The best strategies of all time. The best military strategies

Warhammer 40,000 series

Release date: 1992-2011

Genre: Real-time strategy

The Warhammer 40,000 series is the most popular and one of the best-selling games. Fans are constantly waiting for the release of a new game. The most famous is Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. The player selects a race (Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Tau, Necrons, Orcs, Chaos, Eldar; new races appear with each game) for which he wants to play, after which he selects a place on the planet or planets that he wants to capture and fights with the race that owns it earth.

The battle takes place in real time on the terrain where the battle takes place. Players capture special points that give influence and build generators that provide energy; these resources are used to build structures, troops and make improvements. Each race has its own troops, super units and heroes and abilities. The goal of the game in the campaign is to capture all the lands and become the patron of all lands.

Civilization Series

Release date: 1991-2013

Genre: Global turn-based strategy

Created in Civilization full model development of mankind from the most ancient times to the present day The player must create and develop his mighty empire, among other competitors, the condition for victory may be a military victory over everyone, victory on points, The game ends in 2050, either culture or build a spaceship and fly away to Alpha Centauri. The strength and development of civilization consists of the development and creation of new cities, the creation of production of troops in cities, scientific and military research. You can also create wonders of the world in the game.

For a civilization to flourish, the player must be able to focus and balance between scientific progress, building up military power, replenishing the treasury, developing infrastructure and culture, diplomatic contacts and trade with other civilizations. The player can take part in historical events that took place, control leaders such as Stalin, Napaleon, Ramses II, Catherine II and so on. It's hard to say which of the series is the best. Some say that part is the best, others say the fourth. Adherents of graphics claim that the fifth is the best of this series.

Warcraft III

Genre: real-time strategy with RPG elements

Popularly called “Varik” was one of the most anticipated games: more than 4.5 million pre-orders and more than one million copies of the game sold in less than a month, making it the fastest-selling computer game. The game received a large number of positive reviews, many publications awarded the game with the titles “Best Game of the Year” and “Best Strategy of the Year.” The game also received high marks from players.

There are 4 races in the game: Alliance (humans), Undead, Horde (Orcs) and Night Elves. Each race has its own unique heroes, who gain experience and a new level in battles. With each level, new hero abilities are unlocked. Heroes can also buy or pick up items from killed mobs that improve combat characteristics heroes and the troops surrounding him. On different maps, players capture gold mines and extract timber, using these resources to build a base and units and improve their characteristics.

Heroes of Might and Magic III

Genre: Turn-based strategy with RPG elements

Heroes of Might and Magic III is a turn-based fantasy game, the third part of the series has become a cult favorite and has gained many fans around the world. Despite the now outdated graphics, it is still played by thousands of players around the world. The fourth and fifth parts of the game have already been released with more than better graphics and improved gameplay, so if you are not a fan of old games and love graphics, then it is best to play the latest parts.

The player travels across a global map with heroes who control mythical creatures, exploring new lands, capturing cities and fighting enemies. On the map, the player moves only one hero and can only walk a certain distance or do one or more actions, after which he misses a turn and the computer-controlled enemies make their move. By attacking enemies, you move into combat mode, the army of enemies and your army of creatures stand opposite each other, moving combat units in turn to destroy the enemies. As cities develop, new opportunities and spells can be discovered. Hire troops.

StarCraft II

Genre: real time strategy

StarCraft II is the second part of the cult first part, released back in 1998. The second part of the game became the most anticipated game of the year due to the great popularity of the first part and fully met its expectations among players. Many Russian and foreign gaming portals gave the game scores of over 9 points out of 10. In the player rating it received 9.3 points.

The plot of the game and all the actions take place in the distant future, or more precisely the 26th century in a remote part of the Milky Way galaxy. The three races of Terran, Zerg, and Protoss are opposed to each other. Players extract two types of resources: minerals and vespene gas, which they then use to build buildings and hire combat units. The main task is to destroy the enemy base. Each type of unit has its own strengths and weaknesses, so to destroy certain types of enemy troops you need to hire troops that are good at destroying them.

Total War series is the best Rome: Total War

Genre: turn-based grand strategy, real-time strategy

Total War rus. “Total War” is a series of games that already has seven games and various additions. Different games cover different historical periods and states. The most popular and iconic is Rome: Total War, released in 2004. The action takes place in Ancient Rome during the Republic period from 270 BC. e. up to 14 AD e. For example, Shogun: Total War takes place in Japan Shogun: Total War in the 16th century, where reigning dynasties oppose each other. Empire: Total War - during the European colonial wars and so on.

The gameplay of the game is very similar to Civilization. The player controls troops, cities and settlements on global point. After completing all actions, the player misses a turn, after which the AI-controlled competitors make their move. If you or your enemy attack each other, then you move to the tactical map, where you control all your troops in real mode, attacking them and placing them in convenient positions on the map.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 1,2,3

Release date: 1996 and 2000

Genre: Real-time strategy

Red Alert is a game that was released in the last century and captured the minds and souls of gamers around the world; thousands of people still play it, more than 30 million copies sold. The game takes place in an alternate history where Allied forces defend Europe from the aggressive Soviet Union. The player can choose one of two warring parties: Alliance or USSR. Accordingly, the goal of the game for the Allies is to stop Stalin before he takes over the whole world, for the USSR - to achieve the complete capture of Europe. Depending on the side chosen, the player's victory results in one of two alternative endings.

Battles in the game take place both on land, on water and in the air. Each side can have its own base and can train ground forces, air force and the Navy. Each side also has unique features. The game mechanic is that now even a simple infantryman can destroy a tank. A tank can easily destroy a machine-gun pillbox; a small group of grenade launchers can just as easily deal with a tank if it is not covered by anti-personnel equipment or its own infantry, which forced the use of different types of troops in battle.

