Top Games for Strategy Thinkers

Anyone interested in finding a new game to play is likely to run into the most popular titles today. These include games that now have their own eSports leagues, such as FIFA, League of Legends, and Call of Duty. However, not all gamers will be looking to dive into a sports simulation, multiplayer online battle arena, or a first-person shooter.

In fact, some gamers may instead be looking to exercise their minds more than master a new eSport. While competitive games like those mentioned above require plenty of mental dexterity and discipline, there are other titles that require players to create and refine strategies.

This applies to real-time strategy (RTS) games and traditional titles that recently moved into a digital format. In the case of the latter, some strategy games actually date back hundreds, if not thousands, of years. If you’re looking to try out a brand new game and put your mind to the test, try out one of the titles listed below.

Roulette

Dating back to 18th century France, roulette requires players to apply strategies based on numerical probability. The game was originally created by mathematician Blaise Pascal, who created the outline of the roulette wheel while trying to invent a perpetual motion machine. One century later, Pascal’s perpetual motion wheel found a new (and lasting) application in roulette.

Today, roulette is available online. Most providers create multiple variations to explore, including standard, high roller, and American versions. Powered with the help of random number generators (RNGs), digital versions of roulette allow gamers to apply betting strategies in a more comfortable environment, as roulette tables at brick-and-mortar establishments tend to be some of the noisiest on the floor.

Civilization VI

Those with an interest in strategy games will encounter 4X games at some point. 4X games are a type of subgenre that involves building an empire. Players will need to build a superior civilization using economic, technological, and military tactics. The Civilization franchise is one of the biggest titles in the genre.

While debates rage on which of the title’s six installations is best, Civilization VI (Civ 6) includes more strategy than previous titles. Rather than focus only on their own civ, they’ll also need to navigate other civs to perfect their own and extend their influence. In other words, there’s an endless series of details gamers will have to tinker with if they want to perfect the game.

Go

Anyone looking to develop strategic thinking can turn to the board game Go—in fact, people have been doing this for millennia. The game emerged in Ancient China around 2,500 BC. According to legend, the game was created to help develop critical thinking for young rulers, while other evidence in the Zuo Zhuan hints that it was one of four essential arts for aristocratic families.

The game, which is played by around 20 million people to this day, requires players to navigate stones around a board. They attempt to ‘capture’ the other player's stones by surrounding them. Like roulette, Go is now available online in a variety of formats. In fact, there are some websites that teach newcomers the ropes with guides that cover beginner strategies.

FTL: Faster Than Light

Released back in 2012, FTL: Faster Than Light has become a cult classic for strategy gamers. Based on sci-fi hits like Star Trek, players are required to manage a spaceship and its crew while being pursued by an enemy ship. There’s more emphasis on managing ship functions than engaging in battle sequences.

In fact, the 2D game focuses on eight sections within a ship. It’s not just about weapons, but also about the crew and their unique capabilities, the ship’s vital functions, and supplies. Rather than a narrative structure, each ship starts to take on a unique identity based on the player and their goals. The challenge here lies in adaptation and using all the available pieces, from crew members to ship resources, as the journey goes on.