17 Best New Strategy Games Of 2021

2020 wasn’t the greatest year overall. The entire world had to endure a worldwide health pandemic outbreak and it changed how we handle our daily lives. Likewise, the video game industry took a hit with developers having to transition their employees from working under the same roof to handling their projects remotely. As a result, several games got delayed out of 2020, but that means 2021 should be quite the filled year for video game releases. Here are some of our most anticipated strategy games slated for a 2021 launch.

Click Here For The Best Strategy Games Of 2020

Update Disclaimer: Total War: Warhammer III, Rogue State Resolution, and King’s Bounty II were removed due to either delays or failure to keep their standing on our list.

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#17 Mini Motorways

• Developer: Dinosaur Polo Club
• Publisher: Dinosaur Polo Club
• Platforms: iOS, PC
• Release: July 20, 2021 [PC]
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

Mini Motorways is a simplistic strategy game that revolves around players building roadways for a growing city. It might start with one road to and from a building. However, as you progress, you’ll have highways, bridges, roundabouts, and more just to keep the traffic moving. The difficulty really ramps up, and soon you have to replace roads to better support the flow of traffic moving. With limited pieces available to lay down on the map, players will need to think of how best to navigate traffic without causing a jam. If you’re after some mental stimulation, then this is a game that can be pretty addicting to get into.

#16 HighFleet

• Developer: Konstantin Koshutin
• Publisher: Microprose Software
• Platforms: PC
• Release: July 27, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

HighFleet throws players into a commander who takes on a fleet of crafts, aiming to fight off a rebellion. However, to do that, you’ll need to manage your crew, resources and make alliances. Overall, you have a map to pinpoint where to go and watch your ship make its journey, but the growing rebellious group could be nearby. Therefore, players are constantly watching for radio transmissions where you’ll attempt to tap into for inside information on the rebellion. To win battles, you’ll need to carefully plot out your attacks using these massive ships, where you’ll watch your strategy play out in hopes of a glorious victory. With that said, it’s a tactical game where you’re balancing choices made, repairing ships, unleashing hell against opposing fleets and keeping your troops ready for battle. If you like a tactical strategy game, then this is a game you could sink quite a few hours into.

#15 Demeo

• Developer: Resolution Games
• Publisher: Resolution Games
• Platforms: Oculus Quest, PC
• Release: May 6, 2021
• Co-op: Online
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

The pandemic put an end to many things this past year, and it continues to find obstacles for individuals to get through this year. While we had to distance ourselves and refrain from getting together with friends socially, there were games to keep us connected. For those of you who enjoyed playing some board games or D&D with friends, then Demeo might sound appealing. This is a VR game where players take on a grand adventure to destroy the evil Rat King. It plays like a typical board game in that players have model characters to place on the board, an assortment of cards to play, a themed world map to overview, and dice to chuck. Up to four players can join this game and take control of a hero, each with their class or attributes. Best of all, there are two adventures available to keep some players actively playing for a few sessions.

#14 Trials of Fire

• Developer: Whatboy Games
• Publisher: Whatboy Games
• Platforms: PC, NS, XBO, PS4
• Release: April 9, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

Trials of Fire is a new deck-building roguelike game that has made plenty of fans so far. In this title, players take on three heroes, each of which has a deck of cards. These cards are what you’ll use for different actions and attacks. Setting off on a grand adventure, the game will mainly set players up in a hex battleground to defeat enemies that pop up. Here, you can move your characters around the map by giving them a new cover spot or charging towards an enemy. Although, you’ll have to think carefully as these moves will cost you cards which could mean losing out on some precious attack cards to take out your target when the time comes. Players will also have the freedom to move around the map when not in battles and visit the settlements.

#13 Stronghold: Warlords

• Developer: FireFly Studios
• Publisher: FireFly Studios
• Platforms: PC
• Release: March 9, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: Yes

Stronghold: Warlords is a new installment to the classic RTS series in March of this year. This time around, the game will control a group within China set during the 3rd Century BC and will continue to the year 1200 during the Mongol invasions. As a result, the game will focus on city structures to fortify. There is also be a new AI Warlords feature attached to the game, which can hold their own strongholds in battle. Unfortunately, the game might not top some of the past installments of the franchise. So far, the reception has been mixed with players who have been following the Stronghold series for years. Still, the developers are bringing more updates to the game, with the latest hitting Stronghold: Warlords on September 1, 2021. This brought not only general fixes but added new skirmishes maps and brought Kublai Khan AI Lord. So at least the studio is looking to take out any technical issues and keep players logging back into the game.