Europa Universalis series of games

Release date: 2000-2013

Genre: turn-based global strategy,

Continues the series of global strategies Europa Universalis. Like previous games in the series, the third part invites you to lead one of the states of the world . The essence of the game: to develop national ideas that give the game power certain advantages; As new government technologies are discovered, it becomes possible to choose one of the national ideas. The game takes place in real time, but the player’s reaction speed is not required, since the game can be paused at any time. The game takes place on a schematically depicted world map, divided into more than 1,500 sea and land provinces.

The player can take control of any country that existed during this historical period (about 200 states in total). Under his control are the country’s economy, the formation and management of armies and navies, diplomacy, the introduction of new technologies, domestic politics states, changing the state religion and colonizing new lands.

A special feature of the game is its connection to real story(I note that in the third part of the series it is no longer tied to history and the gameplay is more free); there are historical rulers predetermined for each country, each of whom has certain abilities that influence the game, real-life commanders (such as Suvorov or Napoleon I Bonaparte), pioneers, explorers and sailors (such as Columbus, Ermac and Ferdinand Magellan ), as well as historical events that usually occur in the same country and at the same time as in real history (for example, in 1517 an event occurs that makes it possible to convert to Protestantism)

Company of Heroes 1.2

Release date: 2006

Genre: Real-time strategy

The gameplay of Company of Heroes is very similar to Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War. The player commands entire squads of fighters, but there are some unique units. Each squad has a life scale (not an individual fighter) and if the squad’s lives run out when damaged, the entire squad dies. The player can equip various weapons, infantry detachments, choosing for themselves which weapon is more promising in battle. After the death of a squad, weapons remain that can be picked up and equipped with them for another squad. This even applies to stationary type weapons such as anti-tank guns, heavy machine guns and mortars.

Each side in the game is divided into three unique directions - infantry, airborne and tank for the Americans and defensive, offensive and propaganda for the Germans, advancement in which gives access to new combat units and attacks (for example, attack aircraft). Another important difference is that squads and units in the game have three levels of experience. After destroying an enemy, a new level is obtained that increases the damage, speed, health, armor or viewing range of the combat unit, depending on its type.

There are three types of resources in the Game: weapons, fuel and personnel. Personnel are used to construct buildings, recruit new combat units, both infantry and armored vehicles, fuel, in turn, to build buildings and armored vehicles, and weapons - to provide units with additional weapons, such as a grenade launcher, for artillery and air strikes, or for to give your equipment new capabilities. Replenishment of resources is carried out using checkpoints.

Age of Empires III

Genre: Real-time strategy

Age of Empires III is a strategy that has earned worldwide recognition due to its innovative and exciting gameplay. Age of Empires received high ratings on gaming portals and magazines. A special feature of this game is its well-developed artificial intelligence (the enemy is controlled by a computer). The player controls one of the powers (Great Britain, Prussia, Holland, Spain, Portugal, the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, France), which set off to conquer the new world (America).

The main action takes place in the colonies, on a map familiar to such games, but now each power has a hometown in the Old World. He serves the sole purpose of helping his colony. There are three resources in the game: food, wood and money. Which produce various buildings. Transitions between eras, five eras: exploration, colonization, fortresses, industrial and imperial era. He trains military academies, bandages soldiers and sends them to colonies. The infantry depends on the nationality of the city, for the Spaniards it will be rodellers, and for the Russians it will be archers and Cossacks. The academy is also improving the parameters of the troops.

Battles take place in real time. The maximum size of a detachment and group of soldiers highlighted by a “frame” is 50 units. The shooting infantry has four formations: a regular line, which is convenient for firing in volleys, a sparse formation, which reduces losses from artillery fire, hand-to-hand combat and square. The melee infantry has three formations, two of the same, the actual melee and square, and a circular formation to cover the riflemen. The cavalry learned three formations - the same close combat and square, as well as an offensive mode with reduced speed, but with damage inflicted over an area.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Genre: Strategy, Turn-based tactics, Tactical RPG

The game is a remake (remake) of a popular and old game X-COM: UFO Defense, released back in 1993. Aliens attack planet Earth and begin an alien invasion. The game is played from the perspective of the secret commander international organization XCOM (anti-alien division), which has the most advanced technologies, weapons and scientific developments of mankind. It employs the best specialists in the world - military men and scientists. The organization must conduct military operations against aliens that threaten the existence of human civilization.

The player is provided with the central XCOM base, from which the strategic management of the organization is carried out: monitoring the actions of aliens on the global world map using a satellite network, distributing funding for the development of scientific and technical potential, arming and deploying interceptors to destroy flying saucers, as well as conducting combat operations against aliens using existing fighters in ground skirmishes. The base is presented to the player in the form of an “ant farm” - a section of soil that allows you to look at the premises from the side.

In Tactical combat, fighters perform up to two actions in turn - running, shooting, throwing a grenade, using a first aid kit. Each fighter has only three characteristics: accuracy, willpower and health points.
After the first promotion in rank, a soldier receives a specialization. This could be an attack aircraft, a sniper, a heavy infantryman or a support soldier.

Homeworld

Genre: real time strategy

Well-developed graphics and three-dimensional gaming space - the implementation of six degrees of freedom (you can view the battlefield, the battle fleet from different angles) of the movement of game objects and the presence of thoughtful fleet management in three dimensions. A rich and complex plot that gradually reveals itself during the game. In the next game mission, the player receives the fleet with which he completed the previous one.

At the beginning of the game, the player can choose a fleet of two races, Kushan or Taidan: this does not affect the further plot in any way, only the combat units change. A key feature of both the Kushan and Taidan navies is the presence of a main mothership, which serves as the main base of operations. The mother ship has its own weapons and a hyperdrive, which allows it to overcome significant space.

