If you have always dreamed of preventing the collapse of the Soviet Union and wanted an alternative and better future for all Soviet countries, then the game Crisis in the Kremlin is ideal for you.

There are extremely rare cases when games from consoles are successfully transferred to a personal computer, and when it is the RTS genre, then there are simply a few such games. But still, the computer games company Ensemble took a risk...

Codex of Victory is a turn-based strategy game with stunning hand-drawn graphics, an interesting plot and the ability to play multiplayer. What is also attractive about it is the low requirements for your personal computer system...

The game Endless Legend is a turn-based strategy game in a hexagonal grid, but if you have already played the latest parts of such a famous strategy as Civilization, then you don’t need to explain anything else in terms of gameplay...

The game Life Is Feudal Forest Village is a mixture of genres such as indie, village simulator (like SimCity) and strategy. It is a completely peaceful game, that is, it has no combat component (so far...

We invite you to solve global political problems at the highest levels in the game Realpolitiks. It immediately aroused different opinions among many players, despite the fact that it was published quite recently...

Syrian Warfare is an interpretation of the armed conflict in Syria, which continues to this day. The terrible war continues and many do not even know about it. Therefore, the game intends to tell and show...

Planar Conquest is the spiritual successor to the game Master of Magic, that is, a turn-based strategy whose goal is rather prosaic - conquest, destruction, plunder and world domination.

The seventh part of the famous turn-based strategy series was developed in close collaboration with the fan community. The game developers held votes among fans on many key issues, which allowed...

Eador: Imperium is a hefty addition to the main game, so to speak (however, it can be played without the previous version, it is presented as a standalone game).

SteamWorld Heist is a new unique turn-based and driving strategy, and it is also an RPG, which makes it even more interesting and original.

December 2016 gives all fans of tactical stealth real-time strategies - Shadow Tactics - Blades of the Shogun. The plot of the game Shadow Tactics - Blades of the Shogun takes place in Japan during the Ed...

Urban Empire is a game created for fans of the strategy genre, namely a city planning simulator. Your reign as mayor of the city will begin back in the 18th century. But besides the usual problems of the city, and economic...

Warhammer 40,000: Sanctus Reach on PC is a long-awaited outlet for all fans who are missing high-quality strategy games in the famous gaming universe.

Alien Shooter TD is a great opportunity to remember exactly what short, interesting and enjoyable adventures should look like. Everything in this game is perfect, from the graphics to the music...

The game Thea the Awakening is of interest to the gaming public because it successfully mixes such diverse genres of computer games as RPG, Rogue and strategy.

Master Of Orion is a remake of the second part “Lord of Orion”; let us remind you that there is the first (this is natural), the second and the third parts. But still, preference was given to part No. 2.

Might Magic Heroes VII takes place between the stories of the previous two heroes, and the game's campaign focuses on the great guardian Ivan Griffin.

Since this is already the second part of +the banner saga 2, it immediately becomes clear from the first episode that the game is not for beginners. For those new to the saga, this is a turn-based strategy game.

The release date has arrived for Sid Meier’s Civilization VI - a turn-based strategy in which you have to create a powerful empire from the chosen civilization. You'll have to put in a lot of effort to maintain...

Hearts of Iron IV is a global strategy, a time period for which we will have the honor of playing for free - the years of the Second World War, as well as the subsequent years of the Cold Wars.

Download strategy games on PC for free

Want to download strategy games on PC? No problem.. We keep an eye on new products, so the site always has an excellent selection of computer entertainment!

First strategies

Strategy is a genre that has captivated the minds of millions of gamers around the world. In such games, the key to success is careful planning and efficient use of available resources. The founder of the genre is considered to be the computer game “Stonkers”, released in 1983. Its gameplay was created by Lawnson and Gibson. In 1993, the beloved strategy game “Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty” appeared on the market. It quickly became popular due to its unconventional gameplay and cool graphics controls.

The very first game to use terrain and 3D units was Total Annihilation (1997). It has two modes: team and single. Ships, submarines, cars, and amphibious aircraft are used as combat units.

Homeworld is the first space strategy game, published in 1999. It is notable for the fact that all battles are fought in three-dimensional space. But wonderful background pictures of space are used as battle cards.

