Grand strategy and 4X games have carved out a large niche in the world of video games, but these genres originate from the tabletop with games like Risk, Axis & Allies, and ridiculously large (and lengthy) war simulation games like The Campaign For North Africa. Grand strategy games often see players amassing armies, building up an efficient economy, and exploring a large map, slowly spreading their influence across it through diplomacy and/or military force.
Although highly strategic and inarguably grand tabletop games like The Campaign For North Africa do exist, this list will be excluding games of that nature due to the fact that they tend to be inaccessible. With that said, keep in mind that many of the games on this list require more learning, time investment, and strategic thinking than the average board game.
8 Star Wars: Rebellion
This Star Wars game for two to four players is arguably best when played with two, with one side taking control of the Empire, and the other taking on the role of the Rebel Alliance.
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A game of Star Wars: Rebellion can take roughly two to four hours to play, depending on the player count and the strategic prowess of the players. Star Wars: Rebellion is an extremely thematic experience, with the Empire being tasked with quashing the Rebellion in order to win, while the Rebellion simply needs to hold out long enough to inspire the galaxy into revolution.
7 War Of The Ring (Second Edition)
This two player tabletop game set in Middle-earth is a large scale strategy game guaranteed to consume an afternoon, but its thematic gameplay mechanics and plethora of miniatures are sure to immerse fans of The Lord Of The Rings.
In War Of The Ring, one player takes control of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth, and the other the Shadow Armies of Mordor. Gameplay is strategic and unique, with the Shadow Armies vastly outnumbering the people of Middle-earth, as well as being able to regenerate, while the armies of the Free People die permanently. However, this is balanced by the fact that the Free People can also win by getting the Ring-bearer to Mordor and destroying the One Ring.
6 Dune
This legendary asymmetric war game based on the works of Frank Herbert, recently remastered and reprinted by Gale Force Nine, puts players in the role of one of six distinct factions, tasking them with fighting over the all-important Spice and conquering as many strongholds as they can on the dusty dunes of Arrakis.
Dune is a complex war game that requires planning ahead, negotiation, and strategic thinking. Due to its asymmetric nature, Dune has a lot of strategic depth that makes it worth playing multiple times, despite the fact that the game can take hours to play, especially with more than four players.
5 Eclipse: Second Dawn For The Galaxy
This grand strategy sci-fi game takes up a massive amount of time and table space to play, but it's also incredibly quick and easy to set up and get to the table, making it one of the least tedious games on this list.
Eclipse: Second Dawn For The Galaxy is a combat-heavy game in which players build huge fleets of customizable spaceships, attempting to counter the designs of other players in a chaotic arms race while battling for control of the galaxy.
4 Axis & Allies 1942 (Second Edition)
There are plenty of variations on the Axis & Allies franchise, with more recent second edition printings being more accessible than previous editions. Axis & Allies is revered for being one of the first complex strategy games, but its complexities may turn some players away.
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In Axis & Allies, each player represents a dominant power in WW2, taking the side of the Axis or the Allies. The game takes a notoriously long time to play, especially with larger groups of players, but this gives players time to plan ahead and enact complicated strategies that can be tremendously satisfying to pull off.
3 Space Empires 4X
This 4X-style tabletop war game may not be easy on the eyes with its dry, old-school components and visuals, but despite its overwhelming scale and thematic gameplay, Space Empires 4X is remarkably easy to learn; the game's basic rules are only eight pages long, which are extended by a mere three pages when using the advanced rules.
Space Empires 4X is heavily focused on eliminating other players, with fifteen different classes of spaceship and an extensive technology tree that allows players to create the perfect strategy for defeating their opponents.
2 Diplomacy
This game for two to seven players puts players in the shoes of the "Great Powers of Europe" and tasks them with controlling the majority of the board. However, a lot of games of Diplomacy can end in draws, especially when players are evenly matched.
Diplomacy, as its name suggests, is almost entirely based around negotiation mechanics, and because of this, the game is relatively quick to learn despite its long play-time. Players should be warned, however, that a game of Diplomacy almost always contains heaps of betrayal and backstabbing, so more sensitive players might want to consider avoiding it.
1 Twilight Imperium
Originally released in 1997, Twilight Imperium is now in its fourth edition at the time of writing, and it's never been more accessible. Twilight Imperium is a sprawling space opera in which players take control of one of several unique alien races, vying for control over the galaxy and attempting to complete both public and secret objectives over the course of several hours, depending on the player count.
Twilight Imperium sees players negotiating and trading with each other; building large fleets and engaging in chaotic battles full of dice rolling; researching advanced technologies to improve their ships, and forming alliances. Twilight Imperium provides an immersive and fluid experience that takes a little while to learn, but gameplay is quick and streamlined once players are familiar with the rules.