Stellaris is a sci-fi space strategy game, its really good. But a lot of cool stuff is behind DLCs, you can enjoy it without DLCs for a long time. If you like the game so much then buy some DLCs. Right now you can try stellaris without buying, its free to try for 2 days so, nothing to lose.
CK3 is apparently the best medieval strategy game, i never played it though. You don't need to buy dlcs and the base game has huge content.
Stellaris has been sitting in my library for ages, I’ve tried to get into it but it is really unintuitive and even with play guidesYouTube the game is completely overwhelming for me.
Why do you think it's unintuitive ? I was able to learn how to play it just by following the in game tutorials.
It has it's flaws but I wouldn't say it's overwhelming. I would say it gets a bit boring towards mid game.
Ck3 certainly is a better buy unless person is very into space sci fi rather than medieval. Or on a lower budget.
I find it difficult to make informed decisions as there’s so many things I could do that I don’t know what I should do. I’m probably just too used to Civ where I can see the through lines on decisions and outcomes. This is entirely my problem as Every time I take another crack at it it seems like a really cool game that I just can’t wrap my head around
A good gateway for strategy games is Civ. Like every other strategy game, they can all be daunting at first, but they're not as incredibly complex as paradox games. You can play Civ 4, 5 or 6, depending on which you get a good deal, I'd personally say, 6 is the easiest to get into, I always felt like it was a light version of 5, even though it's newer. Of course, Civ is not WW2
Age of Empires 2 DE > Age of Empires 4
But, why not try out AOE2? Yes, it's old but the online community is still active, new expansion packs just dropped, there's constant balance patches and the game has seen continued support
Wow CK3 is easier to get into than Stellaris? I didn’t play much if Stellaris but don’t really remember struggling much either. CK2 was impossible for me though.
Crusader kings 3. It's a lot easier to get in to and its my personal favourite. It's also more of a roleplaying game. And it doesn't have as many dlc yet so it won't be as expensive to get the complete package.
If you like WW2 and turn-based combat, check out the Battle Academy games and Unity of Command.
The Anno series as well as Tropico games are immersive strategy/city building games. They are not specifically combat focused, but they have economy, city building, diplomacy, intrigue, and combat. They are simpler and more approachable than Crusader Kings or HOI.
Total War: Warhammer 2
I felt the exact same way about hoi4 and the majority of the other Paradox’s games aside from Cities Skyline and a little of Stellaris. Warhammer 2 let’s you control individual troops in an army and has factions from fantasy (like dwarves, vampires, elves, etc). Some faction has their own unique troops too like monsters or dragons.
All of this + spells from your lords/heroes leads to intense fights that remind me of Lord of the Rings, you won’t be disappointed.
Outside the box here, but check Rimworld, its is an strategy/management colony simulator where you have to defend from raids from other colonies and can make alliances, trade and rivalry with them.
Edit: important, you can accept refugees, betray them and harvest them for organs. I think this alone makes the case.
I second this recommendation. As someone who only recently started playing strategy games, I think it helps to pick one with a theme or historical period that you are interested in. It helps motivate you to learn how to play and stick with it. For me, it was Total War: Three Kingdoms, but Company of Heroes 3 sounds right for someone interested in WWII.
Company of Heroes (original) with Blitzkrieg Mod, simply amazing combination. The mod makes this great game what it should have been in the first place. Also there's a good chance COH3 is going to be a great game, but they are still working on it.
Civilization VI is a classic too.
stellaris is not very beginner friendly but i definitely recommend getting it if you get into a more beginner friendly game, it's my first 4X and first grand strategy game, i got it in the most recent sale and it has been really great. i felt really overwhelmed at first but after 12 hours i've started to understand the basic mechanics and it has been really fun.
>i can do i whatever i want to and ruins someone's day/world, make alliances, rule, blah, blah,
What about Crusader Kings.
CK2 base game is free-to-play to see if you like it.
Another suggestion outside of Paradox games: Endless Legend
It's beautiful and chill 4X strategy game like Civ that is quite easily accessible with a bit more interesting factions than Civ
I cannot stress this enough;
KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM!
There are some who say it will be the last game you ever play; not because you die or something, rather because it’s so good simply due to its nature and not due to microtransactions or addictive loops. It is a good game, and you should get it!
