Great Strategy Games That Aren’t Match-Based

Strategy games are often best suited to multiplayer environments and match-based skirmish modes, be it the often short and snappy games of StarCraft 2 or the lengthy sessions associated with the 4X genre. However, within this varied genre are several titles with more open-ended structures.

Be it a level-based structure that rewards experimentation, an open-world sandbox, or a design that revolves around a lengthy campaign, there are many experiences on offer. The lack of a match-based structure doesn’t necessarily mean a longer format, but many of these games are designed to be played over a number of sessions.

8 Wildermyth

A Narrative-Focused Experience That Suits A Longer Format

Taking great inspiration from tabletop role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, Wildermyth is a narrative-focused experience with turn-based strategy combat. The game sees players maneuvering around an overworld map, battling enemies and developing their party of characters over time.

There’s an emphasis on role-playing within Wilderymyth, but combat remains a strategic and often engaging experience thanks to flanking mechanics and a focus on teamwork. Elevating the overall experience is a superb paper-craft art-style and the addition of online co-op.

7 Kenshi

An Open-Ended Sandbox RPG With Real-Time Tactics Gameplay

Kenshi is an open-world sandbox RPG with a great deal of depth and a focus on player agency. Players are able to do whatever they see fit within Kenshi’s harsh and hostile world, but it’s a game that requires patience.

In Kenshi, players are given control of one character, and are able to slowly accrue party members as they explore. Everything in Kenshi is, however, out to kill the player and whatever friends they’ve managed to make. Furthermore, the game’s user-interface and lack of goals may leave less experienced players disoriented. All this is to say that Kenshi is a game that gets better over time, and is perfectly suited to its long-form sandbox structure.

6 Thronefall

A Minimalist Tower Defense Game With Compact, Replayable Levels

Featuring a level-based structure, Thronefall is an inherently short-form experience. However, its position as a single-player title and the addition of a forgiving retry system makes Thronefall a particularly accessible short-form strategy game.

In the game, players build defenses and economic buildings in order to defend against waves of enemies. The game also features light real-time strategy mechanics that remain accessible through intuitive controls. Furthermore, for players that want a longer experience, Thronefall also offers a roguelike mode.

5 For The King

A Strategy Roguelike With A Campaign Structure

Offering a laid-back campaign experience, For The King is a unique and accessible strategy RPG with a roguelike structure. In the game, players take control of a party of three adventurers, completing objectives via overworld exploration, dungeon-crawling, and a variety of enemy encounters.

For The King is elevated by its minimalist 3D art-style, straightforward mechanics, and variety of playable classes. Best of all, For The King can also be played in online co-op, somewhat of a rarity in the strategy game genre.

4 RimWorld

A Slow-Burning & Strategic Colony-Sim

RimWorld is a deep but remarkably accessible colony simulator that takes great inspiration from games such as Dwarf Fortress and combines it with a setting/atmosphere reminiscent of Firefly. Featuring a combination of resource management, construction, and real-time strategy gameplay, RimWorld is a brilliantly diverse experience, only elevated by its open-ended structure and championing of player agency.

RimWorld involves a great deal of strategy and mechanical depth, but its greatest strengths are arguably its story-building engine and atmospheric soundtrack. The music is also tremendously evocative, allowing RimWorld to be an immersive experience despite minimalist visuals.

3 Darkest Dungeon

An Unforgiving Campaign Distilled Into Bite-Sized Dungeons

Though not a match-based game, Darkest Dungeon distills its long-form turn-based strategy into bite-sized chunks via its nature as a dungeon-crawler. Wrapped in a rich, grim-dark fantasy setting, Darkest Dungeon is an evocative roguelike RPG that challenges the player at every turn, tasking them with resource and party management under the threat of permanent death.

Darkest Dungeon, similarly to games such as XCOM, can be incredibly unforgiving, and this only becomes more dour with the oppressive atmosphere. However, fans of Gothic, hand-drawn art-styles, Lovecraftian horror, and roguelike dungeon-crawlers will likely find something to love.

2 Into The Breach

A Strategic Puzzle Built From Condensed Grid-Based Levels

This turn-based strategy game features a roguelike/roguelite structure and objective-based, puzzle-like gameplay that’s wonderfully unique. In the game, players take control of a small squad of mechs, defending cities from an alien invasion. This is done through bite-sized, grid-based missions that are tremendously easy to read thanks to expert telegraphing and condensed levels.

The short-form levels combined with the campaign format make Into The Breach a truly digestible and yet rewarding experience. Furthermore, the overarching threat of defeat keeps the game consistently tense.

1 Battle Brothers

A Sandbox RPG With Brutal Turn-Based Combat

Battle Brothers is an open-world sandbox RPG reminiscent of games such as Mount & Blade, but features turn-based combat and a tighter focus. In the game, players take command of a mercenary company, charged with the management of their roster and resources. Players take on a variety of contracts, almost all of which lead to brutally violent encounters, and work their reputation with the game’s factions in the build-up to an end-game crisis.

This long-form nature gives players plenty of time to develop their company from the ground up, creating attachments with particular members and evolving their strategy. Simply put, Battle Brothers’ combat, while a deep and rewarding system, is supported – and elevated – by the game’s outside systems.