Best Turn-Based Strategy Games on PC 2025

The year 2025 promises a thrilling landscape for turn-based strategy enthusiasts. From meticulously crafted historical simulations to fantastical realms brimming with magic and mythical creatures, the genre continues to evolve, offering compelling tactical challenges and immersive narratives. We’ve scoured the gaming universe to bring you the definitive list of the best turn-based strategy games gracing PCs in 2025, guaranteed to keep you strategizing long into the night. These are the games that will make you say “just one more turn” until the sun rises.

Epic Grand Strategy: Shaping Civilizations and Conquering Worlds

Civilization VII: A New Era of Domination

The undisputed king of the 4X genre, Civilization VII, continues the legacy of building empires from humble beginnings. This iteration introduces dynamic economic systems where resource scarcity and global market fluctuations significantly impact technological advancement and diplomatic relations. Imagine needing to secure rare earth elements to unlock fusion power, or navigating complex trade agreements to fuel your industrial revolution. AI opponents have been overhauled, exhibiting more nuanced and unpredictable behaviors, forging alliances and betraying them based on long-term strategic goals. The cultural victory path sees significant changes with the addition of “Legacy Projects” – massive national undertakings that provide permanent bonuses but require centuries of dedication, forcing players to make tough choices between short-term gains and long-term cultural dominance. The graphics engine also received a major upgrade, with highly detailed cities, animated units, and weather effects impacting gameplay.

Crusader Kings IV: Intrigue, Dynasty, and Medieval Mayhem

Paradox Interactive’s dynasty simulator, Crusader Kings IV, elevates the art of courtly intrigue to new heights. The game focuses on character relationships, intricate family trees, and the brutal realities of medieval politics. Expanded character development options allow for even more nuanced personalities, with traits impacting everything from combat prowess to diplomatic skills. The “Scheming” system has been revamped, offering more options for manipulating rivals, forging alliances, and securing your dynasty’s future. The map is even more detailed, with a greater emphasis on regional cultures, faiths, and historical events. Naval warfare is improved, allowing for more realistic sea battles and trade routes. The addition of a dedicated “Legends” system allows players to create and spread tales of their dynasty’s exploits, influencing public opinion and creating lasting legacies. Players can now also create their own religions, allowing for unprecedented levels of customization and control over their realm’s spiritual life.

Old World: Dynastic Ambitions in Ancient Times

Developed by Soren Johnson, the lead designer of Civilization IV, Old World offers a fresh take on the historical 4X genre. Its focus on dynasty management, event-driven storytelling, and character-driven interactions distinguishes it from its competitors. The game emphasizes the importance of your royal family, their traits, and their relationships with other characters. Events and decisions are intricately woven into the gameplay, creating compelling narratives and challenging strategic choices. New to Old World is a focus on internal empire management, with rebellious governors and ambitious vassals posing a constant threat. Players must carefully balance their authority with the needs of their subjects, lest their empire crumble from within. Combat has also been refined, with an emphasis on flanking maneuvers, terrain advantages, and unit specializations. The AI opponents are more sophisticated, capable of adapting to your strategies and exploiting your weaknesses.

Tactical Combat: Mastering the Art of War

XCOM 3: Children of the Chosen

The highly anticipated sequel to the XCOM franchise, XCOM 3: Children of the Chosen, plunges players back into the desperate fight against the alien occupation. This installment introduces a new generation of psionically gifted soldiers, the “Children of the Chosen,” raised in hiding after the events of XCOM 2. These soldiers possess unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle, but they are also vulnerable to alien psionic attacks. The tactical combat is even more challenging, with new enemy types, destructible environments, and expanded soldier customization options. The strategic layer has also been enhanced, with new resistance factions, global events, and research projects to pursue. Players must make difficult choices about how to allocate resources and which threats to prioritize. The Geoscape is more dynamic, with alien activity spreading across the globe, requiring players to constantly adapt their strategies.

Wasteland 4: Echoes of the Past

Set in a post-apocalyptic America, Wasteland 4: Echoes of the Past blends tactical combat with a compelling narrative and role-playing elements. Players control a squad of Desert Rangers, tasked with maintaining order and protecting the remnants of civilization. This installment introduces a new faction system, where players’ actions and choices influence their relationships with various groups, leading to alliances, rivalries, and complex moral dilemmas. Combat is even more brutal and unforgiving, with limited resources, dangerous enemies, and environmental hazards. The open world is filled with secrets to uncover, settlements to protect, and mysteries to solve. The character customization options are extensive, allowing players to create unique Rangers with specialized skills and abilities. The narrative explores themes of survival, morality, and the consequences of past actions.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn - Renaissance

A complete reimagining of the classic tactical RPG, Tactics Ogre: Reborn - Renaissance retains the core gameplay that fans love while introducing modern enhancements and new content. The graphics have been completely overhauled, with stunning visuals and detailed character models. The combat system has been refined, with improved AI, expanded unit customization options, and new tactical abilities. The story has been expanded, with new characters, events, and branching paths. The “Wheel of Fortune” system allows players to revisit key moments in the story and make different choices, leading to multiple endings. The game also features a robust multiplayer mode, where players can test their tactical skills against others. This version includes never-before-seen scenarios, adding depth to the already rich lore.