The entire space fleet is divided into a combat fleet and a support fleet. The support fleet includes special ships, such as a resource collector and controller, a research ship, a probe, a stealth ship detector ship, and a gravity well generator. The combat fleet is divided into classes: Small ships - fighters, corvettes, Heavy ships - frigates, Super-heavy ships, Flagships.

Series Stronghold games

Release date: 2001-2014

Genre: real time strategy

The game system of all games in the series is based on an economic simulator of a medieval city or castle. The games have a number of unique parameters that are typical only for games in the Stronghold series. Thus, in the first Stronghold, the “popularity” parameter was introduced for the first time, affecting the performance and population size. Combat system standard for strategies is direct control of groups of units. The economic component is one of the main ones in the games of the series. There are quite complex and long production chains. As a rule, in the games of the series, more attention is paid to the economic rather than the military component of medieval castles.

All games in the series, except Stronghold Kingdoms, have campaigns (a series of story-related missions) and a map editor mode. Stronghold has a single campaign, while other games have multiple campaigns.

All games except Stronghold and Stronghold Kingdoms allow you to play against computer opponents on a selected map. Stronghold and Stronghold 2 have a siege mode (siege or defend a castle without running an economy). In the first games in the series (up to and including Stronghold 2), there is a free construction mode (running an economy without war).

Spore

Genre: Real-time strategy, god simulator

Spore game is a simulator of the evolution of life on the planet, as well as a strategy and space simulator. The goal of the game is to develop a creature from a microorganism to an advanced space race. While progressing through the game, it is possible to make changes to the creature, improving its characteristics. Also, as it develops, the player will independently create various equipment and buildings, or choose ready-made options from the catalogue.

At the beginning of the game, the player takes control of a microorganism living in an aquatic environment. At this stage of the game - To survive, the microorganism needs to feed on pieces of meat or algae, and also try not to be eaten by other carnivorous creatures. When food is eaten, the cell grows and turns into a microorganism. After which the creature gets out to the ground, where it also develops. Over time, under your leadership there will be a tribe, civilization and space that you will have to manage.

Ground Control 1.2

Release date: 2000, 2004

Genre: Tactical real-time strategy

This game was the forefront of its genre and won many awards. Ground Control has 3D graphics and a freely rotating camera, allowing the player to view the battle from any angle. The game completely lacks resource collection, base development and research. The player's goal is to control a limited number of combat units and perform various tasks with their help.

The main goal of the game is to destroy enemy troops and buildings using the terrain features and strengths own army. Combat units include various types of armored vehicles, aircraft and soldiers, delivered to the battlefield by orbital shuttles. After the start of the next mission, the player cannot call for reinforcements, which requires careful selection of units and their configuration before the battle.

The most important element of the game is the requirement for a tactical approach in any situation. Each unit has its own distinct strengths and weaknesses. Combat units are united into squads. The player can only give orders to units, although the units themselves will fight and take damage separately. There are four categories of units: infantry, armor, support, and aviation. The player can choose the configuration of each individual unit before the battle. For example, a Craven Corporation tank squad can exist in four configurations: reconnaissance, light, main, and heavy. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so different configurations are suitable for different tasks.

Tiberium Command & Conquer series

Release date: 1995-2010

Genre: Real time strategy

series of successful computer games, which has the highest sales among the strategy series. The game takes place in an alternative time reality, conditionally modern to ours, in which there is a war all over the world between two global groups - the international UN troops united in the Global Defense Initiative, and the military-religious Brotherhood of Nod, led by its charismatic leader Kane, fighting for possession of the alien substance Tiberium, slowly spreading throughout the planet.

The gameplay of the game is based on the principle of collecting resources, building a base, destroying the enemy. The only source of money (credits) in the game is Tiberium. Another important resource in the game is electricity, produced only by power plants. The various structures and units produced by the player collectively form a technological tree, in which access to technologically more advanced, and therefore more expensive, structures and units. The base can be protected by various structures, including defensive fortifications.

Many gamers prefer strategy games to shooters and adventure games. A feature of this genre is the step-by-step planning of the game. We present to your attention a list of the best strategy games on PC.

This is what he looks like.

No. 1. StarCraft 2

StarCraft II: Wings of Freedom is one of the most popular new releases in the field of strategy games.

Events take place four years after the events in the game Brood War, which is an official addon. The main character of the strategy is John Reynr.

He and his team of thugs go through a huge number of tests on the way to learning new stories about their world.

“Wings of Freedom” contains a more detailed description of the events in the life of the protagonist and his Hyperion crew as a whole.

During the game, gamers will learn terrible secret, which can destroy the whole world and come closer to its solution.

The storyline includes more than 25 missions and tasks. There are also several additional levels.

The game contains improved examples of all equipment, more maps and opponents. The graphics of StarCraft II are noticeably better than previous versions of the game.

StarCraft II has a multiplayer gameplay mode.

Also in online versions In the game, users will be able to play for different groups of heroes, creating their own course of strategy.

You can purchase the game on the official Blizzard Games website. Cost: 1500 rubles.

No. 2. Dota 2

Dota is a famous turn-based strategy game for PC. They are popular because of the online game mode, which has more than two million users from all over the world.

In 2013, Valv presented the world with the second version of the popular game, which is rightfully among the top best strategies peace.

Dota 2 events unfold in real time. Two teams, each of which has five people, take part in the game mode at the same time.

Accordingly, these two teams are rivals. One plays for the light side of the heroes, the other for the dark side.

The gamer can control only one hero, who has special skills, knowledge and abilities.

Each player can level up their ward by earning more gold or collecting items that grant abilities.

