The Age Of Empires series stands as a timeless and beloved real-time strategy (RTS) franchise that has captured the hearts of fans over the decades. Despite the continuous release of new games within the series, many enthusiasts find themselves consistently returning to classics like Age Of Empires 2, appreciating their enduring appeal rather than exploring newer or similar titles.

Nevertheless, due to the franchise's immense popularity and the ease of entry into the gaming industry, numerous indie developers and competitors have attempted to create games reminiscent of Age Of Empires. Whether driven by financial motives or a genuine admiration for the cherished franchise and its outstanding titles, these developers have produced a variety of games that echo the Age Of Empires experience. As a result, fans now have the option to explore these alternatives, providing a fresh and distinctive experience for those seeking something slightly different.

1. Dawn of War

The Dawn of War series has emerged as a highly successful spinoff within the Warhammer 40K Universe, offering fans a chance to experience the intricacies of warfare in this futuristic setting. It not only delves into captivating narratives across different games but also draws inspiration from Age of Empires, notably in Dark Crusade, to provide players with a broader perspective of the Universe. Serving as an expansion to the initial Dawn of War game, Dark Crusade is a standalone entry that significantly stood out in the realm of Warhammer 40K real-time strategy (RTS) games.

In Dark Crusade, players aren't confined to embodying Space Marines alone. The game unfolds on Kronus, the homeworld of the Necrons, where seven distinct factions vie for control. This diverse array of playable races is a departure from the usual Warhammer 40K Universe norm, which typically limited players to Space Marines or, at most, a couple of choices. The expansive conflict on Kronus presents players with a strategic challenge, encouraging them to make decisions about where to engage and which races to confront first. Players engage in battles against rival factions to seize control of specific regions and must then defend these territories during enemy turns to maintain their hold. This futuristic take on familiar RTS elements provides an engaging challenge, particularly appealing to fans of Age of Empires.

2. Total War

The Total War series, a vast collection of real-time strategy (RTS) games initiated in 2000 during the peak of RTS game popularity, particularly on PC, offers a diverse range of gaming experiences. Among these titles, Total War: Empire stands out as a game that unmistakably draws inspiration from the Age of Empires franchise.

Total War: Empire serves as an exceptionally immersive and historically precise battle simulation game. Set in the early 18th century, players confront significant historical challenges while striving to lead one of the available factions to global dominance. The game provides numerous strategic and action-oriented approaches, surpassing the depth of most RTS games. Tactical moves like flanking maneuvers and outmaneuvering opponents hold substantial importance, creating a richer gameplay experience than many other similar games. Enthusiasts of the Age of Empires series will find immense enjoyment in the challenges and replayability offered by Total War: Empire. Additionally, the Total War series boasts a wide array of other titles, spanning from feudal Japan to the far reaches of the futuristic Warhammer 40k universe.

3. Age of Mythology

Undoubtedly, the most outstanding imitation of the Age of Empires series comes from the same developers who created the original franchise. Regardless of whether players are drawn to the concept of a more mythology-infused real-time strategy (RTS) game, they should definitely give this remarkable game a try. Age of Mythology not only boasts an active online multiplayer community but also features an unexpectedly compelling original storyline in its campaign, making it an essential experience for all enthusiasts of the original series.

The game, currently available on Steam with two expansion campaigns introducing new races, offers a unique blend of strategic gameplay. It introduces unconventional units like Centaurs and Fire Giants, which players rarely encounter in other RTS games. The availability of these units depends on the deity players choose to follow, adding an intriguing layer to the gameplay. By incorporating fantasy elements into a genre primarily grounded in historical contexts, Age of Mythology achieved a delightful balance, resulting in a profoundly enjoyable game that has rightfully earned its status as a timeless classic in the RTS genre.

4. Minecraft Legends

A recent addition to the real-time strategy (RTS) gaming landscape, Minecraft Legends, shares commonalities with Age Of Empires. It presents an RTS adaptation of the immensely popular and top-selling video game, Minecraft, which has branched out in various directions with titles like Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Earth. However, Minecraft Legends, the latest release, has the potential to captivate an entirely new audience within the block-filled universe.

In Minecraft Legends, players are immersed in a compelling narrative set in the Minecraft realm, where the world faces an invasion from the Nether by Piglins' armies. The player assumes the role of a character chosen by three enigmatic figures to lead the diverse creatures of the Overworld, including creepers and zombies, in a battle against the invading forces. Players must strategically build armies and defenses, timing their moves precisely to thwart the advancing piglin hordes. This involves engaging in battles, destroying enemy bases, and dismantling portals linking the Overworld and Nether. The game culminates in an intense final confrontation, offering an exhilarating storyline coupled with enjoyable and tactically designed gameplay. Particularly appealing to younger players, Minecraft Legends serves as an excellent introduction to the world of RTS games, reminiscent of the Age of Empires experience.

5. Frostpunk

A recent addition to the real-time strategy (RTS) genre, Frostpunk offers a significant challenge for players seeking a more demanding experience than what Age of Empires typically provides. Unlike Age of Empires, Frostpunk doesn't primarily focus on combat against enemies; instead, it revolves around the struggle for survival in a frozen landscape where resources are scarce, and every bit of heat is a precious commodity. This game is set in a world gripped by a global volcanic winter during the late 19th century, creating a mature-rated environment where survival is the ultimate goal.

Frostpunk has evolved into a successful franchise, sharing fundamental principles with the settlement-building aspects of Age of Empires. However, what truly sets Frostpunk apart from similar RTS games is its remarkable difficulty level. The game offers a substantial challenge, exceeding the expectations of most players accustomed to city-building survival games.

