Summary
Strategy games have been prevalent for a long time, but some people feel that the scope of most games in this genre is too limited for players whowant to enjoy a sense of epicness in their games. This led to the rise of the grand strategy genre, which is full to the brim with some truly astounding games that are often complicated but well worth the time and effort that players have to put into learning how these titles work.
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Players should definitely wrap their heads around these games as soon as possible since a single mistake can have dire consequences for the player. This is especially true in the case of titles in the genre with complicated AI patterns that can easily overpower them if they’re not careful enough.
1Crusader Kings 2
For what it’s worth,Crusader Kings 3still has a long way to go before reaching the same levels of depth and complexity as its predecessor. The game’s vibrant graphics, excellent tutorial, and simpler mechanics have made it one of the easiest grand strategy games to get into. Meanwhile, its predecessor is loaded with so much content that is poorly explained, making it a nightmare to get into this title without a guide.
Crusader Kings 2is easily one of the most content-heavy grand strategy games out there, but the majority of the game’s difficulty stems from just trying to understand how it works. Most of the people who callCrusader Kings 3easy do so becausethey managed to navigate the complex web of the last game, which made this beginner-friendly sequel feel rather tame in comparison.
2Sid Meier’s Civilization 6
Each and everyCivilizationgame makes for some of the most approachable, ingenious, and charming grand strategy games that fans can check out for themselves. On easier difficulties, players can relax as they pretty much let the game play out itself, issuing an odd command here and there.
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However, on higher difficulties, maintaining alliances and forming a sizeable army becomes crucial to a player’s success.Civilization 6is no exception to this golden rule, and a single misstep on the highest difficulty will cause the AI to pounce on a vulnerable player and obliterate them without so much as a second thought.
3Stellaris
An intergalactic strategy game that is about as engaging as one would expect, there’s a reason whyStellarisstill stands strong as one of the most popular grand strategy gamesthat fans can check out. Diplomacy, warfare, trade, and anything else along the same lines becomes all the more engaging with the backdrop of science fiction.
Players can control many races with different conquest goals, making it interesting to explore space and interact with other species. The game takes no prisoners, and players should be ready to suffer some humiliating losses early on before understanding how this game functions.
4Hearts Of Iron 3
World War 2 was a tumultuous time in the world’s history, culminating in a horrifying event and changing the very nature of warfare itself. Players who want to take a more hands-on approach during this period and tactically decide the best course of action each nation should take to secure their victories will love whatHearts of Iron 3brings to the table.
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However, there’s a huge caveat to this game — there’s a lot of micromanagement involved in this title, to the point where controlling a large nation is simply not recommended for a player’s first time in this game. Many people prefer playingHearts of Iron 4because ofhow streamlined its mechanics are, but there’s something quite captivating about learning the individual systems inHearts of Iron 3and the satisfaction players get when everything finally clicks into place!
5Total War: Shogun 2
TheTotal Warseries is beloved by many as one of the best grand strategy franchises of all time, focusing on both warfare and economy in equal measure. There’s something very tantalizing about governing over an entire country and making the best decisions to help people remain happy, especially during times of strife and poverty.
There aremanyTotal Wargames that players can check out, with some of them being more challenging than others. A game that is universally considered by many to be the toughestTotal Wargame around isShogun 2. The gameplay is pretty challenging as is, with sieges being harder than ever before. However, what made things really hard was the Realm Divide mechanic, punishing players for running amok with their conquests and leading to every other faction in the game gunning for the player’s head!
6Victoria 2
The release ofVictoria 3hasn’t been a particularly successful one, with many players hating the dearth of content in the game. The game lacks complexity, to the point where many people feel like there’s still a good 4-5 years before the title achieves the complexity of its predecessor.
It’s a shame since many people loveVictoria 2and consider it to be one of the best combinations of politics, economy, and warfare that anyone can enjoy in a grand strategy. However, the learning curve for this game is massive, and players will need to invest a few hours before even understanding how to enjoy the simplest achievements inVictoria 2. Once they do,Victoria 2becomes a fascinating challenge, particularly for those interested in the economic side of grand strategy games.
