PC games are not necessarily all about lightning-fast reactions and the ability to blast as many enemies as possible into oblivion in the shortest time. Many of the best games require a sharp mind, tactics and a logical thought process. Rather than colossal weapons with the firepower of an entire army, the best strategy game players come armed only with their brain. Whether you are a strategy game player with years of experience or have just discovered this genre, here are four must-have strategy game titles for your PC.
Civilization V
Arguably the most accessible of the popular Civilization series, the fifth entry is ideal for newcomers to the genre whilst still managing to present a challenge to players of greater experience. As with other titles in the series, Civilization V gives players control over their own fledging nation - an ancient civilisation that needs to grow to progress. Growth is achieved through governance, research and the conquering of other nations within the game. Gameplay is spread over thousands of years and is incredibly addictive.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War
One of the best PC strategy games of all-time, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War is part of the real-time strategy sub-genre or RTS for short. RTS games can sometimes become incredibly complex but nonetheless totally absorbing. Selling over seven million copies worldwide to date, Dawn of War has been an amazing commercial success, in addition to winning much praise from both gamers and critics alike.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, the first StarCraft game first appeared in 1998 and from humble beginnings the franchise has expanded to include novels, a board game and a set of collectible figures. Released in 2010, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty became the fastest-selling real-time strategy game in history and continued the franchise tradition of combining demanding, intricate gameplay with scenes of cinematic quality.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
The newest title on this list, XCOM: Enemy Unknown is an incredibly tense affair with players responsible for a small squadron of soldiers defending Earth against an alien attack. In addition to completing various tactical missions, players have to carry out research and development, so gameplay can be quite demanding. You may even find yourself agonising over certain choices, such as which particular member of your squad to help and which to leave to destiny.
These are just four of the vast range of PC strategy games on the market. The quality of the gameplay and the sheer scale of the worlds presented within these games continues to improve, ensuring that this fascinating genre retains its position as one of the most popular forms of PC gaming entertainment out there. If you haven't yet tried a strategy game, you really don't know what you're missing!
Author Bio:
Steve Gladwin is a writer with substantial gaming experience. He has written for a wide range of video and PC game websites, in addition to a variety of printed publications. Many of the best PC strategy games rank amongst his favourites of all-time.