The Most Bizarre Strategy Games Ever Created

Highlights

Men of War: Assault Squad 2 allows players to not only control squads in traditional RTS fashion but also take direct control of units, adding dynamic gameplay.

Line War provides players with a distinct strategy experience by offering macro-management gameplay. It enables players to strategically deploy defensive lines and command troops throughout the entire map.

Silica seamlessly merges the genres of first-person shooter (FPS) and real-time strategy (RTS) gameplay. Players have the flexibility to switch seamlessly between directing structures and commanding troops in real-time, even during battles with low player counts or when playing solo.

The genre of strategy games is highly saturated in the gaming industry, consistently gaining more popularity since the rise of real-time strategy (RTS) games in the 1990s, particularly among PC gamers. Consequently, it can be challenging to discover strategy games that offer something distinct, whether it be in terms of gameplay mechanics, storytelling, or visual aesthetics.

This compilation encompasses a wide range of games, both recent releases and older titles, ranging from turn-based indie strategy games with rogue-like elements to unique combinations of third-person shooters and RTS gameplay. Moreover, all of these games are readily accessible on the Steam platform, making them easy to locate.

10 Men Of War: Assault Squad 2

This WW2 game offers a traditional RTS gameplay reminiscent of Company Of Heroes, with a dark ambiance and intense battles. What sets Men Of War apart is its unique gameplay feature that allows players to not only give orders to their squads in a typical RTS manner but also take direct control of individual units.

This means that if players encounter a challenging group of enemies, they have the option to assume control of a soldier, maneuver them through the battlefield, and eliminate the threat by throwing a grenade. This adds an extra layer of dynamism to the gameplay, requiring players to strategically decide when it is advantageous to take direct control and when it is preferable to command from a distance.

9 Line War

This unique strategy game prioritizes macro-management rather than micromanagement, making it more accessible to players while still maintaining a strong strategic element. Players will devise long-term strategies, establish defensive lines, and command troops across the map in sweeping maneuvers.

Line War showcases a simplistic yet visually clear art style and features RTS gameplay reminiscent of certain 4X games. It offers a refreshing experience in a saturated genre by allowing players to draw defensive lines and create troop routes on the map, rather than maneuvering units individually. This simple control mechanic completely transforms the game, providing a truly distinctive experience.

8 Silica

Silica stands out as an immersive multiplayer game that seamlessly blends FPS and RTS genres. Players engage in intense large-scale battles across a distant planet, with up to three factions vying for control, including a native alien race. The game offers a thrilling combination of vehicular combat and FPS gameplay. What sets Silica apart is the option for players to assume the role of a commander, employing traditional RTS mechanics to strategically build structures and issue real-time orders. This unique feature allows for solo play and accommodates low player counts, thanks to the inclusion of AI.

7 Frozen Synapse

The unique visuals of this game are both minimalistic and user-friendly, a crucial aspect in Frozen Synapse where understanding one's position is vital for success. The game is peculiar as it combines real-time and turn-based elements: players strategically plan the movements of their diverse units (comprising of different types) during their turn, mapping out their strategy for the upcoming five seconds of combat.

Once both players have finalized their actions, their turns are executed simultaneously, transforming Frozen Synapse into a psychological duel where players strive to predict their opponent's subsequent move.

6 Valkyria Chronicles

Valkyria Chronicles is a unique and captivating game that blends turn-based tactics and third-person shooters. Set in an evocative alternate history in the 1930s, the game features a stunning watercolor art style and a compelling JRPG-style narrative. With a diverse array of characters, players can control individual units, engaging in battles where they can move and attack in a third-person perspective. This innovative gameplay style combines action-packed moments with strategic decision-making, offering an exhilarating and tactical gaming experience.

5 Particle Fleet: Emergence

Despite its simplistic visuals and stark color palette, this unique physics-based RTS game offers a surprising and intriguing experience. Combining ship designing and fleet command, Particle Fleet: Emergence stands out as one of the strangest and most captivating RTS games available on Steam.

In this game, players have the opportunity to design ships and construct fleets, leading them in large-scale top-down battles against an ever-growing swarm of particles. The real-time physics simulation adds an extra layer of excitement to the intense gameplay. Alongside its intuitive ship design system, Particle Fleet also boasts solid RTS mechanics that further enhance the overall experience.

4 Darwinia

Introversion Software, the creators of Prison Architect, originally launched this game in 2005. It showcases abstract, polygonal 3D graphics and a peculiar narrative surrounding a computer virus in a meticulously simulated 3D universe.

Even today, Darwinia's distinctive and slightly unsettling visuals remain captivating due to their striking stylized appearance. The game's user-friendly real-time strategy controls enable effortless commanding and exploration of the battlefield. Additionally, Darwinia incorporates gameplay mechanics reminiscent of Lemmings, offering a distinctive challenge and setting it apart from other strategy games.

3 Perimeter

This RTS game from 2004 is often overlooked, but it offers an intriguing science fiction storyline and impressive graphics for its time. However, Perimeter's most standout feature is its exceptional terraforming mechanics.

In Perimeter, players have the ability to temporarily transform their units to navigate different types of terrain, reshape the environment using terrain-consuming drones, and activate energy-draining "perimeters" that serve as formidable shields against enemy attacks. These groundbreaking mechanics combine to create an entirely unparalleled strategic experience that sets Perimeter apart from traditional RTS games. It is a unique entry in the strategy gaming history that definitely warrants closer examination.

2 Creeper World 3: Arc Eternal

This strategy simulation game is part of the popular Creeper World series and is widely considered one of the best. What sets Creeper World apart from other strategy games is its unique premise: instead of battling an evil army, players must confront a constantly evolving mass of simulated particles that threaten to dominate the entire map.

In Creeper World 3, players must construct structures, defenses, and units to hold off the relentless cosmic creep, gradually strengthening their forces until they can eliminate the source of the threat. The game's standout feature is its combination of base building, defense, and real-time strategy mechanics, making it a standout in its genre.

1 Brutal Orchestra

Brutal Orchestra is a turn-based rogue-like strategy game that stands out not only for its strange and grotesque narrative and theme, but also for its unique mechanics. With unnerving characters and visuals, it grabs attention regardless of its gameplay.

Taking place in Purgatory and featuring surreal 2D sprites in a 3D environment, Brutal Orchestra puts players in charge of recruiting and managing their party members, handling resources, and battling horrifying creatures in strategic turn-based combat. The game offers a wide range of options for building your party, and it effectively communicates enemy attacks, similar to popular games like Slay The Spire and Into The Breach, ensuring that the challenging gameplay remains engaging rather than frustrating.