Turn-based strategy games focus on thoughtful decisions instead of quick reactions. Players take turns choosing actions, planning moves, and dealing with the results of earlier choices. This genre has been popular on PC for years because it works well with complex systems, detailed controls, and long gaming sessions.
- This guide highlights the best turn-based strategy games ever released on PC, no matter when they came out. These games stand out for their tactics, long-term planning, and strategy, and they stay popular because their main features never get old.
What Is a Turn-Based Strategy Game?
In turn-based strategy games, players and opponents take turns instead of acting at the same time. This setup lets players think through each situation before making a move. Things like fighting, moving, researching, and managing resources all happen one step at a time. In most turn-based strategy games, the main goal is to outsmart your opponents with better planning, not faster moves. Depending on the game, you might win by conquering others, building a strong economy, advancing technology, or reaching special goals.
Civilization V and Civilization VI
The Civilization series is one of the best-known turn-based strategy games on PC. In these games, you lead a civilization from ancient times and guide it through thousands of years of history. On each turn, you manage cities, move armies, handle diplomacy, research new technologies, and develop your culture. The way you win depends on the victory type you choose, like conquering others, leading in science, dominating culture, or being a top diplomat. Civilization games are all about planning ahead. Choices you make early on can affect what happens many turns later, so these games really test your strategy skills.
XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2
XCOM focuses on small-scale, squad-based combat combined with a strategic management layer. The player leads an elite military organization tasked with defending Earth from an alien threat. During combat missions, the player controls a squad of soldiers on a grid map, taking turns to move, attack, and use special skills. Outside of battles, you handle research, expand your base, train soldiers, and manage global defense. An invasion, but success depends on managing limited resources and keeping soldiers alive. Losing experienced units has lasting consequences, making every decision feel significant.
Heroes of Might and Magic III
Heroes of Might and Magic III combines turn-based exploration, city-building, and tactical battles. You control heroes who explore a fantasy world, collect resources, build armies, and take over towns. Each turn, your heroes can move around the map, visit different places, and fight enemies. When a battle starts, the action moves to a special battlefield where units take turns. Usually, your goal is to beat all other factions on the map, but how you win can change based on the map and the faction you pick. You get stronger by building up your armies and making your heroes better as you play.
Into the Breach
Into the Breach is a turn-based tactics game with short, puzzle-like battles. You control a small team of mech pilots who protect cities from huge alien monsters. Each fight happens on a small grid, and you can see what the enemies will do before your turn. Your goal isn’t always to defeat enemies; sometimes you need to protect buildings or move threats away. This game is more about solving problems than wearing down enemies. To win, you need to understand how positioning, movement, and your actions affect the outcome, not just how much damage you do.
BattleTech
In BattleTech, you run a mercenary company that pilots giant combat mechs. The main gameplay is turn-based battles, where factors like where you stand, how you face your armor, your weapons, and your heat level all make a difference. When you’re not fighting, you manage your money, fix damaged mechs, hire new pilots, and pick which jobs to take. Your main goal is to keep your company running while taking on tougher missions. Progress in BattleTech is slow and careful. If you don’t plan well, you can lose things for good, which makes every decision important.
Jagged Alliance 2
Jagged Alliance 2 is a tactical turn-based game focused on small team battles and realistic details. You hire mercenaries with unique skills and personalities to free a made-up country, one area at a time. Fights happen on detailed maps where things like sight lines, noise, weapon range, and terrain really matter. Each mercenary takes their turn one at a time, so you have full control over their moves and actions. Your big goal is to defeat the occupying forces, but to win, you also need to manage your money, keep morale up, and build a strong team throughout the campaign.
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon mixes turn-based battles with managing your team and dealing with stress. You recruit heroes and send them into dangerous dungeons full of monsters and traps. Fights happen in turns, but what really stands out is the stress system. Your characters can develop mental problems that change how they act, and sometimes they won’t do what you want. Your goal is to clear the land of corruption, but the game is more about survival than perfection. Sometimes you’ll need to retreat, lose characters, or accept failure as part of the journey.
Endless Legend
Endless Legend is a turn-based 4X strategy game set in a fantasy world. You pick a faction and spread across a randomly generated map, building cities, researching new tech, and dealing with diplomacy or war. Each faction has its own special rules that change how you play and interact with the world. Battles take place on tactical maps, where the placement of your units and which ones you use are important. Your main goal is to reach one of several victory conditions, but the real challenge is adjusting your strategy to fit your faction’s strengths and weaknesses.
Disgaea 5
Disgaea 5 is a turn-based tactical RPG that focuses on leveling up your characters a lot. Battles happen on grid maps where you and your enemies take turns moving and attacking. The main goal is to finish story missions, but most of the fun comes from leveling up your characters, finding new gear, and exploring deep upgrade systems. The numbers can get huge, so you’re encouraged to experiment and optimize over time. Disgaea is great for players who like complex systems and endless ways to improve, rather than games that focus on perfect balance.
Wasteland 3
Wasteland 3 combines turn-based tactical battles with role-playing and story choices. You lead a squad through a post-apocalyptic world, and your decisions shape the story and how different groups view you. In battles, you need to use cover, smart positioning, and team skills. When you’re not fighting, your choices in conversations and moral decisions affect how the world responds to you. Your main goal is to survive and gain influence in a harsh world, with multiple endings based on your choices.
Why Turn-Based Strategy Games Work Best on PC
Turn-based strategy games thrive on PC because the platform supports complexity. Detailed interfaces, mouse precision, modding tools, and long play sessions allow these games to reach a level of depth that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. If you like games that make you think, plan ahead, and deal with real consequences, turn-based strategy is one of the most satisfying genres on PC. These games last because their goals are clear, their systems are deep, and their challenges treat players with respect.
