while a lot of gamers like to play as an undefeatable army of one others prefer
undefeatable army of one others prefer
undefeatable army of one others prefer to make like Julius Caesar and vini vidi
to make like Julius Caesar and vini vidi
to make like Julius Caesar and vini vidi vici
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top
be counting down our picks for the top 10 historical strategy games for this
10 historical strategy games for this
10 historical strategy games for this list we’ll be looking at games to let
list we’ll be looking at games to let
list we’ll be looking at games to let you unleash your inner napoleon as you
you unleash your inner napoleon as you
you unleash your inner napoleon as you spent dozens of hours conquering the
spent dozens of hours conquering the
spent dozens of hours conquering the world one puny city-state at a time
world one puny city-state at a time
world one puny city-state at a time this sadly precludes games with
this sadly precludes games with
this sadly precludes games with fantastical elements but what these
fantastical elements but what these
fantastical elements but what these games lack in magic and monsters they
games lack in magic and monsters they
games lack in magic and monsters they make up for in devotion to historically
make up for in devotion to historically
make up for in devotion to historically accurate mayhem number 10 castles to
accurate mayhem number 10 castles to
accurate mayhem number 10 castles to siege and conquest
siege and conquest
siege and conquest [Music]
[Music]
[Music] coming up for max way way back in 1992
coming up for max way way back in 1992
coming up for max way way back in 1992 castles to siege and conquest is the
castles to siege and conquest is the
castles to siege and conquest is the oldest entry on our list but it’s
oldest entry on our list but it’s
oldest entry on our list but it’s surprisingly refined gameplay has aged
surprisingly refined gameplay has aged
surprisingly refined gameplay has aged like a fine wine the battle is about to
like a fine wine the battle is about to
like a fine wine the battle is about to begin your majesty
begin your majesty
begin your majesty a message has arrived from your
a message has arrived from your
a message has arrived from your commander castles to was highly robust
commander castles to was highly robust
commander castles to was highly robust for its era as it let players take
for its era as it let players take
for its era as it let players take control of one of five factions during
control of one of five factions during
control of one of five factions during the Hundred Years War and use diplomacy
the Hundred Years War and use diplomacy
the Hundred Years War and use diplomacy economics and warfare to support their
economics and warfare to support their
economics and warfare to support their bid for kingship true to its name the
bid for kingship true to its name the
bid for kingship true to its name the game features customizable castles that
game features customizable castles that
game features customizable castles that will keep your land safe from peasant
will keep your land safe from peasant
will keep your land safe from peasant revolts as well as invading armies the
revolts as well as invading armies the
revolts as well as invading armies the old adage is not true here the bigger
old adage is not true here the bigger
old adage is not true here the bigger they are the less you had to worry about
they are the less you had to worry about
they are the less you had to worry about them falling for many years I have
them falling for many years I have
them falling for many years I have refined these skills now I wish to offer
refined these skills now I wish to offer
refined these skills now I wish to offer my services to you number 9 battle
my services to you number 9 battle
my services to you number 9 battle stations Pacific what’s your mission
stations Pacific what’s your mission
stations Pacific what’s your mission Bomber
Bomber
Bomber we got cargo to deliver the medicine
we got cargo to deliver the medicine
we got cargo to deliver the medicine Uncle Sam prescribed for the enemy the
Uncle Sam prescribed for the enemy the
Uncle Sam prescribed for the enemy the sequel to 2007 battle stations Midway
sequel to 2007 battle stations Midway
sequel to 2007 battle stations Midway Pacific allows you to take control of
Pacific allows you to take control of
Pacific allows you to take control of and switch between warships submarines
and switch between warships submarines
and switch between warships submarines and fighter planes in massive sea
and fighter planes in massive sea
and fighter planes in massive sea battles as the American and Japanese
battles as the American and Japanese
battles as the American and Japanese Navy’s battle for control of the Pacific
Navy’s battle for control of the Pacific
Navy’s battle for control of the Pacific Ocean while its predecessors
