- Best Military Strategy Games Mac 2020
- Empire Building Games For Mac
- Best Military Strategy Games Mac Download
- Best Military Strategy Games Mac Free
- Best Military Strategy Games Mac Os
- We round up the 140 best Mac games available right now, from real-time strategy and RPGs to racing, shooting games and puzzles, together with links to buy at the best price.
- Dec 19, 2021 We round up the 129 best Mac games available in July 2020, from real-time strategy and RPGs to racing, shooting games and puzzles, together with links to buy at the best price. All the strategy games people are searching for, Can be found on TheMacGames.Net with direct, fast and resume able download links for free.
- Jul 08, 2021 Not every military game has to be historically accurate to be worthy of your time. Iron Harvest is a real-time strategy set in an alternate 1920s, where the mechanization of World War One has evolved into a steampunk-esque arms race. Diesel-powered mechs intermingle with regular troops on the battlefield.
Both the original game and the expansion can be purchased for the PC and Mac via Blizzard's online portal, and in a Battle Chest retail box. This strategy game is rather new for the PC.
In a world where power brings you success and riches, there’s only a tiny group of people who ever get to experience such a thing. Thankfully, the gaming world has given us plenty of opportunities to gain our own power, found our own kingdoms and lead them to success thanks to some of the best empire building games ever created. Whether that be raising our civilization out of the stone age and into the modern era to conquering the world with an army of Huns, there are endless possibilities and a whole host of great empire building games to satisfy your conquesting itch.
What are the Best Empire Building Games to play in 2021?
10) Hearts of Iron IV
Hearts of Iron IV allows you to take control of any nation that existed in 1936 as you prepare for the inevitable second world war that is just around the corner. Players must build up their equipment stocks, improve infrastructure, build facilities and factories for your war effort as well as researching new weapons, armor, planes, and ships. At its heart (no pun intended), Hearts of Iron IV is a complex strategy game that allows you to change the course of history and ensure that your country is victorious.
Whether you want to play as Germany, the Soviet Union, Great Britain or any number of smaller nations including Romania or Hungary, the choice is yours. If you’re looking for an empire building game that takes place in more modern times, Hearts of Iron IV is for you.
Release Date: 2016
Price: £34.99
Want to buy Hearts of Iron IV? Click Here.
9) Civilization VI
Civilization is considered one of the best strategy franchises on PC and Civilization 6 takes the series to new heights improving on what was already a well-executed formula.
Rather than being an RTS, Civilization VI is a turn-based strategy game and allows you to choose from a number of different factions and cultures to begin your conquest with. As the ruler of your civilization, you must lead them from the start of human history into the space age. There are numerous ways to win the game, whether that be a technological, economic or diplomatic victory. Or you can conquer the world the good old fashion way by waging war.
Release Date: 2016
Price: £49.99
Want to buy Civilization VI?Click Here.
8) Veil of Crows
Veil of Crows takes place in a huge sandbox world as players begin their journey as an insignificant and powerless character. It’s a mix between a real-time strategy game and an RPG and it is your job to build an empire and conquer new land as you strive to become the most powerful ruler around. Players must also form armies where you can battle in real-time with fully destructible castles and walls with hundreds, if not thousands of troops fighting on screen all at once.
When players aren’t battling other lords, you can build up your settlements, trade with other kingdoms and raise a prosperous and stable empire.
Release Date: 2018
Price: £10.99
Want to buy Veil of Crows?Click Here.
7) Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare
Freeman: Guerrilla Warfare is a unique game as it combines a sandbox strategy game with a first-person shooter. You begin the game as the leader of your own faction and must go about conquering new cities while earning as much money as possible. What you do with that money is up to you, but you can use it to build your army or improve your settlements and cities as you look to conquer the world. Once you have an army, you can engage with the other factions or bandits. This is where the first-person shooter element comes into play as you take part in the battle yourself alongside your soldiers who you can also give orders to. Anyone familiar with the Mount & Blade series will feel comfortable with Freeman: Guerilla Warfare so if you’re looking for a similar experience but one that takes place in the modern era, this game is for you.
Release Date: 2018
Price: £11.39
Want to buy Freeman: Guerilla Warfare?Click Here.
6) Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord is the long-awaited sequel to Warband and has been well received by fans of the franchise since it release into Early Access earlier this year. The Mount & Blade series is popular for its empire building mechanics and real-time combat and Bannerlord improves and builds upon these features further by allowing players to create their very own medieval kingdom. In Bannerlord, players play as one single character in a vast sandbox world. From here, it is up to players to forge their own destiny, whether that be living life as a mercenary for hire, trying to become a vassal of a powerful lord or, if you so desire, forming your own kingdom by conquering land and building up your empire. Featuring more in-depth sieges, improved economic features, crafting and character management, Bannerlord is sure to be one of the best empire building games for a long time to come.
Release Date: March 2020
Price: N/A
Want to buy Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord? Click Here.
5) Stellaris
If you’re in the mood for conquering space and pitting your civilization against a host of different human and alien factions in one huge universe, then Stellaris is the game for you. Stellaris is one of the largest space strategy sandbox games that has been made and discovering new galaxies and civilizations forms a key aspect of Stellaris. Once discovered, it’s up to you to decide though how you handle the new species and factions you’ve come across. Players must grow their civilization both from within and in the outer reaches of the galaxy. Construct ships, build space stations, research new technology and control your population as you see fit. Will your empire be one of co-operation and freedom or will you opt to be an oppressive and brutal ruler who only cares about advancing their own empire? The choice truly is yours.
