Best Undead Armies In Strategy Games

Best Undead Armies In Strategy Games

Key Takeaways

  • Strategy games offer endless enjoyment with varied races and factions for clash-filled battles – from elves to treefolk.
  • Total War: Warhammer 3 provides epic fantasy battlefield experiences with undead choices like Tomb Kings and Vampire Counts.
  • Undead factions in games like Warlock 2, Age of Wonders 4, and Warcraft 3 offer unique gameplay challenges and strategic opportunities.

As a strategy game enthusiast who’s been navigating the digital battlefields for decades now, I can confidently say that the undead factions in today’s strategy games have risen from the ashes to offer some of the most intriguing and challenging experiences out there.


There are numerous strategy games available with diverse options for players to engage in battles using different factions, some set amidst the vastness of space and others within mystical realms. Although humans and elves often recur as popular fantasy races, many games offer intriguing alternatives like tree-dwellers and the undead.

Strategy games have had a rich history spanning many years, and despite some being rather old-fashioned, they continue to offer countless entertaining hours for gamers. These games range from those with smaller scopes to others featuring immense armies marching across battlefields.

1 Total War: Warhammer 3

A Massive Fantasy Battleground

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve found few games that truly encapsulate the colossal chaos of an epic battlefield, where platoons by the multitude collide and unleash destruction upon each other. This time around, I’m diving into the third installment in the Warhammer franchise, a title rich with fantasy lore. Among the diverse array of playable races, there’s a chilling trio that hails from the realm of the undead: the Tomb Kings, the Vampire Counts, and the Vampire Coasts. When it comes to these ghastly factions, I get to pick my role – each offering four distinct playable options. Some of these factions are more formidable than others, but that’s part of the fun!

The Tomb Kings are based around an undead Egyptian-inspired empire concept. Vampire Counts represent the classic dark fantasy element, ruling over horrifying creatures. Meanwhile, Vampire Coasts embody a pirate theme and boast a terrifying arsenal of gunpowder, steel, and nautical monstrosities to instill fear in their adversaries.

Fans deeply captivated by the world of Warhammer might as well explore the gridiron-style action in Blood Bowl 2, especially since it offers an extensive roster of undead teams. Despite being smaller battles compared to vast armies, some strategy aficionados overlook this game due to not trying out its unbalanced yet entertaining gameplay.

2 Warlock 2: The Exiled

High Fantasy 4X Strategy

  • Developer: 1C:Ino-Co Plus
  • Release Date: April 10, 2014
  • Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, OS X

As a gamer, I’ve come across various 4X games that some folks humorously label as a blend of “Civilization” and “D&D.” However, each game usually has its own distinct fantasy atmosphere. When it comes to traditional high fantasy settings, Warlock 2: The Exiled stands out. These games can range from challenging for veterans to beginner-friendly. In Warlock 2, players have the option to pick races that mirror dwarves, humans, elves, merfolk, a dragon unit (flying high!), monstrous horde creatures, and the undead. Despite the unique names, they still feel familiar in this high fantasy world.

Each playable race offers unique experiences, yet the Undead faction distinguishes itself even more. Unlike other factions that rely on food as a crucial resource, the Undead draw sustenance from mana. While other races utilize mana for magical abilities, the Undead excel in maximizing a mana-centric gameplay style to an exceptional degree.

3 Age of Wonder 4

Blending Strategy With Tactics

In contrast to Warlock 2: The Exiled that is entirely played from a global map perspective, Age of Wonders 4 is set to switch to smaller-scale battle maps when groups of units engage in combat. Players will manage numerous units and heroes, but it’s the undead and necromantic ones they should primarily focus on.

Each choice of race has similarities, but also unique areas that will be stronger in some conflicts, and weaker in others. This will give players a great blend of larger grand strategy games, including making tough choices, with very exciting tactical battles on hex grid-lined battle maps. The game also tells one of the most riveting stories in the genre.

4 Songs Of Conquest

Plague Of Undead & Rats

  • Develoepr: Lavapotion
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS
  • Release: May 20, 2024

This intricately crafted strategy game, titled “Songs of Conquest“, may appear unassuming at first sight, but it’s a rare gem in the gaming world. A testament to passion and dedication, such creations are seldom encountered. It masterfully merges aspects from various popular strategy games, seamlessly blending them into a cohesive whole. The game offers four distinct factions, each with its unique narrative arc called a “Song”.

In this game, there’s a group called the Barony of Loth, an alliance of the undead, corrupted living beings, and rats. Their appearance fits them perfectly and complements their theme. When you play as The Barony of Loth, they can deploy hordes of smaller troops to overrun mid-sized units, while also having powerful finishing moves through massive spells.

5 Warcraft 3: Reforged

A Remastered Classic

Despite being quite old, Warcraft 3: Reforged remains a fun game today. It employs mechanisms that laid the foundation for the RTS genre, yet it also offers distinctive features like integrating PvE aspects into PvP battles. Each race offers unique gameplay experiences, but the Undead might seem the most distinct from all others.

Among the challenging choices when it comes to micromanagement, the undead race in this game can be particularly difficult, as losing sight of details can make it a daunting task to regain control. Therefore, if you’re new to playing the undead, it might not be your ideal starting point due to its narrow room for error. If you’re planning to play Warcraft 3: Reforged, it would be advisable to begin with Humans or Orcs first, and then move on to the Undead.

Read More

2024-09-29 22:04