#12 Wildermyth

• Developer: Worldwalker Games
• Publisher: Worldwalker Games
• Platforms: PC
• Release: June 15, 2021
• Co-op: Local/Online
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

Wildermyth is a bit interesting. It reminds me of an old paper RPG both in gameplay and visuals. Players take control of a team of heroes and level them up through a series of adventures. You’ll progress these characters by leveling up their attributes, but each one is unique. They’ll have their own traits and can potentially die or grow old. Meanwhile, the game will set up players with different campaign storylines to complete. You’ll venture off into the designated lands with a goal. Sometimes those goals are not necessarily made by the development team. Instead, this game offers procedurally generated content. It can give players more unique moments in the game, and suddenly your choices could have some unexpected or crucial consequences. If you enjoy tactical RPG gameplay with some creative storytelling, it is worth checking out. It might not appeal to everyone, but so far, feedback to this title has been solid since it was released back in June.

#11 Library of Ruina

• Developer: Project Moon
• Publisher: Project Moon
• Platforms: PC, XBO
• Release: August 10, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

If you enjoyed Lobotomy Corporation, then you might have been waiting on the sequel Library of Ruina. This is a deck-building game, and it’s a bit of an interesting one. Within the game, players run a library where guests come in, but rather than check books out, you’re battling these guests. Defeated guests become books, and the library expands. Those books are essentially a means to bringing out new cards or attributes. Defeating an enemy with more unique abilities could later be equipped, giving you access to those advantages. This can get a bit more complex as you add more books into the mix, and the difficulty curve will make players strive to perfect their builds. While this game has been in early access, players can now experience the full game right now. With that said, you might want to dive into Lobotomy Corporation first.

#10 Old World

• Developer: Mohawk Games
• Publisher: Mohawk Games
• Platforms: PC
• Release: July 1, 2021
• Co-op: Online
• Competitive Multiplayer: Online

Old World was a promising anticipated video game that you can pick up and play today. What might have caught the attention of some players about this title is that it comes from the lead designer of past strategy game hits like Offworld Trading Company, Soren Johnson. This is a turn-based 4X game that’s a bit like the Civilization series, which Soren Johnson was a part of in the past. In this title, players are ruling a nation and attempting to prosper in the coming years. However, it’s not a walk in the park. Several unique events will pop up, diplomacy to deal with, and a limited amount of moves available before you find your leader moving aside for the next heir. It has the usual tropes that come with a turn-based 4X game, but the studio Mohawk Games does offer some automation for specific tasks leaving the more critical aspects in your turn on the forefront. Each turn has a set of moves players can make, which can increase depending on how well you progress. Best of all, if you find that games like Civilization are too long, then Old World was developed with you in mind. You’re looking at a title that wraps up at two hundred turns.

#9 Total War: Rome Remastered

• Developer: Creative Assembly, Feral Interactive
• Publisher: Sega
• Platforms: PC
• Release: April 29, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

The Total War franchise has been around for ages now. After initially releasing in 2000, focusing on Shoguns, the series continued to span across multiple different eras. One of the earlier titles had players going through Rome, and it was such a beloved installment that now, in 2021, we have a remastered edition available. Players are still going through a game where you’re taking the role of a Roman empire as you attempt to claim major cities, win battles, manage the economy, and government diplomacy. However, now there’s plenty of extra little features added into the game to make it more appealing to newcomers while also offering some incentives for veteran fans to pick the title up once again.

For starters, this game has a big bump in visuals. We will be dealing with 4K optimization with ultra-widescreen support so that the game will look far better today. Likewise, the development team has gone in to deliver some more mechanics. These include more options for the camera, whether it’s a broader zoom or map rotation, a new tactical map, displays to see units in battle, to even a heat map. Players will also receive the previous Alexander and Barbarian Invasion DLCs, and if that’s not enough, players can now expand their armies with sixteen additional factions.

#8 Evil Genius 2

• Developer: Rebellion Developments
• Publisher: Rebellion Developments
• Platforms: PC
• Release: March 30, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

Evil Genius 2 is a sequel to an old 2004 strategy game. The game series finally got a new chance at bringing out an IP for fans from Rebellion Developments. This strategy game follows players going through four different evil geniuses, all of which have their own unique narrative goals. Outside of picking an evil genius to start with, players will be left with building up a new lair stocked with henchmen. You’ll need to keep a close eye on operations to ensure your henchmen are loyal, effective, and of course, not a spy. In the end, it’s a drive to build a powerful weapon to take control over the world. If you had some fun with the first installment, then you might give this sequel a shot. However, you don’t have to play the first game to enjoy Evil Genius 2.

#7 Humankind

• Developer: Amplitude Studios
• Publisher: Sega
• Platforms: PC
• Release: August 17, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: Online

Humankind is a Civilization-style video game title. Players will be shaping humanity from the Neolithic era and tweaking them until they reach the modern-day period. The human race can be tweaked, and over sixty historical cultures can be combined. It’s all about how far players can progress humankind. You’ll not only raise your civilization but also make important decisions throughout that could shape the world. There are also essential battles that await where you’ll have some turn-based combat throughout the different eras. The reception so far has been rather mixed with this game. Folks looking for an alternative to something like Civilization may find quite a bit of fun here. With that said, it might not be the Civilization killer developers had hoped for, only time will tell just how this game shapes up with players, but it’s certainly a strategy game we think is worth checking out this year.

