Strategy video games provide gamers with the opportunity to really delve into a game’s world and characters and discover how certain aspects of them work. Some of the best strategy titles encourage resource and people management while others explore city building or wartime battle techniques and planning.
Many strategy games often require that they be played online, or at least have a persistent internet connection, but there are still loads of fun titles that can be played entirely offline on mobile, PC, and gaming consoles.
Here are 12 of the best offline strategy games worth playing.
Best Offline City Sim Strategy Game: Aven Colony
Aven Colony is an offline building sim video game that puts the player in charge of developing, managing, and protecting a human colony on an alien planet. The city planning and resource management will appeal to fans of the Sim City series while the science fiction setting sets it apart with its extreme natural elements and alien lifeforms.
Fun combination of survival, building, and strategy.
Beautiful visuals display the alien environment perfectly.
Graphic quality can deteriorate as the player’s city expands.
May be too challenging for younger players.
Download Aven Colony for Xbox One
Download Aven Colony for PC
Most-Unique Offline Real-Time Strategy Game: 8-Bit Armies
8-Bit Armies is a real-time war strategy video game where the player must command an army, research military technology, launch attacks on opponents, and lead their side to victory. The game’s retro-inspired art style is distinctive but also deceptive as there’s a surprising amount of content and depth beneath the cute exterior. This isn’t the basic kids game that it looks like.
Impressive amount of depth to the gameplay.
The 8-bit graphics help the game stand apart from its competition.
The controls can take some time to get used to on Xbox One and PS4.
Not as many factions to choose from as other real-time strategy games.
The 40 or so single-player campaigns will keep most gamers busy when playing offline, however, the multiplayer is also recommended for those that can get an internet connection.
Download 8-Bit Armies for Xbox One
Download 8-Bit Armies for PlayStation 4
Download 8-Bit Armies for PC
Best Offline RPG Strategy Game: The Banner Saga 3
The Banner Saga 3 is a popular strategic roleplaying game (RPG) that has won numerous awards for its strong storytelling, beautifully animated artwork, and strong turn-based gameplay. Each play through promises a unique experience due to the amount of character and game customization on offer and those who have played the first two Banner Saga video games will appreciate the respect for choices made in those games being reflected here.
The art direction is stunning.
A genuinely engaging storyline.
Those who played the first two games will get a better experience.
Some of the menu controls are frustrating on console.
Download The Banner Saga 3 for your platform
Best 4K Offline Strategy Game: Halo Wars 2
Halo Wars 2 is a real-time strategy game set within the same universe as the popular Xbox Halo video games. Unlike the main Halo titles though, which are shooters, the Halo Wars series focuses instead on managing armies, building bases, and engaging in epic battles in the traditional top-down real-time strategy format.
It’s an Xbox Play Anywhere game which means that buying the Xbox One version unlocks it on PC for free and vice versa.
4K HDR graphics on Xbox One X consoles and compatible Windows 10 PCs.
Those new to Halo may feel lost at first.
A lot of expensive downloadable content ranging from $6 to $30 each.
There is a strong emphasis on online multiplayer with Halo Wars 2, but the single-player campaign can be played entirely offline and is worth experiencing for its story, characters, and impressive cutscenes which look like something out of a big-budget Sci-Fi epic.
Download Halo Wars 2 for your platform
Most-Challenging Offline Strategy Game: XCOM 2
XCOM 2 is, as its name implies, the sequel to the original hit XCOM video game. Like its predecessor, XCOM 2 is a turn-based strategy game with a strong emphasis on its characters and science fiction storyline and a challenging learning curve that will keep players engaged.
A strong storyline and characters will keep most entertained.
Challenging for experienced players with difficulty options for newbies.
Long loading times can be frustrating.
Game performance can drop on consoles when a lot of action is happening on screen.
Players can manage their own team of recruits and their individual skills, build facilities to unlock new abilities, and even strategize the best ways to increase support from the populace. There’s a lot more to this strategy video game than its trailers let on.
Download XCOM 2 for Xbox One
Download XCOM 2 for PlayStation 4
Download XCOM 2 for PC
Best Family-Friendly Offline Strategy Game: Mario + Rabbids
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle takes characters from Nintendo’s popular Super Mario video game franchise and places them in a turn-based strategy environment that pays homage to their beginnings but very much embraces the new genre they’ve found themselves in.
A legitimately solid strategy game with beloved characters.
DLC is available which adds new levels and character such as Donkey Kong.
The Rabbids’ physical humor will not appeal to everyone.
The cute art style may turn older gamers off.
Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, and their Rabbid counterparts each have their own strengths and weaknesses which encourage players to experiment and try new strategies instead of relying on their personal favorite. The game also has local two-player multiplayer which adds a lot more replayability after the initial campaign is completed.
