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Strategy gameswere once practically non-existent in the console market, save for notable exceptions and ill-fated attempts (such asStarcraft’sremarkably awkward landing on the Nintendo 64). However, over the years, several titles have emerged to deliver their micro-management goodness to living room accessible formats — particularly when it comes to the Xbox line of consoles.
If someone is looking to channel their inner armchair general, thenXboxGame Passhas several titles that are right up their alley. Whether directing the nuanced machinations of a galaxy-spanning empire is their bag, or they’d prefer just telling wacky invertebrates when to sling bombs at one another,Game Passhas got a strategy game for them.
Although technically belonging to a different genre, tactical games will be considered since they share similarities to strategy games.
One of the most surprising success stories of 2024,Balatrois a card-based roguelike executed to near perfection. Its presentation might suggest an adherence to Poker, but LocalThunk did a great job of distilling a few of its tenets into crafting an accessible game that can be enjoyed by players who have never even contemplated picking up real-life cards. The best strategy roguelikes typically blend simple core mechanics with depth in choice and consequence, andBalatroserves as a prime example of how to balance this execution.
Players must attempt to achieve a high enough score to complete a blind, allowing them to move on to a big blind and eventually aboss blind. Within a limited number of turns, players must discard and pull cards that allow them to build a hand that can pass the score threshold. In between matches, players can open booster packs containing different types of cards (which come in many forms, types, and Jokers) as they try to build the ultimate deck that can pave the way to glory in harder antes.
The successor toKingdom: New Lands,Kingdom Two Crownsboth expands and streamlines its predecessor, offering a unique 2D management experience that is quite unlike any otherGame Pass strategy game.Two Crownskeeps things simple, and it is all the better for it. Cast as a decaying kingdom’s ruler, players travel the land with a finite pool of gold, which they need to use to hire citizens and set up towns capable of keeping monsters at bay during the long nights.
Money pretty much makes this world go round, and players' actions and survival are specifically tied to their resources. Permadeath is part of the equation too, so if a ruler ends up without their gold and crown, they will be put to rest. After that, a successor steps up to the plate. While a fantastic single-player experience,Kingdom Two Crowns' most exciting aspect is co-op support, which makes sense considering the title. Two players are cast as different rulers, and they are mostly allowed to do their own thing rather than be tied to each other.
Aliens: Dark Descent
A Stressful Tactics Game That Is Perfect For Fans Of The Source Material
Alienis no stranger to video games, most of which tend to go down the FPS or horror route. While real-time tactics might not seem like the most obvious direction,Aliens: Dark Descentdoes a surprisingly good job of capturing the classic movies' tension, particularly the 1986 sequel. Taking inspiration fromXCOM, Tindalos put together a project that streamlines RTS mechanics while incorporating some horror elements like the use of a stress meter that gradually causes the colonial marines to develop psychological trauma during missions. LikeXCOM, permadeath is part of the equation, so there is always a risk that a mission will go wrong and result in the death of valuable squad members.
Dark Descentdoes not necessarily explore too many novel concepts, but it blends a myriad of well-worn ideas to create an enjoyable whole that should hit the mark with RTS fans who do not care aboutAliensorAliensfans who are not familiar with the tactics genre. While quite punishing, the gameplay is somewhat simplified as players control the full squad rather than individual marines, removing some of the more minute control that tends to be a pretty big part of the genre’s releases.
After spending more than a year as a PC exclusive,Age of Empires 4made its way to Xbox consoles in August 2023. Relic and World’s Edge’s project garnered a primarily positive reception upon launch, with many regarding it as a safe but polished continuation of arguably the most beloved and popular RTS franchise of all time. Launching with four campaigns and eight civilizations (although two more were added later on),AoE 4offers a great deal of content for solo players, along with containing an active and robust multiplayer scene.
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Editionis also on Xbox Game Pass.
AnAge of Empiresspin-off,Age of Mythologytakes the core gameplay loop of the main series and adds gods to the mix, blending staple RTS realism with devastating enemy-destroying attacks. Although a relative footnote inAoE’s legacy, the 2002 original is considered a cult classic in its own right, and the lack of a sequel was always disappointing. Fortunately, in 2024,Age of Mythologyreceived a much-needed facelift in the form ofRetold, an update that walks the line between remaster and remake.
AoM: Retoldallows players to pick from four pantheons, along with an array of deities associated with each. They can then work their way through a fairly long single-player campaign that highlights the many differences of each civilization, all of which come withunique unitsand specializations.Retolddoes an admirable job of preserving the original version’s charm while incorporating enough modern touches to ensure the gameplay does not feel too archaic.
WhileAge of Empires 2and4are arguably better-rounded games,Age of Mythology: Retoldis a charming side quest that has enough fresh ideas to feel like its own entity rather than just a reskin.