Release Date: 2016
Price: £34.99
Want to buy Stellaris?Click Here.
5) Imperator: Rome
Imperator: Rome is the latest game by Paradox Interactive who is known for creating some of the best empire building games currently available. In the game, you take control of a nation in the years following the collapse of Alexander the Great’s empire. From your small roots, you must expand and conquer as you build an empire strong enough to survive centuries of warfare and turmoil. Not only is Imperator: Rome a perfect example of a map-painter if ever there was one, but there’s also a lot to do when you’re not busy conquering your neighbours. The game has taken aspects from all of Paradox’s most popular games and while that has created a game that includes managing characters, populations as well as having an in-depth trading and resource management system, it has left Imperator: Rome feeling like it’s a jack of all trades but master of none. Still, don’t be put off by the reviews on Steam as there’s an enjoyable empire building game here and Paradox are already addressing fans concerns with the game.
Release Date: 2019
Price: £34.99
Want to buy Imperator: Rome?Click Here.
4) Total War: Attila
To be honest, any Total War game could have featured in this list although then it would have been a Total War list rather than giving other games a chance to shine. While no longer the latest entry in the Total War series, Attila arguably offers for the most variation when it comes to how you build and manage your empire. For those who are looking for stunning graphics and huge battles, Attila will quench your thirst for power and blood. Allowing players to conquer land and increase the power of their faction, Total War: Attila is one of the best empire building games money can buy.
Taking place during the collapse of the Roman Empire, Total War: Attila allows you to take control of a number of factions including the Western or Easter Roman Empires as well as the Huns themselves. You must guide your civilization through one of the most turbulent periods of human history in a battle for survival. No longer is your goal to conquer the world. Instead, it is a case of survival of the fittest. The weakest fall while the strong get stronger.
Attila introduces a whole range of new features including the option to become nomadic and travel across Europe, wreaking havoc as you go without a permanent home. Equally, your only means of survival may be to abandon your settlements and resettle in an entirely new part of Europe as you battle against the elements and other factions.
Release Date: 2015
Price: £29.99
Want to buy Total War: Attila?Click Here.
3) Total War: Three Kingdoms
Total War: Three Kingdoms is arguably one of the best games released in the Total War franchise to date. A big part of that is due to the game’s complexity and depth away from the battlefield which makes you really feel like your trying to build a thriving empire as you attempt to become the dominant force in 190CE China. The real-time strategy combat in Three Kingdoms is exactly what we’ve come to expect but it’s more fun than ever to build up your settlements as you manage the needs of your empire, whether that be ensuring there is enough food being supplied to keeping your citizens happy and under control. You’ll have to manage all aspects of your empire, ranging from the loyalty and satisfaction of your generals and government ministers to creating a strong and robust economy. Diplomacy and trade are also crucial elements and all help to create the feeling of being a true emperor.
Release Date: 2019
Price: £34.99
Want to buy Total War: Three Kingdoms?Click Here.
2) Crusader Kings III
Crusader Kings III combines RPG elements and RTS to provide a truly unique experience that makes it one of the best empire building games around. The game plays very similar to Europa Universalis IV, except in Crusader Kings III you must create your own character and attempt to make your dynasty as powerful and successful as possible.
If you have an interest in playing as a medieval lord or noble and gaining power and riches from your enemies while creating a dynasty which your heir will inherit, Crusader Kings III will be right up your street. Crusader Kings II also includes online competitive multiplayer where you can face off against 32 other players to establish your dominance across Europe and its borders.
Release Date: 2020
Price: £41.99
Want to buy Crusader Kings II?Click Here.
1) Europa Universalis IV
Europa Universalis IV is an empire building game that is hard to beat. If you really want to build an empire, there’s not really much better, other than our number one choice! If there is one game which is extremely in-depth, allows for a lot of customisation and gives you the chance to build your empire and attempt to rule the world, then it is Europa Universalis IV. The game is an RTS and allows you to pause the game and change the speed of time. EUIV is a very accurate and realistic simulation and with the huge range of expansions which have been released since its release, there are hundreds of hours to be had in this game.
You can choose to take control of one of the hundreds of empires available to you as well as having the option to create your own country and empire from scratch using the nation editor which came as part of the El Dorado expansion. The game starts in 1444 and plays out over the course of just under 500 years, although with basic modding these can be changed. Europa Universalis IV has it all from exploration, trade, diplomacy, and warfare to managing your own affairs within your country, improving the buildings in your regions and raising your armies.
Release Date: 2013
Price: £34.99
Want to buy Europa Universalis IV?Click Here.
Some links provided in this article are affiliate links to Fanatical where Gaming Respawn may receive a small percentage of any sales. Fanatical is an officially approved seller who is partnered with hundreds of developers and publishers to sell their games and are often able to offer discounts.
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We continue our list of the best games for Mac. The next category is:
Strategy games
Age Of Empires III
Company:Destineer
Where to buy:Steam (£29.99/$39.99), Amazon (boxed; from £33)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.4, Intel processor, graphics card with 128MB VRAM
Where to buy:Steam (£29.99/$39.99), Amazon (boxed; from £33)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.4, Intel processor, graphics card with 128MB VRAM
It's getting on a bit now, but Age Of Empires III is still a thoroughly enjoyable strategy game. It's set during the colonial era, and lets you control one of eight European nations, such as Britain or France, as they set out to colonise and control the newly discovered Americas. The 3D graphics are attractive and finely detailed, despite the game's age, and you can either work through the main single-player campaign or dip into its Skirmish mode for a quick fix every now and then.
