As a seasoned strategist with decades of gaming under my belt, I find myself captivated by this list of exceptional colony management and grand strategy games. Each title offers a unique blend of tactical depth, engaging gameplay, and artistic flair that appeals to both the old-school gamer in me and the modern sensibilities of today’s gamers.
Strategy games that offer real-time gameplay and feature sprite art go together beautifully. Many strategy enthusiasts who became fond of the genre during their childhood initially played pixel art games. This is one reason why several modern Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games, which are frequently developed by independent studios, choose a retro sprite-style visual aesthetic to evoke nostalgia.
Of course, using retro-style art can also be a budget saver, but that doesn’t mean that these games aren’t capable of great art direction and visual style. The games here represent some of the most creative and visually interesting uses of pixel and sprite art in the RTS genre.
9 Factorio
An Automated Workforce
One appealing aspect of the strategy level in Factorio isn’t just its charm; it’s also thrilling to witness the assembly of a factory as various components intertwine and connect, forming streamlined production processes. The game’s captivating pixel art style further elevates this experience.
In a unique way, the visual style of Factorio resembles a blend between lo-fi science fiction and dieselpunk aesthetics, creating an immediate attraction to the game. Moreover, its captivating gameplay mechanics, which involve resource collection, construction, and defense, are skillfully balanced, enhancing the overall appeal even without explicit mention of these features.
8 Worldbox
God Sim Sandbox
In simpler terms, although Worldbox’s god simulator isn’t the most strategically complex game, it offers a unique opportunity for players to foster (or demolish) diverse fantasy societies and meddle in their warlike or diplomatic affairs, making it an engaging experience for strategy enthusiasts.
What truly sets Worldbox apart is its vibrant, pixelated artwork. The characters and buildings of the villagers are endearing, but the animations for special abilities, disasters, and the titans are exceptionally well-done. And let’s not forget the thrill of transforming into a colossal crab wielding lasers to tame unruly villagers!
7 Necrosmith 2
Building Undead Armies
| Platforms | PC, macOS |
|---|---|
| Released | December 8, 2023 |
| Developer | Alawar |
| Genre | Strategy, Sim |
As a fervent admirer, let me share my excitement about the captivating game called Necrosmith 2! This engaging title seamlessly combines elements from different genres – a hint of tower defense, a touch of real-time strategy (RTS), and a dash of role-playing games (RPG). In this thrilling adventure, I find myself assuming the character of a necromancer on a quest to gather scattered body parts. With these finds, I raise an array of undead minions to safeguard my tower from potential threats while also sending them out to traverse the vast overworld map in search of valuable loot.
As a gamer, I’ve noticed that the designers have put a lot of thought into the diverse and imaginative appearances of these in-game beasts. It seems like they’re not just slapping together parts willy-nilly; instead, each creature’s look changes depending on what components are used during their creation.
6 Crying Suns
Star Fighter Skirmishes
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, PC, macOS, iOS, Android |
|---|---|
| Released | February 1, 2019 |
| Developer | Alt Shift |
| Genre | Strategy |
In this game titled “Crying Suns“, the visual spectacle of real-time, strategic starship battles is truly captivating. Swarms of meticulously designed ship models weave and maneuver across the screen, while a barrage of explosions and laser beams create an electrifying display. Mastering tactical acumen is crucial to control ships efficiently on the grid-based battlefield.
Beyond that single facet, the game offers more. Players will be captivated by stunning pixel art representations of space, planetary landscapes, and unique characters during their roguelike adventure. Not only does Crying Suns impress visually, but it also provides a rich and immersive gaming experience.
5 Kingdom Two Crowns
Build And Protect The Kingdom
In Kingdom Two Crowns, you’ll experience a fresh take on strategic settlement building and defense, as it offers a side-scrolling perspective. The artistic design is commendable, with captivating painted cutscenes and side-view character and architectural sprites.
From a profile view, the scene sets up captivating shadows and architectural details that the game effectively uses. The gaming experience is well-balanced, allowing for strategic combat involving both player armies and the royal character in battles against enemies.
4 Songs Of Conquest
Might And Magic-Like
Essentially, the game titled “Songs Of Conquest” can be categorized as a strategy game that operates on a turn-based system. However, it offers more than just that with its real-time exploration of the overworld and city building aspects, along with its distinctive blend of retro and contemporary designs in its smoothly animated sprites. This makes it seem like an essential choice for this list.
The game is heavily influenced by the Might & Magic series, yet it successfully infuses its unique character to stand out. What’s more appealing is the flexibility it offers, allowing players to choose between infinite custom maps or carefully crafted campaigns. These options can be experienced alone or with friends in multiplayer mode.
3 Age Of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
The Best Version Of A Classic
The classic game Age of Empires 2 stands out as the epitome of city-building and strategic games. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, this updated version enhances the existing stunning pixel art, making it an absolute sight to behold on contemporary high-resolution 4K screens.
In addition, the Definitive Edition is jam-packed with content, encompassing all expansions from the original game as well as introducing fresh campaigns, civilizations, and cooperative modes. This version offers the optimal experience for anyone passionate about strategy games, making it a must-have for fans of the genre.
2 Command & Conquer Remastered Collection
Long Live The RTS King
If you’re a player who prefers strategies focused on base construction and managing units, it’s hard to find games as good as the original Command & Conquer series. Although the graphics in these games might seem dated, the updated versions in the Remastered Collection help to freshen things up.
The Command & Conquer series has always been excellent at using color schemes to create highly readable unit designs, even with the constraints of retro displays. The Remastered Collection only enhances this with smooth and clean units that can easily be parsed in the heat of battle.
1 Rimworld
Unique Colony Management
The distinctive approach by Rimworld in portraying the challenging aspects of colony management has gained significant popularity. A key factor behind this success is the game’s innovative use of sprite art, incorporating a contemporary animated style for character sprites, while maintaining a nostalgic top-down view reminiscent of retro colonies and grid-based building design.
In Rimworld, an abundance of distinct biomes and models ensure visual variety throughout the game, a crucial aspect for games intended for repeated playthroughs. Yet, others might argue that the true charm of this game resides in observing the colonists gradually lose their sanity amidst its bleak setting.
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2024-09-30 00:05