Ocean while its predecessors
Ocean while its predecessors single-player campaign focused on the
single-player campaign focused on the
single-player campaign focused on the American war effort
American war effort
American war effort Pacific switches things over to the
Pacific switches things over to the
Pacific switches things over to the Japanese side of things and even lets
Japanese side of things and even lets
Japanese side of things and even lets you take command at the attack of Pearl
you take command at the attack of Pearl
you take command at the attack of Pearl Harbor if committing one of the greatest
Harbor if committing one of the greatest
Harbor if committing one of the greatest tragedies to ever occur on American soil
tragedies to ever occur on American soil
tragedies to ever occur on American soil makes you uncomfortable Pacific also
makes you uncomfortable Pacific also
makes you uncomfortable Pacific also features eight person multiplayer
features eight person multiplayer
features eight person multiplayer matches where you can decimate your
matches where you can decimate your
matches where you can decimate your friends in more than 100 historically
friends in more than 100 historically
friends in more than 100 historically accurate vehicles number 8 you wrote by
accurate vehicles number 8 you wrote by
accurate vehicles number 8 you wrote by Universalis for
Universalis for
Universalis for [Music]
[Music]
[Music] one of the deepest grand strategy games
one of the deepest grand strategy games
one of the deepest grand strategy games out there
out there
out there EU makes it look like clash of clans
EU makes it look like clash of clans
EU makes it look like clash of clans whether you want to rule the world with
whether you want to rule the world with
whether you want to rule the world with your crushing military might shrewd
your crushing military might shrewd
your crushing military might shrewd diplomacy or economic acumen the u4
diplomacy or economic acumen the u4
diplomacy or economic acumen the u4 gives you the tools to make any path to
gives you the tools to make any path to
gives you the tools to make any path to victory the right one also unlike the
victory the right one also unlike the
victory the right one also unlike the Civilization series in u4 takes place in
Civilization series in u4 takes place in
Civilization series in u4 takes place in real time so if you’re the time that
real time so if you’re the time that
real time so if you’re the time that likes to take your sweet time admiring
likes to take your sweet time admiring
likes to take your sweet time admiring the vast Dominion of your realm you
the vast Dominion of your realm you
the vast Dominion of your realm you might want a hotkey the pause button
might want a hotkey the pause button
might want a hotkey the pause button while complex the game is much more
while complex the game is much more
while complex the game is much more inviting than its predecessors with
inviting than its predecessors with
inviting than its predecessors with small design decisions that will let you
small design decisions that will let you
small design decisions that will let you tweak every aspect of your Empire
tweak every aspect of your Empire
tweak every aspect of your Empire without getting bogged down in too many
without getting bogged down in too many
without getting bogged down in too many menus
one of the precursors to the RTS genre
one of the precursors to the RTS genre that blew up in the 90s boards of the
that blew up in the 90s boards of the
that blew up in the 90s boards of the realm is a turn-based strategy game
realm is a turn-based strategy game
realm is a turn-based strategy game where you build your kingdom on a
where you build your kingdom on a
where you build your kingdom on a campaign map before leading your blurry
campaign map before leading your blurry
campaign map before leading your blurry 8-bit knights into real-time battles
in many ways it resembles a very
in many ways it resembles a very primitive total war game right down to
primitive total war game right down to
primitive total war game right down to the random events that will cripple your
the random events that will cripple your
the random events that will cripple your food supply and leave your poor starving
food supply and leave your poor starving
food supply and leave your poor starving peasants twisting in the wind the game
peasants twisting in the wind the game
peasants twisting in the wind the game spawned numerous expansion packs and
spawned numerous expansion packs and
spawned numerous expansion packs and sequels though there hasn’t been a new
sequels though there hasn’t been a new
sequels though there hasn’t been a new one since 2004 or throughout three
one since 2004 or throughout three
one since 2004 or throughout three [Music]
[Music]
[Music] number six Crusader Kings to
if there’s one thing that Game of
