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How these games were chosen
“Best” depends on what you want from a strategy game, so there is no single numbered ladder here. Each game is judged on four things its Steam listing states: subgenre, whether it supports solo, multiplayer or co-op play, what is free versus paid, and its development status. Player counts and review scores change constantly, so they are not used, and no claim is made about how active any game’s community is right now.
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“Free” here means free-to-play on Steam, as Steam Support’s “Free to play games on Steam” page describes, with the store’s free-to-play catalog as the place to browse. That does not mean every add-on or purchase is free, and several games below disclose paid extras.
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At a glance
| Game | Subgenre (per Steam) | Modes stated | Paid extras / status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zero-K | RTS, 100+ unique units | Single-player, multiplayer, co-op | Not stated on the listing |
| Empires Apart | Medieval RTS | Not stated | Extra civilizations sold as DLC |
| War of Dots | Real-time tactics, wargame | PvP and single-player tags | Not stated |
| Loria | RTS/RPG blend | Quest-driven missions | Not stated |
| War Wind | Retro fantasy RTS, base building | Single-player | Not stated |
| Dota 2 | MOBA (Action, Strategy) | Multiplayer | All heroes free; in-game purchases, including chance-based ones |
| War Commander | RTS | Not stated | Early Access |
Best for a full RTS with several ways to play: Zero-K
Steam lists Zero-K under Strategy and Free to Play and describes it as an RTS with more than 100 unique units. Its listing includes single-player, multiplayer and co-op, which makes it the most flexible traditional RTS on this list: you can learn alone, then move to other people. Steam’s listing doesn’t tell you how busy its multiplayer is today, so check the current community before committing to online play.
#1 Best Overall
- Stratego is the strategic game where you challenge your opponents in the heat of battle
- Your task is to capture your opponent’s flag while defending your own
- Lead your men into battle, every move is crucial
- Includes 2 x 40 pre-printed playing pieces, Game board, Screen and 2 sorting trays for the pieces
- Suitable for 2 players, aged 8+
Best for medieval empire-building: Empires Apart
Empires Apart is described by Steam as a free-to-play medieval real-time strategy game. The catch is in the listing: additional civilizations can be purchased as DLC. The game is free to start, and the extra civilizations are optional paid content. If you want the full roster you will pay; if you only want to try the genre, the base game is the point of entry.
Best for tactics and wargame fans: War of Dots
War of Dots is tagged Strategy, RTS, Wargame and Real Time Tactics, with PvP and Singleplayer tags. That points to a more tactical, less base-building-heavy experience than a classic RTS, with both competitive and solo play. The store listing alone doesn’t establish how polished or populated it is.
Rank #2
- EXPLORE THE ISLAND OF CATAN: Settle the uninhabited island of Catan by gathering resources, building infrastructure, and nurturing trade relationships.
- STRATEGY AND COMPETITION: Compete with 2-3 opponents to expand your settlements and cities while managing resources and avoiding the robber.
- TRADE, BUILD, AND SETTLE: Use brick, wood, wheat, ore, and sheep to construct roads, settlements, and cities in your race to 10 victory points.
- REPLAYABLE AND ENGAGING: With a modular hexagonal board, no two games are the same, offering endless strategic opportunities and replayability.
- FOR FAMILIES AND STRATEGY ENTHUSIASTS: Designed for 3-4 players, ages 10 and up, CATAN 6th Edition is perfect for family game nights and friendly competition. Add the CATAN 5-6 Player Extension (sold separately) to expand your game to 5-6 players.
Best for story and role-playing flavor: Loria
Loria is free to play and, per Steam, combines RTS and RPG elements: hero units, item collection and quest-driven missions. It suits players who prefer progression and missions over pure macro-management and competitive matches.
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War Wind is free on Steam and tagged as a retro, fantasy RTS with base building and single-player. It is a good fit if you want a throwback campaign-style experience. Its listing doesn’t show that it beats the others here, so treat it as a nostalgic pick, not a standout.
Rank #3
- Bird Collecting: You are bird enthusiasts - researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors - seeking to discover and attract a beautiful and diverse network of birds to your wildlife preserve.
- Build Your Engine: Gain food tokens via custom dice in a birdfeeder dice tower, lay eggs using egg miniatures in a variety of colors, draw from over 170 unique bird cards and play them. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats. Earn points, play new birds, help others, and many other abilities!
- Award Winning: WIngspan is the 2019 winner of the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres award, along with many others!
- High Replayability: WIth 170 unique bird cards, 26 bonus goal cards, and 8 goal tiles, Wingspan provides endless opportunities for bird combinations and goal achievements, making this a great gift for families, teenagers, students, couples, and anyone who loves birds and nature.
- For families, solo gamers, and game groups alike: This medium weight, set collection and hand management strategy game for 1-5 players has a 60-90 minute playing time with only a 6 minute setup time. Great game for couples, solo gamers, 2 players, family, and friends. Includes swift-start pack for first time player guidance.
The MOBA entry: Dota 2
Dota 2 is listed under Action, Strategy and Free To Play, and its tags identify it as a multiplayer MOBA. It is not a conventional RTS or turn-based game: you control one hero in team-versus-team matches. Steam’s store description says, “All heroes are free,” and also discloses in-game purchases, including chance-based ones. Include it if team-based strategy appeals to you; skip it if you want to command armies.
Check the status first: War Commander
War Commander is free to play with Strategy and RTS tags, but Steam marks it as Early Access. That means the game is still in development, so features, balance and content may change. Nothing in its listing establishes how complete the current build is, so read recent reviews before investing time.
Which one should you pick?
- Want the classic RTS with the most modes: Zero-K.
- Want medieval empires and accept optional DLC: Empires Apart.
- Prefer smaller-scale tactical fights: War of Dots.
- Want heroes, loot and quests in an RTS: Loria.
- Want a retro single-player fantasy RTS: War Wind.
- Want team-based competitive play: Dota 2.
- Willing to try something unfinished: War Commander.
Because every game here is free to download, the cheapest way to choose is to install two or three and see which fits. Before you do, read each store page’s purchase and DLC notes, because those details can change.
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Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
