While strategy and simulation games can’t boast that they have the same year as action, RPGs, and horror games, 2023 is pretty amazing for all genres. This includes any of your favorite games that let you control massive armies, powerful dragons, or the analog feeling of managing an entire city, so join us as we take a look at some of the best strategy and simulation games released this year.
5. Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin
I’m glad we’re number one on this list. Warhammer: Age of Sigmar: Realm of Ruin has high hopes for Warhammer fans, as it looks to be a fantasy version of the hugely successful Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2. While it may not hit the mark everywhere, and the combat may prove a bit superficial, the game is a great introduction to Warhammer Age of Sigmar and the RTS genre.
Take control of one of four unique factions and vie for control of the Beast Kingdom, using your wits and some cool-looking units to achieve victory. There’s also a pretty solid campaign, so if you’re looking for a decent fantasy story, this game will suit your needs as well.
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4. Total War: Pharaoh
From Creative Assembly, the legendary strategy developers, we get a new historical entry in the Total War series. Fans are still divided over Total War: Pharaohs, but it does bring a lot of new and interesting features to the table.
Mainly, the battles have never been so epic on a historical scale. Using the new dynamic weather system, you can take advantage of heavy rain, sweltering heat, and more, and grab some great screenshots as your troops clash with enemy forces. Additionally, when it comes to activities, there are plenty of customization features that help keep the experience fresh for longer.
3. Cities: Skylines II
Following the success of the first Cities: Skylines, gaming fans went into a frenzy when the sequel was announced. Again, there are some disagreements on performance, but Cities: Skylines II still delivers a city management experience that few can match.
With an improved management scheme, artificial intelligence, and a level of detail that can be confusing at times, Cities: Skylines II delivers an excellent experience that should rival the best games on offer in 2023’s analog and strategy lineup.
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2. Company of Heroes 3
Speaking of games with high expectations, Company of Heroes has established itself as a series with realistic and strategic wartime gameplay. If that’s what you’re looking for, there’s nothing to disappoint in the third game. It may not be as accessible as Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Realms of Ruin, but for those who want that extreme depth, you’ll find it here.
Large campaigns let you take on a range of different missions, otherwise it still requires you to manage your units pretty perfectly if you want to stand out. For those who enjoy going back to World War II theater, you’ll want to check out Company of Heroes 2.
1. Landless
Terra Nil ended up at the top of the list, mainly because it offers something so different that we couldn’t help but be drawn to it. Like many other management and simulation games, you will control areas and start them from scratch. But instead of spreading your influence or putting your color on the map, you’re doing the opposite.
Your mission is to clean up humanity’s mess and make the world a place where animals can once again live undisturbed. You’ll need to clean up pollution, recycle metal from abandoned buildings, and more to make your surroundings beautiful again.
Did we miss any games? Let us know what your favorite analogy/strategy game was this year!