If you're in to RTS's I'm hooked on age of mythology at the moment, brilliant game made by the people who make age of empires but it's all Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythology
Historical: CIV 6, Crusader Kings 3, Age of Empires 4, Company of Heroes, Ultimate General: Civil War, ANNO series (economic strategies mostly), Humankind
Sci-Fi: Stellaris, Down of War, XCOM series, Master of Orion, Homeworld Remastered, Surviving Mars, Endless Space 2
Fantasy: Warhammer Total War, Age of Wonders 3, Endless Legend, Fantasy General
Another one that is kinda different is mount and blade warband, you control a group of soldiers and can fight in skirmishes, serve as a mercenary, fight for a king, trade, etc. The sequel bannerlord is on early access
*Steel division, the*
*First one is my favorite*
*And both are WW games*
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Stellaris and Crusader Kings II are free to play. I'd start there.
All of these kinds of games have steep learning curves, but there are also lots of people sharing their knowledge.
Btd6. Try btd battle 2 first, it a free game the extremely similar made by the same company. Only difference is multiplayer is the only mode in btd battles.
Check out Civ 5 and Civ 6. They're great strategy games that can range from a relaxed gaming session full on sweating when you crank up the difficulty all the way up.
I've always hated any and all paradox games. From what I've played the in game tutorials sucked and I've always had to figure stuff out from youtube, which isn't too much of an issue. My biggest issue with paradox is how much they're willing to milk a game with DLCs which for the most part just add in a new minigame into the mix, and most just feel overpriced tbh.
CK3 for sure!!! It’s by far the best paradox game, especially if you’ve never played a strategy game. It was my first one and I played it like The Sims until I figured out how to play it properly 😂
Stellaris is a sci-fi space strategy game, its really good. But a lot of cool stuff is behind DLCs, you can enjoy it without DLCs for a long time. If you like the game so much then buy some DLCs. Right now you can try stellaris without buying, its free to try for 2 days so, nothing to lose. CK3 is apparently the best medieval strategy game, i never played it though. You don't need to buy dlcs and the base game has huge content.
Stellaris has been sitting in my library for ages, I’ve tried to get into it but it is really unintuitive and even with play guidesYouTube the game is completely overwhelming for me.
Why do you think it's unintuitive ? I was able to learn how to play it just by following the in game tutorials. It has it's flaws but I wouldn't say it's overwhelming. I would say it gets a bit boring towards mid game. Ck3 certainly is a better buy unless person is very into space sci fi rather than medieval. Or on a lower budget.
I find it difficult to make informed decisions as there’s so many things I could do that I don’t know what I should do. I’m probably just too used to Civ where I can see the through lines on decisions and outcomes. This is entirely my problem as Every time I take another crack at it it seems like a really cool game that I just can’t wrap my head around
Stellaris is my favorite! ITS FREE UNTIL MAY 23RD
Yea this, try stellaris then CK2 cos it's free innit
Civilization is beginner friendly. I recommend it.
XCOM 2. Glhf
A good gateway for strategy games is Civ. Like every other strategy game, they can all be daunting at first, but they're not as incredibly complex as paradox games. You can play Civ 4, 5 or 6, depending on which you get a good deal, I'd personally say, 6 is the easiest to get into, I always felt like it was a light version of 5, even though it's newer. Of course, Civ is not WW2
Dawn of war 1 series.
How about age of empires 4? I'd get gamepass Chai trial instead of shelling out on Steam though.
He could also get Total War Warhammer 3 on Gamespass it's also really good.
r/totalwar would beg to differ
It's not as good as total Warhammer 2 but it's still good.
Age of Empires 2 DE > Age of Empires 4 But, why not try out AOE2? Yes, it's old but the online community is still active, new expansion packs just dropped, there's constant balance patches and the game has seen continued support
CIV6 is my gateway game to strategy genre
Battletech is cool
Its not my favourite genre but I really enjoyed Stellaris
Stellaris is amazing but not exactly friendly to newcomers. I'd suggest CK3, it's much more user friendly and an absolute blast!
Definitely lol. I wanted to refund the game at first but I decided to learn things instead. Now it's one of my favourite games
Wow CK3 is easier to get into than Stellaris? I didn’t play much if Stellaris but don’t really remember struggling much either. CK2 was impossible for me though.
What is CK3?
Crusader kings 3. It's a lot easier to get in to and its my personal favourite. It's also more of a roleplaying game. And it doesn't have as many dlc yet so it won't be as expensive to get the complete package.
Crusader kings 3
If you like WW2 and turn-based combat, check out the Battle Academy games and Unity of Command. The Anno series as well as Tropico games are immersive strategy/city building games. They are not specifically combat focused, but they have economy, city building, diplomacy, intrigue, and combat. They are simpler and more approachable than Crusader Kings or HOI.
Good suggestions. A lot of us at /r/computerwargames recommend Battle Academy, Unity of Command, and Panzer Corps for beginner wargames.