if there’s one thing that Game of Thrones has taught us it’s that
Thrones has taught us it’s that
Thrones has taught us it’s that destroying your enemies with guile and
destroying your enemies with guile and
destroying your enemies with guile and manipulation can be just as satisfying
manipulation can be just as satisfying
manipulation can be just as satisfying as running them through with a sword
as running them through with a sword
as running them through with a sword Crusader Kings 2 is a 4x game from
Crusader Kings 2 is a 4x game from
Crusader Kings 2 is a 4x game from Paradox Interactive that lets you
Paradox Interactive that lets you
Paradox Interactive that lets you unleash your inner lannister as you
unleash your inner lannister as you
unleash your inner lannister as you guide the destiny of a medieval dynasty
guide the destiny of a medieval dynasty
guide the destiny of a medieval dynasty using treachery assassination and even
using treachery assassination and even
using treachery assassination and even diplomacy to become the most powerful
diplomacy to become the most powerful
diplomacy to become the most powerful family in the realm
however before you can get around to
however before you can get around to poisoning Nobles and seducing siblings
poisoning Nobles and seducing siblings
poisoning Nobles and seducing siblings for the sake of political advancement
for the sake of political advancement
for the sake of political advancement you have to make it oversee k2s
you have to make it oversee k2s
you have to make it oversee k2s punishing difficulty curve and
punishing difficulty curve and
punishing difficulty curve and impenetrable menus but if you’re willing
impenetrable menus but if you’re willing
impenetrable menus but if you’re willing to put in the work no other game makes
to put in the work no other game makes
to put in the work no other game makes it feel so good to be so bad
most real-time strategy games tend to
most real-time strategy games tend to focus on a specific period in history
focus on a specific period in history
focus on a specific period in history such as the Middle Ages or the ancient
such as the Middle Ages or the ancient
such as the Middle Ages or the ancient world where rise of nation differs
world where rise of nation differs
world where rise of nation differs however is that it lets you build it out
however is that it lets you build it out
however is that it lets you build it out in every era you can imagine all in the
in every era you can imagine all in the
in every era you can imagine all in the same match in rise if you don’t eat up
same match in rise if you don’t eat up
same match in rise if you don’t eat up territory or advanced technologically
territory or advanced technologically
territory or advanced technologically fast enough you can find yourself trying
fast enough you can find yourself trying
fast enough you can find yourself trying to use Spears and arrows against tanks
to use Spears and arrows against tanks
to use Spears and arrows against tanks and biplanes created by game designer
and biplanes created by game designer
and biplanes created by game designer Brian Reynolds who had previously worked
Brian Reynolds who had previously worked
Brian Reynolds who had previously worked on the Civ series Rhys has a lot more
on the Civ series Rhys has a lot more
on the Civ series Rhys has a lot more depth in its economy and diplomacy
depth in its economy and diplomacy
depth in its economy and diplomacy systems than other RTS is at the time
systems than other RTS is at the time
systems than other RTS is at the time including a focus on expanding your
including a focus on expanding your
including a focus on expanding your borders so your units don’t take
borders so your units don’t take
borders so your units don’t take attrition on enemy soil
number four company of heroes while
number four company of heroes while there are plenty of first-person
there are plenty of first-person
there are plenty of first-person shooters that let you get into the grit
shooters that let you get into the grit
shooters that let you get into the grit and mayhem of World War two there are
and mayhem of World War two there are
and mayhem of World War two there are significantly fewer games that let you
significantly fewer games that let you
significantly fewer games that let you take control of the action from a
take control of the action from a
take control of the action from a top-down perspective and belt out orders
top-down perspective and belt out orders
top-down perspective and belt out orders like General Patton but that’s okay
like General Patton but that’s okay
like General Patton but that’s okay because we have the company of hero
because we have the company of hero
because we have the company of hero series to help us get our fix of type
series to help us get our fix of type
series to help us get our fix of type tactical combat and historically
