Strategy games are some of the most popular that are available to players, and this has been true since they first started coming out. Whether players prefer the long-winded and complicated grand strategy games or prefer to focus on RTS, there is something in the genre for all players. Within the genre, there are a few well-known studios that are practically guaranteed to churn out fantastic strategy games, and Microsoft is one of them.
Best Strategy Games On Xbox Game Pass
The Xbox Game Pass library offers great titles for fans of the strategy genre, and here is a look at the best ones available to subscribers.
Although they haven't published too many strategy games, the ones they have attached their name to have been excellent and are often considered some of the best strategy games of all. With this in mind, what is the best strategy game that Microsoft (or Xbox Game Studios as it has come to be known) has ever published?
6 Rise Of Nations
Metascore: 89
Rise of Nations: Extended Edition
Rise of Nations is a real-time strategy game that spans all history.
Start with a single city in the Ancient Age; gather resources; build an infrastructure; research technologies; construct Wonders of the World such as the Pyramids and the Eiffel Tower; and expand your military might across the world, conquering hostile nations with bombers, battleships, and tanks—all over your lunch hour!
In Rise of Nations there are: 18 Nations—each with special abilities and unique military units. Over a hundred military units operating on the ground, sea, and air— from Hoplites to Frigates to Helicopters. Over two dozen buildings with upgrades and technologies that will take your nation from a small City to an Information Age society.
14 Wonders of the World—the Terra Cotta Army, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower. Each gives your nation special bonuses. More than a dozen map types, ranging from the Amazon Rainforest to the Himalayas to the Nile Delta. Conquer the World campaign—a linked series of dozens of scenarios.
- Released
- June 12, 2014
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Developer
- Big Huge Games, SkyBox Labs
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
Rise Of Nations is a classic RTS offering published by Microsoft that players definitely shouldn't miss out on. Players start with a single city in the Ancient Age, and much like in other offerings in the genre must manage this city perfectly to be able to advance in age and create a lasting legacy. There are various map types available, so players can pick and choose which would either help them the most or hamper their efforts. However, for players seeking a more in-depth and polished experience, this is not a good option.
7 Classic Strategy Games With Great HD Ports
These strategy games have gotten a modern facelift, making them ripe for newcomers to jump in and discover what made them classics of their era.
Rise Of Nations may be showing its age by now. However, there is still a lot to enjoy here, especially if players are looking for a strategy game with slightly more restrictions.
5 Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes
Metascore: 78
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox
- Developer: Blueside, Phantagram
- Release Date: 2005-09-20
Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is a perfect option for players looking for a hybrid hack-and-slash and strategy game, as this game offers a lot more action than the typical strategy game. There are seven heroes to choose from and fifty missions to work through, which may sound shorter than the typical strategy game, but there is still much to enjoy here. This is also perfect for players looking for something that doesn't force them into a typical good hero role, as not all 'heroes' here are on the side of the light. For players looking for a wider range of play styles and more varied missions, this may not be the best option.
Kingdom Under Fire: Heroes is a cult classic option for players looking for something more unique in the strategy genre.
4 Halo Wars
Metascore: 82
Halo Wars
Halo Wars is a strategy game based on the legendary Halo® universe. Command armies of UNSC units, both familiar and new, in their initial encounter against the Covenant, an alien coalition threatening to obliterate mankind. Experience an early period of the storied Halo universe, in a time leading up to the first Halo game.
With the guidance of Serina, a spirited A.I. Persona, direct legions of UNSC soldiers, Warthogs and Scorpions against Covenant Grunts, Elites, Ghosts and Scarabs, each group having its own strengths and uses in battle. Strategic-minded players who react well under pressure will emerge victorious.
• New take on a legendary world: Experience the early battles between the UNSC and Covenant, in a time predating Halo: Combat Evolved. Join the crew aboard the Spirit of Fire, a Phoenix-class colony ship converted for UNSC military use, and guided by the A.I. Persona Serina. Discover an ancient artifact during a journey to the planet Harvest, the first planet to be attacked by the Covenant. And then get ready for the wars.
• Strategic command of armies in large-scale combat: Gamers are in command of the battlefield, playing as either of two unique civilizations: UNSC or Covenant. Counter and crush your opponent by tactically fielding the superior army. Choose among leaders possessing elite skills that can turn the tide of battle. Use various combinations of leaders and units, and create countless strategies tailored to your preferred playing styles.
• Groundbreaking Xbox 360 strategy game: Since inception, Halo Wars was explicitly designed to bring a typical PC genre to console gamers. Commanding armies is easy, controlling troops and units effortless and epic battles are smoothly handled using an intuitive user interface. Halo Wars represents the true next-generation experience, combining a masterful control scheme with the award-winning strategic gameplay only Ensemble Studios can provide.
