RPS: The best strategy games on PC 2020

[Bou]

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2020/01/29/best-strategy-games-2020/

[Tragic]

Here’s the complete list of the best strategy games:

50. Endless Legend
49. Company Of Heroes
48. Total War: Shogun 2
47. Dune 2 Legacy
46. DEFCON
45. Sacrifice
44. Northgard
43. Unity of Command
42. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2
41. OpenXcom (UFO: Enemy Unknown)
40. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn Of War
39. Warcraft III
38. Offworld Trading Company
37. Heroes Of Might And Magic III
36. Dawn Of Man
35. Druidstone: Secret of Menhir Forest
34. Hostile Waters
33. Rise Of Nations
32. Imperialism 2
31. Galactic Civilzations 2
30. Dominions IV
29. Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus
28. BattleTech
27. Men Of War
26. They Are Billions
25. Imperator: Rome
24. Jagged Alliance II
23. Battlefleet Gothic: Armada 2
22. Anno 1800
21. Neptune’s Pride
20. The Banner Saga
19. Frozen Synapse
18. Six Ages: Ride Like The Wind
17. Total War: Three Kingdoms
16. Shadow Tactics: Blade Of The Shogun
15. Distant Worlds: Universe
14. Europa Universalis IV
13. Mutant Year Zero
12. StarCraft II
11. Total War: Warhammer II
10. Age Of Empires II: Definitive Edition
9. Invisible, Inc.
8. Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
7. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
6. Stellaris
5. Alpha Centauri
4. Crusader Kings II
3. XCOM 2
2. FTL: Faster Than Light
1. Into The Breach

[Bou]

Thanks Tragic.

[AK_icebear]

I'm struggling to think of any major omissions from their list.

Imperator Rome raised an eyebrow - this still feels a little premature, maybe after another $200 of DLC...

I am glad with FTL and Into the Breach taking the top 2 spots - these games embrace my preferred philosophy of laser focused design, games that last hours (not dozens of hours) but are so damn fun to replay near infinitely. And they're are damn challenging.

[Marfig]

This list in not an ordered list, right?

[Bou]

Nguyên văn bởi AK_Icebear:

Imperator Rome raised an eyebrow - this still feels a little premature, maybe after another $200 of DLC...

I can't wait for the $200 DLC...

Nguyên văn bởi AK_Icebear:

I am glad with FTL and Into the Breach taking the top 2 spots - these games embrace my preferred philosophy of laser focused design, games that last hours (not dozens of hours) but are so damn fun to replay near infinitely. And they're are damn challenging.

FTL is a timeless classic.

[ashbery76]

25. Imperator: Rome

Huh.Opinions man but that is not worthy at this stage.RTW2 is miles better.

[Bou]

Nguyên văn bởi Marfig:

This list in not an ordered list, right?

Yes it's ordered as far as I know.

[Marfig]

I was thinking exactly of FTL and Into The Breach and how absolutely nonsensical it is to consider these the best among the remaining.

Also, they really are stretching the definition of strategy to new heights, with Shadow Tactics in there.

Glad to see some thing in RPS never change...

[ashbery76]

Yeah those games are overated gimmicks imo and a fair few on that list are more RPG than strategy.

[Tragic]

Nguyên văn bởi AK_Icebear:

I'm struggling to think of any major omissions from their list.

yeah, while the order may be suspect in some cases.. in general I think this is a good and comprehensive list. Maybe Thea might be a missing entry.

Also, while the order is a little wack, I think in general the "blocks" are good. Like the top 10 is good top ten, the 20-30 is a decent selection of stuff that could be considered around there. While my list would be different much of this is "in the ball park"

There are only a few "wtf" and also a few "yeah i guess people like it, but I didn't" entries.

All in all a solid list.

[Bou]

Perhaps FTL should be placed on other lists yes. It fits tactical or rogue-lite better than strategy.

[Tragic]

Nguyên văn bởi Marfig:

I was thinking exactly of FTL and Into The Breach and how absolutely nonsensical it is to consider these the best among the remaining

Cult of the New.... these will be off the list in a few years, I would think, or at least much further down.

[ashbery76]

The top 4 are not even strategy games but more like tactics games or a ropleplaying sims like CK4.

[Bou]

Nguyên văn bởi ashbery76:

The top 4 are not even strategy games but more like tactics games or a ropleplaying sims like CK4.

I agree. CK2 is a RPG.

[Marfig]

Alpha Centauri is definitely not a game that can stand up to today's standards. And I of course don't mean graphics. But it's comparatively bare bones in mechanics, has an atrocious AI, particularly the diplomatic one, and its combat is so basic to have become obsolete. It's not a fun game to play anymore. But is in 5th place for some inexplicable reason. I actually briefly played this game recently as I was going through a spell for a couple of weeks on which I wanted to play through my DOS collection. It just didn't age well. Seminal in many ways, but not a good game anymore.

But is in 5th place for some inexplicable reason...