By killing enemies, the hero also receives gold and increases his level in the team. The goal of Dota 2 gameplay is to destroy the main base of the opposing team.

To purchase, you must have your own Steam account. Dota 2 is free, however, the game has paid content that can be purchased to improve your team's equipment.

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No. 3. Sid Meier's Civilization V

Strategy games from the developer Firaxis have always been popular among gamers. Sid Meier's Civilization V was no exception.

It was released in 2010 and has been leading the way as a good strategy game for six years now.

Sid Meier's Civilization V

The fifth part of the famous strategy was an excellent revision of previous versions, which contains many new features and functions. Each player is the leader of one of the game states.

The main goal is to lead our country to victory through wars and skirmishes with other nations and their rulers. Players can now unite their nations to achieve common goal.

There is the possibility of pursuing a neutral policy, that is, not participating in any wars, but only defending one’s territories and improving the well-being of the country.

Each player can improve his army by learning new military technologies and combat strategies.

The periodicity of the game spans the times when guns were made from bronze and right up to the development of spaceships.

IN new version games have an improved picture, more new technologies, nations. There is also a convenient user interface for navigation during the game.

No. 4. Spore

The most best games about Electronic Arts include the game Spore. It can be installed on both a computer and a smartphone. The strategy was released in 2008.

Spore is a kind of “everything around” simulator. At the beginning of the game, each player is just a microorganism that lives at the bottom of the world's oceans.

The main goal is to evolve into an intelligent creature.

In the process of improvement, the appearance of the game hero changes not only externally, but also internally. The evolved hero must build his own galaxy and take over the Universe.

In each mission there will be many opponents who need to be defeated. As the hero improves, the game becomes more complex and confusing, turning into a full-scale strategy.

No. 5. Heroes of Might and Magic 3

Heroes of Might and Magic is a well-known role-playing strategy that has been on the market for over 15 years and is still very popular.

The gameplay takes place around a fantasy world in which there are many new factions, items and weapons.

The tactics of the game are battles with enemy armies. All combat action occur on a screen separate from the game process.

Compared to previous parts, an underground level and improved graphics have appeared. Players can also choose the difficulty level of missions.

No. 6. Shogun 2

This game is a sequel to the popular strategy that was released more than ten years ago. The plot is that nine clans in Japan are fighting for sole control of their empire.

Each player is a representative of one clan.

His goal is to develop military strategies against enemy forces and pursue foreign policies that will improve the well-being of the empire so that his subjects will side with your hero.

The second part of the game completely returns the player to the memories of the previous version, but there are much improved graphics and a larger number of missions and maps on which you can develop your lands or wage war with opponents.

No. 7. Warhammer 40,000

This tactical strategy will allow the player to lead the Order of the Bloody Crow to protect their territory in space.

One day, the crows receive a strange and unknown radio signal, which you, as their leader, decide to investigate in more detail.

In the process of unraveling, all members of the order will be subjected to trials and dangers, which should lead them to unravel the mystery and conquer everything outer space Universe.

Important! The new version of the game has increased the number of opponents and game cards. Also added two more dangerous heroes in last mission battles.

Strategies have always been particularly popular with many players. And so we decided to make a full-fledged TOP 10 most popular strategies on PCs around the world! I hope you appreciate our work and write your version in the comments!

TOP 10 Most popular strategies in the world

10th place: Homeworld


Perhaps one of the few strategies that would stand out so much from the general background. What makes it stand out is that this strategy takes place right in space! The game has a beautiful space landscape and very interesting gameplay, as it should be space game. But the Russian voice acting complements the picture! A worthy representative of our TOP 10 most popular strategies.

9th place: Dungeon Keeper II


In this game we have to control a horde of undead. The game has very funny jokes, as well as an addictive gameplay that makes players immerse themselves in it. This game was so popular at one time that its players even asked the authors to release new part! And they even collected a petition to implement the new part. Such popular strategies are on our list today.

8th place: Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II


The famous universe, which included many images that are still recognizable today. The whole strategy is pure action, so if you like it, then this is definitely for you! The game will not force you to waste your time on construction and other nonsense; this is a real combat strategy, which we simply could not help but include in the list of the most popular strategies.

7th place: Stronghold


A strategy in which you have to plunge into the world of the Middle Ages. Castles and kings await you in this wonderful game. It is precisely because of its unique atmosphere that this game has become so popular, and no one can argue with that now. And if you love all this medieval stuff, then this game is just made for you!

6th place: The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom


In this game, we have to create a real kingdom. The game in some places is similar to civilization; you can also upgrade your state in a variety of ways, from trade to war with other kingdoms. Of course, the game has found its audience, and thus falls into our TOP of popular strategies on PC.

TOP 5 popular strategies on PC

5th place: Civilization 5


One of the most classic strategies in the history of popular strategies. Every part of this game was a true masterpiece. You start the game as ordinary settlers, and then develop an entire country! And in the end, you are able to subjugate the whole world to yourself, by any available means, but be careful! After all, this is not so easy to do... Excellent example.

4th place: Heroes of Might and Magic III


Good old Heroes of Might and Sorcery occupy third place in the list of the most popular strategy games on the computer. This game can without a doubt be called a masterpiece, because all olfags remember how wonderful it was to play on quiet nights with friends online, which at that time was not very easy to do. It had very unique graphics and excellent gameplay, which many still remember fondly...

3rd place: StarCraft 2

The game is the successor to the good old first part. One of the most popular strategies, which became not only the pioneer of its culture, but also became part of the world of e-sports. The game also had an excellent plot, which still remains in the hearts of many people; the battle of entire races for survival and control ensured StarCraft the title of almost the most popular strategy in the world.

