Introduction
2026 promises to be a great year for fans of strategy and war games. We’ve put together a list featuring hidden gems, new games from up-and-coming developers, and a few exceptional titles worth revisiting – even if you’ve already heard about them, because they look fantastic.
Okay, so I’m really excited about the next five games on my list (numbers 15 through 11). I think they’re hidden gems – made by smaller studios that might just blow up this year. It’s a bit of a risk picking these, but honestly, in this genre, the games that take the biggest chances are often the most fun!
15 – SPEE
I’ve been checking out Spee, and honestly, it looks incredible! It feels like what Steam and Iron could have been with a bigger budget – the interface is so much more modern and user-friendly. The way it handles campaigns reminds me a lot of Rule the Waves, which I loved. My biggest worry right now is the combat – we haven’t seen much of it yet, so I’m really hoping it lives up to the rest of the game. Will it actually be good? That’s what I’m dying to find out!
14 – Crimson Banner: War of Liberation
This wargame, created in China, simulates the Chinese Civil War of 1946. It’s designed to be relatively simple and focuses on basic elements – like supplies and food – and I’m particularly interested in how it handles those logistical challenges.
Right now, most details about Crimson Banner: War of Liberation are only in Chinese. If an English version is released, it has the potential to become surprisingly popular, particularly with gamers interested in lesser-known historical settings.
13 – First Sino-Japanese War
I tried out the demo for the First Sino-Japanese War game, and it looks really good. The gameplay feels like a blend of WDS and Rule the Waves, and it uses a strategic map similar to the one in Strategic Command. It doesn’t have sound effects yet, but overall it’s very promising.
Rule the Waves appears to have received a significant upgrade in its visuals. If the developers can improve the combat to feel more like With Dreadful Speed and refine the sound design, this game has the potential to be a standout title for serious wargame fans.
12 – WARCOM: Fortress Europe
If WARCOM: Fortress Europe delivers, it could easily become my game of the year.
The developers previously made a simple, budget-friendly game similar to Grand Theft Auto, which demonstrated their potential. Their new game, WARCOM, creates constantly changing battlefields using voxel graphics, meaning players could experience a unique game each time they play.
The game seems more similar to the Combat Mission series than Armored Brigade 2, largely due to its ability to pause and issue orders. However, details are still scarce, and there’s a chance it could get stuck in development forever, like Battlefield Commander WWII.
11 – War of Dots
War of Dots is a free, real-time strategy game that lets you customize everything. I wasn’t initially drawn to it, but seeing screenshots of a ‘NATO Counter Mod’ caught my attention. The mod’s creator describes it perfectly: it strips the game down to its core, offering a truly strategic experience.
If the modding scene takes off, this could become a minimalist classic.
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2026-01-08 03:43