fate of a battle is decided as a result of one successful strategic move or a series of quick mouse clicks.

Multiplayer is the most important aspect of StarCraft 2. Playing against people is much more difficult than against AI: they control units faster and make smarter decisions. Many tournaments are held for StarCraft 2, and an eSports community has quickly formed around the RTS.

The single-player mode is no less interesting: Blizzard has developed many interesting missions. In 2015, the last part of the StarCraft 2 trilogy, Legacy of the Void, was released.

Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault

In Company of Heroes 2: Ardennes Assault, US forces battle against German forces for control of the Ardennes, a mountain range of critical strategic importance. Unlike the original game and the sequel, in Ardennes Assault gamers will have to go through three non-linear campaigns that unfold on a strategic map. German troops are in constant motion, so battles can be replayed several times, and each time they will take place differently.

You can only play for Americans: in each of the three companies you can upgrade the skills of the characters. Unlike previous projects, in Ardennes Assault the results of battles have an impact on the entire campaign: if in one of the battles players lost several fighters at once, they will begin the next battle with fewer personnel.

Age of Empires II

This classic RTS launched many gamers' careers: Age of Empires II is easy to learn, fun and fast-paced. Users start the campaign with only a few workers, but after an hour of play they will have built a huge city. In the game you need to get food, wood, gold and stone, construct buildings, and create your own army.

The project covers the era from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance. Gamers can go through multiple campaigns, create their own maps, choose from 13 factions... in general, Age of Empires II will not get boring even after several dozen hours of play.

In 2013, Hidden Path Entertainment released an HD version of the game on Steam. The remake introduced a multiplayer mode and support for mods.

Wargame: AirLand Battle

The Wargame: AirLand Battle project combines elements of the RTS and war game genres: gamers will have to think through the route of movement of units, as well as participate in fierce battles. The game is a sequel to Wargame: European Escalation, dedicated to the confrontation between NATO and the Warsaw Pact countries during the Cold War.

The authors carefully worked on the detail of the battlefields and special effects. On the strategic map, gamers control the course of hostilities, issuing orders for the movements of units and capturing new territories. However, the highlight of Wargame: AirLand Battle is definitely the ability to control one of hundreds of military vehicles to choose from. The developers tried to reflect in the game the unique characteristics of the cars, their strengths and weaknesses. In the multiplayer mode, you can take part in 10 vs 10 battles.

Tropico 4

Tropico 4 is an atmospheric city-building simulator. Gamers transform into the dictator of a fictional island state who must lead his people to greatness.

Gamers themselves choose the path to prosperity: they can mercilessly exploit natural resources and turn the island into an industrialized state, or attract tourists by taking care of the flora and fauna. Or combine both strategies. Each of the players’ decisions entails certain consequences: for example, if you agree to accept migrants, you will need to provide them with housing and work, and for this you need to improve the economy and service industry.

With the growing economic power of the state, there will be a need to negotiate with the leading world powers - the USA, Russia, China and the EU, each of which will try to influence the processes unfolding on the island. They will offer money in exchange for building a military base or recycling waste.

Overall, this is an extremely fun game, blending city building simulation elements with economic and political aspects.

Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion

In Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion, like any other similar game, you need to colonize planets, build an economy, and establish relationships with other races. However, the main emphasis is on large-scale space battles. They look incredibly impressive: battles take place in 3D, ship hulls are torn apart by missiles and lasers, and gunshot tracks cut through the black space of space.

There will always be a lot of movement in the game: scouts will float from planet to planet in search of new resources and worlds, merchant ships will transport goods, and military cruisers will repel attacks from opponents or Pirates.

The game itself is quite difficult, even if you play against the AI. In total, three races are fighting for world domination - the Industrial Trade Coalition (earthly colonists), the Marchers (cyborgs) and the Vasari (technocratic race). The title provides a developed diplomacy system. Gamers can form alliances with both opponents and neutral factions, or bribe Pirates to attack enemies.