6. Rise of Nations

Rise of Nations stands out as a peculiar real-time strategy (RTS) game that drew significant inspiration from the Age of Empires series. It also incorporated elements from turn-based strategy games, introducing unique features previously unseen in the RTS genre, such as the ability to influence specific areas of the map, impacting gameplay dynamics. Surprisingly, despite its innovative ideas, Rise of Nations did not evolve into a franchise after its 2003 release, a fact that might puzzle many considering its groundbreaking concepts.

Unlike many other RTS games, Rise of Nations opted for a different approach. Instead of confining players to a single historical period, the game allowed them to traverse various epochs in human history. Players guided their civilizations through eight distinct ages, offering a choice of eighteen different civilizations to control. While the game faced initial balancing challenges, this did not prevent Rise of Nations from attaining cult status within the RTS genre, a reputation it continues to hold to this day.

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Aside from the six mainline games in the Civilization series, there are also several spin-off titles to consider when evaluating each entry in the franchise. To maintain clarity, we will exclude Alpha Centauri, which isn't directly related to the Civilization series despite carrying the Sid Meier prefix in its title. We'll also omit Colonization, as it deviated significantly from the original formula and became a distinctly different game. Furthermore, remakes or ports of previous games that didn't introduce substantial gameplay changes will not be included.

In this article, Gurugamer is going to showcase a complete list of all Civilization games, ranked from best to worst.

1. Civilization V

Taking the lead ahead of its predecessor, Civilization V secures the top position. This installment eliminated certain laborious aspects, such as unit stacking, and introduced the ability for cities to defend themselves. Moreover, it introduced captivating AI personalities, adding enjoyment to single-player games. The transition from traditional grids to hexes allowed empires to expand in a more organic and diverse manner. Although some features, like religion, required expansion packs, Civilization V stands out as the finest game ever crafted in the Civilization series.

2. Civilization IV

Claiming the second spot is Civilization IV, which marked a significant milestone in the series by embracing modern elements such as 3D graphics and a captivating score that garnered a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement. Notably, this installment introduced religion as a strategic tool to influence other nations and placed greater emphasis on non-military units like spies and settlers. For numerous individuals, Civilization IV represents the point at which the series truly hit its stride, making a compelling case for being the finest game in the franchise.

3. Civilization VI

Why isn't the latest game in the series ranked at the top? In many aspects, it seems like it should be. As a sequel, it excels by enhancing almost every feature introduced in previous games. However, it falls short of greatness due to the absence of many of those features in the base game. To fully experience Civilization VI, one must invest in multiple DLC packs. By obtaining the Rise and Fall and Gathering Storm expansions, the game becomes incredibly intricate and undoubtedly the most complex Civilization installment available. Nevertheless, the inclusion of colossal death robots brings an immense amount of joy when unleashed upon the game world.

4. Civilization III

When Civilization III came into play as the third installment of the mainline series, the primary objective was evidently to create a more cohesive and feature-packed game. Notably, borders were introduced for the first time, lending a greater sense of coherence to empires. Culture emerged as a viable means of expanding these borders, facilitating natural expansion rather than solely relying on warfare. This addition provided players with additional avenues to foster the growth of their nations.

5. Civilization II

Coming in at number five is Civilization II, the inaugural sequel in the series. This installment introduced the isometric view, which would be adopted by subsequent games, and delved deeper into trade and diplomatic mechanics. While its features may seem rudimentary in comparison to later games, Civilization II marked the first instance in which fans returning to it after a hiatus would find a sense of familiarity in its look and feel.

6. Civilization Revolution

Ranking at number six is Civilization Revolution, an endeavor to bring the Civilization series onto consoles and mobile devices, despite its natural inclination towards PC gaming. This attempt involved streamlining the gameplay and interface to accommodate controller input. The result was generally successful, but it came at the cost of stripping away many of the features that players had grown accustomed to. While Civilization Revolution remains a solid game, it falls short of providing the complete Civilization experience that fans have come to expect.

7. Civilization Revolution 2

Securing the seventh position is Civilization Revolution 2, which, like its predecessor, aimed to bring the gameplay of the popular 4X series to home and mobile consoles. Civilization Revolution 2 represents an improved and expanded version of the original game, offering a wider selection of leaders and nations to choose from. Although it doesn't quite measure up to the mainline games in the series, it serves as a commendable option for individuals who lack a PC capable of running those games.

8. Civilization

Taking the eighth spot is the original Civilization, undeniably a reflection of the era in which it was developed. While playing a match allows one to recognize its significance as the precursor to the series, this game falls short when compared to the advancements made in later installments. The systems employed were rudimentary, and the available victory options were limited to just two. Despite its enduring cult following, each subsequent Civilization game would build upon and enhance the foundation laid by its predecessor.

9. Civilization: Beyond Earth

Securing the ninth position is Civilization: Beyond Earth, a game that highlights the franchise's inevitable progression towards space exploration, as previously seen in the Alpha Centauri spinoff. However, the absence of historical leaders and Earth nations diminished much of its charm. Upon its initial release, Beyond Earth also suffered from a dearth of diplomatic options and felt more limited in scope compared to the mainline games in the series.

10. Civilization: Call to Power

Occupying the tenth spot is Civilization: Call to Power, a game that bears the Civilization name in its title but is only loosely connected to the main series. Developed by Activision and released in 1999, this game exploited certain legal ambiguities concerning the copyright of the Civilization name. Regrettably, it failed to capture the essence and allure of the original game, resulting in lackluster systems that left existing fans unimpressed.

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While some well-known PC games have been ported to Android, our list of the best Android games features many outstanding exclusives that demand a lot of strategic thinking to complete and have difficult foes and missions. These games demand serious strategy rather than being simple puzzle games.

In this article, Gurugamer is going to showcase the top 10 best strategy games on Android in 2023.

