On sale
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.
Strategy games that still hold up
Thinking two turns ahead, whether or not there is a clock
Games
On sale
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.
On sale
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.
On sale
Hell Let Loose 2021
Why it still holds upA squad with a role to fill still gives a big battle its structure.
Plants vs. Zombies 2009
Why it still holds upYou still have to choose which plant goes in which lane, since zombies have different weaknesses.
Populous 1989
Why it still holds upEach level is still a matter of changing the land, with powers that reshape the world and no units to order.
On sale
Stellaris 2016
Why it still holds upA crisis that comes just when you thought you had won is still the point today.
Empire Earth 2001
Why it still holds upFourteen epochs in one match still give it a long arc to play through.
On sale
Bad North 2018
Why it still holds upToday it is still a puzzle of placement worth solving, with a few units, an island of tiles and boats that can come from any side.
Mini Metro 2015
Why it still holds upEvery new line is still a bet on where passengers will pile up next.
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle 2017
Why it still holds upEach region is still a change of pace, with puzzle worlds that give way to turn based fights.
Plague Inc: Evolved 2015
Why it still holds upRacing a cure still keeps each round tense.
Anno 2070 2011
Why it still holds upEcology against industry still gives every city a choice to make.
Age of Empires III 2005
Why it still holds upBuilding an empire through the Ages is still a good way to spend an evening.
Dicey Dungeons 2019
Why it still holds upEach attempt still has a goal, with a boss at the end of the run and new characters and harder episodes to unlock.
Hearthstone 2014
Warcraft: Orcs & Humans 1994
Why it still holds upA small force to manage and a clear aim still keep each mission easy to read.
On sale
Door Kickers 2014
Why it still holds upThe drawn line still has you draw the raid and then watch whether you drew it right.
Black & White 2001
Why it still holds upA god whose deeds shape the world is an idea that is still worth trying.
On sale
Kingdom Rush 2011
Why it still holds upFew choices of tower and a simple map still make each wave a quick puzzle.
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.
Heroes of Might and Magic IV 2002
Why it still holds upThe hero on the field is still a general who can be killed, and has to be kept alive.
On sale
Reigns 2016
Why it still holds upTwo choices on each card still make every decision quick.
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.
On sale
The Escapists 2 2017
Why it still holds upEvery prison can still be escaped in more than one way, alone or on a split screen with friends.
On sale
Brütal Legend 2009
Why it still holds upA guitar that casts magic still sets the tone of every fight.
Banished 2014
Why it still holds upThe winter still makes the first years of a town the game today.
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.