Anomaly 2
Company:11-bit Studios
Where to buy:Steam (£11.49/$14.99), Green Man Gaming (£11.49/$14.99), Mac App Store (£14.99/$14.99)
System requirements: OS X 10.6 or later; 2.4GHz dual-core Intel processor
Where to buy:Steam (£11.49/$14.99), Green Man Gaming (£11.49/$14.99), Mac App Store (£14.99/$14.99)
System requirements: OS X 10.6 or later; 2.4GHz dual-core Intel processor
At first glance, Anomaly 2 looks like a conventional strategy game, as your squad of six armoured units advances across each map and attempts to defeat the mechanical alien towers in their path. But there are twists: the ability of your armoured vehicles to morph from one shape to another, for instance, or the fact that Anomaly 2 doesn't allow you to directly control units in the same way as a conventional strategy game. (All you can do is to set the path that your squad will follow and then leave them to blast everything in their sights while you use a number of 'abilities' to assist your squad and protect them from enemy attacks.)
For the money, Anomaly 2 is an affordable and enjoyable tower-attack game.
Battletech
Company:Harebrained Schemes
Where to buy: Green Man Gaming (£11.90/$13.60), Steam (£34.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.13.3, 3GHz Intel Core i5 processor, discrete graphics card with 2GB VRAM
Where to buy: Green Man Gaming (£11.90/$13.60), Steam (£34.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.13.3, 3GHz Intel Core i5 processor, discrete graphics card with 2GB VRAM
There haven't been many 'mech' games released for the Mac, so we were pleased to see the giant-robot action of BattleTech arriving on the Mac alongside the PC version of the game.
BattleTech isn't a fast-paced shooter, like the PC-only Titanfall, so you don't get to go stomping around inside your giant 'mech robot suit, crushing scenery and enemies galore. Instead, BattleTech offers a more tactical, turn-based approach to combat - a bit like the excellent X-Com, but with more giant robots.
Set in the year 3025, you start the game as bodyguard to Lady Arano, heir to the House Of Arano, which rules over a region of space known as the Aurigan Reach. Mankind doesn't seem to have progressed much in the future, so daily life is a constant battle between rival noble Houses spread around the galaxy. However, Lady Arano also has to deal with political in-fighting at home, so your job is to protect her against enemies on all sides. And, as the game progresses, you rise through the ranks until you can lead the Arano forces into full-scale battle with your crack team of stompy mech-warriors.
The game starts with a straightforward tutorial, that introduces the basic movement and combat controls for your personal mech. Like most strategy games, BattleTech gives you an overhead view of the terrain - depicted in detailed 3D graphics - and allows you to select your location or target with a simple click of the mouse. Your mech doesn't look particularly big or impressive in this mode, but once you've issued your commands the game switches into a more close-up view where you see your mech stomping - or dramatically jumping - towards your target and then firing your weapons.
These regular changes of viewpoint can be a bit disconcerting at first, and the methodical approach to combat can be a bit frustrating if you just want to let rip with your giant mech and smush your enemies into little blots on the landscape. However, the main single-player campaign provides plenty of tactical challenges for strategy fans, and there's an online Skirmish mode available that offers PvP combat for both teams and individual players.
The game's slick 3D graphics need a decent graphics card, though, so make sure to check out the recommended system requirements before buying.
Civilization: Beyond Earth
Company:Firaxis
Where to buy:Steam (£29.99/$39.99), Green Man Gaming (£29.99/$39.99), Mac App Store (£38.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite), 2.2GHz Intel processor, GeForce 640M or Radeon HD 5750
Where to buy:Steam (£29.99/$39.99), Green Man Gaming (£29.99/$39.99), Mac App Store (£38.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.10 (Yosemite), 2.2GHz Intel processor, GeForce 640M or Radeon HD 5750
The previous games in the Civilization series have all followed the same basic pattern, putting you in control of a group of primitive settlers who fight and trade their way to world domination before eventually developing rocket ships and advanced technologies that allow them to reach for the stars.
Beyond Earth, as its name implies, takes the next logical step. The Earth is a mess, so a group of colony ships are launched into space in order to find a new home for the human race. Each ship has a 'sponsor', which is the national group that built the ship, such as the Pan-Asian Cooperative, Brasilia or the African Union. These sponsors provide different advantages, such as super-efficient Pan-Asian workers, or the military strength of Brasilia.
The colonists on each ship can vary too, including different combinations of scientists, artists, refugees and wealthy aristocrats, with each group providing different benefits for your new colony. And, of course, your new home world will present its own challenges. Some worlds are quite Earth-like, with large land masses and continents, while others may consist of endless dry deserts, or small groups of islands scattered across a watery ocean world.
The basic mechanics of Beyond Earth will be familiar to anyone that has played previous Civ games, but the space colonisation theme gives the game a different feel and introduces new elements that will provide plenty of challenges for strategy fans.
If you enjoy it, the Rising Tide expansion pack adds new content to the game to keep you playing, but also introduces some new features that may change the way you play.
You can wave the flag for Great Britain by playing as the new North Sea Alliance. As the name implies, this UK-Scandinavian partnership has a strong naval tradition, and its ship-building skills will come in useful as Rising Tide also allows you to explore the seas and gather new resources, and even to build floating cities that you can move around each planet's oceans.