Download Mario + Rabbids for Nintendo Switch
Best Angry Birds Alternative: CastleStorm
CastleStorm is a popular mash-up of the real-time tower defense and destruction video game genres that will appeal to anyone who’s ever played Angry Birds and found themselves wishing the pacing was faster and more explosive.
Family-friendly gameplay and visuals.
Easy controls that anyone can use.
Castlestorm can get repetitive after a while.
It is a little overpriced. Best to buy when on sale.
In CastleStorm, players must build and protect their castles by managing their medieval armies and casting magic spells at their attacking enemies. The controls are very simple and are easy to learn for all skill levels while the light-hearted story mode will keep young helicopter gamers entertained while adults play.
CastleStorm is available on all modern consoles however the Definitive Editions on PS4 and Xbox One contain more content and improved graphics. A version is also available on PlayStationVR however this is a separate purchase from the PS3 and PS4 games.
Download CastleStorm for your platform
Best Offline Strategy Game for Anime Fans: Valkyria Chronicles 4
Valkyria Chronicles 4 is the fourth entry in the popular Valkyria Chronicles series of turn-based strategy games but it’s considered more of a direct sequel to the first game than the third due to being set within the same time period.
Cool anime-style artwork makes this a very unique game.
Good mix of strategy and action.
As with most Japanese games, dialog scenes go on for way too long.
Those who dislike anime won’t have their minds changed by playing this game.
Valkyria Chronicles 4 is very much equally a roleplaying game as it is a strategy game with players taking control of a group of friends and guiding them through both personal and tactical decisions and even participating in the occasional third-person shooter action sequence.
The hand-drawn art style will appeal to fans of anime and manga series, however, those looking for an offline strategy game with a satisfying story will also find a lot to enjoy here.
Download Valkyria Chronicles 4 for your platform
Best Offline Strategy Game for Gamers: Game Dev Tycoon
Game Dev Tycoon is a simulation strategy game that allows gamers to experience the life and career of game developers from starting out in your garage to opening your own major gaming studio. Players get to partake in every major decision involved in game making such as pitching ideas, researching new tech, responding to negative and positive game reviews, and even firing employees. This is a sim game with a difference.
No in-app purchases or ads.
A truly original concept for a video game.
Developing a video game within Game Dev Tycoon can be frustrating, just like real life.
Very practical and scientific with little focus on character personalities.
Download Game Dev Tycoon for your platform
Best Offline City Building Sim for Mobile: Pocket City
Pocket City is a very solid city building game for iOS and Android devices that will appeal to fans of Sim City and other similar strategy games. In Pocket City, players are given complete control of a city’s development and must build roads, utilities, entertainment sites, and residential areas to help encourage people to move into and stay in the new metropolis.
Touch controls work really well.
Missions always give the player something to work towards.
The art style may be too simple for some players’ tastes.
Game can slow down on older devices as more buildings are added to the city.
This game features a very simple design aesthetic that makes things easy to see on small screens and Pocket City’s in-game mission list will keep players continually building and adjusting their creations. Free and paid versions are available on Android while iOS users will need to buy the game outright before using.
Download Pocket City for iOS
Download Pocket City for Android
Best Fantasy Offline Strategy Game: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales
Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is part digital card game, part roleplaying, and part strategy game set within the fantasy world of The Witcher, a popular book and video game series. Like the main Witcher titles, Thronebreaker features a strong emphasis on interactive story elements and character interactions but differs by replacing most of the combat with the digital card game, Gwent.
High quality script and voice acting.
The card game is really well designed.
Some of the cards work differently than in the main Gwent video game which can be confusing.
Thronebreaker’s price feels expensive considering it was originally going to be a free mode in Gwent.
There’s some genuine strategy required in all aspects of Thronebreaker and the game introduces new mechanics at a gradual pace so the player never feels too overwhelmed. The main story campaign will keep most people busy for well over 24 hours of playtime and there’s a lot to uncover for those that take their time.
Download Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales for Xbox One
Download Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales for PC
Best Offline Sci-Fi Strategy Game on Mobile: XCOM: Enemy Within
XCOM: Enemy Within is a special mobile release of the XCOM: Enemy Within expansion for the XCOM: Enemy Unknown video game. Enemy Within is completely standalone though and features a full storyline, maps, characters, and weapons for iOS and Android users to enjoy.
The game’s UI works perfectly with the touch controls.
A full video game experience for a good price.
Takes up a lot of resources and runs slow on old devices.
Will not run on pre-iPhone iPhone models.
Fans of turn-based action strategy titles will enjoy XCOM: Enemy Within while science fiction enthusiasts will be especially satisfied with its story, characters, and atmospheric world.
Download XCOM: Enemy Within for iOS
Download XCOM: Enemy Within for Android
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