Though many people associate theHaloname with the mainline entries that are straightforward FPS titles,Halo Warstakes the series in a new direction in terms of genre. Players are treated to grand-scale skirmishesinvolving factions from theHalouniversein a highly approachable RTS title. Since the game was made specifically for the Xbox 360, it features one of the most comfortable controller configurations for an RTS on a console. The story takes place before the events of the firstHalogame, detailing what happened to the UNSC crew of the Spirit of Fire.
Halo Wars 2is also available on Xbox Game Pass and serves as a fine continuation of its predecessor. In some ways, the sequel is superior to the first game, although it is certainly designed with non-RTS fans in mind. Therefore, people who want to spend more time in this universe but are reluctant to jump into a genre they are not familiar with can rest easy in knowing thatHalo Wars 2is for them.
A new Capcom IP is always a cause for celebration, particularly one as unique asKunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. Before its debut, the project was somewhat hard to pin down in terms of genre, seemingly blending strategy, hack and slash combat, and village management; in practice, the game mostly fits these categories, although it is best described as a real-time strategy tower defense title. Regardless,Kunitsu-Gamihas a lot to offer for different audiences.
Before diving into the strategy component, let’s give a quick rundown of the campaign’s structure. Charged with protecting the divine maiden as she purges evil spirits from a mountain, Soh spends his days saving villagers and exploring, all in preparation for a nightly onslaught. During the latter, Soh becomes something of an army leader in charge of placing the saved villagers as strategic points to ensure the maiden’s safety. The “soldiers” have roles they excel in and can be upgraded, making for fun management and progression systems.
Kunitsu-Gami’s strategy gameplay mostly arrives through the villager management aspect. WhileSoh is a capable fighter, he cannot be everywhere at once, and he will need to use all his human resources well to keep the spirits at bay.
A sandbox RPG with turn-based combat and player-driven gameplay,Wartalescombines popular concepts to create something fresh and, more importantly, niche. Depending on the person, the lack of a main story could either be enticing or off-putting, and their reaction is likely to determine if they will fall in love with Shiro Games' project or not. That said, if the idea of leading a ragtag group of mercenaries across a medieval-style world in search of contracts, food, and success sounds fun, then they should giveWartalesa go, regardless of whether they generally prefer to follow a standard questline structure. And, to be clear, the campaign tells plenty of small-scale stories while allowing room for players to craft tales that are solely their own.
Wartalesis complicated. In an expansive and visually impressive sandbox, players lead 12 characters with traits, skills, and professions on a directionless journey beyond their need to make a living and survive. The latter is literal too, and the mercenaries must be kept fed, clothed, and paid; after all, they are people with needs and wants. The “strategy” and “tactical” elements are most apparent in the grid-based combat system, which shares similarities with the likes ofFire EmblemandDivinity: Original Sin. Most contracts/quests involve a combat scenario, and these battles tend to be quite difficult and could result in the death of the player’s party members (if they die, they are gone). Furthermore, the game also complements the strategy genre by constantly requiring players to make tough and occasionally hopeless decisions.
Metal Slug’s return has been long sought-after, but a turn-based tactics spin-off was probably not on too many people’s cards. Beloved in arcades, the franchise has crafted some of the most decorated run and gun shooters of all time, games that tend to focus on fast-paced and relentless action above everything else. On the surface, that mantra does not seem like a great fit for a grid-based isometric tactics game that prioritizes slow-paced planning.
Yet,Metal Slug Tacticsworks pretty darn well, not only in terms of mechanics but also in its implementation of some IP staples. Despite being so widely different at its core, this release still fits into theMetal Sluguniverse, largely due to incorporating a similar aesthetic and tone. Utilizing a roguelike formula, the campaign is designed around short bursts rather than one extensive adventure, with players having to start fresh if their three chosen characters all fall.
Game Pass Ultimate’s PC version has someDungeon Keeperrepresentation thanks to EA Play, but that won’t mean much to players who only have access to Xbox. Despite its legacy,Dungeon Keeperlooks set to remain a thing of the past as EA has shown little interest in revisiting the franchise; consequently, fans must look elsewhere to get their fill of evil. The most obvious spiritual successor is theDungeonsseries, which has produced a couple of cult favorites that have not really broken into the mainstream consciousness. The 2023 entry did not change that, but it is a fine and charming game that should keep someone busy for a couple of weeks.
The concept is simple: world domination requires building an army and demolishing heroes.Dungeons 4understands that the fun parts of these games are the base building, unit development, and all-out wars, so the campaign emphasizes these elements as much as possible. The result is an efficient project that does not waste a lot of time, despite featuring a fairly lengthy campaign. The performance can struggle at times, and some of the story’s later missions do threaten to get repetitive, but the overall experience is a positive one. Multiplayer is also an option for those who want to test out their strategic master plans against non-AI opponents.