2nd place: Forge of Empires


A cool and most importantly free strategy game that you can play with friends online! Strategy in its most direct sense with the ability to improve your troops and continue the battle on foreign lands. Perhaps this is the only game worth showing in our top. And I would gladly put it in first place, but alas, there was one better strategy... Perhaps you initially guessed what kind of game would be in first place in this TOP. This strategy has many merits, but the main thing worth noting is that it has a map editor. It was thanks to this editor that players spent many hours on the most unusual stories, and it was thanks to this editor that the famous DOTA appeared. The plot in this game is simply excellent! The story of Prince Arthas, who turned to the dark side, is fascinating. It is also worth noting that it was on the basis of the engine of this game that StarCraft 2 was made, the engine of which was only slightly improved. In the end, they even made a film based on this universe... It was Warcraft - the most popular strategy game on PC.

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Military strategy games are games in which planning comes first. Even the most formidable enemy can be defeated with the help of competent tactics. Such products do not always have good graphics or a powerful physics engine, but in most cases they make the gamer think. The article will describe several of the best military strategies.

Company of Heroes

Company of Heroes is a military strategy game whose gameplay is very similar to Warhammer 40K. The player will not have to command individual units; the minimum unit here is a squad of fighters. Each group has its own life points, and if their value drops to zero, the entire squad will die. Equipping the army with weapons also rests on the shoulders of the gamer. Only he can determine what weapons the fighters will have in their hands. After the death or disbandment of a platoon, the weapons do not disappear; they can be picked up again and given to another squad.

Each side of the conflict has its own unique areas of development. Infantry, troops and tanks, if the gamer plays for the Americans. Defense, offensive and propaganda among the Germans. Advancement in them will open up new combat units and tactics.

After winning a battle, squads of fighters gain experience, and with its growth, the maximum level of their health and armor increases. In addition, characteristics such as viewing range and attack power can be improved.

Total War: Shogun 2

When describing the best military strategies, we cannot ignore Total War. This game allows you to manage not just an army, but an entire empire. The game is played in two modes - state control takes place step by step, and military clashes require a reaction, because they proceed the same way as in any other RTS.

In the second case, in addition to the standard movement of units, it is necessary to use competent tactical techniques. Superiority in numbers will not always lead to victory. The correct deployment of troops on the ground can turn the entire battle plan drawn up by the enemy, and an ambush will plunge even the most powerful army into panic.

World in Conflict: Soviet Assault

No review of the best military strategies is complete without a description of World in Conflict. The action takes place in an alternative reality. Soviet Union invaded America, the player's task is to defend himself and force the USSR army to retreat. The single-player mode is presented by a single company. The developers have raised the level of cinematic scenes in it to a level that was previously unattainable for strategies. The Soviet Assault addon allows you to look at what is happening from the USSR's side.

It’s very unusual to play World in Conflct at first. Military strategies are never without micromanagement. The gamer must obtain resources or accumulate influence points to build a base, hire fighters, or unlock a new improvement. World in Conflict has none of this. At the beginning of the battle, each side of the conflict is given a certain number of command points and a list of objectives. The former can be used to call for reinforcements.

It is impossible to win in online mode without using competent tactics and terrain. 16 players are allowed to take part on one map. As the number of allies and opponents increases, the role of each individual player decreases, and team interaction becomes the main trump card. When entering online mode, each gamer makes a choice that determines which fighters and auxiliary abilities will be available to him. Each type of military force is vulnerable if it works alone.

"Blitzkrieg 2"

"Blitzkrieg 2" presents Russian military strategies. This game is a real test only for true commanders. A couple of tanks will not be able to penetrate the enemy’s strong defenses, and wounded soldiers will leave the ranks for a long time.

In every battle you need to use your troops wisely. Infantry in the field is unlikely to be able to deal with even one enemy tank. However, if the soldiers occupy the heights or dig in, they will become a formidable force that will be able to hold back the enemy’s advance. Tanks on the plain - powerful weapon, and they are not afraid of any enemy, but at the same time in the city they will quickly turn into scrap metal without proper support. It is impossible to overwhelm the enemy with numbers. The command is limiting the number of reinforcements.

"Behind Enemy Lines"

This is another product representing Russian games. The military strategies of this series have advanced physical model. And first of all, with the help of it, an unusual gameplay was created. Hiding behind the window of a wooden house, a fighter can stop almost any number of enemy infantry, but a tank or armored car is capable of demolishing this “impregnable” fortification. If the enemy does not have heavy equipment, cunning soldiers can set the house on fire with Molotov cocktails.

“Behind Enemy Lines” leaves no place where you can feel completely safe. When even the strongest cover crumbles from a volley of enemy tanks, and armored vehicles stop in the middle of the field with a jammed gun or a stalled engine, the situation in battle changes radically, forcing the player to think over a new plan of action. And this happens every minute.

Your valiant fighters have just attacked, and a second later the crew leaves the combat vehicle, fleeing the fire and not posing any threat to the German machine gunner. The opposite situation is also possible - the entire battle had to be defended, but one grenade turned everything upside down and brought victory.

The military strategy "Behind Enemy Lines" uses the old tactical system of "rock-paper-scissors". Armored cars are omnipotent in battle against infantry, tanks only need to fire once to blow up an armored car, and infantry can immobilize a tank by throwing a grenade. Of course, there is a lot more detail than it seems. For example, rifles hit at a greater distance, but also take a long time to reload; a high-explosive shell can easily destroy a house, but an armor-piercing shell is better for destroying equipment. A fragmentation grenade is good against infantry, but such a weapon will not cause damage to armored vehicles.