Computer strategies are a good workout for the brain

The newest and best strategies on PC 2015, 2014, 2013, presented here, are of interest to thoughtful gamers who do not like to rush. The popularity of such entertainment is steadily increasing because developers are creating unique computer products. Strategies and RPGs are preferred by those who like challenging tasks. To win, the gamer must show leadership and leadership skills. There is no way to do without such qualities. To successfully complete the mission, the player needs to develop an operational plan and adjust it to the changing situation.

Types of games:

• Historical - they are associated with specific events and facts that occurred in the distant past. For example, “Men of War: Red Tide” tells the story of the exploits of the Marine Corps, and the project “The Truth about the Ninth Company” reflects the January 1988 battle in Afghanistan;
• Space strategies - in them the action takes place in the distant future, and gamers need to manage star systems and galaxies. Prominent representatives of such games are the legendary “Space Rangers HD: Revolution”, “X3: Albion Prelude”. In this direction, there are interesting and old strategies and new projects for the computer;
• Economic strategies on PC - in them you need to manage cities, farms, states. There are many interesting games in this category. For example, “Tropico 3”, “Hotel Tycoon”;
• Turn-based strategies on PC - appeared before the RTS (real-time) genre. In these types of games, gamers take turns taking actions, so they spend more time planning. Popular projects in this category are “Battle Worlds: Kronos”, “Might and Magic: Heroes 6. Gold Edition”;
• Military - they involve fighting between armies. The one who better prepared the troops wins. There are a variety of military strategies you can download to your computer: “Full Spectrum Warrior”, “Catan”;
• Global strategies for the computer - their key feature is the division of the gameplay into components: creating a base, conducting scientific research, constructing new connections or upgrading existing ones.

Only the best strategies

Our team has prepared a popular list, and now anyone can download strategy games of all times without registration for free. We have put together a wonderful collection of entertainment for true connoisseurs of this genre. If you are looking for popular PC strategies about war, about knights or about the development of civilization, consider our best catalog of games. It has a lot of interesting things!

If you are over eighteen years old and you love gambling, then we invite you to play Cunt Wars. Count Wars is an anime strategy game with sexual overtones. Where anime characters perform various tasks, and after which they receive a sweet bonus. All game events take place in real time. Dynamic events will arise in front of you, which will constantly draw you into military confrontations with other players. Count Wars porn is a browser game where you take on all the troubles of the team to open new cards that can be used in further battles. You can make various combinations from the cards presented, because there are many classes, so there are also options. In the game Cunt Wars you will see

Crack: None
Platform: PC
Voice acting: Russian
Interface: English
Genres: , After downloading the game Age of Wonders: Planetfall torrent, you will find yourself in a world where you have again begun to explore other planets, although this was prohibited before. This technology has not been used by humans for centuries, but now you have this opportunity. Now many teams are flying into space and trying to find a new home. You must decide who you will play for and quickly go on an adventure. You choose an unknown area and begin to explore it. While exploring the location, you will find new territories and if they are not captured by anyone, then tell everyone that they are yours. But if you meet rivals along the way, you will have to fight and prove which of you is the strongest and deserves to be here.

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 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 growth of the state’s economic power, 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.

One of the first strategies with the development of civilization was Sid Meier’s Civilization, released in 1991. The game was developed by MPS Labs and published by MicroProse. The player had to develop the chosen people. As the game progresses, you need to study technology, engage in diplomacy, participate in wars and develop the economy. The setting included the historical period from the primitive system to the near future.

Civilization was the game that founded the turn-based grand strategy genre with elements of economic, political and scientific development. Sid Meier's Civilization introduced the concept of a "tech tree" for the first time. In this article, we invite you to get acquainted with modern representatives of the genre of games in which you need to develop your civilization.

Sid Meier's Civilization V

Release date: 2010
Genre: global turn-based strategy with the development of civilization
Developer: Firaxis Games
Publisher: 2K

The player's task is to lead his civilization to one of the types of victory. Types of victory in Civilization: military, diplomatic, scientific and cultural. Turn-based strategy (TBS) develops on a global map consisting of hexes. Some hexes are allocated for various resources and improvements. The other part is under the Wonders of the World, city-states or controlled by competitors.

Two major expansions were released for the game: Gods & Kings and Brave New World, introducing significant innovations to the game mechanics. Numerous additions with new civilizations and game maps have also been released.

