Summary
- Stronghold surprised players with its depth, story, and graphics, becoming a classic that earned a remaster.
- They Are Billions offered a challenging and unforgiving RTS experience that defied player expectations.
- Into the Breach, despite initial skepticism, became a great game with unique gameplay, surprising players.
Since the mid-90s, strategy games have been known for their complex mechanics and detailed systems, which force players to plan every move to outsmart their opponents. With such depth, only a select few games truly hit the mark. Even fewer manage to go above and beyond.
Whether introducing innovative mechanics that spark skepticism or attempting to reboot a beloved franchise, many games have been underestimated, only to surprise players. Even titles that were expected to be good have gone on to become genre-defining classics, surprising everyone with their lasting impact.
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7 Stronghold
More Than Just A Castle Builder
Stronghold: Definitive Edition
- Released
- November 7, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Firefly Studios
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Strategy
At first glance, Stronghold seemed like a simple castle builder, but Firefly Studios delivered a surprisingly deep and immersive strategy experience. The blend of RTS, castle defense, and city-building, along with its innovative map editor, engaging story, and impressive graphics for 2001, caught both players and critics off guard.
Stacked with these great features, Stronghold went on to sell over a million copies and was even nominated for Strategy Game of the Year in 2001. Few expected it to make such a lasting impact. This title eventually earned an HD re-release in 2013 and a remaster in 2023 with Stronghold: Definitive Edition.
6 They Are Billions
Steampunk, Zombies, and Strategy
They Are Billions
- Released
- June 18, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Fantasy Violence, Use of Tobacco
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy, Survival, Management
When They Are Billions was first revealed, it seemed like another real-time strategy game with a gimmicky concept. However, even those with high expectations couldn’t have predicted how fun, addictive, and tense it would turn out to be. They Are Billions went on to become one of the most challenging and unique RTS games in years.
They Are Billions isn’t for the faint of heart. It's an unforgiving game, with even a single zombie capable of wiping out an entire colony. This high-stakes gameplay offered a refreshing change for the strategy genre, which had grown easier over the years as developers tried to appeal to a broader audience.
5 Into the Breach
Good Things Come In Small Packages
Into the Breach
- Released
- February 27, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based Strategy
Made by the developers of FTL: Faster Than Light, many players and critics expected Into the Breach to be a great game. However, it received mixed reactions when it was revealed that the battle grid was going to be tiny.
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But once Into the Breach was released, players discovered how fun and challenging the game was. The tiny grid wasn't a drawback; instead, it made the gameplay similar to chess, forcing players to consider every decision carefully. Although players expected a good game, its unique style and enjoyable gameplay turned it into something great.
4 Company of Heroes
More Than Just A WWII RTS
Company Of Heroes
- Released
- September 12, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Relic Entertainment
- Genre(s)
- Real-Time Strategy
When Company of Heroes was first released, the World War II setting had become somewhat overused in real-time strategy games, leading to less excitement among the fanbase. However, it quickly became apparent that this game was different from the rest with its impressive graphics, cinematic camera angles, and destructive environment.
Company of Heroes was also one of the first RTS games to make cover and flanking fundamental gameplay mechanics, a feature that would go on to inspire many other titles. Both enemy and friendly units were intelligent, even seeking cover when under fire, which made the experience feel more immersive. Nearly two decades later, Company of Heroes is still regarded as one of the best RTS games of all time, something no one would have predicted at launch.
3 XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The Game That Revived The XCOM Franchise
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
- Released
- October 9, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games, 2K Games, Feral Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based Strategy, Action, Tactical, Strategy
When XCOM: Enemy Unknown was first revealed in 2010, both fans and critics had mixed feelings about whether it could live up to the legacy of the originals. Sure, the developers could have played it safe and simply copied the original games with updated graphics to please longtime fans. But instead, they took everything that made the originals so popular and rebuilt them from the ground up.
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One of the most surprising aspects of the game is how difficult it can be. Limited turns, RNG, and permadeath for soldiers all add a high level of tension. New combat scenarios, like bomb defusal, hostage extraction, and enemy capture, introduced a fresh layer of strategy to the franchise.
2 Homeworld
The First Game To Have True 3D Space Combat
Homeworld
- Released
- September 28, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games, Blackbird Interactive, Beenox
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, Simulation
Homeworld was one of the most ambitious games of its time, being the first fully 3D real-time strategy game. The initial skepticism was understandable, as many players and critics feared the 3D movement would be too complex and confusing. But upon release, Homeworld proved to be nothing short of breathtaking.
Controlling spaceships as primary units was still a fresh concept, and in Homeworld’s fully 3D environment, it was visually spectacular, especially in 1999. The 3D environment, combined with innovative gameplay, a compelling story, and one of the best soundtracks in gaming history, made it impossible for Homeworld not to exceed expectations.
1 Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri
More Than Just ‘Civilization In Space’
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
- Released
- February 9, 1999
- ESRB
- e
- Genre(s)
- 4X, Strategy
In the early 90s, strategy games were still largely grounded in historical settings and real-world conflicts. So when Alpha Centauri launched in 1999, many fans dismissed it as nothing more than a sci-fi reskin of Civilization. However, they couldn’t have been more wrong. What seemed like a cheap spin-off quickly surpassed everyone's expectations.
Its compelling narrative alone earns it a place in the history books, but it was the game's innovative terraforming mechanics, great world-building, and competent enemy factions that made Alpha Centauri a truly refreshing experience. To this day, features first introduced in Alpha Centauri continue to shape modern strategy games, solidifying its place among the greatest 4X titles of all time.
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