Strategy games often take a lot of time to understand and master as players have numerous options for how they can approach each situation they are presented with. This is sometimes paired with a story that keeps the player engaged to keep on pushing forward, even if it takes a while to reach the finish line.
This is to say that there are a lot of strategy games out there that take a long time to beat. Even putting aside side content and optional tasks, some strategy games can't be finished until players put in the equivalent of two to three days worth of hours. When looking at the longest strategy games, the "Main Story" metric on HowLongToBeat is used.
10 Factorio (48 Hours)
While there are many great strategy games that are paired with stories, Factorio stands out as a game that is more of a strategy sandbox than a game with any narrative depth. Luckily, it doesn't need to be as it has so many systems at play to keep the player engaged.
The basic premise of Factorio is that players are in charge of building factories by collecting materials, researching new things to create, and investing all of them into facilities that help collect materials. This all happens while players need to worry about incoming aliens who aren't happy about the player's presence, which is where the strategy aspect comes in.
9 Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire Of The Rift (48.5 Hours)
The Final Fantasy games are typically very long games regardless of how different they are between each version. Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is among the longest titles in the franchise, and it is the last core Final Fantasy Tactics title released before the series went on hiatus.
Released on the Nintendo DS, Final Fantasy Tactics A2 follows the story of Luso Clemens who is brought into a new world through a book and is forced to fight monsters to figure out a way home. Just like its predecessor, Tactics A2 has turn-based battles that take place on grids and skills developed based on a job system.
8 Fire Emblem: Three Houses (49 Hours)
One of the most popular tactical RPG game franchises out there is Fire Emblem, with many games telling engaging stories while challenging the player in turn-based combat. The longest entry in the strategy series is Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which was the first mainline game to release on Nintendo Switch.
The game takes place at the Garreg Mach Monastery on the fictional continent of Fódlan. The monastery is the intersection of the three governmental bodies that rule on the continent. As Byleth, players will choose a country to represent and lead that squad into battle. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a blend of social simulation and turn-based tactical combat.
7 Bravely Default 2 (50.5 Hours)
Another game that started as an exclusive for the Nintendo Switch, Bravely Default 2 tells an entirely new story from its predecessor with new characters on a journey to find four elemental crystals that have fallen into the wrong hands.
Using the "Brave and Default" battle system, Bravely Default 2 players will be able to perform multiple actions per turn depending on how many Brave Points they have. How the player spends these points is the strategic element of the game, as some actions require more points than others.
6 Total War: Rome 2 (51.5 Hours)
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Another popular strategy franchise is Total War, with the games ranging in settings and presentation but all having the engaging turn-based strategy elements that fans of the franchise have come to love. The longest main story of all the games is Total War: Rome 2.
Set in ancient times, Total War: Rome 2 is a grand strategy game that tasks players to manage a military against various enemy forces. There is a deep political system that will affect the player's standing at a time and whether they will be too powerful to not be a target or too weak to not even have a full say on the country they are in charge of.
5 SpellForce: The Order of Dawn (55 Hours)
While SpellForce has had many different entries and added content over the years, the original is still considered the longest main story of the franchise. SpellForce: The Order of Dawn was first released in 2004 and introduced players to the fantasy world of Eo.
After the once united land was literally separated into islands, the player is freed from being a slave to find out the conflicts that are occurring in each of the areas. This real-time strategy game focuses on the player's ability to build bases while also going on important quests that move the story along.
4 Tactics Ogre: Reborn (56 Hours)
One of the more popular tactical RPGs of the 1990s was Tactics Ogre. The game is so beloved that it has received two remakes. The latest one is called Tactics Ogre: Reborn, and it includes improved looks and enhanced design that brings the game forward a couple of decades.
Taking place in the fictional kingdom of Valeria, Denim Powell is caught in the middle of a war between the Bakram and Galgastani, two populations with control of the land. The game features grid-based battles, with the field laid out at different elevations, forcing the players to think about where they want to attack along with how.
3 Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution (61 Hours)
When looking at the strategy game genre, it makes sense that there would be plenty of games that focus on card-based combat. An option for those who want a meaty main campaign is Yu-Gi-Oh! Legacy of the Duelist: Link Evolution. The popular card game turned video game has over 10,000 cards to build a deck with.
In this entry from Yu-Gi-Oh!, players can experience many of the stories and battles shown in the anime. Players can even turn to the dark side and take on the role of a villain in the Reverse Duel mode. This version of the game features all downloadable content from previous iterations.
2 Crusader Kings 3 (71 Hours)
One of the biggest names among strategy game developers is Paradox Interactive, with a wide library of games that they have either directly developed or been the publisher of. The longest of the many strategy games they have been involved in is Crusader Kings 3.
The third entry in the acclaimed Paradox Interactive franchise, Crusader Kings 3 is the ultimate sandbox of growing a chosen noble house to greatness. Customize characters, build relationships, and explore the medieval world to find room to expand the empire.
1 Might & Magic: Heroes 6 (87.5 Hours)
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Despite the IP changing developer hands over the course of its existence, Might & Magic still has plenty of fans who are into its turn-based strategy gameplay. The biggest game was Might & Magic Heroes 6, developed by Black Hole Entertainment and published by Ubisoft.
A prequel to the game preceding it, Heroes 6 tells the story of angels who are looking to put an end to a war with the Faceless. Focused on the five heirs to the Griffin dynasty, players will make a choice whether they take on a resurrected general named Michael, or work with him against the Faceless and other demons.