Best Offline Mobile Strategy Games, Ranked

Strategy games are always really fun to play, regardless of the platform they’re on. However, sometimes players can either be on the road or in the middle of a long flight, and in those instances, pulling out a gaming console or a PC can be challenging. That’s where mobile games come in. While some mobile games try to emulate simpler titles like The Sims, others take on a more strategic approach.

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Mobile strategy games can take on many forms and be set in various worlds, including nightmarish ones like those from Resident Evil. In any case, these games always provide players with tons of fun, even without an internet connection. Here are some of the best offline mobile strategy games out there.

6

The Battle Of Polytopia

A Game Featuring Many Different Contending Tribes

• Platform(s): Nintendo Switch, Linux, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
• Released: February 9, 2016
• Developer(s): Midjiwan AB
• Genre(s): Strategy Video Game, Simulation Video Game, Indie Game
• Different tribes players can choose from
• Friendly environment and designs

Battle of Polytopia is a very friendly game for newcomers thanks to its simple design and aesthetically pleasing environments. This title features technology, charismatic tribes, and strange and exciting lands that perfectly captivate the magic that the developers intended players to experience.

Players can choose from a large variety of tribes, including: Xin-xi, Imperius, Bardur, Oumaji, Kickoo, Hoodrick, Luxidoor, Vengir, Zebasi, Ai-Mo, Quetzali, and Yadakk. Each one has different traits and has more than enough elements to them for players to feel entertained for hours. Players looking for a game more closely related to platforming might want to try one of the many mobile games out there like Metroid, as Battle of Polytopia is better suited for those who love strategizing.

5

Rebel Inc.

Resource Management And Population Control Are Key

• Platform(s): Windows, macOS, Android, iOS
• Released: December 08, 2018
• Developer(s): Ndemic Creations
• Genre(s): Strategy Video Game
• Ported to Android and PCs a year after its initial release
• Players must manage resources and employ the population

Rebel Inc. was first released in December 2018, specifically for iOS platforms. However, in February 2019, it was also ported to Android, and in October of the same year, to Windows and macOS.

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Throughout the game, players will be tasked with stabilizing a war-torn region of a fictional country by using their monthly budget to employ the population and develop an infrastructure for society. The game also features many governors who have different abilities that players can take advantage of if they strategize properly and manage their resources well. The newer version of this game, Rebel Inc: Escalation, is one of the few ports that features controller support on their PC/Mac versions.

4

Plague Inc.

A Game With A Grim Theme That Feels All Too Real

Can you infect the world? Plague Inc. is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation.

Your pathogen has just infected ‘Patient Zero’. Now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself.

Brilliantly executed with innovative gameplay and built from the ground up, Plague Inc. evolves the strategy genre and pushes mobile gaming (and you) to new levels. It’s You vs. the world – only the strongest can survive!

Stunning retina graphics with a highly polished interface (Contagion guaranteed). Highly detailed, hyper-realistic world with advanced AI (Outbreak management). Comprehensive in-game help and tutorial system (I am Legendarily helpful).

12 different disease types with radically different strategies to master (12 Monkeys?). Full Save/Load functionality (28 Saves Later!)

50+ countries to infect, hundreds of traits to evolve and thousands of world events to adapt to (Pandemic evolved). Full game support for scoreboards and achievements. Expansion updates add the mind controlling Neurax Worm, the zombie producing Necroa Virus, Speed Runs and real life Scenarios!

Systems

Released

May 26, 2012

ESRB

e

• Realistic virus models
• Players must infect the world at any cost

The concept of pandemics is not lost on humanity, as, throughout the centuries, many deadly diseases have struck the world and decimated the population. Plague Inc. touches on this all-too-familiar topic, tasking players with managing a lethal disease to ensure that it can destroy the population despite the many efforts of the world’s governments.

Plague Inc. has very realistic virus models and requires a ton of strategy to be successful, so players looking for a more RPG-esque adventure or anything of the sort might want to try other mobile games like Final Fantasy.