A special feature of the game is access to a huge number of mods, which can be downloaded through the menu. Fans have created many scenarios, civilizations and maps, the variety of which can satisfy the most demanding tastes.

Some shortcomings include the weakness of the AI ​​(however, common for most strategies), but this pales against the background of the many advantages of this wonderful game. Facts that speak of incredible popularity: more than 10 million copies sold and a Metacritic rating of 90 out of 100 on Metacritic.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

Release date: 1999
Genre: tactical strategy with the development of a medieval kingdom
Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

This game is a continuation of one of the classic series in the RTS real-time strategy genre. She has won many awards. 2 million copies were sold in the first quarter of sales. The score on Metacritic was 92/100. The player has access to 13 civilizations with their own specifics to control. The Conquerors expansion added five more. There are also 5 companies in the game. Civilization passes through four eras, each of which opens up access to new units and improvements. The gameplay consists of building cities, collecting resources, and creating armies. As a result, it is necessary to defeat opponents by destroying their armies and destroying buildings.

In 2013, the game was re-released in an enhanced HD format, with significantly improved graphics. Later, three more DLCs were released in this format with new civilizations, maps and scenarios.

Forge of Empires

Release date: year 2012
Genre: online strategy with city development
Developer: InnoGames
Publisher: InnoGames

If you are not ready to get so involved in the intertwining of Sid Meier’s Civilization, but want to take people from the Stone Age to a world similar to science fiction, then there is a great option for you in the form of Forge of Empires. There is only one city on your shoulders. The game is available both for PC in the browser and for mobile platforms Android and IOS.

An important part of the gameplay is interaction with players around the world. Neighboring settlements may run away from you, but you are not fooled, you can answer!

Cossacks 3

Release date: 2016
Genre: tactical strategy with base development
Developer: GSC Game World
Publisher: GSC Game World

A remake of the 2001 classic RTS. The player has 12 countries to control, with 70 types of military units, 100 technologies and more than 140 historical buildings. Gameplay takes place in 17th and 18th century Europe, with units and weapons to match.

Cossacks 3 - screenshots

The peculiarity of the game is huge crowds of armies rushing across the map and being destroyed by the thousands in brutal, fast-paced battles. To win, army control must be combined with skillful management - the extraction of key resources and the construction of the necessary buildings.

For our time, the gameplay of Cossacks 3 is somewhat outdated, but for fans of the classics it can provide pleasant moments.

Total War: Rome II

Release date: year 2013
Genre: global strategy with the development of ancient civilization
Developer: Creative Assembly
Publisher: SEGA

Total War is one of the most famous series of PC games, familiar to every strategy lover. In this genre, only the Civilization series is on its level. Rome II is the eighth game in Total War, and one of the most successful. It combines the strategic mode on the global map, in which they deal with macro-management of resources, movements, assignments, with the tactical one, in which battles take place.

The company begins in 272 BC. and is designed for 300 years. The game features 117 different factions fighting across a huge map of 173 regions, spanning Asia, Africa and Europe.

The main types of troops of the Ancient World (cavalry, infantry, elephants, etc.) fight directly on the battlefield, taking into account the historical specifics of different factions (Greek phalanx, Roman legions, etc.). There are different types of battles available (siege, river battles, etc.), in which thousands of units fight.

In addition to the exciting gameplay, Rome II offers a lot of materials on the history of the Ancient World, especially its military part.

Stronghold Kingdoms

Release date: year 2012
Genre: online strategy with the development of a medieval state
Developer: FireFly Studios
Publisher: FireFly Studios

What is it like to manage a medieval castle? Stronghold Kingdoms tries to give the most simple but honest answer to this - this MMORTS (a genre that combines real-time strategy and multiplayer functionality) gives, although simplified, a complete idea of ​​how to maintain your fortress with knights and dysentery.

One of the characteristic features of the game is that your successful passage depends not only on defeating computer antagonists, but also on interactions with other real gamers over the network.

Rise of Nations

Release date: 2003
Genre: turn-based strategy with RPG elements and non-linear plot
Developer: Big Huge Games
Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

The game is similar in mechanics to Total War, combining strategic actions on a global map with direct command of troops in battle mode. Visually, it is much poorer than Total War, and in the field of combat and strategy it is inferior to this classic.

