Get your tactical combat hat on with these great indies
From historical to fictional, turn-based strategy games have been entertaining gamers for decades - throwing them into unknown territory to test their strategical mindset and the ability to lead an army into battle.
The XCOM and Total War franchises often get the limelight, but there are a number of great indie titles within this genre that you might not have heard of and should definitely play.
Here, we take a look at some of the top indie turn-based strategy games worth checking out.
Wargroove
In turn-based strategy Wargroove, players can choose from a vibrant cast of Commanders, each with their own distinct personalities and motivations. With advanced editing tools, the possibilities are endless.
Create your own story-driven missions with sub-quests, plot twists, ambushes, and hidden secrets, as well as easily changing the rules of the game without any mods or external tools. The game also features different fun game modes to spice things up.
in Arcade Mode, you can learn more about each character you encounter through a trial of boisterous bouts, where you’ll fight five different opponents in quick succession. In Puzzle Mode, you'll need to outwit the enemy by using all of the strategic skills in your arsenal.
Take on a series of tricky challenges where the goal is to win in just a single turn!
Warhammer 40,000 Armageddon
Are you up to the task of protecting your world from war hungry brutal Orks?
Suit up and jump into the hex-based, turn-based strategy Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon. With this Steam key, players will take the role of defending the planet as the Imperium of Man against the Ork invaders – battling through a gruelling and dangerous campaign with over 30 scenarios, as well as joined by three chapters of Space Marines: the Salamanders, Blood Angels and the Ultramarines.
Panzer Corps
Set in World War II, Panzer Corps puts players in the general’s tent in charge of the Axis armies, across 26 scenarios in one large campaign tree, carrying core forces through the war. This core force can gain experience and upgrade to new weaponry as it becomes available.
With over 800 unit types, divided into 20 unit classes there is a huge amount to explore. Make use of your unit’s strengths and your enemy’s weaknesses and seize victory.
Battle Academy
Battle Academy is an action-packed tactical strategy game where you have to take command of a select group of units and lead them through battles on the many different fronts of World War II. As a commander, you will have to employ real world combined-arms tactics in order to secure victory.
Lay ambushes to surprise opposing forces, use suppressing fire to pin them back, flank hostile armor for maximum effect and, if necessary, assault the enemy to clear strong points. Players will also have the chance to access powerful off-map artillery and air support with the capacity to weaken the enemy defenses or even stop an enemy attack dead in its tracks.
At the same time you will have to play close attention to the morale of your own troops and use recon units to spot any hostile ambushes or flanking attacks!
Fields of Glory II
Turn-based tactical strategy Field of Glory II allows you to fight large or small battles for or against Rome, or between the other nations who are as yet unaware of the Roman threat, or what-if battles between nations that never actual came into conflict historically, but might have done if the course of history had been different.
Take command of a huge variety of armies employing vastly different tactical doctrines - and lead your chosen army and its named generals to victory in set-piece historical battles or 'what if' custom battle situations against an AI or human opponent. Random map generator produces an infinite variety of historically realistic battlefield maps for custom battles and campaigns.
Scenarios include open battle, pursuit, awaiting reinforcements, enemy awaiting reinforcements, flank march, rearguard action, advance guard, remove the head, and protect the baggage.
