The Medieval period in human history is, curiously, one of the least covered eras in the strategy genre, with the vast majority of Medieval strategy games that do explore the Middle Ages centering around either Europe’s High Middle Ages or the Japanese Sengoku Jidai (Warring States) period. The Medieval aesthetic has found massive success in fantasy strategy gaming, but that’s a conversation for a different time. The dearth of strategy games covering the Medieval period does mean that there’s a […]

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Grand strategy games are both incredibly common and, at the same time, a rarity in the strategy genre. On the one hand, grand strategy is all about scale and breadth of systems (most 4X games can be classified as grand strategy). On the other hand, grand strategy is slowly becoming its own sub-genre mostly due to Paradox Interactive’s role in taking ownership of the sub-genre. To wade through the ambiguity and give a concrete starting point for players to latch […]

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Though real-time strategy games are newer and arguably have had a more notable explosive rise in popularity, turn-based games still remain the more prolific and varied sub-genre in comparison. There is an inherent allure to the tension found in turn-based games where players take their time to deliberate, analyze, and act. Since turn-based gaming is such a broad topic, we decided to list the best turn-based strategy games (one entry per franchise) for new and veteran players to check out […]

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The strategy genre has two major sides to its development coin: real-time and turn-based, the former of which is currently the most popular. There’s an allure and a kind of visceral accuracy to the best real-time strategy games as they capture the unstoppable march of time. As a result, all game components and systems model the unstoppable march of time and its effect on strategic and tactical decision-making, giving these types of strategy games a sense of dynamism and a […]

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The Valiant has quite an intense and fast-paced combat system that’ll definitely keep you on your toes. This is especially true on harder difficulties, in competitive multiplayer, or when trying to complete challenge playthroughs the demand for high levels of skill can be quite overwhelming. We’ve put together a list of helpful tactics and pointers to get you started in your career as a Medieval knight. Here’s everything you need to know about how to succeed in the world of […]

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When it comes to the medieval-inspired aesthetic, fantasy settings have certainly taken the lion’s share of strategy game worlds. This makes historical medieval strategy games all the more enticing when they do release, due to their generally sparse presence on the market. The Valiant makes a compelling case for being one of the better games in this historical setting with its distinct narrative and robust combat system. KITE Games’ The Valiant sees you taking on the role of Theoderich, a […]

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Halloween is just around the corner and ‘tis the season of creepiness, horror, terror, and plentiful treats. Though they may not initially seem like it, strategy too can be a perfectly fitting treat for this thrilling time. Red Hook Studios’ Darkest Dungeon 2 may still be in Early Access, but even in its incomplete form, it’s the go-to strategy game for the Halloween season. Red Hook’s debut outing with the original Darkest Dungeon captivated our minds with its flavorful, thematic, […]

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It’s no surprise to see role-playing and strategy genres mixing together in many projects, as they’re just such a perfect fit. Role-playing design brings interesting characters and exciting narratives to the table, while strategy design principles enhance the gameplay with engaging decision-making opportunities and management mechanics. Ocean Drive Studio’s Lost Eidolons has the bones of a solid tactical role-playing game, but its unbalanced quality across the board stifles any lasting impression. Delving into Lost Eidolons, you’ll find yourself dropped into […]

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It seems that the saying “war never changes” holds true in game design trends. War as a setting and conflict as a central design principle is such a natural fit and easy fallback for many development teams. This leaves little room for something truly original to pop up and present a refreshing alternative to the incessant ubiquity of war as a setting and theme. Conflict is one of the most popular game design principles in any genre as it engages […]

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It’s safe to say that the golden age of classic RTS games lies squarely during the 90s and the early ’00s of the 21st century, with thousands of players enjoying some of the best strategy games that would become franchises of the genre. However, since then the popularity of this corner of the genre has waned in active player numbers and developer interest, which begs the question: have classic RTS been laid to rest, never to return to the forefront […]

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Collectible card games, or CCGs for short, are some of the most popular strategy subgenres, with thousands of players logging in daily to experience rock-solid competitive strategic and tactical gameplay. On the other side of the fence, tabletop miniatures games are popular with avid and veteran hobbyists due to the freedom to create, paint, and bring to life your own armies. CCGs and miniatures games seem like a perfect match as both tap into the desire to complete your collection, […]

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The world of The Wandering Village is filled with unknown dangers that’ll test the resilience of your people and your ability to adapt to these challenges. If you’re not ready to face these challenges, they can easily overwhelm you and bring your playthrough to a sudden and poisonous end. Here’s a collection of helpful strategy tips to get you started on your journey.   Prioritize Research The game’s city builder component has a healthy dose of survival elements as you […]

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If your people are the lifeblood of your settlement in The Wandering Village, then food is vital to keep your workers alive and happy. Maintaining a healthy base of food production will ensure long-term success in your playthrough. Here’s everything you need to know about food in The Wandering Village.   The Wandering Village Food Guide Basic Foods One of the biggest challenges you face in The Wandering Village is changing weather as you pass from one biome to another. […]

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Happiness in The Wandering Village is called productivity, which directly relates to the ability of your people to do their tasks efficiently. The more productive your villagers are, the quicker they’ll move about and complete their tasks. There are four main ways to help your town stay cheerful and go about its daily business quickly and without a fuss. The first is the quality of your housing. Nobody likes living out in the open, especially when the whole world is […]

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Of all the resources at your disposal in The Wandering Village, population is the most important. The more people you have, the more buildings you can operate and the things you can do, including taking care of the Onbu or scavenging. Population itself is a scarce resource in this city builder game and it’s relatively uncommon to come across sources of new people. This makes every opportunity to bring in new people into your village all the more impactful and […]

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