tactical combat and historically
tactical combat and historically accurate World War 2 era strategy in
accurate World War 2 era strategy in
accurate World War 2 era strategy in addition to taking control of infantry
addition to taking control of infantry
addition to taking control of infantry battalions and tank divisions Company of
battalions and tank divisions Company of
battalions and tank divisions Company of Heroes also lets players call in
Heroes also lets players call in
Heroes also lets players call in airstrikes lay down artillery
airstrikes lay down artillery
airstrikes lay down artillery bombardment and capture strategic points
bombardment and capture strategic points
bombardment and capture strategic points like machine gun placements and AAA guns
like machine gun placements and AAA guns
like machine gun placements and AAA guns enemy unit dead number 3
enemy unit dead number 3
enemy unit dead number 3 row total war ah Rome
row total war ah Rome
row total war ah Rome home of the Vatican the Colosseum and
home of the Vatican the Colosseum and
home of the Vatican the Colosseum and birthplace of one of history’s single
birthplace of one of history’s single
birthplace of one of history’s single most successful empires in rome total
most successful empires in rome total
most successful empires in rome total war the third game in d total war
war the third game in d total war
war the third game in d total war franchise players got the chance to take
franchise players got the chance to take
franchise players got the chance to take control of one of the Republic’s feuding
control of one of the Republic’s feuding
control of one of the Republic’s feuding families and leave their indefatigable
families and leave their indefatigable
families and leave their indefatigable legions to glory against barbarians
legions to glory against barbarians
legions to glory against barbarians Carthaginians Greeks and anyone else
Carthaginians Greeks and anyone else
Carthaginians Greeks and anyone else fool enough to question the might of
fool enough to question the might of
fool enough to question the might of Rome the young Hannibal Baca
Rome the young Hannibal Baca
Rome the young Hannibal Baca general of the mighty Carthaginian sets
general of the mighty Carthaginian sets
general of the mighty Carthaginian sets out to destroy the Romans alternatively
out to destroy the Romans alternatively
out to destroy the Romans alternatively you could choose to take control of one
you could choose to take control of one
you could choose to take control of one of those unique barbarian weak or near
of those unique barbarian weak or near
of those unique barbarian weak or near Eastern factions and make the Eternal
Eastern factions and make the Eternal
Eastern factions and make the Eternal City a footnote in world history if his
City a footnote in world history if his
City a footnote in world history if his cavalry charge too soon they’ll be
cavalry charge too soon they’ll be
cavalry charge too soon they’ll be isolated and cut down by the Roman
isolated and cut down by the Roman
isolated and cut down by the Roman infantry number two Age of Empires to
infantry number two Age of Empires to
infantry number two Age of Empires to the Age of Kings the second game in the
the Age of Kings the second game in the
the Age of Kings the second game in the beloved age of empire series AOE 2 Age
beloved age of empire series AOE 2 Age
beloved age of empire series AOE 2 Age of Kings flash things forward a few
of Kings flash things forward a few
of Kings flash things forward a few hundred years from the originals Bronze
hundred years from the originals Bronze
hundred years from the originals Bronze Age setting to medieval times featuring
Age setting to medieval times featuring
Age setting to medieval times featuring a plethora of new units from around the
a plethora of new units from around the
a plethora of new units from around the world including mounted Knights Aztec
world including mounted Knights Aztec
world including mounted Knights Aztec jaguar warriors and even katana wielding
jaguar warriors and even katana wielding
jaguar warriors and even katana wielding samurai each faction had a unique flavor
samurai each faction had a unique flavor
samurai each faction had a unique flavor that made for some spectacular
that made for some spectacular
that made for some spectacular engagements in the field of Honor
engagements in the field of Honor
engagements in the field of Honor a OE to also had a wide variety in its
a OE to also had a wide variety in its
a OE to also had a wide variety in its single-player campaigns that let you
single-player campaigns that let you
single-player campaigns that let you follow in the footsteps of famous
follow in the footsteps of famous
follow in the footsteps of famous historical figures like Joan of Arc and
historical figures like Joan of Arc and