We'd recommend that you buy it on Steam rather than the App Store, as the Steam version includes a multi-player option as well as the basic single-player game.
Civilization V: Brave New World
Company:Aspyr
Where to buy:Steam (£19.99/$29.99), Green Man Gaming (£19.99/$29.99), Mac App Store (£28.99/$29.99)
System requirements: OS X 10.6.8 or later
Where to buy:Steam (£19.99/$29.99), Green Man Gaming (£19.99/$29.99), Mac App Store (£28.99/$29.99)
System requirements: OS X 10.6.8 or later
The Civilization strategy games' basic formula remains the same: you start with a bunch of cavemen and progress through history to create a civilisation that will rule the world. But the Civ series has long since passed the point where all you had to do was build up a big army. Civilization V beefed up the diplomacy elements and the Gods and Kings expansion pack added religion to the mix. Brave New World adds even more depth.
Best Military Strategy Games Mac 2020
There are nine new civilisations, including Portugal, Morocco, Brazil and the Zulus, but the real substance in Brave New World lies in the new cultural and ideological systems. The 'Culture Victory', for instance, is a new way of conquering the world, whereby nations can place musicians, writers and artists in key buildings, such as the Globe Theatre in London.
There's combat aplenty if that's how you like your strategy games, but the political, religious and cultural elements that it adds to the mix create a game in which you really can develop an entire civilisation, rather than just building up a big army.
Read our full Civilization V: Brave New World review.
Company Of Heroes 2
Company:Feral Interactive
Where to buy:Steam (£14.99/$19.99), Mac App Store (£38.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X 10.10.3, 1.8GHz processor, 4GB memory, 512MB video memory
Where to buy:Steam (£14.99/$19.99), Mac App Store (£38.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X 10.10.3, 1.8GHz processor, 4GB memory, 512MB video memory
It's a couple of years since Company Of Heroes 2 was released on the PC, but we've not had many good strategy games to play with on the Mac recently so this Mac version will be welcomed by many strategy fans.
The game shares the same World War II setting as the original Company Of Heroes, but shifts its focus away from the US troops - who, as we all know, won WWII all by themselves - and heads towards the Eastern Front. This time around you play a commander in the Soviet Red Army as you face a series of missions that range from the defence of Stalingrad to the final advance on Berlin.
Like most strategy games, Company Of Heroes 2 involves a balance between combat and resource management, so you'll need to make the occasional detour in order to capture additional weapons and fuel, as well as creating command structures to build tanks and other weapons. The environment also plays a big part in combat - especially the bitter Russian winter, which can actually freeze your troops to death if you're not careful.
The main single-player campaign is about 15 hours long, but there's also a Theatre Of War mode that allows you to command either Russian or German troops in a series of one-off battle scenarios. There's a multiplayer mode too, which allows you to play with up to seven other people.
If you're looking for a better online experience, take a look at The Western Front Armies DLC which is, in effect, the multiplayer mode for CoH 2.Unfortunately, the Mac version of the game will only allow you to play against other Mac users, so your choice of opponent may be a bit limited when you go online.
Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance Tactics
Company:En Masse Entertainment
Where to buy:Steam (£15.49/$19.99), GOG (£15.49/$20.19)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.14, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 1GB video memory
Where to buy:Steam (£15.49/$19.99), GOG (£15.49/$20.19)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.14, 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 1GB video memory
The new Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance has been a big hit on Netflix, and the simple good-versus-evil format of the Dark Crystal stories is perfect material for a video game. It's not surprising, then, that this Tactics offering has arrived to take advantage of the revival.
At first glance, it looks like a fairly conventional strategy game, in which the friendly Gelflings attempt to overthrow the evil Skeksis who have taken control of the world of Thra. However, Tactics leans towards a younger audience, so instead of filling the screen with great, bloody battles between rival armies, it puts you in control of just a few Gelfling characters at a time as they attempt to complete a series of missions. The game isn't too violent, either - the worst thing that can happen to your team is that they get knocked out - so you don't have to worry about younger children being traumatised.
The control system is nice and simple too, with each character taking turns to move into position and then choosing from a selection of combat abilities. But the game adds some variety by allowing your characters to learn a 'job' - similar to the classes in traditional RPGs. To keep things simple the game concentrates on three main jobs - soldiers who specialise in melee combat, scouts for ranged combat, and healers who can help you through some of the tougher battles. More experienced strategy gamers may not find Tactics very challenging, but the difficulty level feels just about right for younger players. The different jobs and skills ensure there's enough variety to keep things interesting, while the 3D graphics do a good job of capturing the visual style of the film and TV series.
Europa Universalis III: Chronicles
Company:Virtual Programming
Where to buy: Mac App Store (£9.99/$9.99)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.6.8, 1.4GHz Intel processor, graphics card with 512MB VRAM
Where to buy: Mac App Store (£9.99/$9.99)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.6.8, 1.4GHz Intel processor, graphics card with 512MB VRAM
Europa Universalis III combines diplomacy and strategy as you develop your own world-conquering empire. However, it focuses specifically on European affairs in the period 1399 to 1820, and allows you to play any of 250 different countries.
There's great attention to historical details, so you may find that you have to contend with religious intolerance among your population, or groups of rebels rising up against the ruling aristocracy. This edition includes both the original game and a number of expansion packs, including Napoleon's Ambition, in which you have to deal with the intentions of the diminutive French emperor.
