iRank91
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalRanged
Steam👍 96%· 209KRAWG👍 91%· 2.0KMC90IGDB87· 5
Year 2010Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~27hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux
Best Strategy Games
Ranking of the strategy games sorted by iRank score — a 0-100 metric blending Steam, IGDB, OpenCritic, Metacritic reviews and the iRankGames community. Sid Meier's Civilization® V, Resident Evil 4 and Satisfactory lead the chart. Top-25 average iRank: 89/100. Total catalogued: 226 games.
Top 3
The best strategy games game is Sid Meier's Civilization® V (90.8/100). Close behind: Resident Evil 4 and Satisfactory.
Full ranking
226 games cataloguedRanked by iRank Score
iRank93
StrategyTycoon / Management
SoloMeleeRangedDarkNarrative
Steam👍 97%· 250KRAWG👍 94%· 621IGDB95· 6OC82· 49
Year 2023Dev CapcomPlaytime ~24hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank90
StrategyColony Sim
SoloMultiplayerCo-opOpen WorldSandbox World
Steam👍 97%· 270KRAWG👍 89%· 355IGDB95· 2OC91· 26
Year 2024Dev Coffee Stain StudiosPlaytime ~12hOn PC
iRank90
StrategyTower Defense
SoloTacticalDarkCasualCozy
Steam👍 98%· 152KRAWG👍 93%· 733MC87IGDB80· 1
Year 2010Dev PopCap Games · Electronic ArtsPlaytime ~5hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank90
StrategyCity Builder
SoloMeleeCozyProceduralFantasy
Steam👍 96%· 124KRAWG👍 86%· 447OC84· 141
Year 2022Dev Massive Monster · Devolver DigitalPlaytime ~10hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank88
StrategyColony Sim
SoloStealthTacticalNarrativeDark
Steam👍 94%· 97KRAWG👍 83%· 1.2KMC83OC85· 57
Year 2014Dev 11 Bit Studios · 11 bit studiosPlaytime ~4hOn PC · PS · iOS
iRank93
StrategyCity Builder
SoloOpen WorldSandbox WorldSpaceSci-Fi
Steam👍 98%· 91KRAWG👍 85%· 84
Year 2021Dev Youthcat Studio · Gamera GamePlaytime ~8hOn PC
iRank91
StrategyRTS
SoloMultiplayerTacticalDarkFantasy
IGDB93· 4
Year 2002Dev Blizzard Entertainment · Sierra EntertainmentOn PC · Mac
iRank88
StrategyRTS
SoloNarrativeDarkHardcorePost-Apocalyptic
Steam👍 93%· 134KRAWG👍 88%· 1.1KMC85IGDB86· 9OC86· 103
Year 2018Dev 11 Bit Studios · 11 bit studiosPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox
#10Factorio
iRank88
StrategyColony Sim
SoloMultiplayerCo-opSandbox WorldOpen World
Steam👍 98%· 229KRAWG👍 87%· 808MC83IGDB86· 2OC82· 14
Year 2020Dev Wube SoftwarePlaytime ~20hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux
iRank89
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalCozyNarrative
Steam👍 90%· 140KRAWG👍 89%· 465MC86IGDB91· 3OC90· 94
Year 2020Dev Paradox Developement Studios · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~12hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank88
StrategyColony Sim
SoloMultiplayerHardcoreSandbox WorldOpen World
Steam👍 97%· 140KRAWG👍 85%· 379MC86
Year 2017Dev Klei EntertainmentPlaytime ~7hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux
StrategyRTS
SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeDark
Steam👍 96%· 9.4KRAWG👍 88%· 319MC87IGDB84· 3
Year 2006Dev Relic Entertainment · SEGAPlaytime ~2hOn PC
#14Balatro
iRank92
StrategyTurn-Based Strategy
SoloCasualHardcoreNarrativeRelaxing
Steam👍 98%· 191KRAWG👍 86%· 263IGDB91· 5OC92· 64
Year 2024Dev LocalThunk · PlayStackPlaytime ~14hOn PC · PS · iOS
iRank88
StrategyRTS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalRanged
Steam👍 95%· 178KRAWG👍 88%· 307MC85IGDB78· 3
Year 2019Dev Forgotten Empires · Microsoft StudiosPlaytime ~5hOn PC · Xbox
iRank86
