[Top 15] Best Indie Strategy Games

Updated:

20 Aug 2021

15. Wildermyth

I have to say that this game has one of the greatest soundtracks I’ve ever heard, the art design for this game is also a tasty piece of cake, it looks like a cartoon book with 3D objects popping out when you open a page. And don’t get me started on the storyline, it’s well crafted and full of plot twists.

This game is perfect if you want a unique combat experience, cool storyline with decisions that will change the state of the world and your characters - try it out, a simple game for simple gamers!

14. Imperiums: Greek Wars

This game is like turn-based HOI4, except that it takes place in ancient times - the game consists of Greek Mythology, so if you’re a huge nerd about this, this game is totally for you!

Your main objective is to conquer as much land as possible, discover new technologies and destroy your foes with high-skill, strategical thinking - be careful though, your “allies” might plot against you and deprive you of your power!

13. Stardew Valley

I was wondering whether to put this game on the 15th spot in this article or if to even put it in at all, then I’ve checked the reviews for this game on Steam and there were actually people who played this game for over 400 hours - I had to check it out for myself and oh boy, how wrong I was…

This game lets you farm potatoes. You’ve inherited your grandfather’s humble plot of land and now you’re going to farm potatoes and plenty of other vegetables/fruits, do your best to make it profitable and build your home, brick by brick and with every particle of your heart. This game gives me Pokemon vibes and addicted me like all the other players who played this silly, but fun as heck game!

12. Into the Breach

Defend the last remnants of civilizations, carefully analyze your every move in this simple, turn-based game, and upgrade your mechs. In case you lose, you go back in time and fix your mistakes!

11. Panzer Strategy

A rare type of game, it’s a turn-based strategy game that takes place in the times of World War 2. You’ll be able to control your armies strategically to take over any objective you encounter.

You don’t have to worry about ending this game too fast, there are over 50 hours of gameplay for you to enjoy, you’ll play historically accurate missions(like Battle of Stalingrad, Battle of Berlin). Accurate WW2 weaponry, ability to capture zones, pleasing atmosphere - what more can you ask for? Get it now!

10. Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics

A game mechanically similar to XCOM, it’s just that it takes place in World War 2, with a little twist - besides fighting Nazis, you’ll be fighting the darkness of Cthulhu… How can you put Nazis and Cthulhu in the same game?

The controls are similar to those of in XCOM, the story in this game is… enjoyable, you’ll receive rewards as you progress and control up to 4 characters on your playthrough and grow more and more furious as you proceed to miss your hits!

9. Jupiter Hell

Welcome to hell. You’re stranded on some station filled with terrific hordes of hellish demons, blood-thirsty zombies and some weirdos with metal sticking out of their bodies! Do not worry though, you’ll be equipped with weaponry with which you’ll cut through your foes or blow their heads off, in a turn-based style!

3D gameplay design with fancy, colorful graphics and plenty of combat in an atmospheric fashion. The game is also challenging and for people who want to experience a fun, but difficult, turn-based 3D shooter!

8. Mutant Year Zero - Road to Eden

Humans are no longer in control of Earth and you’ll play a group of mutants, encounter foes on your way, explore new areas, strategize your every move, or just simply sneak past your enemies if you’re too much of a wimp!

This game allows you to kill your foes in multiple ways, the locations are gorgeous and make you want to explore more. It has an enjoyable plot, seasoned with funny dialogues from your allies and a huge list of characters to choose from! Besides a few minor technical bugs here and there, you’re gonna love this game!

7. UBOAT

UBOAT is a submarine simulator in which you play as a bunch of Germans who accepted their beloved submarine as their home. This game takes place in WW2 and it differentiates itself from the other WW2 strategy games by offering more aquatic combat between ships and submarines - distance yourself from a friendly base and destroy ships, but be careful - this game has food mechanics and if you’re not careful enough, your squad might run out of food and starve to death - there’s no worse fate than being stranded in the middle of the ocean in a submarine, without food, and extremely hungry people who grow more and more desperate over time…

6. Orcs Must Die! 3

Do you hate creatures with green skin? Well, you intolerant racist, this game will surely deliver plenty of nice experiences to your deranged mind - you’ll be able to slaughter countless hordes of Orcs that you encounter!

One of the most amusing things in this game is the ability to send Orcs flying into the air, keep in mind, this game has ragdoll physics which makes it even better. You could also greet a bunch of Orcs with a bazooka or other weaponry. Besides slaughter, the game also offers an interesting storyline that’s completely different from the previous parts - try this game out, worth a try!

5. FTL: Faster Than Light

The action takes place in space, you’re in charge of a spaceship in a galactic that randomly generates foes and encounters, you can attack enemy ships and destroy them, in return collect floating scrap metal of the annihilated ship - you can use it as a currency to upgrade your space ship, repair stuff, buy fuel or even hire new crew members for your ship!

You can choose 1 out of 10 different ships that vary in difficulty, abilities, and weapons - choose wisely, if you’re a newer player and decide to pick the Crystal Ship B, you’re in a world of pain! A graphically simple and addicting game to play, try it out!

4. Dawn of Man

There are just simply not too many games like Dawn of Man, it’s the first strategy game that I’ve seen take place in the Ice Age. Your job will be to guide a group of ancient settlers in the everyday struggle of hunting animals for food, providing water, putting some clothes on your settlers, and improving your city/tools from day to day - maps are diverse in terrain and environments, all this game lacks is a decent multiplayer, which would open a way for fun raiding!

3. Totally Accurate Battle Simulator

I adore this game ever since it came out, derpy characters that you can spawn everywhere on different maps, with weaponry ranging from a spear to an M16A1 - this game has everything and you can recreate battles from the past or start your own.

The game has ragdoll physics and simple graphics that will allow most players to run this game, both in single-player and multiplayer. It’s up to you whether you want to have an even fight, a completely 1-sided fight, or just complete madness!

2. Slay the Spire

I think I’ve mentioned this game in one of my previous articles, but I can’t help but put it in the second place - it deserves a second spot as it delivers one of the most entertaining roguelike card games there are, almost on the same level as Hearthstone if not on the same level.

Unique creature design and artifacts in this game are one of its biggest pros, game can be challenging, especially for people who never played card games and have no clue about reliable/synergetic deck-building. Get this game, it’s awesome and fun!

1. RimWorld

A game that can be fun and disturbing at the same time, if you are into organ harvesting and enslaving others - get this game! This game reminds me a lot of Kenshi, both games have a pleasant sandbox and the ability to commit the most atrocious crimes on tribes that are far less technologically advanced than you!

You can pick 1 out of 3 characters, all of them have different personalities and goals in mind, pick whoever fits you the most. One of my favorite pros about this game is the building system and the ability to build in whatever terrain you desire, let it be a harsh desert, a treacherous jungle, or a windy tundra - all up to you. Create colonies and take care of their needs, perhaps they need a kidney transplant or something…