​1. Civilization VI

The most recent iteration of the Civilization franchise, which is well-known and adored by strategy fans everywhere, is now accessible on mobile devices. While the game is mostly the same on Android comparing to its Desktop version, it is recommended to use a tablet to play as there are lots of micromanagement to do. Players in Civilization VI are responsible with governing and running any civilization of their choosing, from the Huns to England.

To succeed, players must overcome rival civilizations, conduct research to improve their technology, and spread their religion. The game is highly engaging and can consume hours of your time, although it may experience performance issues on older devices during late-game stages.

2. Bad North

Bad North is a roguelike game with a Viking theme where players must lead their troops against waves of ruthless marauders who seek to spill blood on the ground. Before the battle begins, players provide general instructions to their soldiers, who then respond intuitively to the enemy's actions. This design approach eliminates the need for micro-management, allowing players to focus on the larger battle. Similar to Into the Breach, a single misstep can lead to defeat, causing players to restart the game, making it crucial to plan every move carefully.

Apart from its gameplay mechanics, Bad North is also notable for its stunning visuals. Each procedurally generated island features picturesque cliffs and flowers that enhance the overall aesthetics. Players can take a moment to appreciate the view before the island turns into a battlefield, with the ground being drenched in blood.

3. Into the Breach

Into the Breach is a roguelike puzzle game where players defend humanity from destruction by space bugs. Each combat is limited to five turns, and players can only restart the game once if they make a mistake. The key to winning is to strategically position the mechs to trap the Vek, causing them to attack each other or perish in flames. However, a single error in your tactics can result in disastrous consequences for your battle.

4. The Battle of Polytopia

If you enjoy playing Civilization VI but prefer a more laid-back game, The Battle of Polytopia might be the perfect choice for you. This isometric strategy game may look simple, but it offers everything that more popular 4X games provide. Once you've chosen your tribe, you'll have to engage in warfare, diplomacy, and espionage to achieve success. There are three distinct paths to victory, and players need unique strategy for each.

The Battle of Polytopia is easy to play but hard to master. It is intricate, fulfilling, and a game that you shouldn't miss.

5. Total War: Medieval II

Total War: Medieval II is regarded as one of the best games in the Total War series, and its Android version is nearly identical to the original. You don't need to worry about control as the interface has been overhauled for mobile devices to make playing more pleasant. It may take some getting used to directing enormous armies with a touchscreen, but the UI is simple enough that you'll master it soon and win fights. For the greatest experience, we recommend playing this game on a tablet.

6. Bloons TD 6

The Bloons franchise, once a prominent figure in the online flash game industry, has successfully transitioned to mobile devices. Bloons TD 6 is the most recent addition to the series and is regarded as the finest. At its core, it is a relatively simple tower defense game where players must place monkeys to protect against waves of incoming enemies. The idea of monkeys battling balloons may appear absurd, but it takes skillful use of every tool available to emerge victorious.

Bloons TD 6 offers an extensive range of game modes and maps. Although the standard game mode is sufficient to keep players engaged for several hours, trying out one of the more challenging modes can reveal how well you understand the mechanics of monkeys and balloons.

7. Rusted Warfare

Rusted Warfare is a complete real-time strategy game available on mobile that pays homage to the RTS games of the 90s. You have a vast range of units to command, from small tanks to enormous battleships, although the graphics appear outdated, it's deliberate to capture the essence of classic RTS games like Total Annihilation.

The tumultuous battles might seem intimidating at first, but Rusted Warfare is deceptively simple to pick up. The touch controls make it effortless to direct groups of units into combat, and the small number of buildings make it easier to manage your production lines.

8. Northgard

Northgard adopts the 4X strategy formula but presents it in a more condensed RTS format. You'll still need to develop your economy, research new technology, and defeat your enemies, but unlike Civilization VI, games in Northgard won't take more than a few hours. This makes it ideal for strategy game enthusiasts who want a challenging game without the time commitment of multiple days.

9. Sigma Theory

Sigma Theory is a game that revolves around espionage, where you're in charge of leading a team of agents to exploit a significant scientific breakthrough that can change the world. The game has a similar vibe to XCOM, but it doesn't involve battles. Instead, your choices during conversations are crucial, and a wrong decision can have severe consequences later in the game. Therefore, it's crucial to be careful while interacting with powerful organizations.

10. XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is considered the ultimate version of the well-known turn-based strategy series. Those new to the franchise will be fascinated by the challenging turn-based combat.

Each move counts, and while one bad decision can lead to disaster, executing the perfect ambush is a sensation that cannot be replicated. There is also a wealth of customization options available, allowing you to build a squad that is completely unique to your style.

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Corruption 2029 is a turn-based strategy game from developer The Bearded Ladies with gameplay inspired by XCOM. The game is set in 10 years from now in 2029 in America. The government is totally corrupted and the country is ruined by fearsome, inhuman android creatures. You will be in charge of a special force squad to go on a dangerous mission to find the cause of all of this madness and put a stop to it. You can check out the trailer of Corruption 2029 below.

Your team consists of soldiers that are fully geared with the most advanced technology. The game will be focusing on the tactical, stealth aspects, much like Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, a game from the same developer. You will take turns to give orders to your units and outsmart your opponent. Each character in your team will have their own unique weapons, skills, and combat styles. Knowing how to arrange your team's position and max out the potential of each character will help you a lot in the game.

You don't always have to fight while doing your missions. It's actually best to avoid unnecessary fights and focus on your main target to preserve the health of your team. By scouting the area of your enemies, you will be able to find another way to sneak in and avoid some encounters.

Corruption 2029 will be released in just a week from now on February 17 for PC on Epic Games Store. The game will cost $19.95 and is now available for pre-order. The game might be released on Steam a year from now.