FTL: Faster Than Light
Company:Subset Games
Where to buy: Steam (£6.99/$9.99)
System requirements: OS X 10.6.x or later; 1GB RAM; 128MB VRAM; 200MB HD space
Where to buy: Steam (£6.99/$9.99)
System requirements: OS X 10.6.x or later; 1GB RAM; 128MB VRAM; 200MB HD space
We've been hearing about the indie hit Faster Than Light (FTL for short) for a while, but didn't believe the hype until we tried it out for ourselves. The product of a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, FTL has you captaining a ship across the galaxy in a dangerous mission to (for once) save the Federation from the evil rebels.
Your space adventure is constantly on edge for a variety of reasons. The rebels are always hot on your heels, meaning you can never sit around for too long in a given galaxy. Friends and foes crowd your path to success. Fuel, weapons and upgrades are in short supply and must be managed in and out of combat. Every encounter has multiple solutions for you to choose from. What will you do if a heavy missile barrage shuts down your shields? Reroute all power to the engines in an attempt to escape, power up additional weapons to blow your enemy out of the sky, or take the fight to them with a boarding party?
FTL is all about replayability. Your first defeat will be bitter, perhaps even surprising as the game is unapologetically difficult in its random generation. But once you understand the mechanics at work, casual space-farers will be sucked in by the simple premise and seasoned star captains will dig the complex strategic options at your disposal.
Not content with their original success, the developers released an 'advanced edition' of the game for free, which included new ships to pilot, events, weapons and even music. For all your space exploration/adventure needs, look no farther than FTL.
Hard West
Company:Good Shepherd Entertainment
Where to buy:Steam (£1.49/$1.99), Green Man Gaming (£14.99/$19.99), Mac App Store (£19.99/$19.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.9, 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor, discrete graphics card with 256MB VRAM
Where to buy:Steam (£1.49/$1.99), Green Man Gaming (£14.99/$19.99), Mac App Store (£19.99/$19.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.9, 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor, discrete graphics card with 256MB VRAM
It's odd that there haven't been more games with a Wild West setting, as you'd think that the lawless days of gun-toting cowboys would be tailor-made for some trigger-happy shoot 'em up action. Hard West aims to put that right, casting you as a young frontiersman in a turn-based strategy game involving guns, gold and a hefty dose of otherworldly demons and devils.
There's a backstory, involving the death of your mother at the hands of bandits who mumble about doing deals with the devil. But, at the start of the game, you're simply trying to scratch a living by digging up a few clumps of gold so that you can buy some proper mining equipment and a few guns.
To be honest, this initial stage of the game is a bit dull - as is so often the case with resource management in strategy games - but the local bandits soon decide to get in on the action and you find yourself holed up in your homestead along with a few members of your posse as you try to fight off the bad guys.
This is the start of a series of eight campaign scenarios in which you can recruit new members for your posse and gain abilities, such as stealth or the ability to fire ricochet trick-shots, that add variety and skill to the gun-shooting action. The main storyline takes a while to really get going, but the stylish sepia-toned graphics and twangy, atmospheric soundtrack do a nice job of evoking the atmosphere of those old spaghetti western films.
Hearts Of Iron IV
Company:Paradox
Where to buy:Green Man Gaming (£14/$16), Steam (£34.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.10, 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, ATI Radeon 6970 or GeForce 750M
Where to buy:Green Man Gaming (£14/$16), Steam (£34.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.10, 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor, ATI Radeon 6970 or GeForce 750M
There have been plenty of World War II strategy games, but few are as wide-ranging in their scope as Hearts Of Iron IV.
The game stands out right from the start. As you'd expect, it allows you to take control of any of the major WWII powers, such as Britain, Germany, France or the United States. However, you can also stir things up by picking more distant countries that weren't historically involved in WWII, and this introduces a wild-card element that makes the outcome completely unpredictable.
You can also choose two different scenarios to set up your global conflict. The single-player campaign can start in September 1939, just as Germany is about to invade Poland. Alternatively, you can step back to 1936, before the battle lines had been drawn and before the various key alliances had been formed. This flexibility opens up all sorts of possibilities, allowing you to explore alternate outcomes that dramatically depart from actual history.
The battles are also fought on several different fronts. As well as simple military might, Hearts Of Iron IV allows you to conduct in-depth diplomacy, develop new technologies and weapons, and to enhance your 'national unity' to ensure that you have the support of your general population when the going gets tough.
The relatively simple overhead perspective graphics mean that Hearts Of Iron IV sometimes feels a bit like a board game, and it lacks the 3D action and mayhem of many modern strategy games. However, the freedom that the game gives you to explore different strategies and scenarios will provide a real challenge for hard-core strategy fans, and there's a 32-player online mode also available if you really want to test your skill.
Mushroom Wars 2
Company: Zillion Whales
Where to buy: Steam (£14.99/$14.99)
System requirements: macOS 10.10, 2GHz dual-core processor, nVidia 320M, Radeon HD 2400 or Intel HD 3000
Where to buy: Steam (£14.99/$14.99)
System requirements: macOS 10.10, 2GHz dual-core processor, nVidia 320M, Radeon HD 2400 or Intel HD 3000
Most strategy games are challenging affairs that require hours of commitment and some serious thinking as you attempt to juggle resource management, troop deployment, and researching new weapons and technologies that can give you an edge in battle. Those elements are still present in Mushroom Wars 2, but the game concentrates on making its RTS action a bit more fun by (a) filling the screen with armies of cute little mushrooms who talk like the Minions from Despicable Me, and (b) streamlining the battles so that you can get through each step of the main campaign fairly quickly.