The player takes control of one of 18 nations, which he leads to victory through 8 historical eras of development. About 100 different units are available to him, and each faction has its own unique fighters.

In 2014, a re-release of the game was released, with updated graphics and multiplayer.

Europa Universalis IV

Release date: year 2013
Genre: global strategy with the development of civilization during the Renaissance
Developer: Paradox Development Studio
Publisher: Paradox Interactive

Global strategy from Paradox, one of the leading strategy developers.

The game covers the period from the late Middle Ages to the Early Modern era.

Gaming takes place taking into account real historical events (geographical discoveries, etc.). To achieve victory, the player must skillfully combine trade, diplomacy, colonization and military action.

The game features a strong Paradox-style strategy component, with a comparatively poor military component. There are no tactical battles, and the game only takes place on the global map. In this form, the game is similar to chess.

The “trick” of Europa Universalis IV is that the process depends on random events, both positive and negative, that are generated every year.

Vikings: War of Clans

Release date: 2015
Genre: MMO strategy with the development of a Viking settlement
Developer: Plarium
Publisher: Plarium

If you often watch videos on YouTube, then you have long known that if strategies from the nineties and early 2000s are dear to your heart, you should definitely try Vikings: War of Clans. Such intrusive, monotonous advertising can discourage anyone from trying out the game.

But for some reason, there are several times more people playing it than there ever were Vikings. And all because this is a thoughtful military strategy in which you equally get pleasure from profitable alliances with other players and from the thoughtless plunder of their lands.

Release date: year 2012
Genre: global strategy with the development of your own dynasty in the setting of medieval Europe
Developer: Paradox Development Studio
Publisher: Paradox Interactive

Another global strategy from Paradox, covering the Medieval period, from 1066 to 1453.

The peculiarity of the game is that it is a simulator of a dynasty, and not of a civilization or state. The player, using wars, marriages and murders, works hard on the global map to achieve the success of his dynasty and eliminate competitors.

14 DLCs have already been released, adding new dynasties, events and expanding the period of the game.

The game has similar strengths and weaknesses to Europa Universalis IV: a strong strategic component with advanced AI combined with a poor military component.

Throne: Kingdom At War

Release date: 2016
Genre: MMO strategy with the development of a medieval kingdom
Developer: Plarium
Publisher: Plarium

The world of Throne: Kingdom At War can be described as an abstract, fascinating Middle Ages without inquisitions, but with knights. In the game you create a Hero, and everything depends on him - he improves your possessions and controls your soldiers in battles.

Once upon a time, in the fictional kingdom of Amaria, a wise monarch ruled everything. But his death plunged everything into chaos, and the Hero is one of the fighters for control of his domain. You can explore new lands and conquer the rebellious. Anything until you yourself are overthrown.

Release date: 2010
Genre: global strategy with the development of civilization in the modern era
Developer: Paradox Development Studio
Publisher: Paradox Development

Another global strategy from Paradox. The game is more aimed at diligent fans. The player needs to spend many hours on political and economic decisions.

The player controls the state, combining its political, diplomatic, economic, military and technological aspects. The period of the game is 1836-1936. The game spans the entire Earth, with over 200 playable countries.

Victoria II is more focused on developing economic relations. The game has a complex system with more than 50 types of goods and factories, the prices of which are determined by millet and supply. In the realm of politics and diplomacy, the player interacts with 8 different types of governments and 7 ideologies. The military component, for which 20 types of ground and naval forces are responsible, is less important than in its counterparts.

Grand Ages Medieval

Release date: 2015
Genre: real-time strategy with the development of the economy of the Medieval state
Developer: Gaming Minds Studios
Publisher: Kalypso Media Digital

Not a very successful attempt to cross RTS with TBS. State governance is carried out on a global map in real time. The emphasis is on the economy, combat is less important. The factions are almost the same from each other, the battles are very boring, the only heavily developed part is trade. To build a strong economy, you need to carefully monitor commodity prices, compare alternatives, deal with logistics and trade protection.

Grand Ages Medieval can be called a trading strategy, to which war and other components were added “for show”.

Medieval II: Total War

Release date: 2006
Genre: global military strategy in the setting of medieval Europe
Developer: CREATIVE ASSEMBLY
Publisher: SEGA

The fourth game in the Total War series, one of the pinnacles of the strategy genre.