Company of Heroes' arrival on iPad has been a long-expected one. Originally, it was supposed to hit the platform last year, but that obviously didn’t happen due to some roadblocks in the development process. Not that we are complaining, though. As long as the quality is good, we don’t mind waiting.

And the wait is almost over too. Starting from the 13^th of February, players will be able to jump into some WWII-themed RTS action right on their iPad as that’s when Company of Heroes officially launches for the platform. The game has undergone an overhaul to better adjust to its new home with a new UI that promises an intuitive touch-based experience.

In case you are not familiar with Company of Heroes, it is a strategy game in which you control 2 companies of US soldiers and follow them through a series of 15 missions. These missions are based on real-life events that took place over the course of the Second World War, starting with the “D-Day”.

Once you've gone through those, you can also download additional missions and maps for free. So that basically means you'll get to enjoy plenty of tactical gameplay without having to spend more money on IAPs for DLCs.

It’s also worth noting that the game will take up a sizable 6GB of storage on your device, and developer Feral Interactive has recommended that you prepare at least 8GB to avoid any potential issue with the installation process. It has also provided a list of compatible devices. Basically, you’ll need an iPad of the 5^th, 6^th, or 7^th generation, an iPad Pro of the 1^st, 2^nd, or 3^rd generation, or an iPad Air 3^rd generation to run Company of Heroes smoothly.  Also, your device must be running on iOS 13.1 or a later version.

Company of Heroes is currently up for pre-order on the App Store and will officially arrive on the 13^th of February. It is a premium title priced at $13.99 (Rs 1000).

G.I. Joe: War on Cobra, the latest mobile strategy offering from developer Emerald City Games, is now available for both Android and iOS devices. This is a multiplayer strategy title that’s based on the popular animated TV series G.I. Joe. Check out its trailer below:

In War on Cobra, you will not only control the characters, but also fleets of vehicles spanning across land, air, and sea. Meanwhile, if you find yourself aligning more with the villains, then you will probably be pleased to know that you can join team Cobra to attempt to eliminate the Joes.

Some of the characters that you will have at your disposal are Cobra Commander, Duke, Baroness, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, Roadblock, Storm Shadow, and Destro. The developer also promises to add a lot more in the next couple of weeks as well, so if your favorite isn't available at the moment, be sure to keep an eye out as they might arrive later.

These characters can be unlocked by participating in events with Storm Shadow and Snake Eyes being up for grabs right now. On the 24^th, another event will kick off, giving you the chance to get Baroness and Roadblock.

Once you’ve gathered your team – be they heroes or villains – you can put your skills to the test against other players in PvP battles to try and climb up the leaderboard. Be sure to equip yourself with a balanced combination of armed troops, heavy artillery, turrets, and sea mines to be able to deal with any situation.

According to the developer, the Joes and the Cobra will have different units and buildings, so the faction you pick will have an impact on your playstyle. As a result, don’t hesitate to experiment around to find the one that suits you most.

G.I. Joe: War on Cobra is currently available on both Google Play and the App Store as a free-to-play game with IAPs included.

Coming from NetMarble, Magic: ManaStrike is what you get if you take the gameplay of Clash of Clans and slap it onto the universe of Magic: The Gathering. The game is now available for pre-registration for both Android and iOS users. Check out its trailer below:

From what we know so far, the game is working towards a global release, although no specific launch date has been confirmed at the moment. However, as we reported back in November 2019, it has already soft-launched in Canada and Australia.

Naturally, if you do opt to participate in the pre-registration campaign, you’ll earn some rewards when Magic: ManaStrike actually arrives. These include gold and gems (in-game and premium currencies, respectively), emotes, and player icons.

Recently, Netmarble has also published a video in which its own representative and that of Magic: The Gathering’s developer Wizards of the Coast talked about the upcoming collaboration between the two studios. Topics discussed included how the game came to be, how its development process was going, as well as some notable features that it’d offer. We have put the video right below for you to watch if you're interested in these kinds of stuff.

As mentioned, the gameplay is very similar to the likes of Clash of Clans, albeit instead of the usual top to bottom moves, you’ll be playing from left to right. There are 2 lanes that you will deploy various units down, with the goal being to destroy the opponent’s towers and eventually their base.

You’ll also be able to cast spells to have some more direct influence over the battle. Basically, it’s nothing you haven’t seen before, but if you are a fan of Magic: The Gathering and Clash of Clans, this certainly looks like a polished take on the genre.

Magic: ManaStrike currently available for pre-registration. At launch, it’s expected to be a free-to-play title with IAPs included.

Arknights is a tower defense game for mobile that probably not a lot of people around the world have heard about before, despite the fact that it is massively popular in China. Hopefully that’ll change soon as the game is now set to launch globally for both Android and iOS later this month on the 16^th of January.

You might be wondering what’s so special about this game that makes it so popular. We did at first as well. But then after watching some of Arknights’ trailers, we came to the conclusion that it’s most likely because the developer has invested a lot of effort into creating the game’s lore, which results in an incredible fantasy universe.

Just watch the two trailers we've included in this article and you will see what we’re talking about. They are the stuff that makes you think “Yeah, if they make an anime out of this, I’d totally watch that”. The production value in that respect is incredible, and the in-game menus are pretty slick as well. Sometimes these factors will make you forget you are playing a tower defense game.

That said, there are no towers in Arknights. Instead, you’ll be working with a sizable collection of Operators, which are basically anime-styled heroes. Gacha elements will probably be included for unlocking new Operators and powering up those you already have.

It also seems that you'll be dealt a fixed hand at the beginning of each level, which you'll have to strategically make use of if you want to come out on top. So, expect some deck-building elements here and be sure to create a balanced roster so you can deal with whatever situation the game throws at you.

Arknights set to launch on January 16^th on both Google Play and the App Store with pre-registration already available right now. It’ll be a free-to-play game with IAPs.

