The Best Grand-strategy Games for PC Windows

Update : Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8 Remake added at rank #16.
1

Crusader Kings III (2020)

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86
Review score
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PC Windows Xbox Series X Playstation 5 Linux Mac OS

Crusader Kings III immerses you in the world of medieval politics and dynasties, letting you choose a noble house and lead them to greatness. With a vast and beautifully detailed medieval map to explore, you will encounter a host of historical characters, make life-altering decisions, and forge your dynasty's legacy. The game's unique and colorful characters, wide range of playstyles, and limitless paths to follow make it an exciting and rewarding experience for those who love grand strategy games.

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What we like:
  • Immersive gameplay and world-building
  • Wide range of options for playstyle and objectives
  • Beautiful graphics and top-notch soundtrack
  • Unique and colorful characters with varied abilities and traits
  • Legacy system adds depth and longevity to gameplay
What could be improved:
  • Overpriced DLCs that do not add much to gameplay
  • Slow pace of gameplay and battles
  • Uncanny 3D models
  • Lack of region differentiation

  • strategy
  • grand-strategy
  • medieval
  • simulation
  • rpg
  • historical
  • war
  • empire
  • grand
  • politics
  • military
  • political

2

Hearts of Iron IV (2016)

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91
Review score
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PC Windows Linux Mac OS

Control your own nation during World War II and dominate the planet in Hearts of Iron IV. With intricate military simulations, choose any nation and build your industrial and technological power to achieve glory, either playing solo or competing online. The game is both immersive and challenging, with engaging visuals that bring the experience to life.


What we like:
  • Historical accuracy
  • Mod community
  • Rewarding strategic gameplay
What could be improved:
  • DLC locks parts of the game
  • Overly complicated mechanics
  • Limited AI orders

  • grand-strategy
  • strategy
  • historical
  • world-war-2
  • war
  • military
  • real-time
  • economy
  • naval
  • tactical
  • political
  • alternate
  • grand
  • simulation
  • tanks

3

Victoria 3 (2022)

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74
Review score
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PC Windows Linux Mac OS

Take over as leader of one of the 200 nations with a centralized industry, back to the 19th and early 20th centuries, it's your job to improve the lives of your citizenry, manage their economy, and keep them happy. Politics plays a huge part in this game and you must form relationships with other countries to succeed.

Buy

What we like:
  • Nested tooltips provide detailed information on concepts
  • Excellent GUI
  • Lots of events
  • Detailed population groups with their own needs
  • Deep economic system
What could be improved:
  • War mechanic not so great

  • grand-strategy
  • political
  • economy
  • politics
  • simulation
  • historical
  • military
  • war
  • strategy
  • diplomacy

4

Stellaris (2016)

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86
Review score
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PC Windows IOS iPhone Android Playstation 4 Xbox One Linux Mac OS

Explore a galaxy full of wonders in this sci-fi grand strategy game from Paradox Development Studios. Interact with diverse alien races, discover strange new worlds with unexpected events and expand the reach of your empire. Each new adventure holds almost limitless possibilities.


  • grand-strategy
  • empire
  • 4x
  • strategy
  • sci-fi
  • resource
  • space
  • exploration
  • economy
  • war
  • politics
  • construction
  • real-time
  • political
  • military

5

Airships: Conquer the Skies (2018)

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93
Review score
Logo of Airships: Conquer the Skies Screenshot of Airships: Conquer the Skies Screenshot of Airships: Conquer the Skies Screenshot of Airships: Conquer the Skies

Linux PC Windows Mac OS

Construct mighty steampunk airships and fly them into battle, waging war and conquering the skies!


  • grand-strategy
  • real-time
  • naval
  • steampunk
  • strategy
  • i
  • wargame
  • 4x
  • authentic
  • pvp
  • data-driven
  • cooperative
  • mech
  • combat
  • tanks

6

Knights of Honor II: Sovereign (2022)

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78
Review score
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PC Windows

Knights of Honor II: Sovereign is a real-time grand strategy game set in medieval Europe, developed by Black Sea Games and published by THQ Nordic. Players can choose to start their playthrough in either 1110, 1224, or 1360 AD from a range of different European and African kingdoms. It features a suite of competing interests to manage across your empire - mercantile, religious, peasantry, diplomacy and military - with each having their own priorities and influencing your reputation.


What we like:
  • Real-Time Control map for warfare
  • Realistic visuals
  • Soothing soundtrack
  • Accessible interface
  • Plenty of strategic depth
What could be improved:
  • Game is complicated for beginners
  • RTS mini-game shallow compared to other games in genre
  • Limited items included with purchase

  • grand-strategy
  • real-time
  • strategy
  • medieval
  • battle
  • empire
  • simulation
  • war
  • military

7

Cataclismo (2024)

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93
Review score
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early access PC Windows

Design and build fortresses brick by brick to stand against endless hordes of Horrors in this real-time strategy game with resource management, siege defense, and exploration. Lead from the ramparts, push back the darkness, and hold fast against the creatures of the Mist.


  • real-time
  • city-building
  • colony
  • strategy
  • grand-strategy
  • moddable
  • 4x
  • resource-management
  • base-building
  • tower-defense
  • economy
  • building
  • simulation
  • sandbox
  • historical

8

Nobunaga's Ambition: Awakening (2023)

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67
Review score
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Nintendo Switch PC Windows Playstation 4

Conquer Warring States Japan under one banner!

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  • historical
  • grand-strategy
  • real-time
  • wargame
  • strategy
  • tactical
  • simulation
  • immersive
  • military
  • alternate

9

Tiny Connections (2023)

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86
Review score
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Mac OS Android IOS iPhone PC Windows

Embark on a journey, where each puzzle takes you to a new corner of the globe. Your mission is to connect homes to essential services like electricity & water, battling against time to ensure communities flourish!

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  • strategy
  • rpg
  • japanese
  • grand-strategy
  • card
  • simulation
  • puzzle
  • immersive
  • cinematic
  • cute
  • time-management
  • casual
  • off-road
  • turn-based
  • relaxing

10

Ozymandias (2024)

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88
Review score
Logo of Ozymandias Screenshot of Ozymandias Screenshot of Ozymandias Screenshot of Ozymandias

Mac OS PC Windows IOS iPhone

Build an empire in a single sitting. All the strategy of a classic 4X in a faster format, which also shines in multiplayer.


  • turn-based
  • 4x
  • grand-strategy
  • tactical
  • hex
  • city-building
  • strategy
  • resource-management
  • asynchronous
  • historical
  • economy
  • grid
  • military
  • management
  • multiplayer

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