Strategy Game Reviews – Bluntly Honest Reviews

Check out all 77 of our Strategy Game Reviews, ranked from best to worst!

Warriors in traditional Chinese armour engaging in battle with spears and swords

Is Total War: Three Kingdoms Worth Playing?

Total War: Three Kingdoms is without question one of the best Total War titles in the 25-year history of the franchise, which makes it early demise even more unfortunate.

7 min read PC

Fantasy battle scene with winged demons fighting armored soldiers under a stormy blue sky

Review 10/10

Is Total War: Warhammer III Worth Playing?

Total War: Warhammer III's Immortal Empires campaign is without question the best way to play Total War Warhammer and arguably Total War in general, and will likely remain so for many years…

6 min read PC

Fantasy battle with armoured warriors fighting and a warrior on a large flying eagle-like creature

Review 10/10

Is Total War: Warhammer Worth Playing?

Total War: Warhammer is, without question, one of the greatest strategy games of all time, and the start of a series whose legacy continues to grow even as it races towards its…

6 min read PC

Portraits of World War II soldiers with battle scenes and aircraft above, desert pyramids at background

Review 10/10

Is Company of Heroes 3 Worth Playing?

After a less-than-illustrious start, Company of Heroes 3 has become everything it set out to be and more, at least as far as the PC version is concerned.

6 min read PC / Xbox Series X|S

Three historical leaders with iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Colosseum in the background under a twilight sky

Review 10/10

Is Civilization VI Worth Playing?

Like every other entry in the Civilization Franchise, Civilization VI is a timeless treasure that gamers will return to time and time again for decades to come.

7 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Bronze statues of ancient warriors fighting, with spears and shields, and the title Troy Total War Saga below

Review 10/10

Is Total War Saga: Troy Worth Playing?

Despite the Total War Saga: Troy being described as a spin-off title with a smaller scope than a traditional Total War game, it is one of the deepest and most comprehensive titles…

10 min read PC

Black and white stylised artwork of five samurai warriors in traditional armour, with red blood splatters

Review 10/10

Is Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun Worth Playing?

Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun remains one of the best RTT titles released in the past ten years, and fans of the genre who somehow missed this title will certainly want…

3 min read PC / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S

Silhouetted cowboy walking towards a group of figures with a desert and old western buildings at sunset

Review 10/10

Is Desperados III Worth Playing?

Desperados III is one of the greatest Real Time Tactics (RTT) games ever released and should be viewed as a benchmark for developers working on RTT titles for decades to come.

4 min read PC / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S

Promotional artwork for Age of Empires IV featuring medieval warriors and war elephants in battle

Review 10/10

Is Age Of Empires IV Worth Playing?

Age Of Empires IV proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that in the right developer's hands, a modern RTS is possible and that remastering classic titles is not the only way…

5 min read PC / Xbox Series X|S

Artwork featuring a central human leader with grey hair and beard surrounded by diverse alien figures and spaceships against a cosmic background

Review 10/10

Is Stellaris Worth Playing?

Stellaris is so far ahead of its competitors in the genre that it would take a jump to lightspeed at this point for them to catch up.

5 min read PC / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S

Volcanic eruption at night with stormy sky and anthropomorphic animals watching from foreground

Review 10/10

Is Against The Storm Worth Playing?

I have never seen a game with more dedicated and transparent developers than Against The Storm.

5 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Review 9/10

Is Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Definitive Edition Worth Playing?

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Definitive Edition is a near perfect remaster of one of the best real-time strategy games in the history of the genre, and I could not be…

4 min read PC

Epic fantasy battle scene with warriors, monsters, and a dragon breathing fire under a stormy sky

Review 9/10

Is Total War: Warhammer II Worth Playing?

While not as good as Total War: Warhammer I & III, Total War: Warhammer II is one of the best Total War games ever made, and without doubt one of the greatest…

7 min read PC

Portrait of a Napoleonic soldier in uniform above a battlefield scene with the title Napoleon Total War

Rear View 9/10

Is Napoleon: Total War Worth Playing?

While Napoleon: Total War may not be the best Total War game, it is an excellent game in its own right, and I would love to see the developers return to it…

4 min read PC

Close-up of a medieval knight with bruised face and a golden crown, game title Total War Medieval II Definitive Edition

Rear View 9/10

Is Medieval II: Total War Worth Playing?