G.I. Joe: War on Cobra is an upcoming strategy game for mobile that features characters from the popular franchise. It is being developed by Emerald City Games, whose previous works include Lionheart: Dark Moon and Stormblades, and is expected to launch later this month for both Android and iOS. Check out its trailer below:

The trailer offers a glimpse into G.I. Joe: War On Cobra’s gameplay. It is a collection-based strategy game in which you'll protect your base or compete against other players in PvP matches. You'll have the choice of whether to join the G.I. Joe good guys or the Cobra Villains. From then on it’s all about equipping your squad and defending your land.

There will be plenty of heroes, villains, vehicles, and troops, to collect, with which you’ll take on an array of missions to obtain resources and additional rewards. Some of the heroes on offer include Duke, Snake Eyes, Scarlett, and Roadblock. Opposing them are iconic villains such as Cobra Commander, Storm Shadow, Baroness, and Destro. Vehicles, meanwhile, feature the Killer W.H.A.L.E., Piranha, V.A.M.P., Stinger, and more.

The fast-paced battles are said to require strategic deployments of units. Another primary focus of the game is defending your base, and you’ll have plenty of tools such as troop depots, deployable turrets, and sea mines at your disposal to do so.

G.I. Joe: War on Cobra is currently available for pre-registration on Google Play, and it is planned to launch globally for both Android and iOS on the 20^th of January. So far, not a lot of information about the game’s monetization model is mentioned, but it’ll likely be a free-to-play game. That means it will contain ads and in-app purchases will be present. How much those IAPs will cost remains to be seen.

We first reported on developer Nimble Neuron's RTS title MINImax Tinyverse back in June 2019 when it launched for iPad. Now, it won’t be long before iOS phone owners and even Android users can enjoy this acclaimed cartoon-themed game on their devices, as it is available for pre-registration right now on both Google Play and the App Store.

This full mobile release promises to deliver tons of new content that will improve the original experience in several neat ways. You can expect additional characters, more missions, extra achievements, more accessories and skins for champions, and even three brand new maps.

In case you missed our previous coverage on this one, MINImax Tinyverse is set inside a mysterious antique shop, which secretly contains a whole universe full of tiny cartoon characters. For centuries, the realm has been divided into 2 major factions who are constantly battling for domination, and now you’ll side with one of them to determine the courses of this endless struggle.

You'll choose your favorite Champion from a sizable collection of available options and lead them to glory by tactically ordering your units around the map. Additionally, you’ll also have access to a series of abilities with which you can directly manipulate the map and turn the tide of battle to your favor. For instance, you can put up walls to block the enemies’ advance or just simply destroy them with elemental spells.

Matches are fast-paced and intense, but strategic thinking will be essential if you want to outwit your rival and come out on top.

If you find the cutesy aesthetic and RTS gameplay of MINImax Tinyverse appealing, don’t hesitate to head over to Google Play or the App Store to pre-register for it right now. Needless to say, doing so will net you some cool in-game rewards when the game actually launches, such as gold, Champion Accessories, and Champion cards.

Developer Mobirix is now accepting pre-registrations for its upcoming mobile game Castle Defence King. This is a kind of tower defense game for mobile that will be available for both Android and iOS at launch. Check out its trailer below:

Judging from the trailer, this seems like a relatively straightforward tower defense experience in which your main task is to defend your castle walls from waves of incoming enemies that are intent on destroying its foundations. Naturally, you’ll have access to a wide variety of units to help fend off their attacks.

Prior to entering a stage, you'll have the option to reinforce both the walls and the units that you've picked to defend it. These troops include both melee and ranged units, with the latter consisting of archers and magic wielders.

As you can probably imagine, the ranged units will be positioned on top of the castle itself, while melee warriors will fight outside on the field. Reinforcing your tower will also boost the amount of damage your troops can deal to the enemies.

In addition to picking and combining various units, you can also have a more direct impact on the battle by choosing when to use your three spells. If done smartly, this can serve to turn the tides of battle to your favor.

The first one of these 3 spells is Repair Magic, which – as its name suggests – fixes your castle walls, restoring any damage your foes have done to it. The second, Magic Bomb, causes an explosion that devastates everything caught inside. And last but not least is the Ice Storm, which hinders the enemies’ advance.

Castle Defence is set to launch next week on the 8^th of January with pre-registration already available right now. It will be available on both Google Play and the App Store as a free-to-play game with IAPs.

Whenever strategy games are mentioned, people are more inclined to think of real-time titles such as StarCraft or Age of Empires. However, turn-based strategy games have also contributed a huge part to the genre as a whole.

What’s even more awesome is, the slower, more deliberate nature of these games makes them a perfect fit for touchscreen controls. Thus, over the years, we’ve had plenty of outstanding turn-based strategy games for mobile. Below we have summed up some of the best ones for you to have a look at.

Xenowerk Tactics (Android, iOS)

Xenowerk Tactics is a sequel to the twin-stick shooter title Xenowerk from Pixelbite and it aims to turn the series toward a different direction. It’s safe to say the game achieved that goal, as it’s an incredibly solid tactical strategy game.

Taking control of a corporate-owned Private Military force, you shall have to roll up your sleeves and prepare to do some cleanup duty as an experiment has gone horribly wrong, resulting in monsters running rampant all over the place.

