The 15 Best Strategy Games Of 2025 So Far

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2025’s Strategic Masterpieces? The Best Games So Far

2025 has been an outstanding year for strategy game enthusiasts, boasting a fantastic selection of titles that challenge conventional boundaries in real-time strategy, turn-based combat, and management. Ranging from epic historical tales and groundbreaking strategic roguelikes to intense simulations of modern warfare, as well as quirky management sims, this year has already offered countless hours of captivating gameplay and strategic complexity. I believe that we’re experiencing one of the best years in strategy gaming, considering we’ve only reached the halfway point of 2025. Let’s delve into the 15 top strategy games released thus far in 2025, discussing what makes each one an unmissable gaming experience.

15 – Age of Darkness: Final Stand

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2025 marked the full release of Age of Darkness: Final Stand, which was my first game review for Firaxis this year. Reminiscent of They Are Billions, Age of Darkness: Final Stand is an engaging dark fantasy survival real-time strategy (RTS) with unique twists. Players find themselves in a bleak world overrun by ominous entities known as “Nightmares,” tasked with constructing and safeguarding humanity’s final strongholds against endless assaults. The game’s advanced “SwarmTech” technology allows for the simultaneous rendering of tens of thousands of enemies on screen, resulting in intense and visually striking “Death Nights” that test a player’s strategic skills. For me, the standout feature was its lengthy and strategically designed campaign, with enough surprises to keep players hooked from start to finish. Age of Darkness: Final Stand boasts straightforward yet enjoyable base-building mechanics, resource management, and a diverse cast of unique heroes. It provides a challenging single-player experience and eagerly awaited cooperative multiplayer mode.

14 – Cataclismo

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Released in May 2025 by Hooded Horse, Cataclismo is a game that combines real-time strategy (RTS) with intricate LEGO-style structural building mechanics, similar to Stronghold, but with additional details and physics elements. Much like Age of Darkness, it’s set in a dark fantasy world influenced by tower defense, developed by Digital Sun (creators of Moonlighter and League of Legends’s Mageseeker). Instead of creating labyrinthine defenses as in Age of Darkness, Cataclismo offers players the opportunity to meticulously design and build fortresses piece by piece. It’s ideal for strategy enthusiasts who enjoy turtling and are obsessed with crafting the most intricate and unpredictable structures because they find them visually appealing! In addition to constructing defenses, players must manage resources, train units, and deploy heroes to restore this devastated world.

13 – Tower Dominion

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Introducing a fresh strategy game that’s been captivating players since its sudden appearance – Tower Dominion! With an outstanding positive rating on Stem, this game was released on May 8, 2025. Unlike other tower defense games trying to reinvent the wheel, Tower Dominion stands out by seamlessly integrating roguelike mechanics and terrain manipulation.

In this game, players don’t merely place towers; they actively sculpt the battlefield using a tile-based system, creating choke points, labyrinthine routes for optimal coverage, and strategic elevated positions to optimize defense against the alien “Artronid” invasions. With three unique factions providing distinct biomes, towers, and strategies, and a roster of 30 heroes to unlock, Tower Dominion offers endless replayability.

12 – Grit and Valor – 1949

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Experiencing Grit and Valor – 1949 was quite unexpectedly enjoyable, not what I initially anticipated. It appears to be a blend of real-time strategy (RTS) between Into The Breach and Iron Harvest. This game is set in an alternate World War II scenario where the Axis powers have deployed powerful mechs onto the battlefield. Players must control an elite team of resistance mech pilots on a crucial mission to deliver an EMP weapon into the center of Berlin, causing a shutdown that will allow Allied Forces to regain momentum in the war.

What sets this game apart is its dynamic, evolving battlefields and roguelike advancement, ensuring each playthrough presents distinct challenges and customization opportunities. Commanders need to strategically position their mech squads, optimize terrain usage, and make use of continuously dropping abilities to enhance their mech and pilots, in order to successfully counter the onslaught of Axis mechs.

My review has been favorable, making it a great option for those seeking a fun, light RTS game with an engaging roguelite aspect. With its addictive gameplay, it deserves recognition as one of the top Strategy Games of 2015 thus far.

11 – Knights in Tight Spaces

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Knights in Tight Spaces

The long-awaited follow-up to the popular John Wick simulator, Fights In Tight Spaces, is here, now known as Knights in Tight Spaces! This is a unique blend of turn-based strategy and deck-building games that transport players from the present day back to the medieval era. In this game, you’ll join forces with other warriors to conquer randomly generated battles throughout an extensive campaign.

The gameplay style remains card-based with turn-based movement on a grid, requiring players to employ their cards tactically to gain an advantage over opponents and inflict maximum damage within a stylized medieval environment. The key to success lies in building potent decks of abilities using the cards you’re provided, and executing well-timed maneuvers with precision.

Compared to its predecessor, Knights in Tight Spaces introduces several new elements, such as a party system, weapons, and equipment. This game offers a refreshing and engaging experience for enthusiasts of turn-based strategy games and deck-building roguelites alike.

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2025-06-19 04:43