While Medieval II: Total War is almost 20 years old, it remains one of the best titles in the history of the Total War franchise and is as fun to play in…

3 min read

Close-up of a Roman soldier shouting, wearing a detailed helmet and armour with Total War Rome Collection text beneath

Rear View 9/10

Is Rome: Total War Worth Playing?

Over 20 years after its original release, Rome: Total War is still one of the best strategy games I have ever played.

5 min read PC

Review 9/10

Is 63 Days Worth Playing?

With the launch of 63 Days, Destructive Creations takes another step away from its past in an effort to cement itself as a major player in the Real-Time Tactic genre.

5 min read PC / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S

Seven vertical strips showing close-up painted faces of diverse characters with varied expressions and headgear

Rear View 9/10

Is Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri Worth Playing?

Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri is perhaps the best 4X game released in the 1990s, and the fact we have gone for almost 25 years without a sequel is astonishing.

4 min read PC

Group of ghostly pirate characters in adventurous poses with glowing eyes and mystical attire

Review 9/10

Is Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew Worth Playing?

A new game and IP from Mimimi is just what the ship's doctor ordered, and despite the rest of 2023 being stacked, I will certainly be making time to play Shadow Gambit:…

6 min read PC / Xbox Series X|S

Seven diverse characters in military and civilian attire walk forward against barbed wire and watchtowers with War Mongrels title above them

Review 9/10

Is War Mongrels Worth Playing?

War Mongrels joins the small but growing list of titles that had a terrible launch but later became some of the best games in their respective genres due to the developers' determination…

4 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Armoured figure with a glowing staff and red cape surveying troops near cliffs and waterfalls in a fantasy world

Review 8/10

Is Endless Legend 2 Worth Playing?

Endless Legend 2 has one chance of enduring success, and that is to beat Civilization VII’s first expansion pack to market, not an easy feat for a title that is already well…

5 min read PC

Rear View 8/10

Is ENDLESS Legend Worth Playing?

While Endless Legend was a breath of fresh air when it released in 2014, over a decade later it is starting to feel a little stale.

4 min read PC

Five medieval kings in armour stand with serious expressions behind 'Thrones of Britannia' game title text

Review 8/10

Is Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia Worth Playing?

The main reason A Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia failed is that it was not Total War: Medieval 3, which for many fans of the series was reason enough to review…

4 min read PC

Digital art of six characters from Chains of Freedom with a red and black background

Review 8/10

Is Chains of Freedom Worth Playing?

While Chains of Freedom may lack the polish and marketing of larger games in the real-time tactics genre, it is undoubtedly one of the best titles the AA real-time tactics genre has…

4 min read PC / Xbox Series X|S

Rear View 8/10

Is Total War: Rome II Worth Playing?

Despite a shaky start, after five years of developer updates and community feedback, Total War: Rome II is a worthy successor to Rome: Total War in almost every way.

9 min read PC

Review 8/10

Is The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak Worth Playing?

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak is more of the same in the best way possible, and its release brings the West one step closer to full parity with Japan, with…

7 min read Nintendo Switch / PC

Four fantasy characters and game title text with a red ribbon banner background at sunset

Review 8/10

Is Songs of Conquest Worth Playing?

While Songs of Conquest is one of the best strategy games of the last few years, it is not without issue and cannot rightfully be called a "masterpiece" despite coming very close…

8 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox Series X|S

Artistic cover showing central colonial-era man in blue coat with hat, flanked by multiple historic figures and battle scenes behind

Review 8/10

Is Age of the Empires III: Definitive Edition Worth Playing?

Despite being a less impressive release than Age of the Empires II: Definitive Edition, Age of the Empires III: Definitive Edition is still worth playing for fans of the original, even if…

12 min read PC

Two historical leaders in front of battle scenes with tanks, soldiers, and warships under a cloudy sky

Rear View 8/10

Is Civilization V Worth Playing?

Despite its age, Civilization V remains one of the best 4X titles in the 40-year history of the beloved subgenre.

6 min read PC

Close-up of large fingers holding a planet with smaller planets in background and the title Dune Spice Wars above

Review 8/10

Is Dune: Spice Wars Worth Playing?

Dune: Spice Wars is a return to form for Shiro Games and an assurance that the debacle of Darkburg was an exception and not the norm.

7 min read PC / Xbox Series X|S

Archer in blue hood firing twin crossbows at approaching horned demon-like creatures in a rocky landscape

Review 7/10

Is Here Comes The Swarm Worth Playing?