The gameplay involves both base development and squad management, along with tactical battles that sometimes have a more arcade-like feeling to it rather than just pure strategy. All in all, though, it’s chaotic and satisfying. There is an intense tug-of-war going on between trying to achieve your objective and trying to preserve resources, especially your veteran units. Implementing strategies that put a strong focus on finding a way out first will soon become the norm, as Xenowerk Tactics can be a very challenging game if you let your guard down. All in all, it’s definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of the genre

Tharsis (iPad)

While it’s clear that Tharsis draws heavy inspiration from dice-based board games, it's still a turn-based strategy experience at heart. Here, you’ll be in charge of a team of astronauts en route to Mars. Unfortunately, everything's gone wrong at the last minute, and so now you have to try your best to manage your surviving team members, dwindling resources, and the damaged ship so that as many people as possible can make it to the final destination. The quest for survival is a grim one, however, and sometimes that might involve sacrificing someone to provide food for the others – yes, we are talking about cannibalism here. Didn’t I mention that it’s grim?

That grimness is magnificently brought to life by an excellent 3D engine, and the app runs smoothly without any issue – which it should, considering that it’s only available for iPads. Some people might be frustrated by the fact that you need to rely on dice rolls to get, well, anything done at all, but it does contribute to the tension and feeling dread as you pray with every roll that Lady Luck smiles upon you and nothing else goes wrong with your hastily-repaired spacecraft.

Egypt: Old Kingdom (Android, iOS)

Egypt: Old Kingdom is the second entry in developer Clarus Victoria’s ancient-Egypt-themed turn-based strategy series. The original game took place in the prehistoric era of the region, while this one, as its title suggests, focuses on the 'Old Kingdom' period, which lasted from around 2500 to 2100 BC. The capital of the country back then was the city of Memphis, and it is here that players must work bring the civilization to glory. As is common in these types of games, management is the key to success, and then you also have to try and assimilate other tribes into your own – by peaceful means or otherwise.

XCOM: Enemy Within (Android, iOS)

No list of the best mobile turn-based strategy titles would be complete without XCOM: Enemy Unknown, and if you are wondering why: It’s basically the gold standard for these types of games. In order to come out on top, you’ll need to make decisions concerning every aspect of the game, be it which units to train or what they should do in the heat of the battles.

In terms of story, the game follows a pretty standard setting with humanity being at risk and you are the only one with the power to save it. So minimalize casualties to your squad, complete the missions, and save the world one step at a time. The Enemy Within expansion offers plenty of additional content that serves to make the overall experience even better.

Farabel (Android, iOS)

Since there are tons of turn-based tactics titles out there with all sorts of themes and designs, it’s not a common sight to see a game that offers a truly intriguing and clever twist, and such a game would be an attestation to the highest levels of creativity from the side of the developer.

Farabel manages to achieve that feat by having you actually begin at the end. Basically, the story kicks off with you emerging victorious at the height of your power after a long war against the Orcs. To learn what exactly happened, though, you must travel backward in time.

After every level, you’ll go back a step further, which means your forces will actually become smaller and weaker as you progress. The main story boasts 13 scenarios in total, and aside from that, you can take on daily challenges or build your own army from scratch to participate in other special modes such as Survival. All in all, despite the somewhat hefty price of $8.99 (Rs 560), the value for money is excellent here.

Euclidean Skies (iOS)

Euclidean Land's sequel Euclidean Skies could also be classified as a puzzle game, but it possesses enough turn-based elements to earn a rightful place on this list. It is a significantly different game compared to its predecessor, which can be seen right from the visual designs. It is more aggressive and colorful, bringing the world to life in a rather unexpected but still fantastic way. The raw ambition oozing through the entire experience – while doesn’t always work – also serves to make it more compelling. Despite the fact that the game fails to retain some of the charms of Euclidean Land, it is still a must by for puzzle/strategy enthusiasts.

Real-time strategy is a genre that’s as old as video gaming itself. For decades, classic titles such as Age of Empires, StarCraft, or Command & Conquer have had huge impacts on the industry, and the genre’s combination of macro and micro-management has inspired many gamers.

With the rise of technology in the past couple of years, the mobile platform has also become home to several awesome RTS games, allowing players to engage in large scale battles wherever and whenever they want. So, let’s check out some of the best real-time strategy games available on Android & iOS:

Bad North (Android, iOS)

The very moment we first laid our eyes on Bad North, we instantly knew it’d make for a perfect fit for mobile. It took a detour, though, launching on PC first before finally making its way to mobile just a couple of months ago. The wait was definitely worth it, though. The PC version went through several adjustments and updates, eventually culminating in the 'Jotunn Edition' that took the experience to a new, more 'definitive' level.

That is what we now have on mobile, and we had a thoroughly great time with it. The game has a minimalistic visual design, which might be a turn off for some, but those who don’t care much about looks and just want raw tactical gameplay will find plenty of that here. And don’t let its simple graphics fool you, Bad North is really challenging – and quite rewarding too. It features roguelike elements where every unit you lose is gone forever, but you can unlock upgrades to help you in future runs. The setting, meanwhile, sees you nurturing and commanding an army to fend off vicious Viking raiders across a series of islands.

Rebel Inc. (Android, iOS)

Now, Rebel Inc. might not share the same slightly sadistic premise with its predecessor Plague Inc., but the excellent design is still there without a doubt. As the newly-appointed governor of a country that's been ravaged by a massive war, your task is to try to rebuild while also keeping local insurgents under control. It's filled with tough decisions and challenging gameplay as you use your tactical geniuses to squash enemy insurgents, preventing them from causing too much damage to your reign.

Reconstruction is not an easy concept to work with, especially considering that the game is inspired by somewhat controversial events in the real world, but developer Ndemic has put the utmost care and attention into this product, going so far as to seek consultant from actual professionals on the subject. The result is a challenging, tense, but highly rewarding experience, definitely one of the best RTS/simulation games of the year.

Dungeon Warfare 2 (Android ,iOS)

We were super eager to get our hands on Dungeon Warfare 2 last year, but unfortunately, the game missed its initially planned release date and slipped into 2019. Again, though, the delay was justified. Tower-defense is a genre that has always been prone to bland and designs, but Dungeon Warfare 2 manages to avoid all of that and turns everything up to eleven.

