2023 has seen my gaming life jump off of a cliff. Due to a promotion at the day job, I'm an elected councillor, and I have two gorgeous cats, which means I have a lot on - not to mention other family commitments, illnesses, and general "why is life?!" moments. That doesn't stop me from playing games; it just means I have to be selective, and something needs to make me want to play it. Yes, that is precisely why I reviewed Arrow a Row. You're here for Wccftech's Best Strategy and Simulation Games of 2023, so let's get started.
Do note that this list will not include any Early Access titles, nor will it include remasters or remakes. This is for new games.
Also in Wccftech's Best Games of 2023 lists: Shooter, Fighting, RPG, Action, Indie, Adventure, Horror, Sports & Racing, Platformers, and Multiplayer.
Total War: Pharaoh (9/10)
Genre: Strategy (Grand Strategy). Platform: PC.
No, the irony of that last sentence considering the first game on the list - and almost every other, to be honest - is not lost on me; shut up. Yes, this is another Total War game, something that makes a list every single time one is released, and yes, this is a return to old-school Total War of pure historical action, no fantasy.
Anyway, Total War Pharaoh. It was polarising and isn't the best Total War game of recent years, but it is still a very good Total War game. Even an average one of those is better than most other good games, even if this is one of the previously named "Total War Saga" games (as in, it was developed by Creative Assembly Sofia). My summary of Total War: Pharaoh was as follows:
Total War: Pharaoh is a successful return to pure history for the series. While some may not like aspects, such as a limited unit variety and a map that can feel a little narrow in areas, the gameplay is enhanced across the board thanks to a variety of features, increased tactical options in combat, and more.
Company of Heroes 3 (8.5/10)
Genre: Strategy (Real Time Strategy). Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X.
It's a SEGA double-bill! This has happened all too often regarding the Strategy and Simulation list because, except for Paradox Interactive, no company represents quality in the strategy genre like SEGA. With developers like Creative Assembly and, of course, Relic under your belt - you're going to get some quality, and quality was there to be found in Company of Heroes 3.
In all honesty, it's arguably the worst game of the series, but even the worst Company of Heroes ends up being one of the better strategy games any year could generally have. The move into a grand campaign in Company of Heroes 3 was interesting by Relic and has undoubtedly come with flaws. Still, it offers opportunities to explore WW2 differently than before.
Company of Heroes 3 is a triumphant return to the game that raised the bar for Real-Time Strategy. With unparalleled action on the battlefield, that alone makes it work your while. The new grand-strategy campaign is a welcome addition, though it has some flaws, ranging from performance issues and bugs to simply being too easy. Despite this, it's impossible not to recommend Company of Heroes 3 for the excellent game that it is.
Cities: Skylines II (8/10)
Genre: Strategy (Grand Strategy). Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X.
It is the only simulation game to feature on the list this year, partly due to a thinner year in the simulation genre and the rest due to the stacked nature of strategy games. It's also odd because even today, I feel I was equally generous and unfair to the game when reviewing it. I genuinely think consumers were more unfair than anything else.
The reality is that Cities: Skylines II is a more complete game than Cities: Skylines was at launch. The problem is that people compared this at launch to a game with close to a decade of DLC and free content. That was unfair. The fair criticism could be around bugs or performance issues if people encountered them - I didn't, so I was fortunate. Still, they were well known. Regardless, I like Cities: Skylines II. I still do, but I can understand where the perceptions differ.
Cities: Skylines 2 is a very good city builder with a few marked improvements over its predecessor and is huge in scale. It is, however, let down in (arguably unfair) comparison with the original due to the countless free content (and paid DLC) that went into that, making this feel comparatively light.
Jagged Alliance 3 (8.5/10)
Genre: Strategy (Turn-Based Tactics). Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox One and Series S/X.
Jagged Alliance is back. Yes, there have been many games, and I've even been happy to play them between the second and third numbered entries, but these are the two that can be unquestionably called great.
Bringing back the compelling characters with all of their quirks, making a genuinely funny experience, you also have gameplay on all accounts that you can't help but be sucked in by. From the overall grand map, where you're managing finances and more, to the turn-based tactical combat, there's so much going on, and every single bit of it is going right.
Jagged Alliance 3 marks a long-awaited triumphant return for the franchise, with the last undeniably great release being Jagged Alliance 2 over twenty years ago. Creating an exceptional balance on both a strategic and tactical level, bringing back character attributes and progression, an entire inventory system, perks and more, forcing you to balance your broader economy and ensuring you can't just sit back - Haemimont Games have successfully created a game that will challenge, that I have found compelling and fun, and one that has kept me hooked into a "just one more day" loop and a few very late nights at that.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew (9/10)
Genre: Strategy (Real-Time Tactics). Platform: PC, PlayStation 4 & 5, Xbox Series S/X.
This is a depressing entry in the list for me, not because of the game itself, but because Mimimi Games - the developers - are no more. Shadow Gambit is an excellent game, of that there is no doubt, with the only downside being in the push for being 'bigger and better'; the 'bigger' damages the pacing and feel of the game. Still, it's a game that deserves all the accolades it will ever get and an excellent way for an excellent studio to go out.
I don't think it would be a considerable surprise reading this that I recommend Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew. Mimimi has made yet another fantastic real-time tactics title, and I would argue they've cemented their place at the top of the league (if there was one) of developers in the sub-genre. Shadow Gambit is also a huge game, a wide variety of missions and locations - plus the re-visits - brought me in at close to 50 hours, and I still have little things I can do.
Undead Pirates XXX is an excellent game; the only downside is the reuse of maps. That downside is a little self-inflicted because if you're like me, you want to kill the named guards (named after the developers) and do whatever else gets you a badge (additional side-quest things), so you do it all. Still, this is an outstanding real-time tactics game and one I would recommend to anybody and everybody. Fans of the genre, and those new, you're in for a treat.
Honourable Mentions
2023 certainly feels like the year of the sequels, or at least the year of the franchise. Even Shadow Gambit - god rest its soul - feels like a 'franchise' entry, solidified with the latest DLC bringing in a character from Shadow Tactics. That doesn't mean there haven't been some other strong entries I haven't covered in my five selections above, so let's get mentioning:
- Aliens: Dark Descent (8.5/10)
- Let's School (Developer Site)
- Hotel Renovator (Official Site)
- Stranded: Alien Dawn (Official Site)
- Mad Games Tycoon 2 (Developer Site)
There are other games I would love to play, or at least for the site to have covered so they could be included in this list. Games like Dungeons 4 look like another strong sequel, with Last Train Home looking like an excellent new title. Alas, time doesn't allow for everything, but if there are other games you would recommend and like to see covered as a late review, let us know in the comments below.
About the author: Chris Wray has been writing at Wccftech gaming section since 2015 and is an opinionated bloke from the north of the UK (think Ned Stark). He enjoys video games, films, books, beer, whisky and other alcohol. He also supports Manchester Utd and for some reason he writes profile pages in the third person. His expertise is in gaming and the games industry, primarily on the PC. In addition to this, he works with and contributes to the finance and tech sections.
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