Best Console Strategy Games

Despite all the debates and discussions over which gaming console or system is the best, the reality is that there's little difference between modern systems, whether it be PC, Xbox Series X, or PlayStation 5. Each system does have its share of strengths and weaknesses, though, with PC generally being the best place to play deep and involving strategy games.

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Simply put, the mouse and keyboard combination is far better designed for most strategy games than controllers, as controllers can make it arduous to scroll through menus and make a wide range of commands on the fly. However, there have been a handful of great strategy games released on consoles in the past few years, many of which have been designed to work seamlessly with a controller.

Updated August 14, 2024, by Michael Llewellyn: There was a time when the best strategy games could only be experienced on the PC. Turn-based tactics games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Vandal Hearts have always been excellent on consoles, but implementing grand strategy elements was a challenge with a controller. Thankfully, there is a plethora of great strategy games available on consoles for gamers to dive into. As such, this list has been updated to feature even more of the best.

12 Unicorn Overlord

An Easy-To-Pick-Up Strategy Game With Stunning Artwork

Unicorn Overlord is a strategy RPG set in a fantasy world and is one of the best modern representations of the genre on a console. It places players in the shoes of a prince looking to take back the kingdom that was taken from his family and unite nations against evil. It plays like an homage to classic tactical JRPGs from the 90s and features a ton of options to experiment with strategies when combining classes and units.

Strategy enthusiasts will relish the control over unit maintenance and resource management, and they will find the overworld battles on the map to be unique and enjoyable. The story, characters, and races are typical of the fantasy genre, but they are always enjoyable and receive excellent development to keep the player interested. Unlike other games in the genre, Unicorn Overlord's battles are automated, so players will spend their time setting up their strategies, combining units, and utilizing tactics to win fights however they see fit.

11 Brigandine: The Legend Of Runersia

An Engaging Strategy Game With A Solid Story

• Platform: PC, PS4, and the Switch.
• Release: 2020
• Developer: Matrix Software

Gamers looking for anime-inspired strategy gaming may want to give Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia a look. It offers a grand strategy experience, though it is not as intricate and detailed as titles like Crusader Kings or Rome: Total War. Nonetheless, it providees plenty of strategic gameplay and alternative paths that are ideal for enthusiasts who want to try something with a JRPG flavor. The story mode is told through beautifully crafted illustrations and spoken - Japanese - dialogue that's similar to a visual novel. The game features a preparation mode, in which players manage their units, upgrade them, and dispatch them on quests. During the attack phase, players aim to capture enemy bases in turn-based battles that take place on hexagonal grids.

Brigandine: Legend of Runersia is a sequel to the PS1 original, Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena. The gameplay mechanics will be familiar to fans of the original, yet the newest installment introduces fresh characters and an original storyline, allowing newcomers to engage fully without any previous experience with the PS1 classic. Players can assume the role of a commander in one of six distinct regions. Each region has its own story arc, revealing the diverse motivations and justifications for participating in the war as one strives to conquer and defeat other nations.

10 Crusader Kings 3

An Advanced Grand Strategy Game That's Adapted Well To Consoles

Crusader Kings 3 was first released on PC in September 2020 before arriving on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in March 2022. The game also launched on Microsoft's value-for-money Game Pass service for Xbox, giving plenty of people the chance to play.

Crusader Kings 3 is a grand strategy game set in the Middle Ages that tasks players with building and developing a dynasty over the course of many centuries. The game was a hit with critics and fans of the genre on PC and console.

9 Pikmin 3

A Lighthearted But Challenging Strategy Game For The Family

Pikmin 3 was originally released in 2013 exclusively on the Wii U before (like many Wii U games) being released on the Nintendo Switch in the form of an enhanced port.

Unlike the other games on this list that predominantly put players in control of enormous armies to fight in catastrophic wars, Pikmin 3 puts players in control of the adorable, colorful creatures known as Pikmin, who the gamer must instruct to help them complete a wide range of tasks and tricky puzzles.

8 Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

An RTS Perfectly Adapted To Console Controllers

The Command & Conquer series is one of the biggest names in the strategy genre. The franchise began in 1995 and received new entries on virtually a yearly basis up until 2012.

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Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars was released on PC and Xbox 360 in 2007 and implemented an impressive range of new features to the long-running series, such as unit upgrades and faction-unique special powers. It's a great strategy game for console gamers looking to play something a little older.

7 XCOM 2

Challenging Turn-Based Strategy With A Ton Of Depth

XCOM 2 was first released in February 2016 and, like its predecessor XCOM: Enemy Unknown, offered one of the best turn-based strategy experiences in modern gaming. The game puts players in control of a unit of soldiers and tasks them with completing various objectives while fighting against a wide range of punishing enemy types.

Although the top-down combat sequences are what the game is known for, it's only half the battle, as players also have to oversee a mobile base where they must conduct research, assign tasks for staff, and promote soldiers.

6 Gears Tactics

A Cinematic Strategy Game That Expands On The Gears Universe

XCOM's impressive commercial success led to several imitators, most notably Gears Tactics, which essentially feels like if the Gears of War and XCOM series were put in a blender.

Although the Gears IP is the biggest selling point of Gears Tactics compared to XCOM 2, it's also worth noting that Gears Tactics is more beginner-friendly. The game certainly isn't easy, though it seems that developers Splash Damage and The Coalition made a conscious effort to make Gears Tactics an option for casual strategy gamers, an audience that was largely put off by XCOM 2's brutal difficulty.

5 Sid Meier's Civilization 6

The Full Civilization 6 Experience On Console

The Civilization series is one of the biggest names in the strategy genre. MicroProse found a winning formula with the original Civilization in 1991, and the grand strategy series has built upon it ever since.

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Civilization 6 is unapologetic in how long each match can take, though this is part of the series' charm, as the feeling of building an entire empire over the course of a few hours is incredibly rewarding and unlike almost anything else in the genre. It also makes late-game decisions all the more dramatic as players desperately try to ensure that their hours of work aren't wasted while fending off the devastating threat of being wiped out by an army or even a nuclear weapon.

4 The Lord Of The Rings: The Battle For Middle Earth 2

A C&C-like Experience In The Lord Of The Rings Universe

The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth 2 was first released on PC in February 2006, before coming to Xbox 360 a few months later. The game did everything that one would want in a real-time strategy game set in the Lord of the Rings universe, giving players a wide range of factions to control, including Gondor, Mordor, and Men of the West. It also featured iconic locations as maps, such as Helm's Deep, Isengard, and Minas Tirith and let players summon Heroes like Legolas, Gandalf, and Aragon.

Like its predecessor, Battle for Middle Earth 2 offers two campaigns: a Good Campaign, and an Evil Campaign. It also allows players to create their own battles in Skirmish mode.

3 Halo Wars

A Strategy Game Designed For Consoles

Like the original Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth, Xbox Game Studios' Halo Wars answered the wishes of many fans who wanted a real-time strategy Halo game.

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Halo Wars was released exclusively on the Xbox 360 in February 2009 before coming to PC and Xbox One in December 2016. The game was developed by Ensemble Studios, who did an excellent job of creating a game that, although clearly aimed at Halo fans, was a solid strategy game on its own merits. Moreover, the fact that the game was designed exclusively for the Xbox 360, rather than just being a port of a PC title, makes it one of the best strategy games for console gamers.