With more than 30 unique traps, this Dungeon Keeper-esque title offers tons of variety and complexity to complete what are still relatively straightforward tower-defense goals. It’s not something that can be described as completely unique, but it’s clearly something that its developer has put a lot of effort and passion into.

Element RTS (iOS)

Element is yet another port from PC that fits right at home on the mobile platform. It's streamlined and unique design makes it very accessible – your task is to find a balance between resource production and unit construction to either defend yourself from enemy attacks or go on the offense yourself. The matches are short, and the AI offers decent challenges, so there’s no shortage of fun to be had here.

There are a couple of things that draws it back from being a must-buy for RTS fans, though: There’s no multiplayer, and it’s not available for Android. Thankfully, the developer has said that it’s already been working on an Android version for a while now and is currently putting on the finishing touches to prepare for an official release.

Kingdom Rush: Vengeance (Android, iOS)

The latest addition to the critically acclaimed tower defense franchise Kingdom Rush has found itself at the center of many controversies since its release. Basically, your feeling toward this one depends entirely on how much you are bothered by its somewhat-too-persistent microtransactions. Don’t get me wrong, these IAPs are completely optional and are not P2W at all, they're just a little bit too pushy.

If you can look past that, you’ll find a truly stellar RTS experience underneath, one with tons of humor and content to keep you playing for hours on end (each stage can take as long as half an hour to finish). The way Vengeance handles its structures is pretty fairly unique as well, demanding more consideration and planning on the player’s part. All things considered, unless you microtransactions your absolute worst nemesis, this is an awesome game that you can pick up and enjoy right now. Check out our review for more information.

Auralux: Constellations (Android, iOS)

Auralux is wickedly simple yet brilliant at the same time. Glowing orbs zoom across the vast emptiness of space, battling for domination over planets, which in turn create more orbs for the player in control. Speaking of controls, they couldn’t get any more straightforward: Tap to select, then drag to assign, end of story. There’s only one type of ‘units’ – if you can call it that – and one goal: take control over the entire map. Based on these ideas, the developer of Auralux managed to create some pretty intense, nail-biting levels with overwhelming odds stacked against the players.

The ‘constellations’ here are just series of levels with a similar gimmick that must get a hold of in order to overcome. The game has not aged particularly well admittedly, but it shows how even the simplest of ideas can become a classic title if executed correctly. Another plus is the ability to adjust the in-game speed, which allows you to find the perfect pacing for your playstyle. Local multiplayer is the icing on the cake as well, but the main draw of Auralux is solo play.

Knights of Ages is a compelling strategy game with a medieval theme where you – as the destined hero – set out to restore peace to a war-torn kingdom. The game is an offering from developer Less Mainstream Games, and it's now available for Early Access on Android. Check out its trailer below:

From the look of things, it seems there’s plenty of content to sink your teeth into here. You'll begin by choosing a class from nearly 20 available options before delving into the extensive management systems and broad weapon/armor crafting. You'll have an army that you can deploy into battles to establish your influence over the kingdom.

The actual combat is turn-based and will reportedly be a strategically-demanding affair. You’ll be commanding your units to carry out different actions, replacing them with other types to adapt to the situation, and so on.  It appears diplomacy will play a factor here as well, allowing you to resolve conflicts by peaceful means and build alliances.

Every decision you make will directly affect the morale of your people, so it's vital to think about what kind of leader you want to become and plan your actions accordingly. If you can maintain a high morale level, your subordinates will gain some nice buffs. Vice versa, low morale will result in adverse outcomes.

Another interesting aspect worth mentioning is the marriage and lineage system. You'll be able to have children to continue your bloodline, who will inherit your kingdom after you’re gone.

An early access version of Knights of Ages is currently available on Google Play. While we haven’t had time to take it out on a spin yet, it definitely seems like a promising strategy title with lots of cool management elements involved. For more information on the game, visit its official Facebook page.

There are a lot of games that portray the harshness of the battlefields during World War II, but it's very rare to find a game to reimagine wars as funny and colorful as Total Tank Simulator. The developer Noobz from Poland is the one behind this special game, and the famous publisher 505 Games will take the responsibility to deliver the game to the public.

With the name of the indie developer, you probably understand why it's a game about tank now. In Total Tank Simulator, you will not only have to take the role of the high commander, giving orders to your army but also dive in the role of the front line tank driver to demolish the enemies' base as well. The history of World War II is waiting for you to rewrite!

To celebrate this event, 505 games does not only give us a free demo to try on Steam, but also released a new teaser to showcase some of its key gameplay features. You can see that teaser below:

A brief preview on Total Tank Simulator

Total Tank Simulator takes the historical settings of World War II, where you can take over the role of the highest commander of 6 factions: the United States, England, Germany, France, Poland, and Russia. Your main task in this game (in campaign mode, to be specific) is to lead your side to the final victory of the war of the century.

In detail, you'll have to carefully plan and set up important facilities like barracks, bunkers, airports or factories before each battle. They'll either work as structures to protect your territory, giving certain advantages to your army and also the target that your foes will aim at. So, to protect them and destroy others' bases, you must also develop and place tactical military forces with soldiers, weapons and machinery.

And then after finishing planning your troops and constructions, it's time to trigger the war. From that moment, you can jump into the perspective of any unit you want freely to experience the real danger of standing between the gunfires. The game features many kinds of soldiers - from the foot gunner to the sniper, from the tank driver to plane bomber. Whoever you want to control - just do it.

However, it's called Total Tank Simulator for a reason, and this reason is the realistic physics-based tank interaction. Tanks are very destructive, as it can release rains of fire toward enemies' troops, drop high-damage cannon onto their facilities, and ramp over their frontlines. It's not that close to the real-life tanks, but interesting enough for a simulation game.