StrategyGrand Strategy
SoloMultiplayerTacticalHistoricalFantasy
Steam👍 86%· 374KRAWG👍 88%· 1.4KMC88IGDB87· 20OC89· 95
Year 2016Dev Aspyr Media · 2K GamesPlaytime ~15hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank87
StrategyTurn-Based Strategy
Co-opMultiplayerOfflineNarrativeDark
Steam👍 97%· 17KRAWG👍 93%· 419MC67IGDB84· 5OC86· 23
Year 2015Dev Steel Crate GamesPlaytime ~3hOn PC · PS · Xbox
iRank89
StrategyRTS
SoloMultiplayerCo-opTacticalMelee
Steam👍 93%· 121KRAWG👍 90%· 251MC86IGDB88· 8OC86· 64
Year 2017Dev Creative Assembly · SEGAPlaytime ~14hOn PC · Apple Macintosh · Linux
iRank85
StrategyCity Builder
SoloCasualSandbox WorldBase BuildingManagement
Steam👍 93%· 289KRAWG👍 87%· 1.5KMC85IGDB76· 13OC83· 91
Year 2015Dev Colossal Order · Paradox InteractivePlaytime ~9hOn PC · PS · Xbox
#20Dorfromantik
iRank88
StrategyCity Builder
SoloTacticalCasualRelaxingSandbox World
Steam👍 96%· 29KRAWG👍 80%· 220OC83· 30
Year 2022Dev Toukana InteractivePlaytime ~3hOn PC · Nintendo
More to consider
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83#50
81
Bloons TD 6
Tower Defense · Sandbox
Europa Universalis IV
RTS · Simulation
StarCraft
RTS · Tower Defense
Stronghold HD (2012)
Simulation · RTS
Mini Motorways
Simulation · Puzzle
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
RTS
Plague Inc: Evolved
RTS · Simulation
Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars
RTS · Simulation
Planet Zoo
Simulation · Sandbox
X-COM: UFO Defense
Turn-Based Strategy · Roguelike
Kenshi
RTS · Sandbox
Planet Coaster
Simulation · Sandbox
Master of Orion 2
Turn-Based Strategy
Sid Meier's Colonization (Classic)
Simulation · Adventure
Lazerbait
RTS
Worms Armageddon
Platformer · Turn-Based Strategy
Rome: Total War
RTS · Turn-Based Strategy
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
RTS
Startopia
RTS · Simulation
Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness
RTS
Horizon Forbidden West
RPG · Adventure
Kingdom Rush Frontiers - Tower Defense
Tower Defense · RTS
Stellaris
RTS · Simulation
Medieval II: Total War
RTS · Simulation
Crusader Kings II
Turn-Based Strategy · Simulation
Sid Meier's Civilization
Turn-Based Strategy
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
RTS
Stacklands
Simulation · Card Game
Stronghold Legends: Steam Edition
Simulation · Sandbox
Prison Architect
Simulation · Sandbox
Related rankings
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best strategy game?
- According to the iRankGames ranking, Sid Meier's Civilization® V (90.8/100) tops the list. Close behind are Resident Evil 4 and Satisfactory.
- How is this ranking calculated?
- Each game receives an iRank score (0-100) blending several weighted sources: Steam reviews, IGDB community + critic ratings, Metacritic, OpenCritic and the iRankGames community votes. The sort order additionally applies a Bayesian shrinkage adjustment: games with few reviews get pulled toward the genre average so small samples can't game the top of the chart.
- How many strategy games are in this ranking?
- 50 games appear in this list (filtered by minimum popularity, excluding DLC, expansions and unclassified shovelware).
- What makes a good strategy game?
- The highest-rated entries in this genre tend to share design coherent with subgenre conventions, tight controls, balanced challenge-and-reward loops, and an active player base that sustains their reception across multiple platforms. Examples in this ranking: Sid Meier's Civilization® V, Resident Evil 4 and Satisfactory.