The Ultimate Guide to the Top Grid-Based Strategy Games You Can't Miss!

Players have the opportunity to test their luck and strategic abilities in various ways when participating in strategy games. Over the years, these games have evolved and incorporated different mechanics to enable players to plan their strategies for different situations. One enduring mechanic commonly found in strategy games is the utilization of a grid, which serves as a visual representation for the movement of players and their adversaries.

This grid can be comprised of squares, hexagons, or various types of terrain, yet the fundamental process of transitioning between them remains consistent. With a multitude of outstanding games produced throughout the years, it is indisputable that grid-based strategy games stand as the pinnacle.

8 Endless Legend

Endless Legend is a classic 4X Turn-based strategy game that allows players to forge their own legend as they strive to protect their homeworld of Augria. In addition to its enchanting theme, the game requires players to strategically develop their civilization by constructing various structures like industry, farms, science centers, and residential buildings, all meticulously positioned on a hexagon grid.

7 Tales & Tactics

Tales & Tactics is an early access game on Steam that has the potential to become an outstanding auto battler. Its simple premise makes it easy for players to construct strategies. Similar to Endless Legend, the battles in this game take place on a hexagon grid, but it has more of a board game feel rather than a large map on land. Before the intense battle commences, players must carefully choose their units and decide where to position them on the board. As the game master narrates, players create their own story through the units they select, experiencing what could be the greatest strategy of their lives.

6 Hearts Of Iron 4

Released in 2016, Hearts of Iron 4 continues to attract players even after seven years. This military game offers a captivating strategy experience, enticing players to immerse themselves for countless hours. With the freedom to command any nation during World War 2, players can lead their armies to glorious victories through intense and strategic combat.

Players are left to navigate through the different countries involved in World War 2, each divided into smaller sections that they must traverse. While it may not be immediately recognizable as a grid, this setup allows players to strategically move across these sections in their quest to defeat the enemy and ultimately triumph in the war.

5 XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is another military strategy game with a remarkable grid-based movement system. Unlike Hearts of Iron 4, this game transports players to a futuristic world where aliens have taken control, rather than depicting real wars.

In this game, players take command of a select group of highly skilled soldiers and embark on missions to defeat aliens, gather important data, or rescue hostages. The missions themselves unfold on maps of different sizes, all requiring strategic maneuvering across a grid. When positioned correctly, players can launch attacks in the hopes of outsmarting their adversaries.

4 Triangle Strategy

Although the maps possess significant levels of detail, players are constrained by a square grid that limits their movement options to horizontal or diagonal paths when engaging enemies. This aspect of Triangle Strategy evokes nostalgia for the older Fire Emblem games, fostering a sense of familiarity and enhancing the overall gaming experience.

3 The Banner Saga 3

The Banner Saga franchise is renowned for being one of the top grid-based strategy games. Throughout the years, it has consistently impressed players, with The Banner Saga 3 standing out as the crown jewel.

As the epic conclusion to this Viking saga, it comes as no surprise that Stoic spared no expense when crafting the intense strategy combat that players engage in during every competitive moment. Despite the game's beautifully illustrated world, the battles remain captivating on a straightforward square grid, occasionally featuring objects. With all these factors in play, passing up on The Banner Saga 3 would be a mistake for any player.

2 Invisible Inc

Strategy games encompass a wide range of themes and activities, so not all of them revolve around active warfare or intense battlefields. Take, for example, the game Invisible Inc, where players are encouraged to employ stealthy tactics when tackling their challenges.

1 Sid Meier's Civilization 6

In Invisible Inc, players navigate a square grid to evade detection from their targets while controlling a team of spies. Their mission involves infiltrating major corporations to either eliminate specific individuals or secure valuable information. The element of unpredictability is introduced through the randomly generated world, ensuring that each map and its corresponding grid present unique challenges.

Without surprise, Civilization 6 stands out as the ultimate strategy game among all grid-based strategy games. Impressively, every installment in the Civilization franchise has consistently captivated players, and this trend persists with the sixth installment.

In Civilization 6, players construct their diverse settlements on a hexagon grid, with crucial consideration for the surrounding environment. As players gradually expand their grid, incorporating essential resources into their Empire becomes imperative.