DEFCON is a game in which gamers have to do the impossible: try to win a global nuclear war. The goal of the project is to inflict maximum damage on the enemy while escaping with minimal losses. At the beginning, players choose one of six territories (North America, South America, Russia, Europe, Africa and Asia are available), then place military units and fleets. Gamers are given 18 minutes to think and explore. At the first level of danger (DEFCON 3) units begin to automatically attack enemy equipment (you can use aviation and navy), at the second (DEFCON 2) you can launch bombers with nuclear missiles (although the missiles themselves cannot yet be used), at the third (DEFCON 3) - The nuclear apocalypse begins.

The game describes a possible nuclear war scenario quite realistically - it is impossible to save all units in it. The player who manages to destroy the opponents' missile silos before the missiles are launched usually wins.

Supreme Commander

Supreme Commander is the spiritual successor to Total Annihilation in a futuristic setting. The minimum system requirements of the project, released in 2007, were so high that not every gamer could play this colorful RTS. The Gas Powered Games studio has simplified the resource management system as much as possible (there are only two of them - Matter and Energy) and focused on battles - the main goal of the project is to create the ideal killing machine (experimental units).

The game was amazing in its scale: an army could consist of 1000 units in the air, at sea and on land. As in most similar projects, players must ensure the uninterrupted production of new combat vehicles in order to dominate the enemy. To do this, you need to capture and hold sources of resources.

Supreme Commander was one of the first RTS to support a second monitor. This gave a decisive advantage in battle: on the first display, gamers controlled the movements of the enemy on a scalable map, on the second, they controlled their own units.

Star Wars: Empire at War

This game will appeal to all Star Wars fans: Empire at War is a strategy game based on the original trilogy. Gamers can play on the side of both the Empire and the rebels, control huge armies, send the heroes of the saga into battle (like Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader), and also build the Death Star.

The best part of the game, of course, is the large-scale tactical battles in the Galactic Conquest mode, unfolding in space. Up to five people can play on one map: each participant will have their own space station and fleet, with the help of which they must destroy enemy bases. Ships and heroes have specific features that, if used effectively, can have a decisive influence on the outcome of the battle. Experienced players will easily discover the weak points of large ships and give the order to attack them. Watching the X-Wing squadrons try to destroy the Star Destroyer will be a treat for any fan of the space saga.

In addition to space battles, the developers will allow gamers to take part in ground operations. This means that players will be able to control air bikes and AT-AT walkers.

Europa Universalis IV

This global and incredibly complex game from Paradox Development Studio was recognized as the best strategy of 2013. Europa Universalis IV is a real breakthrough because the developers took into account previous mistakes and corrected most of the bugs that migrated from series to series. Moreover, they tried to explain in detail all the places that raised questions among gamers (due to the colossal scale of the game, some mechanics remained unclear), improve the interface and optimize the AI. Of course, to understand Europa Universalis IV you will still have to spend dozens of hours on training. But this game is the most understandable and simplest of the EU series.

Nations seek to expand their influence through trade, diplomacy, economics, exploration of new lands, and the development of new technologies. You can try to colonize America, or conquer India, you can start the game as one of the local tribes in North America. In this project, gamers have the power to change the history of mankind - for example, the Venetian Empire can capture the Apennine Peninsula, annex or conquer all the tribes and go to war with the Ottoman Empire. France can enter into an alliance with England and divide Europe into spheres of influence.

Distant Worlds: Universe

Perhaps this is the most ambitious global turn-based strategy in the history of gaming. The developers created an entire galaxy - 1,400 star systems with more than 50 thousand planets, moons and asteroids, as well as various astronomical objects (black holes, gas giants, supernovae).

Gamers will have to create their own civilization to establish world domination. The authors of Distant Worlds: Universe offer gamers wide customization options: you can start the game on one planet with several light ships, or become the leader of a technologically advanced civilization that has already created a hyperdrive.

The highlight of the game is the ability to automate various processes in the empire: for example, you can not interfere with the economy, concentrating solely on diplomacy and battles. In any case, it won't be easy to beat your opponents: the AI ​​is surprisingly effective.

