Strategy. Sometimes Real Time. Sometimes Grand.
Become the master of the battlefield, an omniscient God, or simply the guider of a small village. Another genre that is generally overlooked by the biggest game makers, but sits squarely within it’s own niche. You probably already know if RTS and Grand Strategy games are for you or not - so do yourself a favour and read about these wonderful indie strategy games that might just get you to stop playing your three thousandth hour of Crusader Kings!
Cantata
Early access
Cantata has many incredible things going for it. For one, that art style is incredible. For another, the focus on supply routes changes the dynamics of an RTS in a fascinating way. Finally, the mod support already is just nuts - the tools that Afterschool Studio are using to make the game are essentially all open to you, allowing you to create complete campaigns yourself. The game isn’t even fully out yet, and you can already make your own game within the game!
Songs of Conquest
Early Access
Easily a must play for the Heroes of Might and Magic 3 fan club. Overworld exploration and kingdom management as well as tactical hex grid battles build this one out to be a worthy successor to the beloved, now defunct classic franchise.
The Iron Oath
Early Access
Lead your mercenary company across an ever evolving world, taking on tactical battles and managing your company as they grow, age and die. Sitting squarely at cross section between RPG, strategy and tactics, when the biggest complaint reviewers have is that they just want more, you clearly have a classic on your hands.
Terra Invicta
Early Access
A space age grand strategy with a massively ambitious premise. The first phase of the game focuses on political factionalism between different groups of humans as the world has discovered extraterrestrial life on the horizon, with different factions having different approaches to how this should be handled. From the creators of the much lauded “Long War” mod for XCOM.
Ozymandias: Bronze Age Empire Sim
Has demo
A full fledged 4X game, but reduced in ways to make it more streamlined and approachable. Think Civ but instead of a game taking a dozen+ hours, you finish a game in a single sitting.
Hero's Hour
Another HoMM3 adjacent love letter. Explore procedurally generated maps, get into real time battles with large armies, grow your heroes with powerful skills and spells.
TFC: The Fertile Crescent
Early Access
Basically what if Age of Empires, but indie. Does a few things a little differently - food is for growing population instead of just spent on units and knowledge points are used to advance technologies - but still has that sweet base building / RTS goodness we all know and love.
Stacklands
It’s great to see Sokpop have a true breakout hit, and what a hit it is. A card based strategy game at it’s core, you will build up a small village from nothing as you continue to learn and expand what’s possible. Sokpop have also released two completely free expansions (so far!) and for such a low price, you just can’t go wrong.
The Pegasus Expedition
Early access, has demo
A sci-fi grand strategy game that has a stronger focus on story than others within the niche. Make tough choices, live with the consequences.
Settlement Survival
Playing within the Banished realm, Settlement Survival is a city builder that’s a little more forgiving - and colourful - than its inspiration. Master the landscape, hunt and farm, manage trade routes and keep the town chugging along.
Guardener
Sokpop’s other entry on this list! Here you’ll grow veggie friends to defend your little slice of dirt in a somewhat tower/base defense style structure. Games are quick, giving you room to experiment.
Farthest Frontier
Early access
Another medieval town builder in the vein of Banished, but a lot more granular. Focused on a band of pioneers out to settle on their own and build a living for themselves. Quite detailed farming, and even has a pacifist mode for people who don’t want to engage in the combat side of the game.
Floodland
A city builder based in a climate changed world. Despite it’s mixed reception, those that enjoy it really dig it. The game does things a bit differently than other city builders, in that you are managing different factions with different perspectives and conflicting cultures along with just trying to survive.