Summary
The strategy game genre is notorious for its inaccessibility, lengthy tutorials, and high difficulty, often caused by a steep learning curve, as well as the often combined elements of micro and macro-management.
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The tropes of the strategy game genre that make them so difficult are true also for a lot of indie games, but with the popularity of rogue-likes andpermanent-death mechanicsin indie games, indie strategy games can often be even more difficult.
8FTL: Faster Than Light
This rogue-like has players captainingone of several unique spaceshipsand attempting to get from point A to point B through a series of node-based maps, each of which presents a unique challenge or benefit, from challenging combat encounters to shops where players can upgrade their ships.
AlthoughFTLdoes allow the player to pause the game at will, it also tasks them with managing a lot at once; in the game, players have to manage their crew, giving them orders and sending them to different parts of the ship to man different stations and repair any damage caused by the enemy. Players also have to manage their ship’s hull integrity, as well as their fuel, which is needed to progress through the game. This, combined with the rogue-like structure, makesFTLa difficult game with a high amount of replay value.
7They Are Billions
This steampunk-themedstrategy game tasks the player with defending their base from massive hordes of zombies that can even infect the player’s colonists. The game has players building a base and its defenses, as well as managing units and resources.
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They Are Billionsisa harsh and unforgiving experiencewhere a player’s base can be wiped out very quickly if they are unprepared for an attack. The game’s campaign is especially unforgiving, but the game’s survival mode is where the game shines best, primarily thanks to the amount of random generation present.
6Mordheim: City Of The Damned
Set in the world ofWarhammerand based around the popular tabletop game by Games Workshop,Mordheim: City Of The Damnedhas players building their own warbands and controlling them in tactical turn-based skirmishes, often resulting in the death of one, or more commonly, several, members of the warband.
The base game features four unique factions to choose from, each with its own playstyle, and offers plenty of customization options. Strategy inMordheim: City Of The Damnedrelies heavily on environmental awareness and positioning, and a bad strategy can often result in lethal consequences.
5Xenonauts
This strategy game plays verysimilarly to the originalXCOM, tasking players with managing a military organization fighting back against an alien invasion.Xenonautsaims to be a spiritual successor to classicXCOM, with a streamlined UI and improved graphics, but just as difficult.
InXenonauts, players will have to manage the defense of Earth strategically in order to be successful, managing funds and prioritizing where to spend them. The game’s tactical ground combat can be especially challenging due to its unforgiving nature, often resulting in the permanent death of valuable soldiers.
4NEBULOUS: Fleet Command
Fans of simulation-heavy games and sci-fi shows likeThe Expanseshould look no further thanNEBULOUS: Fleet Command, a game that simulates tactical in-depth space combat in 3D, featuring complex movement controls that help players manage their fleet of ships.
InNEBULOUS: Fleet Command, players will design their own fleets and battle them against AI bots or other players in PvP, keeping track of the battle with the game’s radar system and orchestrating strategic maneuvers with the game’s in-depth movement and positioning mechanics. Furthermore, the game simulates damage on each individual part of the ships, which can be repaired by their damage control teams, sometimes forcing players to retreat their ships and adapt to the situation.
This game combines stealth mechanics with tactical turn-based combat inspired byXCOM, set in a beautifully imagined and quirky post-apocalyptic world.Mutant Year Zerohas players exploring the world and scouting out enemy encounters in real-time, getting the lay of the land in order to plan out a successful ambush.
Mutant Year Zero’sreal-time stealth mechanics aren’t just a unique selling point; they’re also integral to player success. Players are often outnumbered inMutant Year Zero, and the odds are constantly stacked against them, meaning that the only way for players to tip the scale in their favor is to sneak into an advantageous position and have a solid plan of attack for when the bullets start flying.
2Darkest Dungeon
Set in a grim-dark, gothic fantasy world full of Lovecraftian horrors and visualized with a hand-drawn aesthetic,Darkest Dungeonis a harsh and unforgiving tactical turn-based strategy rogue-like RPG that tasks players with recruiting and controlling a roster of unique characters, leveling them up and equipping them with gear in order to clear dungeons full of monsters.
InDarkest Dungeon, players have to manage the stress of their party, as well as their health, adapting to each character’s random afflictions and carefully positioning each party member to create an efficient team. Characters inDarkest Dungeondie permanently, which can sometimes set players back monumentally. Furthermore, combat inDarkest Dungeonis both tactically challenging and unforgiving; one mistake can spell the end of an entire party.
1Battle Brothers
This turn-based strategy game has players managing a company of mercenaries in a low-fantasy setting, traveling across an over-world map, and taking contracts to make enough money to get by and hopefully get some better equipment along the way.
InBattle Brothers, players fight to complete contracts involving anything from escorting a caravan to raiding a bandit camp. Members of the company can gain permanent injuries and even permanently die, which can happen in the blink of an eye if they’re beheaded. The game’s combat is tactical and strategic, focusing heavily on careful planning, positioning, and target prioritization, but mistakes inBattle Brothersare almost always costly. Furthermore, the game’s morale system means that once players start losing a battle, it is extremely difficult to turn the tide.