WarGame: AirLand Battle

This game represents those military strategies on the computer that completely eliminate the unnecessary worries associated with the construction of buildings. WarGame's focus is solely on combat. You will have to command your own army, which may include tanks, infantry, artillery, airplanes and helicopters. Battles take place in rural areas. And the size of some maps is 150 square kilometers.

The developers paid great attention to detail. Tanks can drive along a highway or a field and demolish buildings; infantry - move unnoticed in forests or hold important heights. However, armored vehicles require fuel, and shooting rifles is impossible without ammunition. If supplies are not supplied to individual groups, the army will be unable to attack or defend.

No other military strategy on PC creates an atmosphere similar to the one that creates the intensity in WarGame. If you lower the camera all the way to the ground, you will see that the image will shake from explosions artillery shells. Forests will burn, and tanks will drown in clouds of smoke.

DEFCON

A very unusual representative of the genre. This game is about that war that cannot be won - about nuclear confrontation. The world is represented by a simple vector map. Before the start of the game, all participants are given a certain amount of military equipment, and the world begins to count down the time until its end. To achieve a leading position, you should make optimal use of everything that is available.

The best military strategy games on PC have never been as simple and abstract as DEFCON. There are practically no graphics here. It is impossible to stop all missiles fired towards the territory of your country. Entire regions will be wiped off the face of the Earth, armies will be lost, but everything that happens is reflected only by statistical numbers. No epic scenes or Hollywood special effects.

DEFCON is a game similar to chess. Throughout the match, internal algorithms calculate the level of danger. The higher it is, the more actions you can perform in one turn. Basically everything revolves around the successful deployment of the fleet, submarines, bombers, missile silos, radars. To win, you need to calculate, anticipate and guess what exactly the enemy will do at a given moment in time.

For each turn in which a war participant killed any number of people in the enemy state, points are awarded. If nuclear missile explodes in player-controlled territory, these points are deducted. The one with the highest number at the end of the match wins. One game lasts about 45 minutes.

Total Annihilation

This is a cult game. Almost all modern military strategies on PC use developments previously implemented in Total Annihilation. The most important difference of this game is remote weapons, which allow you to fight not only at close and medium distances, but also at long and ultra-long distances. Mobile artillery or rocket troops can easily deal with even the strongest enemy defenses. An artillery unit and a radar system will allow you to win the battle without losing even one of your units. Although power shields and radar detectors can be used to protect against such weapons.

The Commander is another feature that makes Total Annoholation fun to play. Military strategies primarily force the gamer to capture points or destroy the enemy to win. Of course, in the product under review, these goals have not gone away, but the focus is on capturing the enemy commander and protecting your own. The commander can repair buildings and equipment and collect scrap metal faster than other builders, but he can erect a limited number of structures. At the same time, only he can capture someone else’s unit or building, which is very useful. Well, classic main character has very large firepower. Can stop or delay the enemy's advance almost single-handedly.

The military strategy under consideration does not set any limits on the collection of resources. There are an infinite number of them here. Only the rate of their accumulation is limited. Energy is generated by power plants. Scrap metal can be mined from mines, recycled from energy, or collected from the battlefield.

As is known, in many modern games killed opponents disappear somewhere. Here, the wreckage of equipment remains on the map until the very end of the game. This state of affairs allows for unexpected strategic moves. So, if you install weak lasers in the first rows of defense, which do not explode armored vehicles, but leave large debris, the enemy’s attack will choke, and he will need to retreat.

Warzone 2100

When describing the best military strategies on PC, one cannot ignore Warzone 2100. The action takes place in a post-apocalyptic world of the second half of the 21st century. The player is one of those who survived nuclear disaster. Together with a group of other people, the main character will have to restore the world.

At the very beginning of the campaign, three groups are created - “Alpha”, “Beta”, “Gamma”. Each of them operates in a specific area and must collect artifacts that can help restore lost scientific knowledge. As the game progresses, more and more advanced technologies will be provided to the gamer.

The main distinguishing feature of Warzone 2100 is the ability to create combat units independently, based on open technologies. This military strategy invites the player not only to command troops, but also to become a designer of tanks, artillery pieces, airplanes, and robots. If you do the math, it turns out that based on all available modules, you can create more than 2,000 unique prototypes of military equipment.

Let's be honest: it was very difficult to distribute the games by position. Many of us have played thousands of hours of old strategy games on PC, and are ready to defend our favorite games and series to the last. It is also impossible to dispute the contribution of many classical projects to the development of the genre - the vast majority modern strategies based on the principles and mechanics laid down in the cult incorruptibles of yesteryear. We ask you to take the positions nominally: any game from the top ten deserves to be at the top of the top old strategies. So let's get started.

21. Tropico Series

Would you like to become a dictator? The real one: with a thick beard, a loud title and his own island state. Games in the Tropico series provide such an opportunity: here you need to lead the people entrusted to you to prosperity and at the same time not forget about your interests by setting aside part of the treasury in a separate bank account.

You will have to plan city blocks, issue decrees, carry out (or ignore) the wishes of citizens, and resist rebels and foreign armies. It is not easy to please everyone, and even take care of your well-being, but a true El Presidente will not stop in the face of any difficulties.

20. Supreme Commander Series

Game designer Chris Taylor, known for the Total Annihilation strategy, approaches the gameplay of his projects on a grand scale: here truly huge armies converge on the battlefield, and the camera soars into the stratosphere, giving the player a view of a large-scale war.

The dilogy (as well as an independent addition to the first part) Supreme Commander talks about the confrontation that unfolded between people, aliens and the descendants of earthly colonists, who formed a kind of symbiosis of the human race and AI. Battles are built on the classic rock-paper-scissors mechanics, and the dynamics of events are so high that in the heat of battle you will barely have time to switch between groups of units. Combined with the epic scale of warfare, this results in incredibly addictive gameplay.