historical figures like Joan of Arc and Genghis Khan even to less well-known
Genghis Khan even to less well-known
Genghis Khan even to less well-known warriors like El Cid and Frederick
warriors like El Cid and Frederick
warriors like El Cid and Frederick Barbarossa kept the tutorial even let
Barbarossa kept the tutorial even let
Barbarossa kept the tutorial even let you play as Braveheart himself William
you play as Braveheart himself William
you play as Braveheart himself William Wallace as Longshanks tends his
Wallace as Longshanks tends his
Wallace as Longshanks tends his attention to scuttling the shadow of
attention to scuttling the shadow of
attention to scuttling the shadow of fear settles across the Heinie’s before
fear settles across the Heinie’s before
fear settles across the Heinie’s before we turn back time to our top pick here a
we turn back time to our top pick here a
we turn back time to our top pick here a few honorable mentions
few honorable mentions
few honorable mentions [Music]
number one civilization 5 cocaine will
number one civilization 5 cocaine will you answer the call can you build a
you answer the call can you build a
you answer the call can you build a civilization that will stand the test of
civilization that will stand the test of
civilization that will stand the test of time sid meier’s civilization game
time sid meier’s civilization game
time sid meier’s civilization game pioneered the Forex Jarrah by giving
pioneered the Forex Jarrah by giving
pioneered the Forex Jarrah by giving players options to win beyond just
players options to win beyond just
players options to win beyond just crushing their opposition voyage to a
crushing their opposition voyage to a
crushing their opposition voyage to a brave new world explore expand exploit
brave new world explore expand exploit
brave new world explore expand exploit or yes exterminate as you see fit with
or yes exterminate as you see fit with
or yes exterminate as you see fit with your choice of civilization and leader
your choice of civilization and leader
your choice of civilization and leader while sip 4 was one of the deepest games
while sip 4 was one of the deepest games
while sip 4 was one of the deepest games in the series 5 both simplifies and
in the series 5 both simplifies and
in the series 5 both simplifies and innovates the formula pioneered by its
innovates the formula pioneered by its
innovates the formula pioneered by its predecessors to create one of the most
predecessors to create one of the most
predecessors to create one of the most refined strategy experiences ever made
refined strategy experiences ever made
refined strategy experiences ever made and their story is not given only on
and their story is not given only on
and their story is not given only on stone over there clay but abides
stone over there clay but abides
stone over there clay but abides everywhere it even changed the ground a
everywhere it even changed the ground a
everywhere it even changed the ground a series stood on by replacing the
series stood on by replacing the
series stood on by replacing the traditional square grid with a hexagonal
traditional square grid with a hexagonal
traditional square grid with a hexagonal one with a total of 43 civilizations if
one with a total of 43 civilizations if
one with a total of 43 civilizations if you include the ones from dlc and
you include the ones from dlc and
you include the ones from dlc and expansion packs few games can offer as
expansion packs few games can offer as
expansion packs few games can offer as much choice flexibility and fun as
much choice flexibility and fun as
much choice flexibility and fun as civilization 5 thousands of years ago
civilization 5 thousands of years ago
civilization 5 thousands of years ago they created the great monuments which
they created the great monuments which
they created the great monuments which still stand tall and proud do you agree
still stand tall and proud do you agree
still stand tall and proud do you agree with our list did we miss your favorite
with our list did we miss your favorite
with our list did we miss your favorite armchair general simulator your lamp
armchair general simulator your lamp
armchair general simulator your lamp would be remembered as long as the stars
would be remembered as long as the stars
would be remembered as long as the stars burn
burn
burn in the night sky for more awesome top
in the night sky for more awesome top
in the night sky for more awesome top 10s published every day be sure to
10s published every day be sure to
10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com assure us of
subscribe to watchmojo.com assure us of
subscribe to watchmojo.com assure us of your continued goodwill with a generous
your continued goodwill with a generous
your continued goodwill with a generous offer of to go
offer of to go
offer of to go [Music]
”
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