The game covers the Middle Ages; There are 17 factions available in the company. In the process, it is necessary not only to fight competitors, but also to take into account global events corresponding to historical periods. For example, the invasions of the Mongols and Timur. Religion plays an important role on the global map. For example, the Pope may excommunicate you and declare a crusade against you. If the population of recently subjugated territories professes a religion different from yours, then there is a high probability of uprisings.

The system of agents responsible for the spread of religions, espionage and other components of victory has also been fully implemented. Decisive battles are best carried out manually, rather than using automatic calculation, and here you can notice that the game engine has been improved in Medieval II. The soldiers received individual content and a variety of combat techniques. This visually distinguishes the battles from the “clone wars” of previous games in the series.

In addition to our article, we suggest watching a detailed video review about other strategies on PC with the development of civilization, including settings from the primitive period to modern days.

Strategy is a vital part of PC culture. Whether you enjoy fast-paced real-time combat or clever turn-based simulations, great strategy games immerse you in unique, large-scale scenarios that give you the opportunity to rule empires, control space-exploring races, and command cavalry charges against enemy armies.

We present to you our selection of the best strategy games for PC. Whether you like real-time battles or turn-based battles, strategy games allow you to take part in large-scale events, rule empires, control powerful races and fearlessly fight against armies of thousands. That's why we love them. But we love some more than others.

As is the case with our selection of the best first-person shooters, we tried to make the list as diverse as possible and collect the most worthy representatives of the genre, which are still capable of taking your breath away today. The article will definitely be updated as new excellent strategies are released.

Do you agree with our choice? Would you like to add to this list? Share your suggestions in the comments.

Retired from the main list

The game exploits the lack of options very cleverly, often presenting the player with difficult choices. You can only scan six points at a time, while the game regularly throws up opportunities for battle. You need to look for new recruits; engineers must build new communication centers to establish contacts with new territories; resources are needed to improve weapons and armor. You can't get everything at once. You may have to be content with one thing from this list. Back in 1989, Sid Meier described the game as "a series of interesting decisions," and XCOM 2 is by far the most accurate embodiment of these words ever to come out of the hands of Firaxis.

Red Alert is perhaps the least strategy-related title on our list. To win absolutely any battle, it is enough to be the first to build a technical center and send 25 mammoths to the enemy base, or simply send a Chinook, filled to capacity with ordinary Tanyusha girls, right behind enemy lines. In a sense, the lack of balance was one of the reasons for the enormous popularity of this title. And even now the chaos that is happening in the battles there on land, sea and in the air remains attractive. In addition, the game was made free.

By simplifying the XCOM formula, Firaxis has taken a shorter route to the things that have always been at the core of the series. At its core, this is a squad action game in which you take full care of your favorite and unique squad. Whether you're putting your fighters in bulky war machines or giving them the names of your friends (or both), Enemy Within excels at other strategy games by requiring you to take your decisions very seriously.

For this iteration of Sid Meier's world domination game, Firaxis built a new engine from the ground up. It was the first game in the series to use 3D effects and featured the unique voice of legend Leonard Nimoy. In the wide list of innovations and improvements, smarter, more aggressive AI stood out as a separate line. It's worth noting that this is where modding the game became easier, resulting in some excellent additions created by players. Civilization fans can argue for hours about which entry is the best in the series, but my favorite is the four.

The trick of FS is that both opposing sides make their moves at the same time. You have to not only plan the movement of your squad of cyber soldiers, but also predict the actions of the enemy. Before confirming a move, the game allows you to look at the actions being performed so that the player can avoid the very obvious ones. In one of my best games, I deliberately sent a soldier into enemy fire to distract the enemy while the rest of my soldiers flanked. Study move previews to act with impeccable precision and avoid losses.

Described as a cross between a board game and XCOM design, BattleTech is a deep and thoughtful turn-based strategy game with an impressive campaign system. You control a group of mercenaries, wisely distributing available funds and updating your collection of battle suits and robots.

In battles, it is necessary to aim at specific parts of enemy robots, taking into account the strength of their armor, the rate of fire, the angle at which the fire is fired, and the features of the environment. It's all a bit tricky to figure out at first, as the game isn't particularly beginner-friendly, but if you like strategy games that are rich in detail or are already familiar with this universe, then BattleTech will definitely appeal to you.