Age of Wonders III

The project is a reboot of the classic franchise, the last episode of which was released in 2003. This 3D turn-based strategy game takes place in a fantasy world, during an era of fierce confrontation between the Imperial Commonwealth and the Elven Alliance.

In the game you can play as one of 7 races: people, elves, gnomes, goblins, orcs, draconians, halflings. Heroes can belong to one of 6 classes (military leader, theocrat, robber, arch druid, sorcerer or technocrat), and also have a specialization (master of the elements of water, fire, air, earth, adept of creation, destruction, research or construction).

The system of diplomacy and city management are not the strong features of the project. However, the authors managed to make the battles truly exciting: units can be combined with each other and turned into giant armies, and then besiege the enemy’s fortress. The scale of battles is reminiscent of Total War, but the highlight of Age of Wonders III is the ability to use magic.

Order of Battle: Pacific

Everyone knows the importance of the battles that unfolded in the Pacific during World War II. The authors of Order of Battle: Pacific offer to take part in bloody battles on the side of the Japanese Empire or allies.

In this turn-based strategy, which in its style is reminiscent of the good old Panzer General, gamers will have to carefully think through every move. A total of three campaigns are available in which you can change the course of history and, for example, win the war on the side of Japan. Players can control over 500 units such as the legendary M3 Stuart and Type 97 Chi-Ha tanks, A6M Zero and F4U Corsair fighters, or the battleships Montana and Yamato.

During battles, you can unlock heroic commanders, who can provide a decisive advantage in battle.

The first game in the Civilization series, released in 1991, as the leader of his nation, the player will have to create his own state, develop technology and economy, and establish relations with neighboring states. The game has 6 different difficulty levels. In the second part, the changes compared to the previous game were not very large; the graphics took on an isometric appearance. Civilization III offers very developed gameplay, both in terms of the game itself and in terms of software. As in previous versions of the game, the entire history of mankind is simulated - from the birth of civilization to the present and the future. Civilization 4 In the game you are given the opportunity to control one of the empires. As in other games in the series, in Civilization V the player creates and develops his own civilization from ancient times to the near future.

Most specialized publications gave the game high scores: based on several dozen reviews, the game earned an average score of 80.19%, including because through the game menu you can download many mods, scenarios and maps created by amateurs, including those that remain popular, from previous versions of the game. Civilization is on the list.

Total War series

Release date: 2000-2019

Genre:

The gameplay is traditional for Total War games and is a mixture of turn-based strategy and real-time tactics. State management takes place on a strategic map in a step-by-step mode. The entire series of games is notable for its large-scale battles, in which thousands of warriors participate. Such epic battles are made possible thanks to the high-tech graphics engine. Total War is on the list of the best.

Total War received positive reviews from the gaming press; some critics called it a milestone in game design. The real-time combat was praised for its realism. The depth and complexity of the game's strategy, coupled with its well-integrated historical accuracy, also received support from reviewers.

Europa Universalis

Release date: 2000-2013

Genre: Global strategy

The computer game is distinguished by its strategic depth and historical accuracy. A special feature of the game is its connection to real history; There are historical rulers predetermined for each country, each of whom has certain abilities that influence the game. In the game, the player controls one nation through hundreds of years of wars, revolutions and conspiracies. The player will have to manage the economy, create military-political alliances, colonize new lands, control religion and domestic politics, and ensure internal stability.

Starting from the third part of the series, the gameplay became more free and not tied to the real story; historical figures are replaced by random ones, the number of historical events is significantly reduced and now they do not necessarily occur at the same time and in the same place as in reality.

SuperPower 1 and 2

Release date: First 2002 Second 2004

Genre: Global strategy

Global real-time strategy. The game takes place in the modern world, which exactly models our planet. The game has the same states and countries as in the real world. Accurate data includes GDP, population, political system, etc. The main goal of the game is the complete dominance of one of the countries. All actions in the game take place step-by-step. Each step is equal to a week.

SuperPower's gameplay focuses not only on development and combat, but also on diplomacy and politics. The player will be able to create new alliances, declare war, collapse the economies of other countries, or vice versa, build alliances and sign peace treaties. The game contains real-life weapons and equipment that are typical for the respective countries.

