Unveiling the Future of Strategy: The 25 Most Wishlisted Games of 2025
2025 continues to see innovation in the realm of PC strategy gaming, fueled by an energetic community anxiously waiting for the next major release. Steam, being the primary digital platform on PC, provides a valuable perspective on these expectations via its extensive wishlist function. Ranging from complex city builders and immersive historical simulations to real-time strategies (RTS) and tactical combats, as well as epic space operas, gamers are eager for mentally stimulating and strategically demanding experiences. This article delves into the 25 most popular strategy games being wished for in 2025, offering a brief yet informative sneak peek into the year’s most anticipated titles.
On this occasion, should there be any dissent regarding this list, please recall that it is you who have curated this wishlist of games, not I.
25 – D.O.R.F. Real-Time Strategic Conflict
I’m thrilled to discover that other real-time strategy (RTS) enthusiasts recognize the promise in D.O.R.F. Real-Time Strategic Conflict. This game immerses players in a warped, future setting, providing a traditional RTS experience akin to 90s favorites, combining classic gameplay mechanics and an artistic style that blends elements of Red Alert 2 and the original Fallout series. Prospective commanders can select from three unique factions, each with its own specialized units and technologies, to establish sprawling bases and secure essential resources. Similar to other RTS games from the past, D.O.R.F. emphasizes base construction and resource management. Once those tasks are complete, it’s time to manufacture military units and participate in thrilling land, air, and sea battles, controlling a varied army of formidable units, such as colossal double-zeppelin bombers and multi-turreted tanks. I can’t help but appreciate the 90s aesthetic, where more seemed to mean cooler. If D.O.R.F. executes everything flawlessly, as I believe it will, traditional RTS gamers should find plenty to enjoy in this game.
24 – Mars Tactics
As a strategy gaming enthusiast, I find myself captivated by Mars Tactics – a title that promises to either win me over completely or leave me wanting more. Following a brief demo, I’m hooked on the dynamic terrain and its ambition to elevate the turn-based strategy genre, but it requires significant streamlining to make tactical decision-making smoother.
However, I wholeheartedly support the developer team’s vision of crafting an engaging mix of turn-based tactical combat and large-scale strategic operations set amidst the desolate beauty of a Martian battlefield. The game places players in the heat of a bitter conflict between two distinct factions: the resource-starved Labor revolutionaries and the well-funded Capital army.
What truly sets Mars Tactics apart from other turn-based strategies is its fully destructible environments, offering innovative tactical possibilities such as blasting new entry points or creating instant cover using explosives and bombs. If you’re a devotee of XCOM or Xenonauts 2, then Mars Tactics could very well be the game that catches your eye and stays on your watchlist.
23 – Ascent of Ashes
A colony-building game titled Ascent of Ashes, set in a post-apocalyptic universe, has caught my attention due to my American co-host Joe on the Critical Moves Podcast. The game is slated for release in July 2025. Blending intricate simulation aspects with intense real-time-with-pause tactical combats, it invites players to create and safeguard a prosperous survivor colony, similar to games like RimWorld and Dwarf Fortress. The core gameplay revolves around constructing your base, overseeing resources, and ensuring the survival of your people. However, challenges don’t only come from scarcity; raiders, aliens, and the enigmatic Remnant soldiers pose constant threats.
One unique aspect is the strategic combat emphasis, where factors such as hit simulation, suppression, and modular damage play significant roles in determining victory. For instance, if a soldier gets wounded in one arm, he might not die but become incapacitated and unable to fight further. It will be intriguing to observe how these combat mechanics interact with the management aspects, and witness the outcomes. Perhaps, you can develop strategies that aim to disable rather than kill enemies, with the goal of turning them into allies, for example.
The game also boasts a large, procedurally generated world to explore, filled with discoverable ruins and varied biomes. Additionally, it offers the possibility to restore and utilize various vehicles for travel and combat purposes.
22 – Capital Command
A demonstration for Capital Command is accessible. This game, developed by Hellride Games and Hooded Horse, combines elements of sci-fi strategy, placing players in control of a powerful spaceship. The focus lies heavily on authentic real-time space combat within an engaging space-simulation environment. In the game, you find yourself at a remote outpost where the AI defense system has malfunctioned, and it’s your job to bring order by completing a sandbox campaign.
What sets
Strategic aspects include damage control, upgrading the ship using salvaged resources, and even the option of seizing enemy capital ships.
21 – Metropolisim
Discovering Metropolisim was a delightful surprise as I delved into compiling this list, its striking, elegant, and visually appealing graphics instantly captivated me. This city-building simulation, still under development, presents an intricate and complex world for those who yearn for in-depth management and immersive systemic interactions. It’s a daring endeavor, indeed, promising to offer the opportunity to construct and govern a modern metropolis housing up to 10 million simulated citizens, each with their own unique roles such as jobs, education, and daily routines. I eagerly await seeing how this ambitious project unfolds, but one aspect is clear: Metropolisim has successfully attracted attention, ranking as the 20th most wishlisted strategy game on Steam. Notable features include precise zoning, construction of essential city services, budget management, and strategic planning of transit and traffic systems akin to Cities: Skylines. For those captivated by the intricacies of urban planning and resource allocation, Metropolisim promises an engaging experience.
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2025-06-15 04:43