Although the popularity of strategy games has waned since its peak in the 90s and early 2000s, particularly in the RTS genre, strategy games have been seeing a resurgence in recent years. This is especially so in the indie game scene, with games such as Against The Storm, RimWorld, and Thronefall all performing well on the Steam storefront.

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As a result, now is a great time to jump into strategy games, both new and old. These are just a few examples of strategy games with high replay values, all of which fit their own niches in the strategy game genre.

6XCOM 2

Unforgiving Gameplay Encourages Multiple Playthroughs

XCOM 2

Strategy
RPG

Platform(s)PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC , Android , iOS
ReleasedFebruary 5, 2016
Developer(s)Firaxis Games

Like its predecessors, XCOM 2 delivers on unforgiving turn-based tactics, all while ensuring the game is accessible to newcomers. In XCOM, each battle can play out in a wildly different manner every time, thanks to a dizzying array of variables, including enemy types, random chance, and the environment itself. This ensures that each playthrough of XCOM will never quite pan out the same way twice.

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The long-running XCOM series is known for its unforgiving gameplay and tactical, strategic combat in which every decision matters. The occasional injections of random chance, permanent death mechanics, and the sheer fact that players can lose the game and be forced to start over, make XCOM a delightfully replayable experience.

5Civilization 6

Accessible Turn-Based Strategy On A Grand Scale

Sid Meier’s Civilization 6

Strategy

Platform(s)PS4 , Xbox One , Switch , PC , Android , iOS
ReleasedOctober 21, 2016
Developer(s)Firaxis Games

The Civilization series is known for its accessible 4X strategy gameplay, as well as its massive replay value. This replay value is facilitated through dense gameplay mechanics that encourage multiple strategies, and the unpredictability of online multiplayer ensures that each game plays out differently.

Civilization 6, like its predecessors, features a variety of notable leaders that players can take advantage of. This in and of itself adds a dash of replay value to the game, but it’s Civilization’s well-crafted gameplay loop that rewards players for repeat plays. The randomly generated elements of the game also help to prevent it from becoming stale, allowing players to play the game multiple times and still be surprised. Although Civilization can be played in single-player, it’s arguably better – and more replayable – when played online in a large group.

4Age Of Empires 2

Multiple Campaigns And A Skirmish Mode With Over Thirty Civilizations

Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

Real-Time Strategy

Platform(s)PC , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
ReleasedNovember 14, 2019
DeveloperForgotten Empires, Tantalus, Wicked Witch

Real-time strategy games like StarCraft 2 are notorious for their complex mechanics and steep learning curves, especially in online multiplayer. For this reason, playing match after match is necessary to learn the game, and these games are built for replaying as a result. Age Of Empires 2, however, is replayable even without its multiplayer features. This is thanks to the variety of ways players can enjoy the game.

Age Of Empires 2 can be played in a variety of ways; the game features a plethora of single-player campaigns along with a skirmish mode that can be played both in single-player and with other players online. Furthermore, the game features an abundance of unique civilizations for players to control, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.

3Total War: Medieval 2

Massive Scale And Deep Systems Ensure Each Campaign Is Different

Total War: Medieval 2

Real-Time Strategy
Turn-Based Strategy
Tactical

Platform(s)Android , Microsoft Windows , iOS , macOS
ReleasedNovember 10, 2006
Developer(s)Creative Assembly

For the most part, each of the games in the Total War franchise features a high replay value, thanks to a focus on strategic gameplay and tactical battles that encourage players to take a different approach each time they play the game.

The turn-based, large-scale strategy combined with massive real-time battles make for a satisfying loop that rarely gets stale, and the tide of a battle can change dramatically from just a handful of decisions. These dynamic battles make up much of the fun in Total War, giving players a reason to come back again and again.

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As with many Total War games, Total War: Medieval 2 features a campaign that tasks players with taking over a certain number of territories. In a campaign, players can take on the role of one of several factions, and the game’s large scale and deep systems ensure each campaign plays differently from the last.