The real-time strategy Northgard, set in the Viking Age setting, borrows a lot from projects such as Settlers and Age of Empires, and also invites us to immerse ourselves in a unique expansion system that allows us to gradually increase the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe territories under our control.

Weather also plays an important role in gameplay. You need to prepare especially carefully for winter, but if you select the appropriate branch in the technology development tree, the winter on your lands will be warmer than on enemy territories, which will give you a strategic advantage. The frankly boring story is compensated by the excellent design of story missions and incredibly exciting battles in the battle mode.

An almost perfect tactical action game with robots and chic design from the creators of FTL. In Into the Breach you have to fight off waves of Vek monsters on maps divided into 64 sectors, where various fortresses and plot-important objects are located. Of course, the easiest way to get rid of Vek monsters is to wipe them off the face of the earth with the help of your robots and air attacks, but to do this you will have to think strategically and keep enemies away from your buildings.

Civil buildings provide you with electricity, which serves as a kind of health scale here. Every time an enemy attacks such a building, you are one step closer to defeat. Once you run out of electricity, your team will travel back in time and try to save the world again. This is a fairly complex, compact and dynamic adventure. As you discover new types of robots and upgrades for them, you will gradually learn new ways to fight a merciless enemy.

The first Total War: Warhammer showed that Games Workshop's fantasy universe was perfect for the large-scale battles and amazing battlefield detail that Creative Assembly is known for. In the second part, many improvements awaited us - in the interface, appearance and skills of the heroes, as well as the armies of various factions.

The four factions presented (Skaven, High Elves, Dark Elves and Lizardmen) are strikingly different from each other, and when creating them, the authors thoroughly studied the background of the rich Warhammer universe. If you have long wanted to get acquainted with the world of Warhammer, but did not know where to start, then this game is perfect for you. And if you already have a wonderful original, then one large-scale campaign awaits you, the action of which takes place on a single giant map.

The War of the Chosen expansion brings to the game both a number of minor details and some rather interesting elements, such as colorful, chatty enemies that appear randomly as you progress through the main campaign, each of which has strengths and weaknesses. You'll also find new types of enemy soldiers, thousands of cosmetic changes, zombie-like enemies inhabiting abandoned cities, the ability to create propaganda posters, and much more.

As a result, each campaign in War of the Chosen ends up being a little overcrowded, but all the changes are so well executed that no XCOM 2 fan should pass by.

At first glance, the name of the game sounds simply blasphemous. More than ten years after the release of the last Homeworld, they decided to turn the game, which was remembered for its spaceships and movement in 3D space, into another land strategy about tanks? Is this also a prequel? However, despite all the concerns that arose, Desert of Kharak turned out to be successful in all respects.

Not only is it an amazing RTS that sets itself apart from the rest of the genre's contemporaries, but it's also a great representative of Homeworld, reimagining the series and clearly capturing its magic.

The best game in the series at the moment, which has so many different details that it seems as if it was immediately released complete with a couple of additions. The region system allows you to build huge cities and motivates you to think through your actions several steps ahead. The amazing design of the game deserves special praise - yes, it takes a while to get used to the local cartoon style, but over time it becomes clear that this decision benefited the project.

It will be very interesting to see what new additions will bring to this already rich game, which is the absolute peak of the entire legendary series.

“I hope future patches and additions will fill the gaps,” one journalist wrote on the day of its release. And although the sci-fi project from Paradox still has room to grow, the high level of updates and their regular release are definitely beneficial for the game.

For example, with the Utopia expansion, the game's internal political system underwent significant changes (not to mention a hundred other small innovations), which gave us another hundred hours of gameplay. In addition, it is now possible to build Dyson spheres around stars in order to pump energy out of them, dooming nearby planets to icing. A cruel but fascinating sight.

Endless Legend was one of the unexpected breakthroughs last year. Following on from Amplitude's Endless Space, EL's fantasy 4X strategy game was very good, but still didn't fully realize its potential. Its release went unnoticed due to the entry into the market of the high-budget Civilization:, but EL rightfully became the best game in the genre since the fourth Civilization.

