As I said in my previous article highlighting upcoming indie and AA games, the strategy genre is so packed with exciting titles in 2019 that I had to split my list in two, so here’s that promised second half.
If you are sick of strategy games then don’t worry, next time we’ll be moving on to games that require quick reflexes as I highlight some of the platformers and Metroidvanias coming out this year.
Here’s 12 more strategy games to get excited about in 2019:
Foundation
Developer: Polymorph Games
Platforms: Windows PC
Foundation is an upcoming medieval city building game. As the newly appointed lord of a plot of land in rural Europe, its your goal to construct a sprawling, thriving city that will last throughout the ages. The game is due to release sometime in Q1 2019.
Imperator: Rome
Publisher: Paradox Interactive
Developer: Paradox Development Studio
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, Linux
Imperator: Rome is the next big historical grand strategy game by Paradox. The game’s timeline will start with Alexander’s successor states, and will continue well into the final days of the Roman Empire. No concrete release date has been announced.
Spellforce 3: Soul Harvest
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Grimlore Games
Platforms: Windows PC
Spellforce 3 returns with Soul Harvest, a standalone expansion set 3 years after the events of the base game. Soul Harvest will revamp some of the game’s mechanics, as well as add the Dwarves and Dark Elves as playable factions, with a new campaign that focuses on a war between these two newcomers. The game is set to release sometime in the first half of 2019.
Desperados III
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Developer: Mimimi Productions
Platforms: Windows PC, PS4, Xbox One
Another strategy game coming to us this year from THQ Nordic is Desperados III, a new installment in the classic character-focused real-time tactics franchise set in the Wild West. Control a group of five unique heroes and heroines as you sneak, stab, and shoot your way through gangs of enemies. The game is due out in Summer 2019.
Fae Tactics
Publisher: Humble Bundle
Developer: Endlessfluff Games
Platforms: Windows PC
Fae Tactics is an upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics-style strategy RPG created by the same developers behind Legend of Fae, and it’s set in the same universe. Guide Peony and her band of allies through a magical world where the conflict between humanity and the magical fae has escalated to new heights. Fae Tactics is due out sometime within the next few months.
Crossroads Inn
Publisher: Klabater
Developer: Kraken Unleashed
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, Linux
In Crossroads Inn, you play as the manager of a tavern for travelers and adventurers in the fantasy realm of Delcrys. The game will offer a full story-driven campaign, challenge scenarios, and a sandbox mode. No release date has been announced yet.
Crying Suns
Developer: Alt Shift
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac
Crying Suns is a narrative-focused roguelite strategy game set after the collapse of humanity’s grand interstellar empire. As the remaining admiral of the empire, its your job to lead your fleet to safety through a hostile, dying galaxy. The game is set to release in early 2019.
Lord of Rigel
Publisher: Iceberg Interactive
Developer: Rhombus Studios
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, Linux
Lord of Rigel is a sci-fi 4X that seeks to recapture the magic of the original Master of Orion. Forge an intergalactic empire as one of 10 races, and decide the fate of the elder races and the minor factions that populate the galaxy. No set release date has been established yet.
Flotsam
Publisher: Kongregate
Developer: Pajama Llama Games
Platform: Windows PC
Flotsam is a city-building game set in a vibrant post-apocalyptic world where the planet has been turned into a vast ocean. Collect garbage and scraps to build ramshackle floating trash towns to ensure the continued survival of the human race. No release date has been announced.
Phoenix Point
Developer: Snapshot Games
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac, Xbox One
Phoenix Point is one of my most anticipated games of 2019 because its literally Firaxis-style XCOM made by Julian Gollop, the original creator of the franchise. Retake Earth from hordes of Lovecraftian aliens as the commander of the Phoenix Project. The game is set to release in June.
RAM Pressure
Publisher: GDT
Developer: QuadCom Interactive
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac
RAM Pressure is another XCOM-like game coming out this year, but is focused a bit more on multiplayer. Players control squads of black ops mercenaries in a secret war against alien invaders trying to infiltrate humanity. No release date has been confirmed yet.
Xenonauts 2
Developer: Goldhawk Interactive
Platforms: Windows PC
Finally, we come to Xenonauts 2, the upcoming follow-up to Goldhawk’s successful alien defense strategy game inspired by the classic X-COM games. Like Phoenix Point, it was successfully crowdfunded a while back, and will be releasing later this year. The Early Access phase is set to start on March 14th, and the final release should be out before the end of 2019.
Be sure to check back soon as I continue the arduous task of highlighting just a handful of the many awesome indie and AA games coming out in 2019. Until then, which of these titles are you excited for?
