Summary
- Strategy games offer complex, systems-focused design with broad appeal but limited structure.
- Tinyfolks excels as a minimalist strategy game, lacking depth but with potential for a more ambitious sequel.
- Thronefall impresses with accessible base-defense gameplay but could innovate further beyond current mechanics.
Strategy games are often unique for their complexity, depth, and mechanics-focused approach to design. While this tends to make them more inaccessible than the average game, it often provides players with a rewarding loop that offers long-lasting value. As a result of this focus on systems and mechanics, strategy games are often left with broad design spaces.
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With so many directions to take a specific system, and the myriad of sub-genres to apply these systems to, strategy games often leave plenty of opportunity on the cutting room floor. As seen in titles such as Darkest Dungeon 2, this typically gives successful strategy games room for ambitious sequels.
8
Tinyfolks
A Minimalist Strategy Game Ready For Expansion
Tinyfolks is a turn-based strategy RPG that excels with its minimalist design, both visual and mechanical. The game’s premise is similar to other strategy games, such as Darkest Dungeon, but built with a more accessible approach in mind. This makes Tinyfolks a rather unique strategy game with broad appeal, and its short run-time ensures its minimalist gameplay doesn’t outstay its welcome.
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Unfortunately, this also means that Tinyfolks is a little lacking in depth. It’s hard to suggest more complexity would make Tinyfolks better, as it runs the risk of contradicting what makes the game so great, but a more ambitious structure could make for a great sequel.
7
Thronefall
A Slick But Minimalist Base Defense Game
- Released
-
October 11, 2024
- Developer(s)
-
GrizzlyGames
Thronefall is an innovative base-defense game with intuitive controls and easy-to-learn gameplay that excels with its accessibility and lightweight RTS mechanics. The game’s control scheme and careful balance of economy management, base-building, and real-time strategy make for a complex but approachable puzzle that’s consistently engaging.
Additionally, Thronefall‘s elegant design is packed with synergistic mechanics and systems that could easily be built upon on a larger scale. If GrizzlyGames were to set their sights on a more ambitious horizon and break free of the typical tower-defense structure, there’s most definitely room for further innovation.
6
Battle Brothers
A Deeply Strategic Sandbox RPG That Gets Repetitive
Indie Games
Tactical
RPG
Strategy
Adventure
- Released
-
April 27, 2015
- Developer(s)
-
Overhype Studios
Battle Brothers is a sandbox RPG that excels with its deeply tactical turn-based combat and diverse character progression. The brutal and unforgiving combat and the stories that emerge from each memorable battle make for a unique experience, but it could be argued that Battle Brothers is let down by a repetitive structure.
It’s certainly addictive, especially for those who enjoy the game’s combat, but a sequel that explores a more diverse structure with meaningful quests and more memorable NPCs might prove worthwhile. It would be a shame for Battle Brothers and its methodical, intricate combat system to be left as-is when there’s still room for innovation.
5
Cobalt Core
A Cozy Roguelike Deck-Builder That Could Work In Other Genres
Roguelike
Digital Card Game
- Released
-
November 8, 2023
- Developer(s)
-
Rocket Rat Games
Cobalt Core is an innovative roguelike deck-builder with a refreshing, tactical combat system and cozy atmosphere. The game’s calming ambiance, facilitated by a soothing color palette and joyful soundtrack, is a particular strength, supported further by a diverse cast of quirky characters.
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The charming writing and relaxing atmosphere make for a well-rounded and synergistic experience that would be worth experiencing even if the game were a standard deck-builder. However, both the world the game paints and the combat system it presents would be perfectly suited to a more ambitious design, perhaps even a fully-fledged RPG.
4
Warcraft 3
A Classic RTS That Could Do With Some Polish
Warcraft 3: Reforged
- Released
-
January 28, 2020
Warcraft 3 is a beloved classic real-time strategy game that remains popular today. However, despite its healthy community, Warcraft 3 is an old game. Originally released in 2002, there are signs of age, specifically in the game’s outdated presentation and the way in which it controls.
The game’s visuals, while charming, could certainly benefit from a fresh coat of paint, and the animations in particular feel somewhat rudimentary by today’s standards. The game’s user interface is also lacking in comparison to games such as StarCraft 2, for example. With its unique design, Warcraft 3 is still a distinctive real-time strategy game, and its vague similarities to games such as League Of Legends give its design a broad appeal that a sequel could most certainly capitalize on.
3
Into The Breach
An Expertly-Crafted Tactics Game That’s Ripe For Ambition
- Released
-
February 27, 2018
Into The Breach is a unique tactics game that combines a roguelike structure with crunchy combat puzzles. The game’s combat system is, in itself, rather innovative, but the generous telegraphing of enemy attacks and hazards is particularly refreshing.
This works in combination with the ability to undo moves and even reset a turn, which is what gives Into The Breach such a puzzle game feel. Despite its unique and innovative design, however, Into The Breach is somewhat limited by its structure and would arguably benefit from a more ambitious sequel.
2
Wildfrost
An Almost Perfect Tactical Deck-Builder
Digital Card Game
Strategy
Roguelike
- Released
-
April 12, 2023
- Developer(s)
-
Deadpan Games, Gaziter
Wildfrost is a unique roguelike deck-builder with a charming cartoon art style and a focus on tactical positioning as well as classic card play. The game’s tactical element is particularly refreshing, but Wildfrost‘s combat encounters can also be cumbersome to analyze, making larger battles particularly exhausting.
The lack of clarity in Wildfrost‘s design and user interface would be the perfect aspect to address in a sequel. Furthermore, there’s no doubt room for ambition in the game’s variety of factions, cards, and companions. Furthermore, to see more of Wildfrost‘s charming world and even, perhaps, break free of the standard roguelike formula would be a welcome surprise.
1
StarCraft 2
A Long-Living RTS That Needs A Boost
StarCraft 2 is a classic real-time strategy game that, against all odds, has managed to maintain a relatively healthy and active community even years after its peak. However, the unfortunate lack of extended developer support has resulted in a slowly stagnating game that’s only occasionally spiced up by small patches.
It could be argued that the reason for the slowly decreasing popularity of StarCraft 2 and real-time strategy games as a whole is its sheer inaccessibility. The speed and knowledge required to compete at a high or even moderate level in StarCraft 2 can be intimidating to many players, and this is something that a sequel would be perfect for addressing. However, reintroducing a once-beloved genre with accessibility in mind and without compromising the competitive integrity of the original games would no doubt prove a difficult task.
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