Summary
Grand strategy games that allow players to build their civilizations and empires from the ground up often provide a certain sense of accomplishment few other games can. The thorough thought-provoking gameplay needed to develop such a massive entity can frequently be both immersive and addictive.
Such games often involve a litany of intricate details concerning nation-building, including politics, economics, diplomacy, and war. They succeed in challenging players on a more intellectual level, as they must manage and grow a whole society from almost nothing. Along the way, their strategic thinking and skills are also tested, often through a large array of historical ages and scenarios. Better still, grand-scale strategy games typically provide gamers with plenty offreedom to shape an empireto their preferences and interests, making for a more personal and memorable gaming experience as a whole.
Updated Jul 23, 2025, by John Cunningham:This list has been updated to include five more acclaimed grand strategy games. These entries continue the trend of showcasing the best gamers can find in the world of empire development. Charting a wide range of interesting historical periods, all the games mentioned here provide players with a variety of interesting features and concepts to enhance their empire-building efforts. While strategy games of this ambitious magnitude can be challenging, they can also prove to be immensely rewarding for those ready to make enough of a commitment to them.
The third installment in the well-regardedCrusader Kingsseriesthrusts players into life in the Middle Ages. Players have the choice of either an 867 or 1066 AD starting year, with a variety of major historical figures to encounter.
Gamers get the fun of growing and sustaining their own royal dynastyover multiple centuries, with the closing year of 1453 AD. Along the way, players control their initial character as well as their heirs through the generations. With well-realized 3D character models and plenty of exciting new features to flesh out dynastic life,Crusader Kings IIIis a rewarding effort for those interested in the Middle Ages.
This World War II effort gives gamers the chanceto play as any country of their choosing. From there, they get the exciting option to deviate from how history went down. Players can have either a historically on-point gaming experience, or forge their own path.
The player’s military forces come in the form of aerial, ground, and naval, ensuring a well-rounded strategic experience. On top of overseeing their country’s armed forces, gamers must also keep an eye on the urban side of their territories, including factories and building developments.With such an eclectic view of life at war,Hearts of Iron 4is an impressively challenging piece of strategic gaming.
For fans ofEuropa Universalis: Rome, this well-received game is the closest players can get to a follow-up in the same setting. Spanning just shy of 300 years of imperial Roman history, the game covers a variety of key historical moments.
Imperator: Romeoffers an impressively fleshed out gaming experience for those interested in Ancient Rome. With a rich array of tactical options when at war, the game also highlights the dangers of rebellions, and shines a light on governmental life as well. Boasting remarkable attention to detail in all areas, the game provides players with a cerebral, historical gaming experience.
11Total War: Rome 2
A Slick Update on its Classic Predecessor
Despite tons of technical difficulties at the time of its release,Total War: Rome 2’sreputation has swelled over the years. The game takes players back to the Antiquity Era for a 300-year campaign.
Unsurprisingly,the military action here is a strategy-lover’s dream, hitting both real-time and turn-based action to provide a well-rounded combat experience. Despite the title, the game provides more than just the battles. Players must contend with ruling over their civilians as well. Overall,Rome 2polished off the perks of its predecessor, delivering a thorough, engaging look at Roman life and conquest in the process.
This action-packed strategy effortthrows players into the bloodthirsty warfare of the Migration Period. Taking on the role of a soldier, players can decide much of their character’s military role through a straightforward set of class options.
Should the player’s initial character perish in battle, the game allows their legacy to live on, as their offspring take up the mantle and slot in as the new player character in the process. An interesting twist compared to its predecessor isBannerlord’s approach to dialogue, offering players a surprisingly versatile, in-depth discussion option when dealing with non-player characters. This aspect of the game allows players to more fully realize their character’s personality and approach to life in the time period,making for a more immersive experience overall. With its all-action combat,Bannerlordis a wildly entertaining take on grand strategy gaming.
Starting in 1836,Victoria 2charts 100 years of industrialization,as well as political development, across more than 200 countries. For players, having so many playable nations to choose from guarantees plenty of replay value.
What setsVictoria 2apart is its impressively detailed emphasis on the economic side of running and developing as a country. The game has a variety ofmarkets, trades, and industrial endeavorsto discover and work on. On top of that, building a nation’s power requires addressing its many different societal groups, including the military, religious organizations, and more. Overall, the game’s empire-building fun lies in its remarkable attention to expansive detail across the board.
Paradox Interactive’s unexpected trip to the stars was first released back in May 2016. The intergalactic grand-strategy epic won considerable praise for its pacing, climactic narrative, and imaginative setting.
Stellarisplayers get to guide an interstellar civilization. Along the way, they also explore an impressive, procedurally generated galaxy. The procedural nature of the world-building ensures no two games are alike and also guarantees a certain air of unpredictability for every player, even those who are coming back for a full replay. Core tenets of strategy gaming such as diplomacy, technological advancement, and warfare are all on display here, with the war aspects in particular benefitting from a complex and challenging AI.On top of civilizational development, players can even create species here, ensuring the possibilities are endless in this rich storytelling and lore-filled sci-fi masterpiece.
TheAnnofranchise’s seventh effort zeroes in on the early days of the Industrial Age. As is to be expected withAnnogames,Anno 1800provides plenty of room for players to enjoy both warfare at sea and the addictive fun of building cities from the ground up.
It is primarily in the city-building aspects of the game that players can enjoybuilding their own empire. The focus on the Industrial Age allows players to expand their population and workforce through the presence of factories, which, while beneficial, can also hinder the overall appeal of the city. Coupled with the need to trade and find trading routes,1800is a complex and often rewarding look at the highs and lows of building a society in the face of a growing trend in industrialization.
First lighting up the gaming medium back in 2012,Crusader Kings 2thrusts players into the perils ofmedieval society and warfare. With a host of legendary, historical figures on offer, the game pushes players to form their own powerful dynasty.
Along with its compelling “make-your-own-narrative” and complex gameplay,Crusader Kings 2also does an admirable job of providing players with an education in medieval history and dynastic struggles. What makes this acclaimed grand strategy game stand out the most is its refreshing focus on character development and management. With a heavy emphasis on interpersonal relationships, lineage, and political intrigue, the game offers a break from the military combat-focused norm while still maintaining plentiful action and suspense. The generalunpredictability and political maneuveringmake this a consistently captivating grand strategy experience.
September 2014 saw the release of a fantastical take on the 4X strategy genre.Endless Legendbroke away from more traditional historical settings to give players an imaginative cocktail of high fantasy and science fiction.
The result is the beautifully designed world of Auriga. Not only is the richly detailed design masterful, but the world on offer also has vast and complex lore for players to uncover. With a colorful range of factions, players have plenty of sides to choose from when building their fantasy civilizations. The gameplay works as a neat blend of hard-hitting tactical combat and immersive, turn-based world exploration. With astrongly developed narrative, each campaign provides a worthwhile gaming experience for strategy lovers to enjoy.
