Best Strategy Games That Require Patience

Be it complex mechanics, a slow pace, or a steep difficulty curve, many strategy games require patience to learn and/or play. Whether it’s unforgiving gameplay, a turn-based structure, or a difficult onboarding procedure, many great strategy games can scare players off with their slower pace.

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Not every strategy game plays at a fast pace, and these games are recommended for players who want a slower game.

On the other hand, some strategy games simply require patience to beat, with gameplay that punishes those that rush ahead. From stealth-focused tactics games such as Mutant Year Zero, to glacially paced RPGs such as Kenshi, each of these titles asks players to exercise patience to get the most from the experience.

7

Quasimorph

An Unforgiving Sci-Fi Dungeon-Crawler

Extraction

Shooter

Roguelike

Systems

Released

October 2, 2023

Developer(s)

Magnum Scriptum

Quasimorph is a turn-based and brutal roguelike set in a gritty, grim-dark future. This title excels with its dark atmosphere and foreboding tone, elevated by a guitar-driven soundtrack and deep, complex game mechanics. In the game, players delve into a variety of rundown industrial warehouses and facilities, salvaging what they can from the environment while attempting to complete unique objectives.

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However, players must contend with both human foes and, eventually, a slew of eldritch horrors. Quasimorph is particularly unique for its deadly turn-based combat, made more interesting via a unique stance system that must be exploited in order to succeed. Add to this an often limited range of vision and lethal attacks that can end a run in seconds, and Quasimorph becomes a game that rewards patience over bullheaded aggression.

6

Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden

An Added Stealth Element That Encourages Careful Planning

Released

December 4, 2018

Developer(s)

The Bearded Ladies

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden takes players on an adventure through a surprisingly vibrant post-apocalyptic world, supported by a small but colorful cast of charismatic characters. Though its combat is similar in more ways than one to tactics games such as XCOM, Mutant Year Zero is able to add depth, variety, and excitement with the addition of real-time stealth and exploration.

By allowing players to explore the environments in real-time, Mutant Year Zero encourages a methodical, patient approach that rewards those that plan ahead. This added stealth element allows players to frequently ambush their enemies, and those that take the time to do this are likely to find their experience much easier.

5

Wildfrost

Messy Battlefields That Require Attention To Detail

Digital Card Game

Strategy

Roguelike

Released

April 12, 2023

Developer(s)

Deadpan Games, Gaziter

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Wildfrost’s charming cartoon art-style may make it an immediately approachable game, but its deeply tactical combat requires immense attention to detail. Despite being a game of open information, Wildfrost’s combat encounters are dynamic and often busy, resulting in messy battlefields that can be easy to misread.

Due to this abundance of information, especially as each run progresses, players that exercise patience will be less likely to fumble when it matters most. Wildfrost’s combat can also be deadly, and players that rush down enemies without concern for the safety of their companions will almost always end up in trouble, especially in the early-game.

4

Duskers

Exploring A Dangerous World With Unique Controls

Duskers

Systems

Released

August 20, 2015

Developer(s)

Misfits Attic

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

DUSKERS is a distinctive strategy game that tasks players with commanding a squad of relatively defenseless drones via a computer console. This unique method of control creates a palpable tension that goes hand in hand with the game’s dark and mysterious atmosphere.

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Patience is key to success in DUSKERS, since players have to manually type out commands to their various drones. There are many dangers lurking in the depths of each derelict ship, and players must salvage what they can if they’re to survive. Due to the fact that drones are, as mentioned, fairly helpless against these threats, players must often take the time to analyze their surroundings and formulate cautious plans that keep their drones out of danger.

3

Kenshi

A Slow-Burning Sandbox RPG

Systems

Released

December 6, 2018

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Set in a harsh and hostile open-world, Kenshi is a distinctive sandbox RPG not only for its strange setting, but for its immense player agency. In the game, players are given complete freedom to both explore and set their own goals, with very little in the way of hand-holding.

Kenshi’s RPG character progression is glacial, requiring players to grind out certain actions and activities in order to improve. As a result of this slow progression, Kenshi can take a while to open up to the player in full. Furthermore, the unforgiving nature of its world rewards players that plan ahead and proceed with caution.

2

Dune: Imperium

A Deep & Complex Deck-Building Strategy Game

Strategy

Deckbuilding

Board Game

Systems

Released

March 13, 2024

Developer(s)

Dire Wolf Digital

Dune: Imperium is a digital adaptation of a tabletop game and, as a result, plays at a relatively slow pace. However, this makes for a rewarding gameplay loop in which comebacks are almost always possible via risky gambits, secret objectives, and long plays.

What makes Dune: Imperium particularly slow-paced is its worker-placement gameplay loop. A typical mechanic in tabletop gaming, worker-placement requires players to take just one action per turn, making each and every move an important one. Furthermore, despite being a deck-builder at its core, cards are often slow to acquire, making each addition rather impactful.

1

Dune: Spice Wars

A Distinctive Blend Of 4X & RTS Mechanics

Dune: Spice Wars

Systems

Released

September 14, 2023

Developer(s)

Shiro Games

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

For some players, Dune: Spice Wars won’t be an immediately fun game; it takes time before its inner workings become apparent, and even longer before players can begin to manipulate and exploit its various systems. However, this slower pace is contrasted by real-time gameplay that frequently facilitates exciting engagements and keeps tensions high.

Dune: Spice Wars, in keeping with its source material, also features a decidedly hostile environment. As a result, moving troops around the map and campaigning against opponents requires patience in order to succeed, with fast frontal assaults almost always ending in disaster. Each of the game’s win conditions also require patience to pursue, as knocking opponents out of the game can prove tremendously time-consuming, and other methods of victory can be snatched away if players aren’t careful. Furthermore, when playing against human opponents, players that sprint for certain victories can quickly become attractive targets, encouraging slow and methodical play over quick rushes.

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