For many players, available gaming time is limited by other interests or obligations, so it's almost always best for them to get straight to the good stuff, skipping all the hard work that can mar the game. This is doubly true for strategy games.
Whether it's games that focus on new gameplay moments with little in the way of progression systems, or RTS games that challenge the player's speed and decision-making, there are plenty of incredible games out there for gamers looking to sidestep.
5 Steel Division 2
Blitzkrieg to victory in this WWII strategy game
Probably the most popular and faithful attempt to simulate the large-scale battles of World War II, where the player can make microscopic command decisions on the fly, Steel Division 2 is to be commended for how committed it is to simulation while also having an innovative morality system.
With battles involving over 1,000 individual units, an incredibly deep strategic level, and stunning historical accuracy, WWII simulation doesn't get much better than Steel Division 2. Best of all? No crushing is visible.
4 Company of heroes 3
Stategize your way out of hell
Although the beginning was not easy, Company of heroes 3 is quickly becoming a fantastic story of redemption, providing some of the best squad-based tactical games on the market. The venerable franchise allows the player to take control of a World War II squad tasked with various missions on many war fronts using even more interesting factions.
As one of the most modern strategy games with almost no grinding, Company of heroes 3 builds on all its predecessors and provides graphical satisfaction. It's perfect for longtime fans of the strategy genre or those who want to get their feet wet but don't know where to turn.
3 Age of mythology
Have an epic battle with creatures from myth and legend
For now Age of mythology enjoyed the recent remake in the Age of Mythology: Retellingits controversial design decisions mean it's probably best to stick with the original, even though it was released back in 2002. However, it holds up well as a strategy game that is all about making decisions in the moment with zero grinding.
Age of mythology updated its historical predecessors and decided to fill the RTS genre with mythological creatures and goodies. Playing as Norsemen, Greeks or Egyptians, players can create a warband filled with strange creatures and abilities supported by chosen gods, creating an exciting and new experience as these forces clash with each other on the field.
2 Warcraft 3: Reign Of Chaos
Best story in all RTS
Widely regarded as one of the best RTS games ever made, Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos took everything that was done in the RTS genre before 2002 and perfected it, resulting in amazing gameplay set in an infamous campaign, giving birth to one of the most prolific MMOs of all time. World of Warcraft.
While its gameplay is strong, it's hard to overstate how brilliant the story of Arthas' fall leading to the rise of the Lich King is. Any gamer who is a fan of epic fantasy, even someone who is not into it World of Warcraft MMO, must give Warcraft 3 a shot for his company if nothing else. While the recent remastering made major strides in recovering from a terrible launch, playing the previousReforged the patch still offers a better experience.
1 Age of empires 2
The greatest of all time
Nothing compares to the original. While far from the first RTS, Age of empires 2 perfected the RTS genre to the point in 1999 that it's still played to this day, thanks in part to a fantastic 2019 remaster that was extremely faithful to the original and worked perfectly on release.
Players take control of a variety of historical civilizations and are exposed to an even wider variety of large-scale maps to explore — not to mention the game's brutally challenging campaign mode. Tons of game modes, even more ways to strategize, and a still vibrant multiplayer community, Age of empires 2 it's the platonic ideal of a strategy game that requires zero grinding that persists to this day.