Hearts of Iron Series

Release date: 2002-2016

Genre:

A special feature of the new game is the increased role of military operations, since the game is primarily dedicated to the Second World War. Compared to Europa Universalis, all aspects of the game have changed significantly. The mechanics of combat have changed significantly, the number of provinces has increased (which expanded the meaning of maneuver in the theater of operations), and some types of troops (for example, cavalry) and types of brigades have been more accurately represented. Partisans in occupied territories seriously affect the speed of restoration of military units and their effectiveness in battle.

Release date: 2003-2013

Genre: economic strategy

The game covers the historical period from 1836 to 1920. The player can take control of any power that existed in that era. Compared to its predecessor games, Victoria has very complex micromanagement and a developed economic component.

In Victoria II, the player controls one of approximately 200 states in the world between 1836 and 1936. The player has control over a number of tools for managing the economy, science, domestic politics, diplomacy, army and navy. The main difference from other global strategies is the significant emphasis on detailing the internal processes taking place in the state and a developed system of diplomacy available to great powers. Unlike the first part, the developers made the game less dependent on real historical events and more non-linear.

Crusader Kings

Release date: 2004-2012

Genre: global turn-based strategy,

Crusader Kings models the system of feudal relations in medieval Europe and the Middle East, including personal relationships between thousands of characters, wars (including the Crusades), intrigue, and the struggle for influence with the Pope. The process itself is built solely on playing for the dynasty you have chosen, and not the state.

In the game Crusader Kings you have to take on the role of the ruler of one of the powerful Christian dynasties and try to expand your borders. To do this, you will have to constantly monitor the state of your growing empire. If you correctly appoint vassals, successfully resist traitors and introduce laws useful for the development of the state, you will eventually be able to create the most powerful dynasty in medieval Europe.

Master of Orion Series

Release date: 1993-2016

Genre: global turn-based strategy,

The goal of the game is to gain control of the galaxy by colonizing planets and warring with other civilizations, each of which has its own special abilities. Another, diplomatic way to win is to get a majority of votes in the elections and become the leader of a united galaxy. The gameplay of Master of Orion, like its sister games, includes economic, scientific, military and diplomatic components. The game takes place in turn-based mode. There are 3 parts in total. And in 2016 a new version was released.

The interface is designed in the style of a futuristic spaceship, everything is extremely functional and convenient. Developed diplomacy system: trading technology, concluding alliances, collecting tribute, A huge galaxy with distant star systems inhabited by hostile alien races, The ability to create ships with original design and weapons, Support for multiplayer mode for up to 8 players.

Star Wars

Release date: 1998-2006

Genre: global turn-based strategy

Star Wars a strategic computer game based on the original Star Wars trilogy, which has two main modes: campaign mode and Galactic Conquest. In campaign mode it is a classic story-based RTS, and in Galactic Conquest mode it is a global strategy with tactical battles in real time.

The main principle of the game is the battle of two armies. The objectives of the battle may vary depending on the mode and variant of the game. Also, in some cases, the game has a mode that allows the player to edit some combat parameters. In this game, battles can take place both on the surface of planets and in outer space in the orbit of these planets.

Endless Space 1 and 2

Release date: First 2012 Second 2016

Genre: global turn-based strategy, space strategy

Endless Space- offered a fairly stable game, attractive with its excellent design and attractive graphics, and continued to improve the game, releasing add-ons that added a new race, unique buildings, and simply improving the game balance. As of today, the latest version is 1.1.51.

The starting point in the turn-based strategy Endless Space is the year three thousand, and the location of the action is the galaxy and its star systems. Each player at the beginning, choosing one of eight humanoid and non-humanoid races, receives one colonized star system and one inhabited planet. Each of the unique races is characterized by a number of traits that affect the conduct of wars, the development of science, population growth and similar parameters. These traits can significantly affect game strategy, giving an advantage in achieving a certain type of victory: diplomatic, scientific, military, territorial or "miraculous".

