8 Best Strategy Games For Beginners

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Key Takeaways

  • Strategy games are diverse but often tough for beginners.
  • Halo Wars offers a new perspective in the Halo universe with simplistic mechanics ideal for newcomers.
  • Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle offers creative and intuitive turn-based strategy gameplay suitable for beginners and veterans alike.

As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for strategic games, I find myself captivated by the rich and varied world of real-time strategy (RTS) titles. In this article, I’ll be sharing my top picks for beginner-friendly RTS games, each offering a unique flavor to satisfy different tastes.

As a passionate gamer, I can’t help but be drawn into the captivating world of strategy games. With so many fantastic titles out there, it’s no wonder that many gaming enthusiasts like myself find ourselves eager to dive deep and explore these strategic landscapes.

The issue is that strategy games are known for being particularly insurmountable to newcomers.

For a favorable introduction to this type of game, consider these excellent titles that will challenge your developing strategies.

8 Frostpunk 2

You Can’t Make Everyone Happy

In simple terms, “Frostpunk 2” is a challenging and fulfilling city-construction strategy game, placed within a chilly wilderness. The survival and destiny of mankind hangs on your decisions made in this game.

In “Frostpunk 2,” the term “city builder” is significant because it plays a large role in the game. However, being successful doesn’t mean taking a break; resources are constantly limited. Unlike other strategy games that focus on war, survival is the primary goal here. You’ll face challenges not only from external city hazards but also rising internal tensions.

As I navigate through this virtual world, I find myself continually wrestling with the difficult choices that will ultimately benefit my in-game community. Each decision is a delicate dance on a tightrope, and I tread carefully to ensure the survival and prosperity of my fellow gamers.

I debated putting Frostpunk 2 on the list because I even managed to fail the tutorial the first time I played it, so perhaps it isn’t entirely beginner-friendly. That said, the campaign does an admirable job of introducing new systems organically and as part of the story.

It’s a challenging game, but not because you don’t understand what’s happening.

7 Halo Wars

Finish The Fight

Halo Wars stands out as a captivating real-time strategy game, nestled within the expansive Halo universe. The game boasts an unexpected richness for a title that caters to console gaming, making it a delightful experience to explore this franchise from a fresh angle.

As a dedicated fan, I must say that Halo Wars stands out as a unique experience compared to the mainline games, given it’s an RTS title. In this game, you get the thrill of commanding the UNSC forces from a top-down perspective and orchestrating the use of all those iconic military units we adore. Interestingly enough, you also have the option to switch sides and control the Covenant, including the mighty Scarab – a unit that’s always been a fan favorite!

The Spartans live up to their reputation of being powerful, and the tutorials in Halo Wars are straightforward and user-friendly. This game is mechanically streamlined due to its console origins, allowing players to dive deep into strategic nuances if desired, but its design caters to newcomers as well, making it a great starting point for beginners.

6 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle

Rabbid Noises Intensify

The game titled “Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle” surpasses all expectations, offering an exceptional experience in the realm of turn-based strategy games, appealing to both beginners and seasoned players.

In this game, you get to team up with cherished characters from the Super Mario series, including some cute Rabbid companions. The battle system is set on a grid layout, but the stunning visuals and immersive environments can make it feel more like an adventure than a strategic combat.

In battles, it’s crucial to outmaneuver your opponents by getting into advantageous positions first, allowing you to strike before they do. The outcome largely hinges on factors such as elevation and the environment, and every aspect of conflict is clearly and intuitively presented.

One amusing aspect of this post is that the director initially believed fans would dislike the game. However, quite the contrary has occurred, and there’s even a follow-up installment available now.

5 Terra Nil

A City Builder With A Twist

Terra Nil is a fantastic strategy game that does something I’ve never seen before in the genre.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I’ve always been tasked with constructing cities or bases. However, what sets Terra Nil apart is that it challenges players to do something quite different – restoring the land by dismantling decayed remnants. Instead of expanding and building up, you’re helping nature reclaim its lost glory by clearing away the ruins.

It’s crucial to thoughtfully oversee the use of natural resources, ensuring extraction leaves minimal impact on the environment. Terra Nil stands out among many strategy games as it operates at a leisurely tempo.

