Backlog Of 10 Strategy Games I Want To Play In 2025

As a seasoned gaming enthusiast with a penchant for strategy games and a backlog that could rival the Library of Alexandria, I must say, this list is nothing short of a digital goldmine. Each title promises an immersive experience that caters to different tastes, from the grandeur of Total War: Warhammer III to the intricacies of Phantom Brigade and Wartales.

I remember the days when I was just starting out, struggling to find games like Dominions 5 – Warriors of the Faith in dusty old game stores. Now, here we are, with digital marketplaces that bring these treasures right to our fingertips. It’s a beautiful thing, ain’t it?

But hey, who am I kidding? By the end of 2025, I reckon this list will still be as untouched as the Sphinx on a moonless night. Why? Because there’ll always be newer games to review, and you lot just won’t let me rest! So if you’ve got any games on your backlog you’d love to tackle in 2025, feel free to share them below – after all, misery loves company, right?

On a lighter note, I can’t help but wonder what the cowboys from Hard West 2 would say if they found out their fight against demons was just another game review on my list. I imagine it going something like this: “Sheriff, we’ve fought demons, witches, and cultists in the heat of the Wild West, but you expect us to take on your backlog too? Well, cowboy, strap on those six-shooters and let’s get to work!”

Happy gaming, folks!

It’s quite likely that everyone who visits this place has a considerable pile of strategy games and wargames they’ve promised themselves they’d play one day. Yet, five years have flown by, and the copy of War In The East 2 you bought on its release day has barely been touched, with just 45 minutes of gameplay logged.

How about this: “Shall we kick off the new year by discussing the huge pile of unplayed video games we all have, and the reasons behind our reluctance to play them? Sounds good?

Arms Trade Tycoon: Tanks

In this game, you assume the role of a tank designer and manufacturer. Your mission is to ensure that your customers are consistently supplied with top-quality tanks, ensuring fair distribution so everyone has their share of battle vehicles. Although Arms Trade Tycoon: Tanks is currently in Early Access, I’ve been holding off playing it. However, once the World War II update is released, I believe the game will have enough depth to keep me engaged.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters

A game that I should have started playing as soon as it was released, yet for some reason I’ve been putting off, not due to the quality of the game itself but more because of my circumstances, keeps getting pushed aside. Every time I try to play it, other priorities pop up, causing me to postpone it again and again. However, the combination of XCOM and Warhammer 40,000 in Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate – Daemonhunters has captivated me, and the eight hours I’ve played have left a strong impression.

Ultimate General: American Revolution

I purchased Ultimate General: American Revolution when it launched in late 2023 as part of Early Access. My intention was to write a preview about it, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen. However, with the recent departure of Game Labs studio heads last month, this might be the final installment of the Ultimate General series. As such, I feel compelled to play and review it. Furthermore, are there any other games available that focus on the American Revolution? It seems none exist.

Aliens: Dark Descent

Since I’ve not been particularly invested in the Alien series before, it wasn’t surprising that I didn’t delve deeply into its games. However, a small memory lingers of trying out a demo for Sega Saturn as a child, but beyond that, I can’t recall playing any Alien games. Yet, all the praise I saw online about Aliens: Dark Descent piqued my curiosity enough to try it out, even though it was primarily for work purposes with Firaxis. This is one of my strategies to buy games without feeling too guilty. Honestly, the game looks amazing and the initial 3 hours spent on the first two missions have me eagerly anticipating more, although it hasn’t yet sparked a great deal of interest in the franchise itself.

Supreme Commander

As a gamer, I’ve often found myself in conversations with my comrades at Critical Moves, extolling the virtues of Supreme Commander – a strategy game they claim is among the best ever crafted. However, my personal experience with this legendary title has been limited due to unfortunate circumstances. You see, when it first hit the shelves, I lived in Portugal where internet access was scarce and physical disks were the norm. Unfortunately, these games weren’t available for purchase, leaving me bereft of the opportunity to explore its strategic depth. It wasn’t until much later that I even discovered Supreme Commander’s existence, a fact that left me yearning to delve into its world of command and conquest.

Also, here’s our latest episode, go give it a listen, it’s a good one!

Total War: Warhammer III

Instead of just dabbling with it, I’m more interested in completing an entire storyline for this one. To be specific, I’d like to engage in a Chaos campaign, where the objective is destruction rather than construction. Since Total War: Warhammer III is the unique game within the series that offers such a destructive role, I believe it will provide an enjoyable challenge. Later on, I plan to return to Total War: Warhammer II and embark on another pirate’s campaign.

Phantom Brigade

Phantom Brigade is an unique blend of turn-based and real-time strategy, featuring colossal customizable mechs. Unfortunately, when it initially launched on Steam, I didn’t fully immerse myself in the game, instead choosing to wait and revisit it later. Fortunately, nearly two years after its debut, the game has undergone significant updates and now boasts a “very positive” rating from recent player reviews.

Wartales

I’ve spent a couple of hours brainstorming another title for it, and here it is: “Wartales”. This low-fantasy, medieval RPG features turn-based combat similar to Battle Brothers and shares some resemblance with Mount & Blade in its open-world exploration. The game lets you roam freely and decide your next move. Did you know that Wartales was the top-selling strategy title of 2023?

Dominions 5 – Warriors of the Faith

It appears that Dominions 6: Rise of the Pantokrator has been released, but its cost is currently beyond my budget, so for now, I’ll settle for Dominions 5 – Warriors of the Faith. Describing this game is a challenge, but based on what I’ve gathered online, you assume the role of a deity leading a nation, where you design and enhance your own units to maximize their power. The battles are visually impressive, and there seems to be an option for underwater factions – quite intriguing!

Hard West 2

2022’s Hard West 2 shares the intriguing title that could be a metal album, immersing players in a Wild West setting where cowboys face off against hellish creatures, witches, and cultists. The narrative follows your party’s struggle for survival, building upon the original game’s unique features such as supernatural powers and strategic shooting mechanics. Anticipation runs high for the sequel, promising exciting new elements to explore.

After discussing everything, it’s clear that by the year 2025, most of these old games may no longer be played as we’ll be focusing on newer releases due to constant requests for game reviews. Are there any games from your backlog you’d like to explore in 2025? Share your thoughts below!

2025-01-02 22:42