Strategy games can tests the minds of many as they put players into various scenarios. If you have an Xbox One, these are the titles you should check out from that genre:
#11 Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark
Welcome to a world where fantasy meets Steampunk, and you’ll need a tactical mind to survive what’s coming. Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark puts you as Arbiter Kyrie, who serves a council and must protect the land from harm while also carrying out their will.
How you defend the land will depend on how you shape your character. There are 30 classes you can become, each handling battle differently. There are also 300 abilities for you to learn. So mix and match to see what suits your playstyle best.
Then take on the story and witness how your actions affect the land and those around you. What choices will you make to protect the realm?
#10 Wargroove
Wargroove puts you in the shoes of a young queen who is forced to flee her kingdom. To get it back, she’ll travel through various lands and recruit allies to help her take it back. But that’s only the start of what makes the game special.
The pixel art will catch your eye as it’s beautifully rendered and helps the game pop. But just as important, the gameplay is fast, dynamic and can change based on how you use the commanders of your forces. The game is all about the ” Groove ” mechanic in many ways. Build up your meter and then unleash the “Groove” to shape the fight and its outcome further.
#9 Desperados III
Are you ready for a Wild West adventure like no other out there? Desperados III is the game for you, and the title delivers on what the series set up previously.
You’ll play John Cooper, a man with a desire for redemption. Along the way through the Wild West, he’ll meet various people who will join him and become part of his gang. You’ll travel the land town by town and fight your way through whatever battles you stumble into.
Plan well as you move your party around if you hope to survive the experience. Each character comes with their own tricks and weapons. Use them wisely, and win every showdown!
#8 Plague Inc: Evolved
Given what the world has gone through in the last few years, it might seem odd that we’re suggesting you play a game about infectious diseases. But Plague Inc: Evolved has become famous for its accurate models and renderings about how such diseases spread. So if nothing else, consider it an educational experience.
You’ll create a disease and then try to figure out how to infect the entire world through it. Or you can head to the “scenarios” mode and see if you can overcome the specific challenges put to you.
You can also play with friends, create your own scenarios for the game, and more! You’ll play the game so much you might get sick from it.
#7 Age of Wonders: Planetfall
Age of Wonders: Planetfall puts a different spin on space strategy games by giving you a whole world to rebuild in the way you want. The planet in question was once the homeworld of a galactic empire. It’s gone now, and it’s up to you to rebuild and shape the future of the people that live there.
But therein lies the strategy. Six factions on the planet want to shape it in various ways. Choose the one that suits you, and then start your path to rebuilding a civilization!
Partake in battles both in the campaign and against your friends to showcase your strategic might.
#6 WASTELAND 2: DIRECTOR’S CUT
WASTELAND 2: DIRECTOR’S CUT is the complete version of the beloved post-apocalyptic game. The title wants you to take on the world how you see fit, not apologize for your methods.
As you travel through the wasteland, you’ll need to make many decisions. But like many titles on this list, the choices you make, both big and small, will ripple out. So be careful, and be ready to face the consequences of what you do.
Then, when you get into combat, command your Desert Rangers in tactical combat to ensure that all of you come out alive. The Wasteland awaits. Will you survive it?
#5 XCOM 2
Earth has fallen. The previous game resulted in the Earth being surrendered to alien forces, and as a result, they have built cities and are planning devious things for the human race.
But now it’s time to fight back. XCOM 2 puts you in command of the remains of the resistance. They’ve stolen an alien ship and turned it into a command center, and now you must guide them on where to go next.
With an open-world aesthetic, you can pick whatever mission you want and attempt to find more recruits so you can build up your forces. But be warned, the enemy has new forces to throw against you, so be prepared for anything as the battle starts!
#4 The Banner Saga 3
The Banner Saga 3 is the third and final entry in a saga that focuses heavily on characters and choices. The third entry brings a story of darkness and survival that you must overcome. When the world starts to fall apart around you, it’s up to 40 playable heroes to come together and save the world.
But with everyone at risk of death, and betrayal a real option, who can you trust?
Between the decisions you make and the combat you’ll undergo, you’ll have to keep your mind sharp throughout the title. You can even import your saved files from the previous titles to see how some of your decisions affect the final game.
#3 Pillars of Eternity
Obsidian Entertainment is behind some of the greatest RPGs ever made, and Pillars of Eternity is one of their crowning achievements. The game puts you in a world where every option you make will affect the game going forward. So you’ll need plenty of strategies not to get a terrible ending.
You’ll have options on basically everything you do. From the race you play to the core skills you’ll learn, the quests you take, the factions you support, etc. The game is loaded with options, and as a result, your destiny within the title will be forged based on what you do, or don’t do.
#2 Stellaris: Console Edition
While many would want to play this game on PC, Stellaris: Console Edition is a solid port of the beloved space strategy title.
In the game, you lead a new spacefaring civilization through the stars. Your goals and strategy are whatever you want them to be! You can start by exploring new planets and seeing if you can colonize them. Or search for ancient ruins and see if there are treasures to be had within.
You’ll also need to plan ahead for when you meet new alien species! Will you try to make peace with them? Or start the path to galactic war? The choice is yours!
#1 Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Only a few strategy games out there could top this franchise, and they’re on this list! Hence Sid Meier’s Civilization VI gets the top spot!
It’s not hard to see why it’s the best strategy game on Xbox One. The game was rebuilt graphically from the ground up to fit the then-next-gen system. What’s more, the title revels in the many strategies and options you have within the title.
You’ll want to test your might, diplomacy, building skills, and more throughout each playthrough you do. With so much content within it, you’ll want to take part in it repeatedly to see how many times you come out on top!
