Best Strategy Games That Encourage Multiple Approaches

The strategy game genre is one that is broad and diverse, offering an array of experiences that vary wildly in complexity and challenge. However, some of these titles can feel like there’s only ever one solution to any given situation, and when this solution becomes obvious, it can suck the fun out of the game.

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8 Great Strategy Games That Aren’t Match-Based

These grand strategy games do not feature match-based skirmish modes common in games of the genre.

Some strategy games, however, attempt to circumvent this design problem by offering players a tremendous number of approaches to take. Games such as Kenshi offer basic combat but champion player agency by providing a great number of options. Meanwhile, titles such as Dune: Spice Wars provide multiple approaches in the form of numerous victory conditions.

8

Balatro

A Deck-Builder With A Variety Of Unique Passive Items

Arguably one of the most accessible roguelike deck-builders, Balatro remains a strategic game through its diverse variety of potential strategies and synergies. Each run is made unique by giving the player a choice of starting decks, and this is only elevated by the random Jokers (passive upgrades) and distinct cards that can be acquired and even upgraded throughout each run.

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These strategy video games deliver excellent gameplay that can be enjoyed in short sessions, allowing for quick one-shot playthroughs.

Balatro can begin to feel somewhat repetitive due to the simplicity of its moment-to-moment gameplay, a loop that’s heavily based on Poker and score-attack games. However, the diversity of available strategies ensures the game remains fresh for a good while.

7

Mount & Blade: Warband

A Strategic Sandbox With Dynamic Real-Time Battles

Mount & Blade: Warband may be a little rough around the edges, but it makes up for it in spades with its unique gameplay and variety of strategic approaches. In the game, players take command of their own army, working their reputation with the in-game factions and participating in near-constant conflict.

The RPG elements of the game, as well as the variety of army units, help to keep Mount & Blade a diverse experience. However, this is further elevated by the dynamic real-time battles, during which players can use commands to maneuver their army into strategic positions, potentially changing the course of a battle.

6

Darkest Dungeon

Turn-Based Strategy With Multiple Character Classes & Unique Items

This dark, Gothic turn-based strategy game is a harsh and unforgiving experience that not only offers multiple strategies, but encourages them. In Darkest Dungeon, players are given the task of managing a roster of not-so-stalwart adventurers and sending them into dangerous dungeons populated by Lovecraftian horrors.

The end goal is to rid the land of these creatures, but the journey is a long and arduous one. Thankfully, the experience is packed with variety; not only are there a multitude of character classes, but each has multiple ability options and can even be equipped with a variety of unique items. Furthermore, only four adventurers can go on any given mission, meaning that players must frequently switch up their party and experiment with different strategies.

5

Kenshi

A Sandbox RPG With Strategic Combat

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Kenshi

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Released

December 6, 2018

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Although Kenshi’s combat is relatively basic, the real-time strategy, tactical pause feature, and squad dynamics keep it an engaging experience. However, the multiple approaches present in Kenshi’s design take place outside of combat, in preparation and progression.

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Whether it was an interesting story or a unusual art style, these strategy games stand out among others.

Kenshi is a sandbox RPG that champions player agency at every turn, allowing them to play the game at their own pace and set their own goals. There’s a diverse variety of ways to build any given character in Kenshi, and there are a multitude of activities to focus on. Overall, this results in an experience that’s consistently rewarding, as players are encouraged to experiment and follow the path that suits them best.

4

Super Auto Pets

An Auto-Battler With Tremendous Variety

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Super Auto Pets

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Released

February 24, 2021

Super Auto Pets is an accessible auto-battler with a truly elegant design that combines elements of traditional auto-battlers and games such as Hearthstone. This results in a loop that’s both simple and strategic, elevated by a truly diverse set of potential strategies and synergies.

In the game, players are given the task of building a small squad of pets, buffing them with unique items and doing battle in asynchronous multiplayer. The variety of pets and items, as well as the randomization within its gameplay, typically result in unique squads each match. Optimal strategies do pop up, but the game’s weekly mode switches up the roster of available pets and items on a regular basis, helping to keep the experience fresh.

3

Wildfrost

A Roguelike Deck-Builder With Multiple Factions

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Wildfrost

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Released

April 12, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

This charming roguelike deck-builder features a unique twist, tasking players with building a party of adventurers and managing their turn timers in battle. A variety of status effects, card types, and companions also help to inject some variety into the gameplay, along with a unique charm system that helps players to gear party members toward a specific strategy.

What allows Wildfrost to support such a wide variety of approaches, however, is its array of playable factions. Each of these three unique groups offer their own distinctive play-styles and a variety of strategies within, allowing players to take a different approach near every run.

2

Dune: Imperium

Deck-Building Strategy With A Variety Of Options

• Platform(s): PC, Xbox, Mobile
• Released: March 13, 2024
• Developer(s): Dire Wolf
• Publisher: Dire Wolf
• Genre: Board Game

Dune: Imperium is a tremendous and complex board game superbly adapted by Dire Wolf for the digital format and supported by a slick user-interface. Mechanically dense and yet easy to learn, Dune: Imperium is a deck-building game with a worker-placement structure, giving players a wealth of choice in both how to build their deck and how to use it.

Dune: Imperium is fleshed out with a wide array of cards that can be added to any given deck, and many of these cards have multiple uses. Combined with the diverse ensemble of leader characters, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, Dune: Imperium offers a tremendous number of strategic approaches.

1

Dune: Spice Wars

A 4X RTS With Multiple Victory Conditions

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Dune: Spice Wars

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Released

September 14, 2023

Developer(s)

Shiro Games

Publisher(s)

Funcom
, Shiro Games

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

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Combining elements of both the 4X and real-time strategy genres, Dune: Spice Wars is a unique beast that elevates itself with thematic mechanics that tie in with its legendary source material. Despite featuring gameplay that’s simplified in certain regards, Dune: Spice Wars remains mechanically deep through a series of systems, each of which offer players a variety of bold strategies. Furthermore, the game can be won in a variety of ways.

Taking place on the harsh desert world of Arrakis, Dune: Spice Wars takes full advantage of its hostile environment by working it into the gameplay. Attrition is a very real problem for any player’s armies, as well as the infamous sandworms. In keeping with the source material, politics and espionage are also integral to the design of Dune: Spice Wars, further adding to the dense landscape of strategies. Best of all, Dune: Spice Wars features a variety of playable factions that each offer their own play-styles and a set of advisors to choose from. Each of these factions plays dramatically differently from one another, resulting in a multitude of approaches.

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Packing a combination of sandbox creativity and freedom with strategic challenges, these games are the ideal mix of both worlds.