Learning many skills can be easily applied to different roles, making it an excellent choice for those who enjoy real-time strategy games but sometimes find the genre overwhelming.

4 FTL: Faster Than Light

An Addictive Space-faring Adventure

FTL: Faster Than Light offers a genius combination of real-time strategy and Roguelite gameplay.

In each space voyage, you’re striving to traverse the cosmos and ready yourself for a confrontation with an immense Spacecraft. The readiness process involves recruiting a team and enhancing your spaceship with advanced weaponry and technology.

In the game FTL, each playthrough offers a unique experience since no two sessions are identical. The battles unfold in real-time, yet you have the ability to temporarily halt the action to strategize your next move.

In this role, you function as a ship’s captain, primarily exerting your authority through guiding crew members and managing the ship’s mechanisms such as doors and power supply.

At first glance, FTL might seem straightforward, but it’s filled with intricate details and layers. Different factions possess unique strengths and vulnerabilities, just like potential team members would in any scenario.

Making hasty, incorrect choices can lead swiftly to the downfall of your vessel, yet it doesn’t involve any complicated mechanics; instead, you’ll find yourself captivated once you secure your initial victory.

3 Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp

Strategy Made Accessible

The “Advance Wars” series is one of the best games for the GameBoy Advance, and it has been wonderfully revamped for the Nintendo Switch as “Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp”.

Among the games listed, it’s clear that Advance Wars stands out as the one that’s most user-friendly. Its design caters to consoles featuring just a couple of buttons, and its gameplay elements are remarkably straightforward.

In this scenario, you command a unit, and each of your Commanding Officers (COs) possesses unique abilities. For instance, Olaf’s troops perform effectively in snowy conditions, and he has the power to conjure up a brief blizzard to provide his forces with a temporary edge.

Engaging in battles can sometimes resemble rounds of the classic game Rock-Paper-Scissors, where every unit possesses distinct advantages and vulnerabilities. Familiarizing oneself with the rules usually takes only a short while, and there’s sufficient complexity for developing intricate tactical strategies.

In a nutshell, “Advance Wars” boasts straightforward gameplay mechanics, yet don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s an easy ride. To excel, you’ll need to understand the most effective units. Rest assured, if you manage to reach that point, Sturm will give you quite a challenge!

2 Into the Breach

Compact And Turn-Based

Into the Breach” is an exceptional tactical game, focusing more on brief skirmishes rather than extensive battles or large-scale campaigns.

In this scenario, you lead a team of mechanical units known as Mechs, with the objective of shielding human colonies from an extraterrestrial foe called the Vek. The battlefields are structured on a grid system, where your mission is to eliminate any hostile threats before they can cause harm to us.

Battles might initially appear straightforward, but they incorporate an engaging “push” mechanism. This means that specific moves can shove targets out of the explosion zone, adding an extra layer of complexity to combat.

You can use this simple mechanic to ferry enemies into multiple damage sources per turn, and these combos are so satisfying to pull off.

Landing high-impact combos requires careful planning, but this game is designed to be user-friendly and accessible even for beginners. As proven by the game Into the Breach, having a vast array of mechanics isn’t necessary to create a solid strategy game; it’s one of the friendliest titles in its genre.

Initially launched for PC, “Into The Breach” has since been made available on the Nintendo Switch as well, and it’s widely recognized as one of the top-tier strategy games on that platform.

1 Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2

Kirov Reporting!

One of my initial real-time strategy (RTS) games was Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3. Although I found it enjoyable, I have a strong feeling that its prequel excels in all aspects, regardless of one’s skill level.

In the alternate timeline of “Red Alert 2”, you find an extraordinary real-time strategy game. Here, history has been altered so that Hitler never existed. This unique premise offers two distinct factions for players to select.

In contrast, the Allied and Soviet factions have distinctly unique troops and tactics, and the expansion pack, Yuri’s Revenge, introduces a faction that harnesses mind control abilities!

“For beginners, the enjoyable aspect of RA2 lies in the fact that although it offers complex high-strategy elements, you don’t necessarily have to delve into them right away. You can still achieve impressive results by just selecting tanks and telling them where to move, essentially drawing their paths on the map.

In Skirmish mode, you can engage in exciting custom battles against straightforward AI adversaries. This is a great way to practice and get more comfortable before tackling story missions.

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2024-11-10 18:39