It is deeper and more diverse, it has amazing asymmetrical factions, subraces, heroes, quests, etc., etc. And she looks, besides, simply gorgeous.

As much a social experiment as it is a strategy game, Neptune's Pride pits people against each other in the battle for a star system. The rules are simple: develop your systems, build ships and send them to conquer new systems. The war unfolds slowly, over a week or so, and requires attention, which can slightly spoil your real life.

Simple but elegant mechanics encourage the making and breaking of alliances, which can result in an insidious attack on your systems by yesterday's friends. Naturally, at about three in the morning, while you are watching the second dream. An accessible game that produces a ton of amazing drama.

I still love the first two Red Alerts, because there are practically no bad titles in the C&C series from Westwood, but this is the part where everything is perfect: it has the most interesting campaigns, the best units, great maps and, of course, great cutscenes.

The factions differ from each other in all respects and have much more uniqueness than they had in the original game - take, for example, the Soviet octopuses and dolphins, acting on the side of the allies. Here the authors found the perfect balance between self-irony and sincerity in cutscenes, and therefore the game was both captivating and brought a smile at the right moments.

Which, alas, cannot be said about the natural disaster represented by Red Alert 3 from EA.

If you've ever dreamed of conquering space at the head of an armada of customizable colossus starships, this strategy game is for you. It has smart, creative AI, and one full game can take weeks to complete.

You will have to monitor the economy, technology, diplomacy, culture, build up military power, forge alliances, fight in wars and dominate other nations of the galaxy. Reminiscent of the games in the Civilization series, but only larger and, in some places, much deeper.

Mechanically, Homeworld is a phenomenal strategy game with a fully three-dimensional game space. She was among the first representatives of the zharn to tear it out from one single plane.

What's more, the game boasts gorgeous atmosphere and sound design, from the Adagio for strings in the opening missions to the heart-pounding drumming of the multiplayer battles. If you like the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, be sure to play Howmeworld.

The scale of battles in Supreme Commander is rivaled only by Total War. So you give an order to a specific engineer, then spin the mouse wheel - and you watch the battlefield from a bird's eye view. And a couple of seconds later you are already looking at the face of another soldier, several kilometers from the first. Even my head is spinning.

The clash of armies, consisting of slender columns of hundreds of robots, rewards the player with the most amazing firefight that the processor can handle. SupCom is one of the very few RTS that combines sea, land and air in one battle. And even more - with artillery, tactical nuclear weapons and experimental robots of titanic proportions.

In addition to being the successor to the best competitive strategy game of the past decade, SC2 has earned accolades for reimagining the traditional RTS campaign structure. Heart of the Swarm is a good example of this, but it was the “human” Wings of Liberty that started it: an intricate adventure that brings a mixture of working formulas to the table with each new mission.

From a scenario of defending against a zombie invasion to a planet being flooded with lava every few minutes, SC2 forces the player to relearn all of their basic elements.

Not the most obvious candidate for this list, Tooth and Tail attracted us with its simple take on an RTS (and the game was clearly created for controllers), which retained all the components of a great strategy. The game is even closer in spirit to Pikmin than Halo Wars - units here gather around your character and carry out simple orders, and the creation of units occurs automatically, based on the population limit and available resources.

Battles last no more than 10 minutes, and the action takes place against the backdrop of a well-written political conflict between factions of anthropomorphic animals.

A game remembered today as the originator of Warcraft III, Warcraft III was primarily an inventive and ambitious strategy game that introduced many players to cinematic fantasy.

Here, for the first time, RPG elements were introduced in the form of heroes and neutral units, which had not been seen in any strategy before, and the large-scale campaign told an amazing story that completely captured the player thanks to impeccable execution. As a bonus, funny phrases were included from units that responded to the call.

The series' transition to full 3D marked the crossing of a milestone beyond which the gradual accumulation of problems led to instability at Empire's release and long-lasting AI problems that plagued players in later games in the series.

The original Rome presented us with a simple but exciting look at ancient warfare, and did it masterfully. A magnificent excursion into one of the most curious eras of military history, interesting to this day.

It was tempting to put the first part of “Dawn of War” on this list, but it was decided to go with its experimental sequel, which replaced large squads with a handful of the coolest space scumbags with sets of killer abilities.