19. Europa Universalis Series

History, as we know, does not tolerate the subjunctive mood, but the temptation to fantasize about “what would have happened if certain events had developed differently” is too great. The Europa Universalis series invites players to take control of one of the European countries and lead it through years and entire eras - to prosperity or decline.

Europa Universalis gives room for creativity. Here you can turn some Liechtenstein into a huge empire, create an alliance between countries that in reality have always been at odds, keep Napoleon from expanding to the east - or act strictly in accordance with the history textbook. Support for user modifications increases the replayability of games in the series to infinity.

18. "Perimeter"

An old strategy from the legendary Russian studio K-D LAB, which used destructible environments when it was not yet mainstream. Players have access to all the joys of terramorphing: the surrounding landscape can be rebuilt at will - level the site for the construction of buildings, dig an impassable ditch, and so on.

In addition to the mentioned changes in relief, “Perimeter” can boast of a couple more interesting features. For example, nanomachines, with the help of which you can flexibly transform units from one type to another. Or the Perimeter - a system of protective fields covering the base with a reliable energy dome. Finally, the setting: the game takes place in the so-called. The psychosphere is another dimension that gives earthlings practically inexhaustible energy, but at the same time materializes human fears and other negative emotions. In general, this game can be called one of the most unusual strategies for weak PCs.

17. Series “Cossacks”

The Ukrainian studio GSC Game World has worked on many franchises, but it is known all over the world for only two - the legendary S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series. and the no less legendary “Cossacks”. Previously, “Stalker” and games similar to it already appeared in our collections, but we have so far ignored “Cossacks”. Well, let's fix it.

The Cossacks series is remembered by gamers for its large selection of factions, large-scale battles, careful attention to the historical background, as well as the gradual change of eras, within which participants gain access to new buildings, technologies and units. Story campaigns covered certain historical events, and multiplayer made it possible to pit countries in battles that in reality had never fought among themselves.

16. Homeworld

15. Ground Control

A strategy that lacks base development, resource collection and research. All the player has to do is fight, trying to destroy the often superior enemy forces with a given number of units. By the way, they move from mission to mission, becoming stronger with experience, so it makes sense to take care of your troops.

The Ground Control dilogy tells about military conflicts unfolding between global corporations that colonize distant planets, and which, for the sake of the resource deposits located on them, are ready to literally destroy their competitors. At one time, the games looked simply fantastic, and even today they do not cause much rejection, thanks to the good detail of the units and the riot of special effects.

14. Series "Blitzkrieg"

Another series of games without base construction, but this time they can at least be captured, which can be very useful when the number of units is initially small. Blitzkrieg tells the story of World War II, offering players a look at the conflict from the perspective of all parties involved, including Nazi Germany. At the same time, historical campaigns were created in accordance with real events, so imagining yourself as a Fuhrer and taking over the world will not work here - the Reich always loses, and the USSR and the Allies win.

Considering the lack of resources and buildings for the production of troops, the player must be able to wisely manage what he has available. Therefore, the element of tactics comes to the fore: circle all units and send them to the enemy - which means that the mission is guaranteed to end in defeat. The Blitzkrieg series is still alive today: moreover, it introduces innovative mechanics into the RTS genre, such as neural network AI, which can learn and act unpredictably.

13. Heroes of Might and Magic series

A cult series of games that combine the genres of turn-based strategy and RPG. Here gamers will have to explore the map, fight numerous enemies, as well as obtain resources and develop their cities. All this is subordinated either to certain goals determined by plot events, or to the desire to conquer the entire territory on the map in multiplayer.

Every Heroes of Might and Magic fan has their own memories associated with the series. Sleepless nights in attempts to punish evil, epic online battles, developing fail-safe combat tactics, arguing (or even fighting) about the superiority of their favorite faction, creating their own maps in the editor - many still play old editions of the franchise, not paying attention to more modern projects. By the way, about the quality of the games in the series: the third and fifth parts of HoMM deservedly enjoy popular love, but the rest can be ignored.

12. Stronghold Series

11. Age of Mythology

10. Total War series

“Total War” from the British studio The Creative Assembly, which today includes more than 10 games and many additions to them. If you want to rule an entire country, participate in large-scale battles, destroy entire civilizations, and all this in different time periods, then Total War is exactly what you need.

9. Star Wars: Empire at War

A game about " Star wars", developed by Petroglyph studio (which employs people from Westwood who worked on Command & Conquer).

Experience in creating good strategies was not superfluous: the game makers presented an excellent game that combined a fantastic setting with the usual RTS gameplay. However, the original mechanics in Star Wars: Empire at War is enough: for example, there is no collection of resources, battles are divided into ground and space, and some particularly strong hero who can turn the tide of events in the opposite direction may look at the “light”. Bonuses include excellent (even now) graphics and an impressive variety of locations with unique battle conditions for each.

8. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

Also space, but unlike the fairy-tale fantasy Star Wars, it is as dark and bloody as possible. Matching the setting is the game, which is still considered by many to be the best in the Dawn of War series - cruel, furious and dynamic.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War offers players the gameplay of classic RTS games, but also pays attention to the tactical component. So, there is the usual base building and resource gathering, but battles take place with the participation of relatively small squads of units, commanders and heroes who have powerful abilities. As for the plot, everything here is as epic and pathetic as possible, missions pit humans, space orcs, elves and followers of evil gods (in additions they are joined by a number of factions, each more amazing than the other), and events revolve around powerful artifacts and destructive weapons.

7. Age of Empires series

A popular series of real-time strategies in which you can take control of one of the nations and lead it through several eras to prosperity. If you are interested in the idea of ​​a state developing over several centuries, but don't like the slow pace of Civilization, then Age of Empires may be an ideal option.