3

Kingdom Rush

A Tower Defense System That Requires Players To Carefully Plan Their Every Move

• Platform(s): Android, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Web browser, macOS, Windows, Linux, Xbox One
• Released: July 28, 2011
• Developer(s): Ironhide Game Studio
• Genre(s): Tower defense, Action game, Real-time strategy, Strategy
• Players must plan out their defenses to resist incoming attacks
• Great medieval fantasy elements

Kingdom Rush is set in a medieval fantasy setting that puts players in control of a general serving under a powerful King. Each level has roads which players can place defensive towers around in order to resist the incoming attacks of the various threats that I have to face.

While the medieval elements present are not enough to call Kingdom Rush a mobile game like Castlevania for example, it still holds up rather well in terms of the strategic experience it requires and the entertainment it can provide.

2

Iron Marines

A Title With Futuristic Elements And Great Combat Animations

From the creators of the award winner, Kingdom Rush trilogy comes the most extraordinary space odyssey.

A real-time, dynamic and deep strategy game that will transport you to amazing and unknown planets. Immersive, engaging gameplay, ridiculously appealing art, and a touch of silly humor. Brave soldiers, mighty mechas and powerful aliens await your command to face the greatest challenges.

Recruit and train the greatest heroes in the galaxy, lead them into dangerous missions against near-impossible odds and unleash their mighty powers and abilities. Adapt your strategy by changing the role of your troops even in the thick of the combat, from ranger to sniper, from flamethrowers to missile launchers. Turn the tide of battle with bomb strikes, intelligent mines, support troops, turrets and a wide range of special weapons.

Armies of robots, crushed starships, gigantic monsters, unknown races, brave assaults, desperate rescues, audacious sabotages… the galaxy needs your command.

Lead your troops in 21 campaign missions across three different worlds. Get ready to launch bold attacks, hold your ground, rescue civilians, hack supercomputers and all kind of heroic stuff. Each mission requires new tactics and actions to achieve victory.

Systems

Released

September 13, 2017

ESRB

e

• The game is made by the same creators that brought players the Kingdom Rush trilogy
• Strategy is required to succeed

Players who liked the Kingdom Rush trilogy will most certainly love Iron Marines, as it’s made by the same developers. Granted, this particular title takes on a more futuristic approach and leaves the medieval fantasy settings and elements behind. However, even then, Iron Marines still manages to deliver a very entertaining experience that demands just as much strategy as any other title in its genre.

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Those looking for a more action-packed title might prefer to check out some mobile games like Valorant that require fewer strategy moves and focus more on the action. For everybody else, Iron Marines will definitely scratch their itch for strategy.

A Great Strategy Title From An Outstanding Franchise

9/10

XCOM: Enemy Within

XCOM: Enemy Within is the expansion to the 2012 Game of the Year award-winning strategy game XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Enemy Within adds an incredible array of new abilities, upgrades and weapons to combat new enemy and alien threats. This expansion also introduces new maps and missions, new tactical and strategic gameplay, and new multiplayer content providing a fresh new gameplay experience.

Construct the Genetics Lab to physically enhance your operatives’ abilities including augmentations to the chest, brain, eyes, skin, and legs or build the Cybernetics Lab to enable the construction of the new Mechanized Exoskeletal Cybersuit, or MEC. The new MEC Trooper class has specialized abilities and each suit can be upgraded with new weapons including the flamethrower and grenade launcher. You can even give your operatives an extra tactical edge with new projects from your engineering team and the Foundry.

Adopt new tactics to counter the threats from two new alien types and a deadly new organization known as EXALT. You’ll need to obtain a valuable new alien resource, known as Meld, to help counter the new threats. Secure it on the battlefield and use it carefully back at base to unlock new research and upgrades.

Cloak-and-dagger and intelligence operations provide new tactical challenges on over 40 new battlefields. Players can create a custom squad from a wider array of options and dominate your opponent in intense, one-on-one, turn-based matches.

Turn-Based Strategy

Tactical

Released

November 12, 2013

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence

• The game shares some features with XCOM: Enemy Unknown
• Part of a longstanding franchise beloved by many

The XCOM franchise is extremely popular among strategy game lovers, as it’s been around for over 30 years and delivers some of the best strategy gameplay out there. XCOM: Enemy Within was first released for Windows, the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 in late 2013, and it was later released for iOS and Android in November 2014.

The gameplay experience is very similar to that of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, although it does have some additional features that make it feel more complete and interesting. All in all, players looking to have fun while offline must definitely try this title.

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