To deal with the Orc hordes, you have to control these genetically modified special forces, coordinating their actions with the raids of the Stormtroopers, the targeted fire of the Scouts and the cover of heavy weapons squads. And the Last Stand co-op mode was great too.

SSE uses some 4X strategy techniques, but makes them work in an RTS wrapper. This is a game about star empires that grow, prosper and fade away in the distant space of the distant future. Well, and about how the huge starships of these empires emerge from hyperspace towards the burning worlds.

Diplomacy is also available, but these are huge starships! Play the Rebellion expansion and see how these same ships grow to truly incredible sizes.

CKII is a political strategy. It's not only about the player leading his troops into battle, but also about the wedding of his imbecile niece. Each character matters, each has their own goals and desires. Yes, it is difficult (blame the feudal system for this), but you can get your own personal drama, right here and now.

The situation often drives the player into a corner, into hopeless situations, forcing him to do terrible things for the sake of power. Once I had to execute a newborn baby so that his older and smarter sister could rule. The Middle Ages were still a time.

The ominous blue map of the world in DEFCON was the perfect setting for a creepy tale of the outbreak of nuclear war. First, you prepare for Armageddon by stocking warehouses with supplies, placing launch silos, nuclear submarines, and setting up missile defenses. This organizational stage of the game itself is interesting for its strategic component, but the real cool thing about DEFCON is when the missiles are sent into the sky.

Blurring blurs of explosions, counting victims as city after city turns into radioactive ashes. When the dust settles, few will care about the formal victory. The multiplayer, where a complete nightmare is happening, is simply amazing.

Some games try to distance themselves from the emotional side of a war that just ended. But not Company of Heroes. It's intense, complex and brutal.

Of course, the game uses pure Hollywood techniques (the mud plumes of artillery fire are carried straight from Saving Private Ryan), but the result is the most intense strategy game in the world, perfectly capturing the tactical imbalance of World War II.

The deep strategic component and transparent turn-based combat system made Xenonauts a model among reboot games. If you're an old fan of the X-COM series, forget about your ancient discs and fossilized graphics from twenty years ago. The best way to remember the glory days is to turn on Xenonauts. If you are not familiar with X-COM, this game will give you the chance to enjoy the origins of the series with improved mechanics and details.

After Rome, the series quickly went to a dead end, carrying a heap of problems. But Shogun 2 still managed to be the game that Total War fans wanted to see again. A chic setting, polished mechanics and the honor of your leader, balancing between Buddhism and Christianity. Real difference between the clans (Chosokabe archers are the best!), and some particularly fun special units, like the Kisho ninja bombers.

Shogun 2 also offered the cool thing of a two-player co-op campaign, a great (if slow) way to conquer a continent. The follow-up to TWS2, Rome 2, was extremely ambitious, but never achieved the balance and mechanical polish that Creative Assembly achieved in Shogun 2. The second expansion, Fall of the Samurai, offered players a fantastic campaign set in the era of gunpowder, the very mid-19th century. Guns, swords, ninjas - everything your heart desires is there.

In 2012, strategy expert Tim Stone described the game as a "fresh and friendly" wargame, praising the game's impressive AI. To defeat computer generals, you will have to take full advantage of the advantages of the battlefield and diversify your tactics.

A simple and accessible interface reduces the barrier to entry, which is usually high in wargames. And after studying the intricacies of the system, you will discover incredible depths of mechanics.

Age of Empires gave us the opportunity to experience centuries of progress in half-hour play sessions, but RoN went further, cleverly incorporating elements of turn-based strategy games like Civilization. Instead of directly leading your troops into battle, you expand the state by building new cities.

When the borders of countries collide, a technological race begins between nations, a war for influence, punctuated by missile strikes and spear throws. Can you ever get tired of crushing archers and knights with tanks and stealth bombers?

The list could not do without this game, even taking into account the fact that Rise of Nations developed all the ideas contained here to the maximum. Age of Empires II still looks quite decent on PC today thanks to the HD re-release, for which add-ons are still being released. The latest was Rise of the Rajas, released at the end of 2016. Not bad for a game that's almost 20 years old.

Create huge armies, upgrade them, collect resources and enjoy exciting campaigns in this RTS. And if you get tired of the proposed campaigns, then you can always download amateur add-ons or even create your own scenarios. We are looking forward to the release of the fourth part of the game.