The Best Selling Strategy Game Of The Year, Every Year, For 20 Years

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As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I can confidently say that the best-selling strategy game each year for the past 20 years has been quite the rollercoaster ride! From the thrilling heights of RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 to the strategic depth of Civilization IV and the star wars-themed adventures of Empire at War, I’ve witnessed it all.

My gaming journey began in the late ’90s, where strategy games were a niche genre compared to today. To see these titles rise to the top year after year is a testament to their quality and the dedication of their developers and fanbases. It’s fascinating to compare the sales figures with other popular franchises like Gran Turismo, Madden, and Pokemon and realize just how influential strategy games have become in the gaming landscape.

One thing that stands out is the longevity of the Civilization series, consistently challenging mainstream gaming giants. And who would’ve thought RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 would sell as many copies as it did? It goes to show that sometimes, the most unexpected games can capture our hearts and wallets!

As I delved into this research, I was reminded of the highs and lows of gaming, like the disappointing releases of 2008 or the absence of a decent Star Wars RTS for nearly 20 years. It’s a bittersweet journey, but one that I wouldn’t trade for anything else.

To end on a lighter note, if you’re looking to pick up some games during the Steam Winter Sale, this list might just be your guide! Just remember, sometimes the best strategy is to stick with the classics!

In the competitive world of video games, some titles rise above the rest to become annual bestsellers. Over the past two decades, one strategy game has claimed the top spot each year, with a new entry consistently dominating the sales charts. Each year brings a different title, but all share a common thread: they offer engaging gameplay, deep strategic mechanics, and a dedicated fanbase that ensures their success. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the best-selling strategy game of each year for the past 20 years, exploring what made each game a standout and how they’ve shaped the genre over time.

After conducting extensive research, I’ve aimed to create an exhaustive catalog, but it’s important to note that much of the information remains unverified due to gaming corporations’ tendency to keep sales data confidential, except in cases of extraordinary success or failure.

In my research, I’ve compared various resources such as gaming sites, sales data, and even the Steam bestsellers list from 2019 up until now. Whenever possible, I’ve corroborated this information with SteamDB, Gamalytic, and SteamSpy to ensure accuracy. If you have different findings, kindly share them with me, and I will review and update the list as necessary.

Based on my years of gaming experience, I highly recommend checking out the games available during the Steam Winter Sale! You never know, you might find a hidden gem that will keep you entertained for hours on end. Happy hunting!

2004 – RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 – 10 Million Copies

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Surprisingly, instead of Rome: Total War or Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, you found yourself staring at RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 on this list! And just like you, I too was taken aback. You see, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 managed to sell a whopping 10 million copies! To give you an idea of how impressive that is, it’s as if every single person in Portugal owned a copy of this game. This means it ranks among the highest-earning titles on this list and solidifies RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 as one of the top-grossing strategy games ever made.

2005 – Civilization IV – 3 Million Copies

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Reflecting on this compilation, one thing that stands out is the widespread appeal of the Civilization series among casual gamers. It frequently matches the clout of other colossal gaming brands. For instance, in 2005, Gran Turismo sold more than 5 million units on PlayStation 2, while Madden and Nintendo Dogs surpassed 4 million, and Pokemon Emerald reached 3 million. Interestingly, the classic 4X genre makes a comeback twice in this list, and I’m confident that by 2025, it would have made its fourth appearance. As for me, I remain fond of Civilization IV, and if you find yourself with some spare change, I’d recommend giving it a try. It offers a unique gameplay experience compared to Civilization V and VI.

2006 – Star Wars: Empire at War – 6.7 Million Copies

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In an unexpected turn of events, instead of the anticipated Company of Heroes with its impressive 4 million sales, it appears that Petroglyph’s classic real-time strategy game set in a distant galaxy – Star Wars: Empire at War – outperformed it by several million copies. This is even evident on Steam, as per Gamalytic data. What astounds me the most is that despite this remarkable success, there hasn’t been another quality Star Wars RTS for nearly 20 years.

2007 – Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars – 1 Million Copies

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2007 saw a close battle between Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars and Supreme Commander, both games managing to sell approximately 1 million copies each. However, analyzing data from Gamalytics and Steam, it appears that Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars outperformed Supreme Commander in terms of sales on Steam. Since we don’t have access to Origin’s numbers, it’s reasonable to assume that the difference wasn’t substantial. Interestingly, Sins of a Solar Empire, the third best-selling game of 2007, sold approximately half a million copies by the end of that year. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any information on World In Conflict, but given it never had a sequel, it may not have met sales expectations.

2008 – Spore – 3.5 Million Copies

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I had been pondering whether or not to include Spore on the list given that it’s a unique take on strategy games. However, upon reflecting on the strategy games released in 2008, I realized that year was particularly lackluster for this genre, with only Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 and Tom Clancy’s EndWar being notable exceptions. Moreover, Spore is an intriguing game with a groundbreaking premise – simulating the entire existence of player-designed species, from microorganisms to space-age civilizations. In its initial stages, it resembled a top-down twin-stick shooter featuring microbes, transitioned into a third-person action adventure, and concluded as a blend between real-time strategy and a God game. At the time, Spore was quite impressive but fell short in many areas of delivering on its promise as a comprehensive simulation of evolution. Now, it stands as a relic from its era, an intriguing concept stretched to its limits by aggressive marketing efforts.

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2024-12-30 22:43