Release date: 2009

Genre: global turn-based strategy

This is a turn-based strategy dedicated to creating your own Empire. About a hundred different nations, the ability to siege and storm castles, many technologies available for development and truly global maps. Naturally, the promises of excellent graphics, an exciting plot, and realistic battles are not forgotten.

The combat model is standard for this type of game. Before the battle of the army, you can set the military order and determine the main line of behavior: go on the defensive, launch an attack, wait a certain amount of time, and so on.

Geopolitical Simulator Series

Release date: 2007-2013

Genre: global turn-based strategy

Geopolitical Simulator- a geopolitical simulator in which the player acts as the president of the state. The player’s responsibilities include solving economic problems, as well as social and military ones. In single-player mode, you can choose a free game and develop the country as you wish, or choose a ready-made scenario with specific tasks. In multiplayer mode, the emphasis is on military strategy, where military action is everything.

The game itself is a fully developed simulator of the modern world: the player controls various sectors: politics, both foreign and domestic, economics, environment, army, science, culture, religion, etc. The player’s actions will affect not only the population of the country, but also which he plays: the creation of military bases on the borders with other states will cause them unrest, the destruction of civil liberties will cause a negative reaction in the world community and exclusion from various interstate organizations.

Galactic Civilizations series

Release date: 2003-2015

Genre: Turn-based global strategy, space strategy

The main goal of the game is control of the galaxy. Victory can be achieved through war, a dominant culture, diplomacy, or the development of transcendental technology. The player can win the game in one of four ways - military conquest, cultural dominance, union of all races, or technological superiority. To achieve these goals, the player can do whatever he wants. The game also features a story campaign.

Create the civilization of your dreams: design ships, invent technologies, choose a political system. With a 92% probability, this is the best turn-based strategy on Earth. A unique technology tree for each race, Many new ships and methods of planetary exploration, Improved graphics Map and campaign editor.

Space Empires series

Release date: 1993-2006

Genre: Turn-based global strategy, space

Although the game itself is a turn-based strategy game, tactical battles in space and on the surface are carried out in real time, and it is possible to adjust the speed of the game. Also a characteristic feature of all games in the series is an advanced vehicle creation editor, which allows you to complete all types of units existing in the game with the components necessary for the player. Interestingly, the editor has a built-in simulation mode in which you can immediately test the created equipment in battle, and change the project if its not effective.

The game is played in games (as, for example, in chess). The goal is to achieve an advantage over all other players in one way or another (in fact, there are quite a lot of victory conditions, but they are all just “variations on a theme”). The player is the head of the nation, and controls absolutely all processes occurring in the state.

Napoleon's Campaigns

Release date: 2008

Genre: turn-based global strategy

Napoleon: Age of Conquest-The grand strategy Napoleon’s Campaigns, released in 2007, demonstrated good gameplay for those who like to not bother building empires, but to fight, fight, and only fight. The game was full of interesting army micromanagement and more or less strictly adhered to historical truth.

More than a hundred combat units dressed in historically accurate uniforms, more than 600 real historical leaders with unique abilities and portraits, popular historical events, divisional, corps and army organization of the armed forces, establishing food supplies and a moral system - this is not a complete list of the game’s features. Each turn in the game is equal to one week.

Endless Legend

Release date: 2014

Genre: Turn-based global strategy

Global 4X fantasy strategy. The game's plot depends on the choice of factions, each of which has its own history and company. The player will be able to play and lead any of the eleven available races to victory. The battles are executed in the form of a stepped turn-based battle. First, the player must line up his units, then give orders to everyone and ultimately enter the turn-based combat phase.

The game has a system of heroes that improve troops. When concluding alliances, you can receive technologies from other factions, as well as receive reinforcements from your allies. The game is difficult to learn, as it has great functionality for development. Moreover, each faction has its own characteristics and development paths.

Stellaris

Release date: 2016

Genre: Turn-based global strategy, RTS

Large-scale sci-fi real-time strategy. The game takes place in outer space, which is generated with each new game. The project is built on the confrontation between developing races that are fighting for leadership. The main goal is to achieve maximum development and capture enemy planets. The game has a very highly developed economic component and politics. Detailed ship designer. Huge galaxies with thousands of planets to colonize. Deep research system.