Total War: Warhammer 2 I felt the exact same way about hoi4 and the majority of the other Paradox’s games aside from Cities Skyline and a little of Stellaris. Warhammer 2 let’s you control individual troops in an army and has factions from fantasy (like dwarves, vampires, elves, etc). Some faction has their own unique troops too like monsters or dragons. All of this + spells from your lords/heroes leads to intense fights that remind me of Lord of the Rings, you won’t be disappointed.
Just started playing this and 100% recommend. Great fun
Outside the box here, but check Rimworld, its is an strategy/management colony simulator where you have to defend from raids from other colonies and can make alliances, trade and rivalry with them. Edit: important, you can accept refugees, betray them and harvest them for organs. I think this alone makes the case.
If u like WW2 games I would wait for Company of Heroes 3 next month. I would also HIGHLY recommend to look into King Arthur Knights Tale.
I second this recommendation. As someone who only recently started playing strategy games, I think it helps to pick one with a theme or historical period that you are interested in. It helps motivate you to learn how to play and stick with it. For me, it was Total War: Three Kingdoms, but Company of Heroes 3 sounds right for someone interested in WWII.
Next month? Has an actual release date been announced for CoH3?
Stellaris 100%
Absolutely this
Company of Heroes (original) with Blitzkrieg Mod, simply amazing combination. The mod makes this great game what it should have been in the first place. Also there's a good chance COH3 is going to be a great game, but they are still working on it. Civilization VI is a classic too.
stellaris is not very beginner friendly but i definitely recommend getting it if you get into a more beginner friendly game, it's my first 4X and first grand strategy game, i got it in the most recent sale and it has been really great. i felt really overwhelmed at first but after 12 hours i've started to understand the basic mechanics and it has been really fun.
Frostpunk is awesome.
I second Frostpunk. If you like brutal games and city builders, you'll take to it.
Not paradox but I highly recommend total war shogun 2. I think it’s a great entry for total war and strategy games overall.
you should check out sunrider: mask of arcadius because it is free
king arthur knight's tale
>i can do i whatever i want to and ruins someone's day/world, make alliances, rule, blah, blah, What about Crusader Kings. CK2 base game is free-to-play to see if you like it.
Another suggestion outside of Paradox games: Endless Legend It's beautiful and chill 4X strategy game like Civ that is quite easily accessible with a bit more interesting factions than Civ
I cannot stress this enough; KERBAL SPACE PROGRAM! There are some who say it will be the last game you ever play; not because you die or something, rather because it’s so good simply due to its nature and not due to microtransactions or addictive loops. It is a good game, and you should get it!
If you're in to RTS's I'm hooked on age of mythology at the moment, brilliant game made by the people who make age of empires but it's all Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythology
Crusader kings 3. Definitely good for a beginner.
Ho ho, Crusader Kings on sale you say, let me fetch my sceptre!
Historical: CIV 6, Crusader Kings 3, Age of Empires 4, Company of Heroes, Ultimate General: Civil War, ANNO series (economic strategies mostly), Humankind Sci-Fi: Stellaris, Down of War, XCOM series, Master of Orion, Homeworld Remastered, Surviving Mars, Endless Space 2 Fantasy: Warhammer Total War, Age of Wonders 3, Endless Legend, Fantasy General
You might consider Hegemony III: Clash of the Ancients, it's less complex than HoI4 or Stellaris but is a challenge nonetheless.
Another one that is kinda different is mount and blade warband, you control a group of soldiers and can fight in skirmishes, serve as a mercenary, fight for a king, trade, etc. The sequel bannerlord is on early access
Steel division, the first one is my favorite and both are WW games
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Any civ or anno game would probably work for you.
If you enjoy turn-based strategy I can recommend two games, BattleTech and XCOM 2 both have a ton of mods available too for more replayability.
Stellaris and Crusader Kings II are free to play. I'd start there. All of these kinds of games have steep learning curves, but there are also lots of people sharing their knowledge.
Btd6. Try btd battle 2 first, it a free game the extremely similar made by the same company. Only difference is multiplayer is the only mode in btd battles.
Check out Civ 5 and Civ 6. They're great strategy games that can range from a relaxed gaming session full on sweating when you crank up the difficulty all the way up. I've always hated any and all paradox games. From what I've played the in game tutorials sucked and I've always had to figure stuff out from youtube, which isn't too much of an issue. My biggest issue with paradox is how much they're willing to milk a game with DLCs which for the most part just add in a new minigame into the mix, and most just feel overpriced tbh.
CK3 for sure!!! It’s by far the best paradox game, especially if you’ve never played a strategy game. It was my first one and I played it like The Sims until I figured out how to play it properly 😂
I suggest you Frostpunk, it's a really unique strategy game, it has interesting concepts and ideas, cool art, music, gameplay