Sins of a Solar Empire 2008
Why it still holds upA full evening of empire building across whole star systems is still on offer.
2000s strategy games that still hold up
Thinking two turns ahead, whether or not there is a clock
Games
Sins of a Solar Empire 2008
Why it still holds upA full evening of empire building across whole star systems is still on offer.
Age of Empires: Mythologies 2008
Why it still holds upChoosing a god before each game makes each army different.
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories 2006
Why it still holds upA hub full of extra systems still gives each chapter plenty to dig into today.
Europa Universalis 2000
Why it still holds upA map of 1,500 provinces over 300 years gives a long campaign.
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars 2007
Why it still holds upEvery build order balances money against speed, and the decision is as live today as ever.
Knights of Honor 2004
Why it still holds upMarriages, spies and faith still make a kingdom feel like a family business today.
Advance Wars: Days of Ruin 2008
Also known as Advance Wars: Dark Conflict
Why it still holds upA campaign that teaches its rules one at a time still makes a large set of units approachable today.
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive 2001
Why it still holds upPlayers who like to plan a Western heist themselves will find that it still holds up today.
Age of Wonders: Shadow Magic 2003
Why it still holds upThe choices it keeps handing you, which spheres to research and which heroes to hire, are still its draw today.
SimCity 4 2003
Why it still holds upGrowing a region one segment at a time is a long project that remains absorbing today.
World in Conflict 2007
Why it still holds upBecause every unit needs careful use, battles reward tactics for anyone who sits down to play now.
The Settlers: Fourth Edition 2001
Why it still holds upA settlement that has to feed its own army is still a patient challenge to take on.
Dawn of Discovery 2009
Also known as Anno 1404
Why it still holds upTwo halves of a world that depend on each other's goods still make every new street part of a longer chain.
Ground Control 2000
Why it still holds upTroop choice matters so much that each battle rewards planning, as it does for anyone who plays now.
The Settlers II: 10th Anniversary 2006
Why it still holds upRoads and their flags are still the whole economy, and placing one well is the game.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness 2007
Why it still holds upHaving a test pick your Pokémon is a hook that works for new players today.
Command & Conquer: Generals 2003
Why it still holds upA match built on three very different sides is still worth a try.
Super Robot Taisen: Original Generation 2 2005
Why it still holds upIt is where the story of the original cast continues, and a way to play the Original Generation line on the Game Boy Advance today.
Rebelstar: Tactical Command 2005
Why it still holds upAction points and short ammunition still make every turn a count of what each soldier can afford today.
Combat Mission II: Barbarossa to Berlin 2002
Why it still holds upWatching each minute of battle from any angle still shows how every decision played out today.
Wendy: Every Witch Way 2001
Why it still holds upGravity that flips with one button still turns every ceiling into a place to walk.
Sid Meier's Civilization III 2001
Why it still holds upAn empire built a tile at a time still makes a long game worth starting today.
Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis 2001
Why it still holds upThere is still plenty to plan with an army that grows from six units into dozens.
Majesty: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim 2000
Why it still holds upEvery order is still a price today: you place buildings and offer gold, and the heroes decide whether the job is worth taking.
Nexus: The Jupiter Incident 2004
Why it still holds upThe handful of ships still makes every hull a name and a crew you cannot replace.
Worms 2: Armageddon 2009
Why it still holds upTurn after turn of silly weapons still makes each match a scramble of jokes.
Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends 2006
Why it still holds upThree races that play differently still make each campaign a new take.
Cossacks: European Wars 2001
Why it still holds upArmies with no upper limit, in a period setting, still give each battle its scale today.
Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds 2001
Why it still holds upA familiar strategy formula filled with units from the films still gives it plenty to explore today.
Age of Wonders II: The Wizard's Throne 2002
Why it still holds upCommanding a fantasy army as an immortal wizard is still the hook today.
Neighbours from Hell 2003
Why it still holds upA prank puzzle filmed for television is a clear premise, and it still is.
Freedom Force 2002
Why it still holds upEach team is still your own, built ability by ability.
Disciples II: Dark Prophecy 2002
Why it still holds upThe battles are still drawn to be watched as much as won.
Anno 1701 2006
Why it still holds upThe tiers still have the citizens tell you what they want next, and move up when they get it.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II 2009
Why it still holds upA battle where cover decides things still calls for a plan today.
Heroes of Might and Magic V 2006
Why it still holds upGrowing a hero skill by skill is still a good way to build an army.
Empire: Total War 2009
Why it still holds upEven now, a campaign that includes the sea as well as the land gives the age of sail its own shape.
Hostile Waters: Antaeus Rising 2001
Why it still holds upThe soul chips still give a crew of ghosts with opinions, and a factory ship to build them a body.
Supreme Commander 2007
Why it still holds upEvery expansion is still a risk, with one commander who is both the builder and the weak point.
Plants vs. Zombies 2009
Why it still holds upYou still have to choose which plant goes in which lane, since zombies have different weaknesses.
Empire Earth 2001
Why it still holds upFourteen epochs in a single match still give it a long arc to play through today.
Age of Empires III 2005
Why it still holds upBuilding an empire through the Ages is still a good way to spend an evening.
Black & White 2001
Why it still holds upA world that changes with the kind of god you are still makes every act a choice today.
Halo Wars 2009
Why it still holds upIt is still a strategy game that works from a gamepad today, and the three way counters tell you which units to bring to each fight.
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 2008
Why it still holds upThree sides with co-op campaigns still give the war three ways to be fought.
Brütal Legend 2009
Why it still holds upA guitar that casts magic still sets the tone of every fight.
League of Legends 2009
Why it still holds upTen players and a Nexus still make each match a team's to win.
Spore 2008
Why it still holds upDesigning what you play still makes each species your own.