Unveiling the Future of Strategy: The 25 Most Wishlisted Games of 2025
2025 continues to see an exciting evolution in the realm of PC strategy gaming, with players eagerly awaiting new releases and Steam, as the primary digital storefront on PC, providing a valuable glimpse into their wishes through its extensive wishlist function. Ranging from intricate city-builders, historical simulations, real-time strategies (RTS), tactical combats, to deep space epics, gamers are yearning for immersive experiences that test their mental faculties and strategic skills. This article delves into the top 25 most wished-for strategy games of 2025, offering a brief but enlightening peek at the most anticipated titles set to launch this year.
Just this once, if you find yourself at odds with this list, please recall that it’s your preferences that have populated this wishlist, not mine.
25 – D.O.R.F. Real-Time Strategic Conflict
I’m thrilled to learn that other real-time strategy (RTS) enthusiasts share my enthusiasm for D.O.R.F.: Real-Time Strategic Conflict! This game immerses players in a dark, futuristic setting, delivering a nostalgic RTS experience, similar to 90s favorites, in terms of both its engaging gameplay mechanics and stunning visual style, which combines elements of Red Alert 2 and the classic Fallout series. Aspiring commanders can select from three unique factions, each with their own specialized units and technologies, to construct sprawling bases and control essential resources. Similar to traditional RTS games, D.O.R.F. focuses on base construction and resource management. Once established, players can produce an assortment of military units and engage in intense land, air, and sea battles, controlling a diverse array of powerful units, ranging from gigantic double-zeppelin bombers to heavily fortified tanks. The 90s had a knack for making things look cool by adding more of them, and I appreciate that! If D.O.R.F. manages to get everything right, as I believe it will, traditional RTS gamers will find plenty to enjoy here.
24 – Mars Tactics
Mars Tactics is a game that I either adore or find frustrating based on personal preference. After trying out its demo, I appreciate the intricate terrain dynamics it offers to the turn-based strategy genre, but it requires an easier decision-making process for a smoother experience. The developers are aiming to provide a captivating combination of tactical turn-based combat and large-scale strategic operations in a setting of war-ravaged Mars. I’m intrigued by that concept. Players will find themselves caught in a harsh conflict between two imbalanced factions: the struggling Labor revolutionaries and the well-funded Capital army. What makes Mars Tactics unique among turn-based strategies is its fully destructible environments, enabling creative tactics like creating new entry points or spontaneous cover using explosives and bombs. If you’re a fan of games such as XCOM or Xenonauts 2, then Mars Tactics could be the game you’ve been waiting for, and it’s worth keeping an eye on.
23 – Ascent of Ashes
As a devoted gaming enthusiast, I stumbled upon Ascent of Ashes, a colony sim set in a post-apocalyptic universe, thanks to my esteemed American co-host, Joe, on the Critical Moves Podcast. This captivating title is slated for release in July 2025.
What sets Ascent of Ashes apart is its seamless blend of intricate simulation aspects with pulse-pounding real-time-with-pause tactical combat. Players will be tasked with creating and safeguarding a flourishing survivor colony, much like games such as RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress. The primary focus lies in constructing your base, managing resources, and ensuring the survival of your people day by day.
However, the challenges don’t end there, as raiders, aliens, and mysterious Remnant soldiers are always lurking, ready to attack. One of the game’s key features is its emphasis on detailed tactical combat, where factors like hit simulation and suppression play a significant role in securing victory. Additionally, unit modular damage comes into play, meaning that if a soldier is injured, say, in one arm, they might not perish but become incapacitated and unable to fight further.
I am eagerly anticipating the fusion of these combat mechanics with the management aspects and observing how it will influence gameplay dynamics. Perhaps devising strategies that aim to incapacitate enemies instead of eliminating them could be a unique approach, turning them into potential allies.
Ascent of Ashes also boasts a colossal, procedurally generated world to explore, filled with discoverable ruins and diverse biomes. Moreover, players will have the opportunity to restore and utilize various vehicles for travel and combat, adding another layer of immersion to this post-apocalyptic odyssey.
22 – Capital Command
A demonstration for Capital Command is accessible. This game, developed by Hellride Games and Hooded Horse, offers an engaging sci-fi strategy experience, focusing on intense real-time space battles with realistic physics. The story takes place in a remote outpost where an AI defense system has turned hostile, leaving you to bring order back to the chaos.
Capital Command stands apart due to its accurate space physics and six-dimensional freedom for precise movement in space, ensuring players become proficient in handling complex flight controls and weapon systems. As captain, you’ll be responsible for directing a multifaceted crew consisting of navigators, gunners, repair teams, and engineers, managing your colossal vessel and its formidable arsenal.
Crucial aspects of gameplay involve damage control, upgrading your ship with scavenged resources, and the chance to seize enemy capital ships.
21 – Metropolisim
I discovered Metropolisim while gathering information for this list, captivated by its visually appealing, streamlined, and artistically attractive design. Currently under development, Metropolisim positions itself as a highly advanced and intricate city-building simulation, targeting players who seek meticulous management and profound system interactions in every detail. This game certainly showcases ambition, aiming to allow players to construct and manage a modern metropolis with a population of up to 10 million people, where each citizen is individually simulated, possessing their own job, education, and daily routines. I’m eager to see how this will unfold, but one thing is certain – the game has generated significant attention, ranking as the 20th most wishlisted strategy game on Steam. Notable features include comprehensive zoning, the construction of essential city services, budget management, and the strategic planning of transport and traffic networks similar to Cities: Skylines. Metropolisim is likely to attract those who appreciate delving into the intricacies of urban planning and resource distribution.
Read More
- Nintendo May Be Struggling to Meet Switch 2 Demand in Japan
- Hollow Knight: Silksong is Cutting It Close on a 2025 Release Window
- Nintendo Offers Higher Margins to Japanese Retailers in Switch 2 Push
- Don’t Expect Day One Switch 2 Reviews And Here’s Why
- Best Awakened Hollyberry Build In Cookie Run Kingdom
- Silent Hill f 2025 Release Date Confirmed, And Pre-Orders Are Already Open
- Nintendo Dismisses Report On Switch 2 Retailer Profit Margins
- Game of Thrones Writer George R. R. Martin Weighs in on ‘Kickass’ Elden Ring Movie Plans
- Silent Hill f Reveals Release Date and Terrifying New Monsters
- Hollow Knight: Silksong Steam Update Excited Fans
2025-06-09 04:43