Summary
- Strategy games with simple controls offer accessible experiences without skimping on gameplay.
- Dungeon Of The Endless, Tinyfolks, and StarVaders provide satisfying but accessible gameplay experiences.
- Tooth & Tail, Shogun Showdown, and Balatro simplify complex mechanics for streamlined strategic gameplay.
Strategy games are typically known for their complex mechanics and, often in the case of real-time variants, rather overwhelming control schemes. Dozens of keyboard shortcuts are commonplace in the RTS genre in particular. While they offer opportunities for player expression, complex controls can hurt a game's accessibility.
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These engaging tactics games deliver some of the most fun in the strategy genre, providing plenty of tools for genre newbies and veterans alike.
This also applies to turn-based strategy games, where an abundance of options or a cluttered user interface can spell doom for the learning process. These strategy games, however, feature simple controls without skimping on the gameplay, offering satisfying but accessible experiences.
6 Dungeon Of The Endless
A Simple Combination Of Strategy & Resource Management
Dungeon of the Endless
- Released
- December 11, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Real-Time Strategy, RPG
Dungeon of the Endless is a dark and atmospheric sci-fi dungeon-crawler with a gritty pixel-art aesthetic. In the game, players battle through a series of labyrinthine rooms and halls as they attempt to escort a valuable crystal through a sci-fi dungeon.
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To do this, players must efficiently manage a party of heroes and the resources they have on hand. Thanks to a heavier focus on resource management and tower defense, Dungeon of the Endless manages to remain a strategic experience while maintaining simple controls.
5 Tinyfolks
A Minimalist Strategy RPG
Tinyfolks
- Released
- June 1, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Tactical, Strategy
Tinyfolks is a simple but strategic RPG that excels with its charming pixel-art visuals and buoyant chip-tune soundtrack. Best of all, Tinyfolks provides an experience that borrows heavily from Darkest Dungeon but offers a more forgiving approach to design, allowing for accessible gameplay and simple controls.
In the game, players control a small party of adventurers in turn-based combat, working their way through a series of dungeon crawls, each with their own unique boss battles. Thankfully, Tinyfolks keeps its interface easy to read and its abilities easy to grasp, allowing player interactions to remain simple despite the strategic gameplay that's present.
4 StarVaders
An Intuitive Deck-Builder
StarVaders
- Released
- April 30, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Roguelike, Deckbuilding
This turn-based roguelike deck-builder stands out with its slick and stylish art style as much as its elegant game design. In StarVaders, players control a mech as they defend against a variety of alien invaders using a variety of simple cards.
Since players have control over a character, these cards are necessary for moving around. However, thanks to the deck-building gameplay, every action is done through card interactions, and so the controls remain tremendously simple.
3 Tooth & Tail
An Accessible RTS
Tooth and Tail
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- September 12, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4
Tooth & Tail is a remarkably charming and streamlined real-time strategy game that champions simplicity. This innovative title strips back typical RTS mechanics and simplifies player controls to offer an accessible experience.
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These great strategy games offer a wide variety of scenarios and require complex decision-making, creating fantastic environments for dynamic play.
However, Tooth & Tail is far from a watered-down game, maintaining much of the genre's patented blend of base-building, unit production, and management. The variety of units and structures, along with the unique and intuitive control method, ensures that Tooth & Tail is both a worthwhile and welcoming experience.
2 Shogun Showdown
Action-Packed Tactics
Shogun Showdown
- Released
- September 5, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based RPG, Roguelike
Shogun Showdown is an elegant and action-packed roguelike deck-builder that allows for player interaction and strategy via a set of simple tiles. These tiles allow players to move around the board on a single axis while unleashing often devastating attacks on their foes. Deck-building elements keep this strategic, but the control is elegant and simple.
This is primarily thanks to a simple user interface and truly refined tiles that never give the player too much information to digest. Furthermore, enemy intentions are well telegraphed, ensuring players are always able to make informed decisions.
1 Thronefall
A Minimalist Combination Of Tower Defense & RTS
Thronefall
- Released
- October 11, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, City Builder
Thronefall is a minimalist combination of base defense and real-time strategy, offering players an accessible yet strategic experience with simple controls. By streamlining genre trends such as unit production and management, Thronefall offers players a fluid and frustration-free experience that still provides frequent challenges.
In the game, players take control of a maneuverable character that can be used to navigate each level. This allows players to freely explore and intuitively construct new defenses and economic structures, while also engaging in combat themselves. The simplified RTS mechanics are also tremendous, allowing players to command small armies with very little input.
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These excellent strategy games deliver striking visuals and graphics to go along with their dynamic strategic mechanics.