Year after year, strategy games have held a special place in my gaming heart. The allure of strategic combat, resourceful management, and intricate decision-making keeps me hooked, presenting me with challenges that test my wits. With an overwhelming number of new strategy games hitting the market every year, it’s not always easy to distinguish the exceptional ones. In this article, I delve into the highest-rated strategy game of each year for the past 20 years. From timeless turn-based classics to innovative real-time strategy titles, I’ll uncover what sets each game apart, examining their impact on the genre and cementing their status as fan favorites. Whether you’re a seasoned strategy aficionado or just starting out, this retrospective offers valuable insights into the progression of strategic gameplay over the last two decades.
Each year, it’s intriguing to observe what aspects of games reviewers held in high regard and how those preferences have changed over time. For this analysis, I primarily relied on Metacritic scores, gathered all the results into one place, and included my personal commentary about whether I agreed or disagreed with their assessments, as well as mentioning the other notable games that came close to taking the top spot.
In the future, I’ll delve into top-notch strategy games that have been highly rated each year for the past two decades, based on player scores. It promises to be an exciting journey as I compare them to this current game.
2004 – Rome: Total War – 92
Rome: Total War may not have reached the 10 million sales that Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 achieved in 2004, but it indelibly impacted everyone who played it and likely ignited the passion for history in many budding historians I encountered at university. For the first time in a video game, battles felt like authentic conflicts, combining size, visual grandeur, and strategic depth. Coupled with an engaging turn-based campaign that presented a vast European and North African map to conquer, Rome: Total War was already a classic before its release. I vividly remember spending countless hours during school afternoons on Fridays planning battles and tactics in my mind, eagerly looking forward to the gaming weekend ahead. Considered one of the greatest real-time strategy games ever made.
2005 – Civilization IV – Rating – 94
Each time I compile one of these lists, it’s just a question of when Civilization will appear. To begin with, it was one of the greatest strategy games ever produced, then one of the highest-grossing strategy games available, and now, it’s also among the most critically acclaimed games to be coded. Among all the Civilization installments, IV is my personal favorite due to its significant improvement in quality and gameplay diversity compared to its predecessors. Every new campaign I embarked on felt as if the potential strategies were limitless, with only my creativity serving as a constraint. Numerous nights were spent playing it in hot seat mode with a friend, creating cherished memories.
2006 – Company of Heroes – 93
Among the games listed, Company of Heroes ranks second, surpassed only by Civilization IV by a mere point. It’s truly an accolade well-earned. With nearly two decades passed since its release, it may be challenging to grasp the novelty and freshness that Company of Heroes brought when it debuted. While there were other World War II strategy games like Panzers, Sudden Strike, Blitzkrieg, and World War II: Frontline Command, Company of Heroes stood out by incorporating cover mechanics, suppression, and mobility in infantry combat. To this day, Company of Heroes remains a must-play game for any strategy or RTS enthusiast.
Moreover, Medieval II: Total War emerged as the runner-up in the category of best strategy games in 2006, scoring an impressive 88 points. Fear not, fellow Total War enthusiasts, your moment to shine will come eventually.
2007 – Galactic Civilizations II – 91
It’s astonishing that among all these games, only this one – Galactic Civilizations II – remains unexplored by me. This grand-strategy/4X game allows you to take on the role of a leader of a unique interstellar civilization, with the objective being both the preservation of your people and the growth of your empire amidst a hostile galaxy. The means to achieve this goal are left up to you – whether it’s through diplomacy, trade, covert operations, or brute force. The universe is your sandbox!
What particularly piqued my interest while researching Galactic Civilizations II was the ability to create and construct your own spacecraft, which is one of those features that I always enjoy in games.
The game boasts three expansions: Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords, Dark Avatar, and Twilight of the Arnor.
In 2007, World in Conflict was a very close second, with 89 points.
2008 – Sins of a Solar Empire – 87
2024 saw Stardock Entertainment unveil Sins of a Solar Empire II, and I’m delighted to confirm that the approach they initiated nearly two decades ago remains relevant and is definitely worth your attention if you’re a space enthusiast fond of real-time strategy games. Given its acclaim when Sins of a Solar Empire debuted in 2008, it’s no surprise that it was swiftly hailed as one of the finest strategy games available. The game combined the excitement and fervor of real-time combat with the need to discover, expand, and develop your solar empire to sustain your war economy. This perfect blend (some might say, a match made in the cosmos) has stood the test of time so effectively that many series followers still favor the original Sins of a Solar Empire. Moreover, it boasts an active modding community, ensuring the game remains captivating for those seeking novel experiences.
2009 – Empire: Total War – 90
I still recall the launch date of Empire: Total War vividly, almost as if it were only yesterday. The anticipation leading up to its release was immense, with Creative Assembly capitalizing on the tremendous success they achieved with Total War: Medieval 2. Previews and screenshots circulated widely online, sparking debates about how effectively the Total War formula would adapt to the musket era. There was also a sense that the series was maturing and branching out into more advanced and innovative territories.
Empire: Total War held a special place in my heart, as the battles were grandiose, the graphics were stunning, and for the first time ever, we could engage in naval combat. Almost everything about it was impressive, but the AI left much to be desired, particularly when it came to ranged combat. The AI would move erratically, employ formations that seemed illogical, and charge forward aimlessly into battles they had no chance of winning.
2009 saw strategy games flourish, as Football Manager earned the runner-up spot with an impressive score of 87, while Dawn of War II followed closely behind with a commendable 85.
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2025-02-09 05:43