Each faction in Stellaris has its own set of units, weapons and equipment, which creates multifaceted gameplay and forces you to change tactics. As in Civilization, the player can go to victory with the help of brute physical force, destroying competitors, or take the political path, establishing peaceful relations with other races. Excellent replay value for fans of the genre. You can play 1000 hours in the game, changing races and development strategies.

A true classic - the first 3D game from Blizzard and one of the best strategies in principle.

When it released in 2002, Warcraft III had it all. Wonderful graphics, which, thanks to the unique style, look good even now, exciting gameplay with role-playing elements that influenced the entire RTS genre, a gorgeous plot in a well-thought-out universe, and support for mods.

If it weren't for Warcraft III, there would be neither DotA nor the MOBA genre as such.

2. XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Tactical strategy on PC in which you need to defend the Earth from aliens.

The main thing about XCOM is the constant need to take on challenges. Who should you send on a difficult mission: a veteran who will have a better chance of winning, or a newbie who you won’t mind losing? Which one should be given more powerful armor or a gun? Should you order the fighters to attack the strongest alien or deal with the smaller enemies first?

Every aspect of the game - managing the base, changing character equipment and the battles themselves - is incredibly exciting.

3. Company of Heroes

In appearance this is the most ordinary strategy game, but in reality Company of Heroes is one of the most humane games about war. This is because the player rarely has more than a few squads under his command (unlike several dozen units in traditional RTS). You worry about the fighters as much as you do about yourself and build tactics in such a way as to ensure their survival.

With an advanced graphics engine for its time and thoughtful missions, Company of Heroes shows the brutality of war. No matter how hard you try, people still die - this is the price of victory.

4. StarCraft II

StarCraft II is the world's premier eSports strategy game. Every millimeter of the map, every character's special ability, every building available for construction - everything is mathematically verified to generate the most exciting matches. It’s not for nothing that tournaments in the game take place almost every couple of weeks, and the prize pools in them reach up to $700,000.

If you don't really like microcontrol and multitasking, then StarCraft II also has a great single-player campaign. It has an excellent plot about the confrontation between three races and various types of missions. Plus, you don’t have to click the mouse so much to complete it.

5. Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak

6. Supreme Commander

The spiritual successor to Total Annihilation, which improves and expands on the ideas of the original. Essentially, this is a game about leisurely battles of huge people on giant maps.

Matches in Supreme Commander rarely last less than an hour. This time is needed to build a base with a balanced economy and prepare enough combat units to destroy the enemy.

Supreme Commander is a grand strategy game in every sense. The number of fighters on one side sometimes reaches a thousand, and you need to think through your actions at least 10 minutes in advance.

7. Total War: Shogun 2

Among the games in the Total War series, it is difficult to choose the best, but Lifehacker chose Shogun 2. Of all the modern parts, it is perhaps the most complete, concentrated and understandable even for beginners.

In Total War: Shogun 2, the player takes on the role of the head of a clan in medieval Japan. The goal is to take over the entire country. To do this, you can use diplomacy, economics, and even intrigue - sending assassins and spies.

But the main thing is, of course, epic battles, in which it is very important to correctly place your troops on the location.

8. Age of Empires II HD

In Age of Empires II, the player needs to lead a civilization through several eras: the Dark Ages, feudalism, the castle era, and so on. You can play as one of several factions, such as Japan, Mongolia or the Celts.

The main feature of the game is the combination of resource management with military operations. When fighting in Age of Empires II, it’s not enough to just raise an army; you also need to build a powerful economy by building houses, quarries and sawmills, and cultivating fields.

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10th place - The Political Machine 2016

• Year of issue: 2016
• Developer: Stardock

The Political Machine 2016 is an election race simulator from Stardock, the fourth game in The Political Machine series, in which the player leads an election campaign to be elected President of the United States. The goal is achieved by traveling from state to state in which the player receives money and ratings to achieve the final goal.