While Here Comes The Swarm is very similar to other games on the market, the addition of a progression system adds a layer of replayability, that many other titles in the genre…

4 min read PC

Review 7/10

While Superball is little more than a rehash of Rocket League combined with Overwatch-style characters and abilities, it is a very fun rehash. Unfortunately, its dwindling player base and lack of public…

3 min read PC / Xbox Series X|S

Diverse historical figures stand before a cityscape with pyramids and modern buildings under a twilight sky

Review 7/10

Is Humankind Worth Playing?

Humankind is a solid attempt to challenge Civilization, but like every contender in the last 30+ years, it ultimately falls short.

6 min read PC / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S

Colourful animated storefront with diverse cartoon characters and large Discounty sign overhead

Review 7/10

Is Discounty Worth Playing?

While Discounty has plenty of potential, its rough edges and relatively poor sales mean that much of that potential will go unrealised.

4 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Three distinct futuristic helmets from Warhammer 40K Dawn of War III displayed above a large pile of human skulls

Review 7/10

Is Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III Worth Playing?

While Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War III is a vastly more enjoyable RTS game than Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II, the developers' insistence on chasing trends resulted in a title that…

5 min read PC

Review 7/10

Is Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II: Anniversary Edition Worth Playing?

For better or worse, Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II is a perfect example of the type of RTS titles that were released in the years following the end of the golden…

5 min read PC

Digital portrait of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh in a blue and gold headdress with ornate collar

Review 7/10

Is Total War: Pharaoh Worth Playing?

While Total War: Pharaoh is not the worst Total War game ever made, it is certainty the one which is most out of touch with its core demographic.

5 min read PC

Rear View 7/10

Is Total War: Shogun 2 Worth Playing?

Total War Shogun 2 is an excellent title, albeit one held back by a lack of identity, and some design choices which are questionable to say the least.

6 min read PC

Rear View 7/10

Is Total War: Attila Worth Playing?

Total War: ATTILA was developed with next-generation hardware in mind. Unfortunately, that hardware would not arrive in the way that the developers envisioned.

5 min read PC

Soldier in red uniform shouting and holding musket with British flags and naval ships in the background

Rear View 7/10

Is Empire: Total War Worth Playing?

Bloated, Laggy, occasionally problematic, and the last of an era, Empire: Total War is all these things. Yet despite all of this, it still is one of the unique titles in the…

5 min read PC

Armoured bearded man holding flaming sword with game title Age of Darkness Final Stand

Review 7/10

Is Age of Darkness: Final Stand Worth Playing?

After three years in early access, Age of Darkness: Final Stand hobbles across the finish line, but as someone who played it shortly after its early access release, I cannot say I…

6 min read PC

Group of diverse characters from Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire with an airship and flying robots in the sky

Review 7/10

Is Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire Worth Playing?

Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire, at its core, is an excellent turn-based RPG, albeit one held back by lacklustre open-world gameplay, low-quality visuals, and weak dialogue.

4 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Overhead view of a castle siege with soldiers defending walls against hordes of enemies in a strategy game

Early-Access-Review 7/10

Is Diplomacy is Not an Option Worth Playing?

Diplomacy is Not an Option is a near-perfect indie game for $15 or less; unfortunately, it retails for $24.99 in early access, and that price is set to increase before leaving Early…

4 min read PC

Medieval knight on horseback leading troops with siege engines and burning castle in background

Review 7/10

Is Stronghold: Definitive Edition Worth Playing?

Stronghold: Definitive Edition is a disappointing remaster of a niche title which fails to make any meaningful improvements to Stronghold's ageing mechanics, pitiful AI, and glacial pacing.

5 min read PC

Collage of famous world landmarks including the Colosseum, Statue of Liberty, Eiffel Tower, and Great Sphinx

Rear View 7/10

Is Sid Meier’s Civilization IV Worth Playing?

While Sid Meier's Civilization IV represents the franchise's first teetering steps into modern gaming and remains an important part of PC gaming history, it has been well and truly surpassed in every…

4 min read PC

Rear View 7/10

Is Sid Meier’s Civilization II: Conflicts in Civilization Worth Playing?

Sid Meier's Civilization (1991) is one of the most important PC games in history and, in many ways, is responsible for the widespread popularity and mass adoption of the 4X genre by…

8 min read PC

Review 7/10

Is Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms Worth Playing?

Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms is a fun and friendly free-2-play title that could quickly become very costly for those who have a problem with impulse purchases.

4 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Medieval soldiers and a king on horseback outside a burning castle during a siege

Review 7/10

Is Old World: Complete Worth Playing?

