Strategy games are clearly not the most popular genre of video games, but even among its representatives there are sometimes very remarkable projects. And so I suggest looking at the outgoing 2024 and remembering worthy representatives of Strategy and tactics.
Manor Lords
Let's start with something very calm and relaxing, namely, a city-building simulator. And not just any city, but a medieval one. So to speak, feel like a feudal lord.
Manor Lords is a strategy game in which each player can try on the role of a medieval lord and, with due persistence and understanding of in-game mechanics, turn his run-down village into a big noisy city, and sometimes take part in the capture of new lands. Well, or successfully repel the claims of neighbors to your territory.
Frostpunk 2
Well, and not to stray too far from the topic of urban development, I will immediately note the sequel to one of my personal favorite strategies. Although, I admit honestly, Frostpunk 2 is not quite what I expected.
If earlier we solved the problems of one small settlement, then in the sequel, problems of a new level fall on our heads. Use progressive technologies or remain faithful to traditions and good old coal-fired steam generators? Extract more oil and destroy nature to hell or follow the lead of the "greens"? There are now many more different dilemmas that cannot be solved correctly. And you still need to take care that the population is happy, otherwise you will be driven out of the city in rags that are not the freshest.
Unicorn Overlord
Unicorn Overlord is an incredibly addictive tactics game from my personal favorite Vanillaware. The game's plot unfolds on the war-torn continent of Fevrit, and tells the story of the exiled prince Alain (whose role we take on ourselves), who gathers allies to free the people of Fevrit from the Zenoiran Empire.
The player will have more than 60 different heroes under his command, from ordinary knights and mercenaries to magicians and elven warriors. And the ability to select a squad to suit any taste is one of the main features and advantages of the game. Battles take place in real time without the ability to participate in them directly. However, the player can fine-tune the behavior of the heroes in a special editor. Simply put, the main emphasis in Unicorn Overlord is on squad management, and tactics are secondary.
Metal Slug Tactics
And I would like to finish the selection of the best strategies/tactics with a project that, despite the change of genre, managed to pleasantly surprise. Metal Slug Tactics is not just a tactical game about characters familiar to some old-timers, but a tactical game with roguelike elements.
The player controls a squad of three characters, each of which not only has its own skills and abilities at the start, but also receives unique bonuses as the game progresses. And the further you manage to go, the more bosses you will have behind you, the more new heroes will want to be part of your deadly squad.
And even though there isn't much content in Metal Slug Tactics by the standards of the modern industry, fans of tactical entertainment will be able to while away a couple of evenings without any problems.
Ara: History Untold
This year, fans of 4X strategies also got their share of new products in the form of Ara: History Untold . Players will have to build the strongest empire with their own hands and destroy opponents with the help of military expansion, crush them with the help of culture and technology, or crush them with reputation.
In Ara: History Untold, nations are not led by kings, emperors, or even famous historical figures, but not always politicians. And the emphasis is not on diplomacy, which is practically non-existent, but on the correct creation of various production chains, so that your state does not collapse along with the economy. And the needs of the population must also be carefully monitored. Dissatisfied citizens reduce the overall efficiency of the state.
Of course, this list does not include all strategy games and Tactics projects.