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9th place - Urban Empire

• Year of issue: 2017
• Developer: Kalypso Media

Urban Empire is a successful combination of urban planning and political simulator. The city in the game is ruled by a dynasty of measures, around whom their rivals are constantly weaving intrigues. The player will have to build infrastructure, create entire districts, use power to pass certain laws for the city, participate in political processes and even bribe his rivals. The city begins its development in the 1820s and experiences 5 different eras, each of which implies its own dangers and opportunities.

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8th place - PeaceMaker

• Year of issue: 2007
• Developer: ImpactGames

A political simulator in which the player has to choose a side in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. It is necessary to react and make social, political and military decisions. Critics note that the game is very realistic and forces the player to understand the essence of the situation.

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7th place - President for a Day: Corruption

• Year of issue: 2015
• Developer: Serious Games Interactive

President for a Day: Corruption is a strategic simulator of the president of an African country. The player's responsibilities will include solving various social, economic and military problems. How to resolve them depends only on your actions.

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6th place - Crisis in the Kremlin

• Year of issue: 1991
• Developer: Sphere, Inc.

In the story, we have to play as the General Secretary of the CPSU (incorrectly called the President during the game) in the period from 1985 to 2017. The player can choose reformer Mikhail Gorbachev, nationalist Boris Yeltsin or conservative Yegor Ligachev as the main character. The game features political jokes quoted by the KGB chairman, depicting the misfortunes of the Soviet people in a humorous light. There are many inscriptions in Russian to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the game.

5 Victoria II

5th place - Victoria 2

• Year of issue: 2010
• Developer: Paradox Interactive

In Victoria II you can play as any of the 271 countries in the world from 1836 to 1936. The player has access to a number of tools that have both direct and indirect effects on the internal processes taking place in the state. Unlike the previous game in the series, Victoria II has virtually no strictly predetermined historical events tied to a specific date. Instead, a system has been introduced according to which certain events occur when certain conditions are met. The entire working population of the world in the game is presented in the form of separate groups, each of which has a specific profession, nationality, religion, literacy level and political views. Every resident of the country can migrate, get a job (or lose it), change profession, and also has certain needs for goods. The entire population is divided into 12 types.

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4th place - Tropico 5

• Year of issue: 2014
• Developer: Haemimont Games

There are four different eras available in Tropico 5, ranging from the Colonial Era, World Wars, Cold Wars, and Modern Times, allowing you to progress from the 19th to the 21st centuries. El Presidente now has a dynastic family that will be present on the island. In addition, functions in the areas of trade, research, upgrades and exploration have been redesigned. Thanks to multiplayer, diplomacy allows players to share resources, builders and electricity. In addition, they can help each other with money. Finally, players can compete and even declare war on each other.

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3rd place - SuperPower 2

• Year of issue: 2004
• Developer: GolemLabs

The game features planet Earth with almost all states at the beginning of 2001. In SuperPower 2 the map is spherical and extended. Many elements of the game are realistic. The population, GDP, geopolitical relations and military equipment are identical to the real ones, which are in service with the respective countries. As in real life, states are members of various international organizations, such as the UN, CIS, NATO and others, less known. In addition to the traditional focus on military units for global strategies, SuperPower 2 has macroeconomic regulation tools: the Central Bank refinancing rate, income tax and enterprise tax, which differs for sectors of the economy.

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2nd place - Democracy 3

• Year of issue: 2013
• Developer: Positech Games

There is no foreign policy, all diplomacy comes down to humanitarian assistance, laws on foreign investment and the like. There is no war at all (although there are armed forces, and occasionally it happens that the strength of the army affects the outcome). The main essence of the game is to satisfy all segments of the population, while keeping the budget in the black.

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1st place - Power and Revolution: Geopolitical Simulator 4

• Year of issue: 2016
• Developer: Eversim

Power and Revolution is the fourth part of the line of computer games in the Geopolitical Simulator strategy genre, in which the player acts as the head of state or the leader of an opposition party. The player’s responsibilities include solving economic, social, and military problems. Among the advantages, players note a detailed world where everything is interconnected; new scenarios and game mode for the opposition. The downside is the outdated engine and a large number of bugs.