Other key features

Even though Total Tank Simulator is indeed a simulator, it leans more on the strategic side. To be more specific, there are a lot of approaches you can choose with certain scenarios, as the environments in this game are destructible. For example, you can command your soldier and tanks to open a sneaky path toward enemies' base by chopping down trees or burn them to ashes.

The only thing that's not destroyable in this game is the solid rock (at least soldiers need the last place to take cover). Adding more fun to the tactical battles, the developer Noobz from Poland packs over 50 unique maps that change based on four seasons. Together with over 200 types of units, you can freely create your own solution toward each battle.

Send snipers to the roof of a building or send tanks to siege down enemies' based - it depends totally on your playstyle. If things go wrong, you can still take control over a soldier and try to fix it by your own hand.

Last but not least, Total Tank Simulator features several game modes for everyone to enjoy. You can rewrite the outcome of World War II via Campaign mode, or put your planning prowess to the test with the Sandbox Mode and create your most ridiculous army force ever. There is also a Shadow mode as well, in which you'll have to fight against your worst enemies - your own troops that you used to win the previous battle.

Release date

Total Tank Simulator doesn't have a specific release date yet, but the publisher 505 Games has announced that it will come out for PC soon in 2020.

The popular strategy game Clash of Clans from developer Supercell has just received a pretty big update adding plenty of new features. With this, players will have a new Town Hall, Hero, Troop, Siege Machine, and Defense to experiment around with. Check out the trailer below to see all the new stuff in action:

The new Town Hall is titled Town Hall 13 and it has a Dark Elixir Ice theme. Needless to say, you will get to upgrade it over time, and this new structure offers a bunch of additional content such as its signature defense. Named the “Giga Inferno”, it protects your headquarter with fire-based attacks. Moreover, if it does end up getting destroyed, it’ll literally go out with a bang, damaging everything caught in the explosion.

The update also sees several new units making their way to the game as well. The first of these is the Siege Barracks. Once put on the field, it’ll push out a small army to, you guessed it, lay siege to your opponent's outer walls. Meanwhile, the Scattershot, a catapult that launches shotgun-like projectiles, is another addition that’s intended to provide a countermeasure to the Siege Barracks.

Then there’s the new Troop: the Yeti, who walks around tearing down castle walls. This furry fella not only packs quite a punch, but it also has a bag on its back that contains Yetimites, which are smaller units that can jump straight over the walls to invade your opponent’s base.

And last but not least we have the Royal Champion, the first new addition to the Hero roster of Clash of Clans since 2015. She brings to the table her spear and her shield, the latter of which is capable of ricocheting off of several enemies once thrown.

If you have not tried Clash of Clans before, or if you are a veteran player who has fallen out and now wants to make a return, you can find it available on both Google Play and the App Store for free right now.

Terraforming Mars started out as a physical board game and recently got a digital version for PC. Now, it has also made its way over to Google Play and the App Store, allowing you to help humanity prosper on Mars anywhere, anytime you want with your Android/iOS device.

This mobile version comes as a courtesy of Asmodee Digital, whose name you might find familiar as it has been responsible for many other digital board game releases in the past such as Zombicide or Gloomhaven.  As always, the studio strives to recreate as faithful of an experience as possible, but the user interface has been redesigned to better fit the touchscreen.

In terms of the gameplay, Terraforming Mars is a turn-based strategy game where you place down several cards on the field every turn to achieve certain goals. These can range from getting a high Terraform rating to constructing infrastructures, and upon completing any of those things, you’ll get Victory Points. However, there will also be other corporations that will attempt to prevent you from achieving these goals. For example, they might put an asteroid into your new forest to destroy it.

Of course, you can do the same to them as well, so essentially the entire game boils down to finding a balance between trying to get Victory Points for yourself while at the same time hinder your opponents.

The game also offers several different modes with some alternate rulesets. For instance, the Corporate Era ruleset adds some new cards. While these don’t help with the terraforming or contribute to your Victory Points, they do offer more choices and thus more strategic depths.

You can choose against AI or up to 5 other players via online multiplayer and the game also supports cross-platform plays.

Terraforming Mars is currently up on both Google Play and the App Store as a premium app priced at £6.99 (Rs 650) and £8.99 (Rs 850) respectively.

We first reported on Might & Magic Heroes: Era of Chaos from Ubisoft earlier this month when it was put up for pre-registration on both Google Play and the App Store. Now, at long last, the game has officially launched. As you can probably expect from its title, the story of this one is set in the same universe as the legendary strategy game Heroes of Might & Magic. Meanwhile, in terms of gameplay, it strives to deliver a layered strategy experience that has been designed specifically with mobile in mind. Check out the game’s trailer below:

The basic draw here is that you’ll get to build a mighty army with many iconic characters from the Might & Magic franchise. Currently, Might & Magic Heroes: Era of Chaos offers 9 different modes to try out, and the combat will allegedly require you to analyze the battlefield thoroughly. You'll organize your units and tactically position them in advantageous locations on the field before the action actually kicks off.

Every unit type and hero belongs to a different faction, from humans to demons to undead. Naturally, understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each faction will be a crucial part of the game.

The single-player campaign sees you following Queen Catherine Ironfist on her quest to restore order to the fantasy kingdom of Erathia. Then there’s the Trial of Angels to challenge yourself with. This is a multi-floor arena of increasing difficulty, and the higher you can climb, the more rewards you’ll get.

For those who are into multiplayer, a guild system is available as well, allowing you to join forces with other players. If you want, you can join a Guild to participate in Guild Wars.

All things considered, Era of Chaos is looking like another solid offering from Ubisoft. You can get it right now for free from Google Play or the App Store to see what it has to offer.