In accordance with the rules of the genre, AoE offers to build buildings, mine gold, stone and wood, produce food, train an army and fight enemies. In addition, you need to research new technologies and accumulate resources necessary for the transition between eras - from the Stone Age to agriculture, bronze processing, iron processing, and so on. You can test your strength in single-player scenarios, where the opponent is AI, and in competitive multiplayer with other players. Publisher of the series, Microsoft company, does not forget about modern gamers, so it is preparing remasters of all parts, with updated graphics and new content.

6. Civilization Series

Who among us would not want to take the place of the ruler of a country and lead it to world leadership? The global strategy Civilization makes it possible to do this: here you can choose one of the nations and lead it through several eras - from the Ancient World to the present. Throughout your reign, you will have to build cities and Wonders of the World, study technology, discover new territories, conduct diplomacy and trade with foreign leaders, and, if necessary, fight with hostile countries. All this is available in the single-player campaign and multiplayer, including on one screen, in hot-seat mode.

The Civilization series has six serialized parts, several additions and spin-offs. Of these, the first four parts are suitable for weak computers, but Civilization III is considered the best.

5. Command & Conquer Series: Red Alert

Real-time strategy based on alternative history, where Hitler was killed before the Second World War began (due to which it did not take place), and the Soviet Union gained enormous power and began to conquer Europe. Later, Yuri, a powerful telepath who strives for world domination, also joins this conflict. In Red Alert 3, players will have to join one of the factions (respectively, the USSR or the Allies, and in the third part of the series, also Japan, which also has its own plans for the planet) and go through a series of missions with various tasks, subordinated to the general plot.

The games in the Red Alert series tell a fascinating satirical story, and the cutscenes feature famous actors - Tim Curry, J.K. Simmons and others. As for the gameplay, it is built on the well-known “rock-paper-scissors” principle, but with a rather simplified balance, which often reduces battles to a regular tank rush. However, this can be fixed: fans of the series have improved the balance (and also added new story campaigns) with the help of mods, the best of which is considered Mental Omega for Red Alert 2.

4.Command & Conquer: Generals

A game that has nothing in common except the name with the Command & Conquer series, for which it was criticized by C&C fans. But, if you don't pay attention to this, we got good strategy with an interesting plot about the confrontation between China, the USA and Middle Eastern terrorists, good balance and a “generals” system, thanks to which players, by accumulating points during a mission, can gain access to powerful abilities such as calling an orbital strike or launching a nuclear missile.

The strategy Command & Conquer: Generals received only one addition, and the sequel, which was developed as a shareware project, was canceled (maybe this is for the best). But fans have not forgotten the game, releasing many mods for “Generals” that add new campaigns and make changes to the gameplay.

3. Tiberium Command & Conquer series

The original cycle of the C&C series. The overall plot outline is built around Tiberium, an alien substance that once appeared on Earth and began to spread across the planet. It heavily pollutes the territory, making it practically uninhabitable, but at the same time it is a very valuable resource, as a result of which it becomes the cause of wars between the military-religious brotherhood Nod, headed by the charismatic leader Kane, and the international UN troops united in the Global Security Council.

In addition to its compelling story, Command & Conquer also features well-developed gameplay that would influence the development of the genre for years to come. Alas, not all games in the series turned out to be of equal quality: the successful trilogy was followed by a not-so-outstanding fourth installment, after which no new releases in the franchise followed. But, as always, the fans save the day: if the original C&C games are not enough for you, you can always pay attention to custom mods, among which Twisted Insurrection for Tiberian Sun stands out.

2.StarCraft

The famous space saga from Blizzard, telling the story of the confrontation (and sometimes cooperation) of three factions - the Terrans (descendants of earthlings), the Zerg (space insects) and the Protoss (a highly technologically advanced race). The parties to the conflict are radically different from each other, but at the same time, the developers have brought the balance to perfection, without giving any of them significant advantages.

StarCraft is a perfect strategy game in all its aspects. Here is a plot full of pathos and epic with memorable characters, varied missions and the opportunity to play for each side of the conflict. There is a fascinating multiplayer, thanks to which the game has become a popular e-sports discipline. Finally, the project encourages creative people by allowing them to create their own maps and scenarios in a local editor. Today, StarCraft exists in two editions: the original game, which is distributed free of charge, and the remaster, which has improved graphics, sound and expanded network capabilities.

The WarCraft trilogy takes place in a fantasy universe where there are constant wars between humans and orcs, mixed with conflicts with elves, undead and other races. All games in the trilogy are distinguished by fascinating missions, many of which deviate from the usual base-building of the genre, an exciting plot, as well as interesting characters, among whom even the negative ones have understandable motivations and can evoke sympathy (you don’t have to look far for examples - who didn’t empathize with the fate of Arthas ?). Not without dynamic multiplayer and an advanced map editor (which at one time served as a tool for creating DotA). To this day, WarCraft is deservedly considered the standard of the RTS genre, for which it receives first place in our selection.

Special nomination: Dune Series

When talking about old strategies, we cannot fail to mention the Dune series, which had a huge influence on the formation and development of the RTS genre. What can I say - it was Dune II from 1992 that is considered the first real-time strategy (although some dispute this opinion, giving the palm to the game Herzog Zwei).

The Dune series is based on the novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, and tells about military conflicts in the distant future that unfold between ruling Houses descendants of humanity. However, familiarity with the original source is not necessary here: the games have a self-sufficient history, no less interesting than in the books. The gameplay will not be a revelation for a player familiar with strategies: building a base, extracting resources, producing an army and mercilessly destroying enemies. Today, these games no longer stand up to competition with modern projects (and with other heroes in this collection too), but every fan of the RTS genre should know about them.