While Old World is one of the best-designed 4X titles on the market, unfortunately, it also suffers from some of the worst performance issues in the genre.

6 min read PC

Colourful title screen showing fantasy characters with a mountainous and volcanic landscape

Review 7/10

Is Legends of Kingdom Rush Worth Playing?

Legends of Kingdom Rush is a vibrant and surprisingly difficult turn-based strategy game, that unfortunately will prove to be too difficult for the average gamer.

4 min read PC

Three colourful silhouettes of historical figures filled with scene landscapes and cityscapes from different eras

Review 6/10

Is Ara: History Untold Worth Playing?

Ara: History Untold tries to do too many things at once, and unfortunately ends up failing at most of them.

4 min read PC

Dark fortress with flaming towers and smoky night sky, animated armoured figure in foreground and large 'Darfall' title

Review 6/10

Is Darfall Worth Playing?

I wanted to like Darfall, I really did, but after spending a considerable amount of time with it, I must admit it is just not worth my time.

3 min read PC

Armoured medieval knight with sword riding a horse, Total War Medieval Collection text below

Rear View 6/10

Is Medieval: Total War Worth Playing?

While Medieval: Total War was ahead of its time in 2002, there is no reason to play it 20+ years later beyond curiosity or nostalgia.

3 min read PC

Large white skull wearing a gold crown sits in a vast cracked desert with distant mountains and ruined castles

Review 6/10

Is Millennia Worth Playing?

While the developers went to great strides to ensure that Millennia had something unique to offer, that Civilization did not, it appears in doing so, they ran out of time and resources…

9 min read PC

Cartoon soldiers shooting weapons in a battle scene with various monsters and explosions

Early-Access-Review 6/10

Is Defender Bros Worth Playing?

Defender Bros is a decent game in a genre filled with excellent titles. It never had a chance of survival, and while its launch was nothing to write home about, I am…

2 min read PC

Rear View 6/10

Is Sid Meier’s Civilization III Worth Playing?

Sid Meier's Civilization III was in many ways the "last traditional" Civilization III, and yet even 22 years later, it stands out as one of the best titles in the series, assuming…

5 min read PC

Female warrior with twin crescent blades and a glowing blue spirit figure behind her with a flying dragon and a castle in the misty background

Review 6/10

Is The Dragoness: Command of the Flame Worth Playing?

The Dragoness: Command of the Flame is a fantastic HoM clone, held back by a lack of meaningful progression and many performance issues.

6 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Three medieval fantasy characters in armor around a throne with ornate gothic details and candles

Review 6/10

Is Shattered Heaven Worth Playing?

While Shattered Heaven's theology leaves much to be desired, its willingness to narratively address redemption and atonement, combined with stunning visuals and a haunting soundtrack, makes Shattered Heaven one of the most…

10 min read PC

Early-Access-Review 6/10

Is Age of Darkness: Final Stand Worth Playing?

Age of Darkness: Final Stand is a great strategy game, held back by overly enthusiastic developers who fix what isn't broken and break what didn't need fixing.

5 min read PC

Three fantasy characters stand ready for battle amid rocky terrain and dark, monstrous creatures under a starry night sky

Review 6/10

Is The Hand of Merlin Worth Playing?

The Hand of Merlin is a decent game held back by its many performance issues and a startling lack of diversity.

4 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Review 6/10

Is Foretales Worth Playing?

Foretales is an excellent game hampered by excessive RNG and over-reliance on time-wasting mechanics to inflate playtime.

5 min read Nintendo Switch / PC

Metallic samurai mask emblem above Total War Shogun Collection text on brown background

Rear View 5/10

Is Shogun: Total War Worth Playing?

While Shogun: Total War was ahead of its time when it released in June 2000, almost 25 years later, there is no reason to play beyond curiosity or nostalgia.

3 min read PC

Astronaut looking out a hexagonal window at Earth and a space station, with the game title beside him

Rear View 5/10

Is Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth Worth Playing?

While Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth is a decent game, it is a lacklustre Civilization title and ultimately an unworthy successor to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri.

7 min read PC

Silhouetted figures including survivors and vehicles against a vibrant orange and pink sunset sky with the game title above

Review 5/10

Is Surviving the Aftermath Worth Playing?

Surviving the Aftermath began as a promising title; however, two years of overdevelopment have reduced an excellent title to a barely passable one.