It'd be a great introduction to strategy games for any parent that wanted to play with their kids, but there's still enough depth to challenge more advanced players who can enjoy the quick-fire battles that the game offers.
The game's setup is simple enough, simply pitting rival armies of mushrooms against each other in order to control the most territory. Each mushroom army can use three different types of buildings to enhance their strength. Villages produce little mushroom soldiers, and can be upgraded to increase their numbers more quickly. Towers provide ranged weapons that let you pick off enemies as they approach, while Forges allow you to develop new types of weapons. Each Mushroom army also has its own hero characters that can use special abilities, such as super-speed or invisibility, to turn the tide of battle.
There's a single-player campaign to get things started, as well as online multiplayer, and a custom mode that lets you play with friends either in small teams or in free-for-all battles where anything goes. And the game's cute 2D graphics means that it will run well even on older Macs too.
Shadow Tactics
Company:Daedelic Entertainment
Where to buy:Green Man Gaming (£11.90/$13.60), Steam (£34.99/$39.99), Mac App Store (£38.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.9, 3.0GHz dual-core Intel processor, discrete graphics card with 1GB VRAM
Where to buy:Green Man Gaming (£11.90/$13.60), Steam (£34.99/$39.99), Mac App Store (£38.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.9, 3.0GHz dual-core Intel processor, discrete graphics card with 1GB VRAM
The developers at Daedelic Entertainment describe Shadow Tactics as 'a cross-between Commandos and Assassin's Creed' - and that description alone was enough to get us firing up Steam to take a look.
Like Commandos, Shadow Tactics is essentially a tactical strategy game, in which you control a mixed team of agents, each with their own special abilities, as they undertake a series of missions. But the game gets its Assassin's Creed flavour from its emphasis on stealth and cunning - not to mention the fact that it's set in Japan's Edo period about 300 years ago.
So, instead of soldiers blasting their way to victory, your team in Shadow Tactics consists of a sneaky ninja called Hayato, who creeps through the shadows and picks off enemy guards with a precisely thrown Shuriken. Yuki is a young street kid who has a knack for setting traps and decoys, and if you need a bit of extra muscle you can call on Mugen, a sturdy samurai who takes care of the hand-to-hand combat.
Together, your team tackles a series of missions, such as tracking down enemies in a hidden forest camp, or climbing snowbound mountains to penetrate a remote monastery. Each mission is well paced and challenging, and each region or zone tends to be broken down into manageable sections so that you can dip into the game now and then without having to devote hours at a time. The game's graphics do require a fairly powerful Mac, but there's a demo that you can download so that you can try it out before buying the full game.
Sid Meier's Starships
Company:2K Games
Where to buy:Steam (£5.49/$7.49), Mac App Store (£9.99/$9.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X 10.9, 2.0GHz processor, 4GB memory, 256MB video memory
Where to buy:Steam (£5.49/$7.49), Mac App Store (£9.99/$9.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X 10.9, 2.0GHz processor, 4GB memory, 256MB video memory
Civilization: Beyond Earth took the long-running strategy game series into outer space at long last, but much of that game's action was still earth-bound, so to speak, taking place on the surface of the new worlds that were colonised by humanity's migrating hordes.
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Starships takes a different approach, firing up its thrusters and throwing you into the outer space action in command of an entire fleet of starships. The aim of the game is pretty straightforward - simple galactic domination, which is achieved by gaining control of 51% of the vast galaxy that the game lays before you. Each time you approach a new planet you're given a number of tasks to complete, which can range from simple escort missions to battles against alien marauders. You can also gain influence through trading and diplomacy, as well as cold, hard cash.
There are several types of spacecraft that you can use in your fleet, including fast-but-fragile fighters, and stealth ships with their own version of the Klingon Cloaking Device.
Some reviewers have criticised Starships as a fairly lightweight strategy game, and it's true that it doesn't have the depth of the Civ series, but it's still good fun and it's the sort of game that you can easily dip into every now and then without having to devote hours of planning and tactical analysis to it. Starships is an affordable option for strategy fans.
StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty
Company:Blizzard
Where to buy:Amazon UK (boxed; £7.43), Amazon US (boxed; $8.99)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.8, Intel Core 2 Duo, graphics card with 256MB VRAM
Where to buy:Amazon UK (boxed; £7.43), Amazon US (boxed; $8.99)
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.5.8, Intel Core 2 Duo, graphics card with 256MB VRAM
StarCraft was the best real-time strategy game ever made, which meant the sequel had a lot to live up to. And sure enough, this is a slick, first-rate, blockbuster production.
You play the role of freedom fighter Jim Raynor, who leads the forces of humanity into battle against the alien Zerg and Protoss. The main single-player campaign provides a variety of challenging missions, ranging from small raiding parties to large-scale battles with big stompy robots.
Two expansion packs, Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void, continue the story from the point of view of the Zerg and Protoss, so get ready to devote a lot of time to this game.
Total War Saga: Troy
Company:Feral Interactive
Where to buy:Epic Games Store (£34.99/$49.99). Will be available on Steam at some point in 2021
System requirements: macOS 10.15.6 or later, 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor, Radeon R9 M290 or Intel Iris 540
Where to buy:Epic Games Store (£34.99/$49.99). Will be available on Steam at some point in 2021
System requirements: macOS 10.15.6 or later, 2.0GHz Intel Core i5 processor, Radeon R9 M290 or Intel Iris 540
The latest instalment in the Total War series has something for everyone.