#6 Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail

• Developer: Game-Labs
• Publisher: Game-Labs
• Platforms: PC
• Release: April 7, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

Ultimate Admiral: Age of Sail comes from developers Game-Labs who you may know for their Ultimate General video games. These were two strategy titles that were based around the American Civil War. Still, the studio has diverted their attention a bit further back in history and a keener focus on naval warfare. There are two campaigns for players to go through. You’ll either play through the American campaign where you’ll take the role of John Paul Jones as you lead the War of Independence. Meanwhile, those interested in the British campaign can take the part of Horatio Nelson as you fight in the battle of Trafalgar. As the name suggests, this game is more focused on naval battles. Players will be working with a small crew and ship as you attempt to get name recognition. Soon, you’ll be commanding a large fleet, but each vessel and battle brings on its own set of challenges. The developers spent a ton of time researching the ships and how they would react during the various situations out in the sea. This means knowing how to rig, setting the sails to properly match the winds to avoid being pushed back by the wind or potentially being capsized.

#5 Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager

• Developer: Goblinz Studio
• Publisher: Goblinz Publishing
• Platforms: PC
• Release: April 29, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Manager is an interesting game from the start. Rather than being a hero and going through dungeons in search of precious loot or treasures, you’re instead protecting these dungeons. Hired on by a company, being a dungeon manager means making decisions by what traps and monsters you put throughout the dungeon so that whenever brave band of heroes works up enough courage to hit your dungeon, they’ll be crushed. It’s all about knowing what heroes are coming to the gates, to ensure that the traps and monsters you place throughout the dungeon are capable of hitting their weak spots. From there, it’s all about watching the heroes enter your dungeon and attempt to make their way through the series of monsters, traps, and boss fights where you hope they are crushed or flee before reaching the treasure.

#4 Star Dynasties

• Developer: Pawley Games
• Publisher: Iceberg Interactive
• Platforms: PC
• Release: September 1, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

Star Dynasties is a new strategy game from the development studio Pawley Games. This title throws players into the future where humanity has colonized space. We have mining operations, refueling stations, and task-forces set to further explore the wonders of what lies beyond our solar system. However, disaster strikes Earth, and the planet is no more, leaving those who inhabit space stranded without a much-needed lifeline. War breaks out with the various colonies in space seeking what few resources are left. Your game will take place after the dust settles. It’s been years since the Earth disaster happened, and life in space has normalized. There is a new order and government established with different factions or regimes at play here. Players will be stepping into the role of a faction leader who must watch over their people’s survival and prosperity. That could mean brute force or making strategic alliances.

#3 Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

• Developer: Owlcat Games
• Publisher: Meta Publishing, Owlcat Games
• Platforms: PC, PS4, XBO
• Release: September 2, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

When Worldwound finds an abyss opening that has quickly flooded the lands of terror, players will step into a hero to bring the world back to harmony. In this RPG, players will have plenty of flexibility in the hero they would like to craft up. With over twenty classes and a mixture of character races, players can really tweak their protagonist to their liking. There should be a playstyle for everyone here, and fortunately, you’ll have two different gameplay modes. Players can switch back and forth between real-time combat and turn-based combat. As you lead your hero and the party of characters joining along, you’ll need to make tough decisions that could have lasting consequences, such as character deaths or altering the world itself.

#2 Tainted Grail: Conquest

• Developer: Awaken Realms Digital
• Publisher: Awaken Realms Digital
• Platforms: PC
• Release: May 7, 2021
• Co-op: N/A
• Competitive Multiplayer: N/A

2021 also saw the release of a few deck-building games, including Tainted Grail: Conquest. This is a game that throws players into a world of dark corruption, and it’s up to you to clear the land. You’ll first pick your hero from a collection of characters, each with its unique class. From there, you’re freely roaming around the map in a third-person perspective. You’ll take on quests, manage your character and deck, interact with NPCs, along with battling different hostile creatures along the way. Battles are done through a collection of cards from your deck. Depending on the RNG, you can come up with a steady collection of cards to make quick work of the enemy. Again, this being a deck-building game might not appeal to everyone, but it’s easy to pick up so if you’re new to this genre of gameplay you can still find a bit of fun here.

#1 Age of Empires IV

• Developer: Relic Entertainment
• Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
• Platforms: PC
• Release: October 28, 2021
• Co-op: Online
• Competitive Multiplayer: Online

The Age of Empires IP has been a long-running video game franchise. Now we know that a fourth installment is in the works, and we can finally expect it to launch on October 28, 2021. This long-running video game franchise has a massive fan base, so there are quite a few fans eager to get their hands on the game. This is a real-time strategy title, and chances are you know what to expect with this upcoming installment. This installment will feature eight civilizations around the world to take control of. You’ll build structures, raise the civilization, manage the various resources of your nation, partake in battles, and go through different campaigns, changing history along the way. While this game is expected to launch in October of this year, there are plans to see the developers bring out user-generated content tools. With that said, those tools won’t be available until sometime in 2022.