15. Crusader Kings III - 2020
The latest entry into the kingcraft and betrayal filled series shows that there's still new paths to forge in the world of strategy and tactics.
Featuring generation spanning grand strategy and a create-your-own approach to historical and familial drama, its lineage based approach returned crusading to the market with even more depth. The game was critically revered and caught on with players earning its commercial success.
Total Sales: At least 2 million copies.
14. Age of Empires - 1997
The title that established the strategy series mainstay, when it landed Age of Empires introduced the world to its real time approach to civilization building.
Cited as a meeting between Warcraft and Civilization, the game combined real time tactics with what was traditionally turn based society building and management aspect. Later years would see the title remade anew, as the original game was a success on release with sales only increasing over time.
Total Sales: At least 3 million copies.
13. Command & Conquer - 1995
Hailed as an important title responsible for establishing the genre in its infancy, Command & Conquer reveled in a bombastic high fantasy approach to tactical real time combat.
The iconic full motion video cutscenes were key to establishing the games loveable tone and style making many a player kneel in fear at the mighty armies of Nod, the title even saw an authentic reworking in later years. Undeniably one of the most important releases of the genre, its novel ideas were met with high sales.
Total Sales: At least 3 million copies.
12. Sid Meier's Civilization IV - 2005
With the fourth entry the Civilization series would enjoy new heights and even became the first videogame to win a Grammy award for its soundtrack.
The addictive turn based formula would be further improved here by adding more options to express your sovereignty and fierce imperialism (best enjoyed while playing as Gandhi), with advanced 3D graphics and the developer embracing mod support.
Ensuring the title made waves on release leading to its impressive sales.
Total Sales: At least 3 million copies.
11. Frostpunk - 2018
Certainly one of the most bleak strategy titles, Frostpunk places players in dire straits and asks them to make uncomfortable and brutal choices in order to survive against the desolate cold.
Providing a new spin on the city building and empire-craft genre, the game introduces elements of horror and survivalist mechanics to simulate the compromises and various ambiguities one must face as the leader of a doomed city. The game's fresh premise was an immediate success.
Total Sales: At least 3 million copies.
10. Total War: Three Kingdoms - 2019
Standing as the thirteenth entry in the hardcore battle simulator series known for its authenticity and realism, Three Kingdoms would bring improved characters and storytelling to the franchise - a welcome addition amplifying the gritty tactical backdrop.
Combining both turn based grand strategy and real time battle enactments the series has earned a reputation for its addictive and complex properties, along with its impressive scale. This new narrative driven approach for the series would prove to resonate, earning much commercial success.
Total Sales: At least 3.6 Million copies.
9. Warcraft III Reign of Chaos - 2002
The third entry in the real-time strategy series Warcraft would serve as the series final foray into the genre, as the name would later become known for the massive online phenomena World of Warcraft.
Blizzard exited the fantasy strategy scene with style and the game was a major success, notable for its popular modding community which would eventually spawn the MOBA genre the title is still esteemed as a classic to this day. Personally the timeless unit callouts are still burned into our psyche to this day.
Total Sales: At least 4.4 million copies.
8. SimCity 3000 - 1999
The series that established the city building strategy-simulation genre returned with its third entry to close out the millennium.
Greatly expanding the core design of the series to even further encompass city management and planning would lead to a more engrossing and addictive experience for players, flooding the streets with a cacophony of their own designs sometimes comical and sometimes inspired, the creative freedom cemented the games financial success and status as the king of the very genre it spawned.
Total Sales: At least 5 Million copies.
7. Sid Meier's Civilization VI - 2016
The most recent title in the series about becoming a global superpower, Firaxis Games added new layers to the 4x strategy mold by introducing districts ensuring city development is a focus for the player and more advanced AI opponents, teaching the valuable lesson that dictatorship isn't all fun and games, it also requires planning and logistics.
Featuring some truly fantastic animation bringing its charming leaders to life, the game's impressive sales numbers grew even further when it was released across home consoles.
Total Sales: At least 5.5 million copies.
6. Cities: Skylines - 2015
After the popular SimCity property began to wind down, a city sized gap formed that Paradox Interactive stepped in to drive the strategy-sim building genre forward.
Focused on all aspects of city craft from zoning, transportation and economic management the game provides a comprehensive simulation experience with significant strategic depth and player expression. The lives of the populace are in your hands as mayor and no moral authority is watching, by channeling the lost SimCity series the game would become a major success proving players still yearned for this style of game.
Total Sales: At least 6 Million copies.
5. Age of Empires II HD - 2013
The original Age of Empires II was a fan favorite for series fans and enjoyed a vocal audience, leading to the release of this HD refresh.
Its real time gameplay focused on both kingdom building and strategic combat was updated with quality of life changes and even new campaigns. The thrill of going from scavenging for wood to dominating the entire map with your tyranny is as potent as ever here, and by improving the core release and even pushing it to new heights, the game attracted a new audience that even outsold the original release.
Total Sales: At least 6 Million copies.
4. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - 2004
This high fantasy military sci-fi title set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe would serve as the first of a grand trilogy, where players could build fantastical armies of techno-fascists, war-mongering space orcs or enlightened space elves to engage in real time skirmish worthy of the tabletop games legacy.
Combining resource management and tactical squad game battles, the setting was well utilized providing for a colorful and brutal strategy title that would quickly prove to be a commercial hit.
Total sales: at least 7 Million copies.
3. Sid Meier's Civilization V - 2010
Continuing the influential series, the fifth entry was able to capture the widest audience for the series yet with its focus on accessibility and the innovative hexagonal tile structure.
Further pushing the series formula with its expansion packs introducing naval warfare, espionage and religion, the game digs deep into the mind with its endlessly addictive question of "just one more turn?" or the additional “what If i won by simply leaving the planet?” making it a major commercial success.
Total Sales: At least 8 million copies.
2. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 - 2004
Focusing on synthesizing player creativity and strategy, the Tycoon series became a household name for PC players for its simulation elements and creative tools.
As the third entry the series transitioned into 3D for the first time, allowing for a significant jump in stimulatory detail and immersing the player in their own designs, even letting you enjoy the rides yourself. Providing the distinct joy of seeing civilians enjoy your resort and absolutely keeping them safe at all times the game became a major unit seller with a rabid fanbase.
Total Sales: At least 10 million copies.
1. StarCraft - 1998
A major milestone title for the strategy genre, StarCraft's mix of high fantasy science fiction and high level real time strategy sent waves throughout the PC market on release.
Praised for its deft intricacies and immense skill ceiling, it became a cultural phenomenon and helped legitimize the idea that video games can be a sport. Popularizing the Rock Paper Scissors design staple with its three playable races, StarCraft enjoyed long term commercial success becoming the bestselling strategy title.
Total Sales: At least 11 million copies.
