10 Greatest Tactical PC Games

This list of the Top 10 strategy games includes some timeless classics and some of the most celebrated innovations in the genre of tactical games.While traditional turn based games would let you have time in making decisions, the more recent releases keep getting more demanding on gamers, requiring faster skills and execution and engaging in fast paced action serving as endurance tests, disqualifying the restless and the weak right away.Games from the golden age of this genre have not only entrenched real time strategy games into a standard gaming, it also paved the way for creating demand in the market multiplayer battle games as we recognize them today.These are some of the games that can tickle your hack and slash fancy.

#10 Age of Wonders III

There are multiple levels of scripted campaigns to achieve, glorious battles to win, but most of its attraction is in the randomly generated maps and customizable options.The Goblins fight back - using holy powered engines of war - industrialized elves, whilst battalions of penguins march on ahead through frozen wastes.

And damn! The battles get quite intense. Multiple units can be linked and controlled together, creating massive armies of dwarfish, elfish, orc-ish raiders. Sieges cause Total War in terms of damage and scale, and thoughtful turn-based combat and magic can get you all the way.

An absolute abundance of magical powers and special abilities, massive range of units and battlefields filled with environmental obstacles, these battles are a rewarding puzzle. It’s all delightfully fun and silly.

#9 Rise of Nations

Developed by Big Huge Games, this historical themed RTS game features 18 nations all in contest including famous civilizations such as Greeks, Mongols, Egyptians, Romans and others. The standard concept of building, resource gathering, managing, expanding and batteling all have a unique charm to it, especially for back in the days when this was considered a stratigy game with superior graphics.

There was also an expansion pack released called Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots.With newly added nations, units and technologies, this latest upgrade has fully integrated Rise of Nations with Steamworks and players can now compete in ranked multiplayer matches.

#8 The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth 2

This fantasy themed game is based around the same time frame as that of the book and the first version of the game. However, in ‘Battle for Middle Earth 2’, players explore lesser known northern lands where deathly battles are fought. ( This bit of the storyline is neither seen in the original first version of the game nor in the movie)

Both single player and multiplayer modes are compatible options. Players can choose from three playable modes: Campaign, Skirmish and War of the Ring. The campaign mode is obviously for single player which, on its own, is a thrilling adventure through the progress of the world.

#7 Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

Playing Dawn of War is fascinating. It feels like a very traditional RTS game with lots of base building activities, resource enhancement/ management and vicious war. It also features special attributes like morale, cover, squads etc.

This game is all about pushing forward, progressing, capturing and holding territory. All the time while resources become more fleeting, with generators and similar structures decaying and the war machines constantly being refilled, it can all go ‘Helter Skelter’.

Expansions introduced more factions built around unique themes and each faction offered different ways to play the game ending with nine factions in total.

Dawn of War II, the sequel ended up changing almost everything, making each battle smaller and focusing on tactics rather than strategy.

The base game and all other expansions have been gathered in the Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War ‘Master Collection’.

#6 Codename Panzer: Phase Two:

This game is the second part of the World War Two RTS game series from the CDV Entertainment Company.In Phase Two, lots of new heroes are introduced along with some of the some of the heroes from Phase One. The battles get intense as they march on through though the hot climates and landscapes of Africa, Italy, and Eastern Europe. A wide range of maps created for this version and are all playable options in custom battles.

Codename Panzers Phase Two takes the missions from the deserts of Africa to Italy, Sicily and then into the former Yugoslavian State and across Eastern Europe.

Each campaign and mission has multiple primary and secondary objectives and all of the missions in Codename Panzers Phase Two feature multiplayer capabilities, allowing you to fight against or alongside your friends. In overall, a good game.

#5 Total War: Shogun 2

‘Total War’ series goes straight back to its roots in Shogun2. Set in feudal Japan, it’s all about taking control of the various avatars of Diamo vying for the title of Shogun.

Battlers must contest for control whilst also checking the rise of Christian influencers from the west and other invaders from within and outside the empire. The game switches into a tactical battle whenever two armies meet. You command your units, build strategies, set formations and crush your enemies, or get crushed, depending on the skills you hone. Sometimes, with the right tactics in use, a small army can withstand any odds by cleverly using the terrain to an advantage. A good game for thinkers.

#4 DotA2 (Warcraft 3 Mod Version)

“Welcome to Dota2”An unforgiving world of extremely competitive fans /players once existed and still does as Dota is a timeless wonder. An exquisite multiplayer team based game which had gone viral amongst gaming communities around the world. Credit goes to the original ‘Defense of the Ancients’ modification known as DotA for War Craft 3 which basically established the MOBA genre of gaming.

Although it is quite certain that players rarely enjoy their first time experience of DotA, gradually one gets accustomed to the multiple choices in selecting heroes, styles, maps, tactics, builds special powers and everything else that makes DotA what it is. Once you get the feel of things, it gets really addictive.

#3 Commandos 2: Men of Courage

A stealth oriented real time tactical game which is based in the 2nd World War and is part of a hugely successful five game series created by Pyro Studios in Spain.

Controlling a set of soldiers and using tactics to achieve desired goals is basically the theme of the Commandos series. In this version, the added ability to rotate the camera view in and around interiors was taken very well and the game received even greater praise, leading to its huge commercial success. This game has also got an amazing soundtrack (Which in my opinion is one of the best game soundtracks of all time).Although it is initially enjoyable with the special stealth and conquer interactions, it can get very difficult but never boring. You can fight the Japanese and other special war enemies, altogether making this the best game of the series and one of the best tactical games ever made.

#2 StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty

The StarCraft series is possibly the best rated gaming franchise on the list of RTS games while StarCraft 2: Wings of liberty is very close to topping that list. Its addictive gameplay, compelling storyline and strategic balance in task and training gives it the edge over all others in this category.

The multiplayer mode of StarCraft 2 enables players to choose from one of the three races; (Protos, Zerg or Terran) and can host battles online for up to 8 players. It is nearly a flawless real time strategy game.

#1 Age of Empires II

Age of Empires basically sets the standard in this genre. The classic series is perhaps the most popular amongst this list and because it was so easy to learn, charming to play and yet challenging if you wanted it to be. Choose a civilization, build up your city and army and then go on to fight other civilizations on the map. You’d also be advancing through various ‘ages’ or technology levels for even better troops and buildings as you progress with each match.

AoE 2 is half resource management, half tactical combat, like Starcraft or Rise of Nations. You’d always start with your Town Centre and a few villagers, but by the end of a match you could have a fancy sprawling metropolis, with walls, fire-shooting towers, along with a large army to go with it. Age of Empires was made before the internet-fueled multiplayer era and only has single-player campaigns and AI skirmishes as options. Campaigns were a series of specifically crafted stories around famous person or group of people, serving as interesting history lessons.

AoE 2 covers an abstracted time period that stretches from the Dark Stone Ages, and goes on all the way to the early Renaissance era. Some say this was and will always be the best strategy game made. Get yourself a swanky sports car with machine guns in it amidst all foot soldiers; a simple cheat code activates such, and with cheats on, it’s a whole new experience.