5 min read Nintendo Switch / PC / Xbox One

Roman soldier shouting and swinging a sword in front of an army with red banners and ancient city structures

Review 4/10

Is Total War: Rome Remastered Worth Playing?

While Rome: Total War is one of the best strategy games ever made, Total War: Rome Remastered is perhaps the worst Total War game ever released.

7 min read PC

Green text reading 'Multiplayer Shooters' with black shooting target icons on each side

Review 2/10

Is Multiplayer Shooters Worth Playing?

How can Archor Games afford to release so many terrible asset flips onto Steam at $100 a title? I have no idea. Still, like the rest of their back catalogue, Multiplayer Shooters…

3 min read PC

Review 2/10

Is Tortuga – A Pirate’s Tale Worth Playing?

While Tortuga - A Pirate's Tale has its moments, an over-reliance on repetition and random encounters makes Tortuga - A Pirate's Tale one of my least enjoyed games of 2023.

9 min read PC / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S

White-haired cartoon character holding cash and positioning a chair in a small room model

Let's Talk 1/10

Lets Talk About: Nano Flat Owner

Nano Flat Owner is a landlord sim about buying and decorating flats where tenants are reduced to numbers; riddled with bugs and hollow, seemingly AI-assembled, the reviewer calls it unrecommendable.

4 min read

Two armoured kings facing each other with a castle and soldiers in the background

Let's Talk 1/10

Lets Talk About: Kingdom Loop.

In a year full to the brim with amazing titles, there is little room for games such as Kingdom Loop that fail to improve or innovate on formulas already popularised by other…

3 min read PC

Silhouetted soldiers holding rifles advancing through smoky battlefield with helicopter overhead

Editorial

Battlefield Multiplayer Health Check 2025 – Which Games Are Still Active?

It’s that time again – with Battlefield’s latest chapter now out in the wild, we look back at the series to see which wars are still raging, and which have finally gone…

4 min read

Five soldiers in silhouette advancing through a misty, smoky battlefield holding rifles

Editorial

Call of Duty Multiplayer Health Check 2025 – Which Games Are Still Active?

It’s that time of year again - a new Call of Duty is almost upon us, and so we must look back at the more recent entries in the series to see…

6 min read

Collage of historical and fantasy warriors encircling a golden Total War 25 Years emblem

Editorial

Total War Turns 25!

On the 13th of June 2025, the Total War franchise turned 25 years old. To celebrate this milestone, here is our coverage of every mainline and saga game released in the quarter-century…

1 min read

Glowing carved pumpkins arranged on front porch and steps at dusk with a jack-o'-lantern decoration on the door

Deep Dive

Deep Dive #3: It’s Almost Spooktober, And Some People Aren’t Happy About It.

It's the time of year again when everyone and their mother have an opinion on "Is Halloween Evil?" but who is right, and in the end, does it really matter?

8 min read

Pixel art of a bearded man holding a lit torch in a graveyard with gravestones labelled 'dead game'

Editorial

I Played Ten “Dead” Games, So You Don’t Have To.

What Is A Dead Game? When it comes to dead games, the actual activity of said titles can range from games that are falsely declared dead because a small but vocal part…

15 min read

A sinister man with glowing red eyes, large horns, and bat wings smiles maliciously, surrounded by four joyful children

Deep Dive

Deep Dive #2: Woe Unto the False Gods of Gaming.

Something is deeply wrong when profit and clicks matter more than truth and integrity; a troubling reality that's all too common among many streamers and journalists today.

8 min read

Mary and Joseph kneeling by baby Jesus in a manger under a glowing star in a dark blue night sky

Deep Dive

Deep Dive #1: What Christmas Means To Gamers, And Why Its Our Favourite Holiday.

Christmas is one of the most exciting times of the year for gamers, but is there a deeper connection between gamers and the holiday than even they realise?

8 min read

Collage of Call of Duty characters behind a white square with '20 Years' text

Editorial

Happy 20th Birthday to the Call of Duty Franchise.

As one of the most iconic franchises in gaming, we would be remiss not to cover Call of Duty titles, especially as the iconic franchise celebrates its 20th birthday and finds a…

1 min read PC / Xbox One / Xbox Series X|S

Side-by-side view of Factorio's 2D factory layout and Satisfactory's 3D industrial complex with a cartoon character thinking in between

Review

Factorio VS Satisfactory

Factorio and Satisfactory are incredibly similar mechanically and share a similar gameplay loop; however visually they could not be less alike, today let's put these games head to head and see who…

3 min read PC