Focusing on the legendary Trojan War, the 20-year conflict between the kingdoms of Greece and Troy, the game provides the large-scale battles and strategic challenges that fans expect from the series. However, there are also elements of roleplaying, as you can take control of heroic leaders, such as the nimble but hot-tempered Achilles, who leads the fast-moving Myrmidon strike force, or the heavily armoured King Menelaus leading his troops in search of vengeance. You can also take command of both sides in the conflict, providing plenty of scope for replaying the game as you experiment with different heroes and playing styles.
Diplomacy plays a part too, with shifting alliances between various factions, and Civ-style empire building that allows you to curry favour with the gods of Greek mythology. Following the cult of Aphrodite will strengthen your diplomacy, and allow you to build alliances with other factions, or you can take a more direct approach by following Athena, who steadies the aim of your spear-chucking troops. There are even guest appearances from mythical figures such as the Minotaur and Cyclops to add a touch of fantasy, with additional DLC expansion packs adding new heroes and factions, such as the Amazon armies of Queen Hippolyta (although there's no word on any guest appearances by Wonder Woman - aka Princess Diana of Amazonia - which would be kind of cool).
For some reason, Troy is currently only available on the Epic games store. It's not available on the Mac App Store - although the game will be released on Steam later this year - so you'll need to sign up for a free account with Epic in order to buy the game. The good news is that it doesn't require a really powerful Mac to run the game but, like many recent releases, Troy only runs on Catalina or Big Sur.
Total War: Three Kingdoms
Company:Feral Interactive
Where to buy:Mac App Store (£48.99/$49.99), Steam (£44.99/$59.99)
System requirements: macOS 10.14.4, 2GHz Intel i5 processor, 2GB Nvidia 680MX, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better
Where to buy:Mac App Store (£48.99/$49.99), Steam (£44.99/$59.99)
System requirements: macOS 10.14.4, 2GHz Intel i5 processor, 2GB Nvidia 680MX, 2GB AMD R9 M290, 1.5GB Intel Iris Graphics 540 or better
After its recent detour into the future-fantasy of Warhammer, the Total War series of strategy games returns to its historical roots for Three Kingdoms. Set in China around the year 200AD, the game focuses on the mighty Han Empire that now faces collapse after ruling the country for almost 400 years.
The Emperor Xian has been kidnapped by his rival, Dong Zhuo, prompting all the warlords of China to start fighting amongst themselves to seize the throne. That somewhat chaotic state of affairs means that the game starts by giving you a choice of no less than 11 different factions that you can lead.
The Total War games have always been known for their large-scale battles, and Three Kingdoms makes the most of this era's epic confrontations to really go to town with its vast onscreen warfare. However, it also puts more of an emphasis on diplomacy than most games in the Total War series, allowing you to plot and scheme as the rival factions jostle for advantage. Each faction leader has a 'specialisation' that they can employ, such as the 'heroism' of Sun Jian, which helps him to recruit more fighters, or the diplomatic skills of Cao Cao.
All this adds up to a fairly complex strategy game, but Three Kingdoms includes a new in-game Advisor, which can offer advice tailored to your level of experience. And, as well as the main single-player campaign, there's a Battle mode, where you can fight individual battles taken from Chinese history in order to practice your strategy and skills. You can play online with friends (assuming they're on Mac too), and there's already been an expansion pack released called The Yellow Turban Rebellion that provides a new story and skills to master.
The game's system requirements are quite steep, though, so check the details on Steam to make sure your Mac can run the game before buying.
Total War: Warhammer II
Company:Creative Assembly/Feral Interactive
Where to buy:Steam (£39.99/$59.99)
System requirements: macOS 10.14, 2GHz Intel Core i5, Radeon R9 M290 or Intel Iris 540 with 2GB video memory
Where to buy:Steam (£39.99/$59.99)
System requirements: macOS 10.14, 2GHz Intel Core i5, Radeon R9 M290 or Intel Iris 540 with 2GB video memory
Total War: Warhammer was a match made in Orc-heaven, as it combined the fantasy warfare of the Warhammer series with the large-scale battles of the Total War strategy games. So it's no surprise that this follow-up offers more of the same, albeit with enough variety to make it worth coughing up the rather hefty £39.99/$59.99 on Steam. But you should check the game's system requirements first, as the battling armies of elves, lizardmen and rodent-like Skaven need a pretty powerful Mac to handle their demanding 3D graphics.
The story for the main single-player campaign is, to be honest, fairly trite fantasy fodder, with the game's four rival factions competing to control a great, swirling vortex of magical energy floating up in the sky. That's little more than an excuse to get the rival armies and heroes charging across the game's vast landscapes, but the main campaign is well constructed and gives you plenty of different options for getting stuck into endless hours of fantasy fisticuffs.
You can control any of the four rival races, and each race lets you choose between two Legendary Lords, who all have different storylines and starting locations, as well as their own special abilities that can be used to assist their troops in battle (and, if you're new to the Total War games, one Lord for each race also gives you a handy tutorial to get started). That gives you eight different options for playing and re-playing the game, and if you also own the original Total War: Warhammer then you get a free bonus campaign thrown in as well.
The game also includes a number of Battle modes that you can dip into for a quick fix every now and then, as well as a multiplayer mode.