Fantasy and Sci-Fi: Worlds of Magic and Advanced Technology

Age of Wonders 5: Legacies of the Ancients

Triumph Studios returns with Age of Wonders 5: Legacies of the Ancients, a fantasy turn-based strategy game with deep empire building and tactical combat. This installment introduces a new “Legacy” system, where players can choose from a variety of ancient lineages, each with unique bonuses, units, and starting locations. The magic system has been completely revamped, with new spells, enchantments, and rituals to master. The tactical combat is even more engaging, with destructible environments, unit formations, and hero abilities. The world is more dynamic, with events, quests, and randomly generated challenges. Players can forge alliances with other factions, conquer rival cities, and uncover the secrets of the ancient civilizations. The graphics are breathtaking, with lush environments, detailed unit models, and stunning spell effects. A new diplomatic system allows for deeper and more meaningful interactions with other factions, impacting trade, alliances, and even wars.

Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War 2

The grim darkness of the far future returns in Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War 2. This sequel expands upon the brutal 4X gameplay of the original, introducing new factions, units, and strategic options. The Tyranids, Necrons, Astra Militarum, Orks, and Space Marines return with enhanced arsenals and unique abilities. The map is larger and more diverse, with new biomes, resources, and environmental hazards. The combat is even more visceral, with devastating weaponry, powerful psychic abilities, and relentless hordes of enemies. The game features a branching narrative campaign, where players can choose their own path and shape the fate of Gladius Prime. New to this version is the “Psychic Awakening” mechanic, where the warp bleeds into reality, unleashing powerful but unpredictable events.

Stellaris: Galactic Domination - Distant Stars Enhanced

While primarily a grand strategy game, Stellaris: Galactic Domination - Distant Stars Enhanced has vastly improved its turn-based combat mechanics making it a hybrid genre masterpiece. This version comes with a wealth of new content, including new anomalies, pre-FTL civilizations, and galactic threats. The core gameplay remains the same, but with significant improvements to AI, diplomacy, and internal politics. New government types offer unique bonuses and playstyles, allowing for greater customization of your empire. The galaxy is even more alive, with new events, crises, and opportunities to encounter. The addition of the “Galactic Assembly” allows empires to cooperate on large-scale projects, resolve disputes, and even declare galactic wars. Enhanced AI behaviour makes diplomacy and galactic politics more nuanced, creating more organic and realistic power dynamics.

Indie Gems: Unique and Innovative Experiences

Into the Breach 2: Advanced Warfare

Subset Games’ critically acclaimed Into the Breach 2: Advanced Warfare delivers more challenging tactical puzzle gameplay. This sequel introduces new squads, pilots, and weapons, adding even more variety to the already deep strategic options. The core gameplay remains the same: defend cities from giant alien creatures by strategically positioning your mechs and manipulating the battlefield. Each turn presents a new puzzle to solve, requiring careful planning and precise execution. The addition of “Advanced Weapons” allows for more customization of your mechs, offering new ways to deal with the Vek threat. The roguelike structure ensures that each playthrough is unique, with randomly generated maps, enemies, and events. New environmental effects add another layer of complexity to the combat, requiring players to adapt their strategies on the fly.

The Iron Oath: Kingdoms Ascendant

A gritty and challenging mercenary management game, The Iron Oath: Kingdoms Ascendant combines tactical combat with a dynamic world and character-driven storytelling. Players lead a company of mercenaries, recruiting, training, and managing their team as they navigate a treacherous world filled with warring kingdoms, dangerous monsters, and political intrigue. The tactical combat is challenging and unforgiving, with permadeath a constant threat. The world is dynamic, with events and decisions having lasting consequences. The character development is deep, with each mercenary possessing unique traits, skills, and backstories. The addition of a kingdom management system allows players to influence the political landscape, forge alliances, and even start wars. Time progresses between battles, and your mercenaries age, retire, and even die, forcing you to constantly adapt and rebuild your company.

Fights in Tight Spaces 2: Close Quarters Combat

This innovative blend of deck-building and turn-based strategy, Fights in Tight Spaces 2: Close Quarters Combat, sees players choreographing stylish fight sequences in claustrophobic environments. The sequel expands upon the original with new enemies, environments, and combat styles. The card-based combat system remains the core of the gameplay, allowing players to plan their moves, chain combos, and manipulate their enemies. The new “Breach” mechanic allows players to break through walls and create new pathways, adding another layer of tactical depth. The game features a roguelike structure, with procedurally generated levels and challenges. New to this version is a robust character customization system, allowing players to tailor their fighting style to their preferences. Gaming News