2025 was a very strong year for the strategy genre, regardless of your specific tastes. Whether you’re into turn-based number crunching or easygoing business simulations, you’re sure to have found a new love. We also saw the long-awaited return of the 4X king, a grand new era for historical city-building, and the unveiling of Paradox’s next generation.
But 2025 wasn’t only about sequels; it was a year defined by tactical diversity, from gritty modern warfare simulators to deck-building brawlers that punched well above their weight. This year truly offered a masterclass in logistics and leadership, and here are our favourites.
Two Point Museum
Two Point Studios has mastered the art of “management sim with a sense of humor,” and Two Point Museum is, for some, their best work yet (I love it, but as a Bullfrog-loving millennial, I still think Two Point Hospital is the GOAT). Moving away from the life-or-death stakes of hospitals (and modern academia, for that matter), this entry allows for more creativity in layout and decoration than ever before.
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Both legacy games and newcomers alike have earned their spot.
The core loop of sending experts on expeditions to find artifacts, then designing the perfect exhibit to wow guests, is incredibly satisfying. You aren’t just managing queues; you are curating knowledge (and gift shops). It’s charming, low-stress, and deeply engaging, providing a perfect palate cleanser to the more stressful war games on this list.
Commandos: Origins
The real-time stealth tactics genre has seen something of a renaissance recently, so it is fitting that the grandfather of the genre returned to show everyone how it’s done. Origins serves as a prequel, reuniting the Green Beret and his squad for World War 2 sabotage missions that require patience, timing, and precision.
The level design is superb, offering a sandbox of guards and sightlines that encourages creative problem-solving rather than forcing a single path. It respects its roots while smoothing over the clunky interfaces of the early 2000s, making it accessible to newcomers without alienating the hardcore fans who have been waiting decades for this reunion.
Tempest Rising
While other games pushed for hyper-realistic simulation, Tempest Rising embraced the glorious arcade action of the ’90s with open arms. It is an unapologetic love letter to Command & Conquer, complete with base-building, and distinct asymmetric factions (though missing the classic, cheesy cutscenes).
The soundtrack rips, the units are responsive, and the campaign is a nostalgic joyride that reminds us why we fell in love with RTS games in the first place. It proves that the classic formula isn’t dead; it just needed a modern coat of paint and the right attitude. If you miss the days of harvesting tiberium – or ‘Tempest’ vines, here – this is the game you’ve been waiting for.
9 Kings
Every year has that one indie breakout hit that swallows hundreds of hours of your life, and in 2025, that game is 9 Kings for me. Yes, it’s another roguelike deck-builder, but it manages to do something impressive: it stands out. By combining the tactical movement of a tower defense with the power-fantasy of a god game, the game is compelling as heck.
You play as a monarch defending a kingdom, drafting units and spells to counter increasingly unfair enemy boards. The “just one more run” factor is dangerous here; the synergy between units allows for game-breaking combos that feel incredible to pull off (natch), and it’s minimalist in its presentation but maximalist in its strategic depth, easily earning its spot here.
See also: The King Is Watching for another one of this year’s primo indie strategy releases that centres on roguelike elements and specifically kings.
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition
Nostalgia is a powerful drug, but Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition proves that great game design is timeless. Firefly Studios has lovingly restored the fan-favorite castle sim, upgrading the visuals to crisp 4K while keeping the charming 2D sprite-work intact.
The new campaign missions add legitimate value for veterans, and the modernized UI finally makes managing your economy feel like a joy rather than a chore. But the real star remains the ‘Crusader Trail,’ which is as punishing yet compelling as ever. Hearing the Caliph scream at you while you frantically repair your walls brings back a specific kind of stress that we didn’t realize we missed so much.
Jurassic World: Evolution 3
Jurassic World Evolution 3 has been widely hailed as the entry that finally allows the series to achieve its full potential, largely due to two critical additions that fans had long demanded.
- Firstly, the introduction of a comprehensive dinosaur breeding and juvenile system brings a new layer of long-term planning and emotional investment, requiring managers to guide entire generations of prehistoric life.
- Secondly, the new modular building tools grant players creative freedom, allowing for detailed terrain manipulation – very strong Planet Coaster or Planet Zoo vibes – to craft truly unique and naturalistic enclosures that finally live up to the promise of the franchise.
It is a triumphant, beautiful, and utterly stressful management sim. If you’re looking to dive into this series, the most recent entry is undoubtedly the best point to do so.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
For years, the tactical RPG genre has been chasing the shadow of the original Final Fantasy Tactics, and with The Ivalice Chronicles, Square Enix has finally reminded everyone why they wear the crown. This isn’t just a simple remaster; it is a comprehensive overhaul that unifies the lore of Ivalice while preserving the gritty political drama that made the original a masterpiece.
The game features beautifully upscaled visuals that respect the original sprites, fully voiced cutscenes, and slight quality-of-life tweaks that smooths out the gameplay experience without sacrificing depth. It feels like the definitive way to experience one of the greatest stories in gaming history, bridging the gap between nostalgia and modern design sensibilities perfectly.
Anno 117: Pax Romana
Anno 117: Pax Romana trades industrial smokestacks of past entries for aqueducts, challenging players to manage the vast bureaucracy of the Roman Empire across disparate provinces. Stepping into the sandals of a Governor, you aren’t just building a city; you are projecting power, navigating a narrative-rich path that asks you to choose between enforcing Roman law or embracing local traditions to fuel your economic engine.
The genius of this entry lies in its dual-map focus: you must balance the disciplined, marble-clad heartland of Latium against the misty, rebellious wetlands of Albion. It is visually stunning and mechanically deep, offering a satisfying complex web of trade routes that demands perfectionism. Whether you are appeasing the Senate or suppressing a Celtic uprising, Anno 117 is a triumph of city-building design.
Europa Universalis 5
Despite arriving quite late in the year, Europa Universalis 5 made potentially the biggest splash out of every game on this list. It truly did for me, a known Paradox-head among my friends.
EU5 takes elements from multiple games and combines them into a new flagship system that feels about as Paradox Grand Strategy as one could ever wish for. It’s a truly impressive beast that promises infinite replayability. It’s an evolution from the previous game in the series:e very “pop” in your empire now belongs to a specific social class, religion, and culture, making conquest a true logistical and social challenge rather than a simple map-painting exercise.
It is the most granular, ambitious historical sandbox the studio has ever built, allowing for a level of roleplaying and economic management that makes previous iterations feel shallow by comparison.
Sid Meier’s Civilization 7
The king has returned to reclaim its throne, and it is arguably the most confident launch in the franchise’s history. Civilization 7 arrived early in the year and immediately dominated the conversation, proving that Firaxis isn’t afraid to break its own rules. While it retains the compelling gameplay of its predecessors, the new Ages system fundamentally changes the flow of history and adds a much-needed twist to things.
By allowing leaders to evolve their civilization’s identity at key historical turning points, the devs solved the late-game stagnation that often plagued previous entries. It is a bolder, more dynamic 4X experience that feels both comfortably familiar and refreshingly unpredictable, offering a depth that will keep us playing well into the next decade. Just one more turn indeed.
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