- Released
- March 3, 2009
- Developer(s)
- Ensemble Studios, Robot Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Tactical
Halo Wars is an excellent game for players already invested in the Halo universe, as this takes place a couple of decades before Halo: Combat Evolved and fits neatly into the canon of the universe. However, even for players not invested in this, there is still much to enjoy here, as it is a fantastic sci-fi RTS option. With a focus on military strategy but still including base construction and resource management to a lesser degree, players will find something to enjoy in the game. For players who are looking for a wider range of map types or even more varied units, look elsewhere.
Halo Wars is not just for fans of the original Halo games, and it offers players a chance to manage a futuristic military to find success on the battlefield.
3 Toy Soldiers
Metascore: 81
Toy Soldiers
Re-enlist with Toy Soldiers HD and experience the award-winning XBLA hit updated for a whole new generation!
Command from above or take direct control below. Lead your foot soldiers, cavalry, tanks and planes to victory. Deploy an exciting arsenal of guns, gas, howitzers, mortars, troops, flamethrowers and vehicles to protect your Toybox in vintage WWI toy dioramas.
Toy Soldiers is a multi-genre action-strategy game in which players command antique WWI toy soldiers vying for control of the trench-filled diorama battlefields of Europe. The original classic has been overhauled and upgraded with new content, skins, gameplay, expanded game modes, improved controls and graphical upgrades.
Amazing Shell-Cam: Take a ride and follow your shot right onto its target!
Man the Guns: Leap into your strategically placed units and take hands-on control.
Fierce Boss Battles: Remember: this is a war of attrition, do whatever it takes against huge enemy bosses.
Commandeer Machines of War: Think you can drive it better? Jump behind the wheel and drive (or fly) these classic machines of war yourself.
Miniaturized Mayhem
Intense battlefield action as these miniature models unleash mayhem on each other!
Toy Soldiers is a lighter look at strategy, in part due to all of the military units being toys, as the name of the game suggests. The settings match this, as many battles in the game occur in a child's bedroom or a library, making the game feel less severe and dramatic than typical strategy games. The units don't bleed when they die, making this a great option for younger players. Players take control of individual units in typical RTS fashion but can also control fixed elements on the field, like machine guns. This game is a great all-round option; however, for players seeking realism, this is not the best.
Toy Soldiers is one of the most family-friendly strategy games available, but it's not just for kids, as the strategy can sometimes get complex.
2 Age Of Mythology
Metascore: 89
Age of Mythology
HISTORY MADE LARGER THAN LIFE
9 LEGENDARY CIVILIZATIONS
STRATEGIC DEPTH
EPIC CAMPAIGN
3D ENGINE
REDESIGNED INTERFACE
- Released
- October 30, 2002
- Developer(s)
- Ensemble Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Tactical
Age Of Mythology is a lesser-known spin-off of the famous and beloved Age Of Empires franchise, with a twist. In the campaign, players control an admiral from the city of Atlantis who is hunting down a cyclops working with Poseidon. Across the campaign, players will travel through the lands of all three cultures included and will engage in RTS combat with one Major God leading them through each level. Ages are included, as players begin in the Archaic Age and progress through to the Mythic Age. As a spin-off from the main Age Of Empires franchise, there is much to enjoy, but this is still not the best.
Age Of Mythology will be very familiar to players who enjoy the main Age Of Empires games as it works in a similar way. However, the twists keep it fresh for everyone.
1 Age Of Empires 2
Metascore: 92
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition celebrates the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular strategy games ever, now with stunning 4K Ultra HD graphics, and a fully remastered soundtrack. Age of Empires II: DE features “The Last Khans” with 3 new campaigns and 4 new Civilizations. Frequent updates include events, additional content, new game modes, and enhanced features with the recent addition of Co-Op mode!
Explore all the original Campaigns and the best-selling expansions like never before. With over 200 hours of gameplay and 1,000 years of human history, improved experiences await. Head online to challenge other players in your quest for world domination with 35 different Civilizations. You can also experience new Civilizations and Campaigns with the Lords of the West DLC! Recent updates include a Battle Royale game mode, ongoing support for the Scenario Editor, Quick Play for easy social games, enhancements to the game UI, and more!
Choose your path to greatness with an eye-catching and engaging remaster to one of the most beloved strategy games of all time.
- Released
- November 14, 2019
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Developer
- Forgotten Empires, Tantalus, Wicked Witch
Finally, the best strategy game published by Microsoft that is available for players today is the classic Age Of Empires 2. This game improved on the original in almost every way, adding so much more for players to explore. Players begin in the Dark Age, as the game takes place in the Middle Ages, and can progress to the Imperial Age, meaning the game spans 1000 years. This huge time frame, the tricky and complex strategy, and the complicated campaigns mean this game is not for the faint of heart. Success will be extremely challenging on every level, and players will sink thousands of hours into the game.
Age Of Empires 2 is the best strategy game published by Microsoft, and it's also one of the best strategy games generally available for all players.
6 Best Medieval Strategy Games, Ranked
The medieval period is a popular setting for strategy games, but these titles use that setting to its greatest potential.