Warhammer: Dawn Of War III
Company:Feral Interactive
Where to buy: Steam (£29.99/$39.99), Mac App Store (£38.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with macOS 10.12, including iMacs since late 2013, 15in MacBook Pro since 2012, 13in MacBook Pro since 2016
Where to buy: Steam (£29.99/$39.99), Mac App Store (£38.99/$39.99)
System requirements: Mac with macOS 10.12, including iMacs since late 2013, 15in MacBook Pro since 2012, 13in MacBook Pro since 2016
Most sequels offer 'more of the same', but this addition to the Warhammer series marks a shift of emphasis from Dawn Of War II.
Taking a more traditional strategy approach, Dawn Of War III starts off by simplifying things a bit. The game now focuses on just three main factions who are competing for galactic supremacy - the human Space Marines, green-skinned Orks, and the elf-like Eldar - and forgets about the rogue marines and other alien factions that you also had to contend with in the previous game.
The aim of the game is pretty simple too: a super-powerful mega-weapon has been discovered on the planet Acheron so, needless to say, all three armies set off across the galaxy, battling every step of the way to get hold of the device that will allow them to conquer their enemies.
There's more emphasis on building up armies for large-scale battles this time around, and you also get to command 'heroes' - giant figures who stride across the battlefield, laying waste to the enemies around them.
It's not all gung-ho combat, though. Dawn Of War III also puts more emphasis on resource management, and building barracks and other battle structures that provide back-up for your troops on the ground.
Further adding to the challenge is the fact that the missions in the single-player campaign require you to take control of all three factions at different times, so you have to learn the strengths and weaknesses of each faction, and the differing abilities and technologies that they can take into battle.
There are some good tutorials for newcomers, and once you've gotten to grips with the single-player campaign there's an online multiplayer mode available as well.
XCOM 2
Company:Feral Interactive
Where to buy:Steam (£8.74/$14.99), Mac App Store (£48.99/$49.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X 10.11.2, 2.4GHz dual-core processor, discrete graphics card with 1GB VRAM
Where to buy:Steam (£8.74/$14.99), Mac App Store (£48.99/$49.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X 10.11.2, 2.4GHz dual-core processor, discrete graphics card with 1GB VRAM
The good news is that XCOM 2 arrived on the Mac at the same time as the PC version. The bad news is that the aliens won at the end of XCOM: Enemy Unknown back in 2013. So now we jump forward 20 years and the Earth is ruled by Advent - a coalition of alien overlords and their human collaborators (boo, hiss) - so it's up to you to lead the human resistance movement and recruit a new XCOM team to wage a guerrilla war against the alien oppressors.
Like its predecessor, XCOM 2 is a turn-based strategy game that provides an overhead isometric view of the battlefield so that you can plan your team's moves as they approach their target. But the moment you pull the trigger the action switches to a close-up view - similar to a first person shooter - that gives it a more visceral feel than most conventional strategy games.
There are five soldier classes available to help you out, including Sharpshooters with their long-range sniper skills, and Grenadiers who just charge in and blow up everything in sight. There's also the Psi Operative, who adds a fantasy/sci-fi element with telepathic abilities such as Soulfire and mind-control. Each class also gets its own selection of different skills, giving you plenty of freedom to develop your team in a way that suits your combat style.
There are other resources available too. Your base is a captured alien ship called the Avenger, and between missions you need to give careful thought to developing the engineering, research and armoury facilities on the ship in order to provide new weapons and technology for your team. It's gripping stuff, and guaranteed to keep strategy fans glued to the screen for hours on end.
Zombie Night Terror
Company:Good Shepherd Entertainment
Where to buy:Steam (£9.99/$12.99), Green Man Gaming (£9.99/$12.99), Mac App Store (£12.99/$12.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.8, Intel Core i3 processor
Where to buy:Steam (£9.99/$12.99), Green Man Gaming (£9.99/$12.99), Mac App Store (£12.99/$12.99)
System requirements: Mac with OS X v10.8, Intel Core i3 processor
There are plenty of games that pit you against hordes of brain-eating zombies, but Zombie Night Terror turns the tables by putting you in command of an army of zombies and challenging you to wipe out the humans who are scattered across the game's 40 levels.
There's a strong retro feel to the game, as it plays out like a 2D sideways scroller with chunky pixelated graphics. That simple format is quite deceptive, though, as there's a lot going on within each level, and we often found ourselves replaying levels in order to complete all the challenges and rack up a better score.
Rather than controlling a single character, you start each level by contaminating a few humans with a drug called Romero (geddit?) that turns them into undead monsters. However, you only have a few doses of the drug available, so you have to figure out how to use them to maximum effect. Your zombies are also pretty dumb, and mostly just shamble backwards and forwards unless you figure out how to guide them up and down stairs and through doors and other obstacles.
As you progress through the game you also gain special zombie mutations that allow you to create more powerful zombies. Some mutations turn your zombies into walking time-bombs that explode messily and contaminate everyone around them, while others provide abilities such as crawling up walls, or turning into a powerful Zombie Overlord. It's good fun, and surprisingly challenging, and our only complaint is that the foul language used in the game won't be to everyone's taste - and will, of course, be completely unsuitable for younger players.
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Further reading
Best Military Strategy Games Mac Free
That's it! We're done. But if you want to read even more about your software options, why don't you check out our guide to the Best free Mac games? It's amazing what you can get without paying a penny.
Best Military Strategy Games Mac Os
On the hardware side, take a look at our Best Mac for gaming guide. Plus we have an in-depth look at using a M1 MacBook Pro as a gaming laptop.