Strategy Games - Can You Help Me Get Started?

So I was a life long console kid, and I wholesale switched to PC about 18 months ago, mainly because I wanted a big technical leap and it was clear the new consoles weren't going to provide that. I've been playing a lot of the same stuff that comes to consoles, and also a few more indie titles. While that's been great, I really want to start delving more into game types that I never got on the consoles. Strategy games (single player only) are at the top of that list.

Over the last year or so, I've managed to pick up a handful of strategy games on various sales, and a buddy online just gifted me Divinity: Original Sin this morning out of nowhere (THANKS JAMES!!!). Problem is, I'm completely ignorant of this group of genres, and they seem kind of impenetrable to an FPS/Action/RPG guy like myself. I was hoping I could get a little guidance from people who have more experience than myself.

So here is the list of games I've got in my Steam library:

Civ 5
X-Com: Enemy Unknown
Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes
The Banner Saga
Divinity: Original Sin
Total War: SHOGUN2
Company of Heroes 2
Age of Wonders III

I've poked around in Civ 5 for less than 2 hours, but very little has happened and I have no idea if I'm doing it right. Could you all help me order these from easiest to understand to hardest? I'm not worried about how hard the gameplay is, just how hard a game is to wrap my mind around. I enjoy a good challenge. I'm guessing Civ and Xcom would be easier to pick up, and Divinity, Fallen Enchantress and The Banner Saga would be on the harder end?

Any insight is greatly appreciated.

 

Divinity is an RPG not strategy game.
Definitely don't start with Civilization. X-Com and Company of Heroes are the simplest, CoH should be best (easiest) for beginner.

 

All I'll say is that some of these games have quite a bit of depth for today's standard. I'd just keep playing them, look up some guides for whatever game you enjoy most and try to understand it. Watch some youtube guides too.

You won't pick up on everything in an instant, I've been playing RTS since day one (yes, I was there) and TBS (Turn Based Strategy) too. And I remember the grandfathers of RPG genre. But I also remember that it took a long time to come to grips with things.

Definitely look up some guides for the games you end up playing though, they are very helpful.

 

Civ5 is great but turn based games just take so long to play a game. I'm more of a fan of RTS games like Age of Empires or Rise of Nations.

I also would definitely not start with any of the Total War games. For strategy noobs, they are very complicated and will more than likely turn you away from this genre all together. Company of Heroes is a good one to start with.

 

Shogun 2 I will suggest reading these guides they helped me get started with the game and gave me more idea of what is going on. Also get DarthMod for the game and not the steam version the stand alone.

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/show...eference-Guides-and-Other-Informative-Threads

http://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showt...g-s-Guide-to-Total-War-Shogun-II&p=2053359154

The Banner Saga is meant to be a little slow but has a very rewarding story downside limited voice acting.

 

Starcraft 2 is the only one that comes to mind. Not really a strategy guy myself.

 

Supreme Commander, Rise of Nations.

 

Command and conquer kane's wrath. Game play is easy but to fully understand the game it will take some time to get used to it.

 

AoE 2/AoE 2 HD.


Edit _+_=_+-+___=__++_+
My bad. You want TBS.

 

Seems like you're into 4x/RPG games.

Endless legend 4x

DAO for more of a cRPG experience.
Wasteland 2 alternative cRPG

I would start playing the ones you've already got tho. Most of them are massive time sinks. Just can't expect to go in and learn the game and adapt to 4x or cRPGs within a few hours.

 

Rise of Nations is one of my all time favourites, nice mix of Civ and AOE
Warcraft 3 and Frozen Throne are must plays imo

 

Starcraft 2 - there is a free edition which lets you play all three races. Currently the biggest online RTS game.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - get the expansions as well, as they add races. Online has died off but you can still get games using GameRanger. Single player has full campaign and skirmish mode as well.

 

Im always up for a game of Soulstorm...

 

If you're new to starcraft I would advise against playing online.
Dawn of War 2 is good and made by the same people who did Company of Heroes

 

The original X-Com = UFO:Enemy Unknown with open Xcom mod and play on Superhuman level. Nerve racking and I love every minute of it.

Followed by Terror from the Deep (X-Com 2) and X-Com Apocalypse. You can get this pack off Steam dirt cheap when on sale.

Another game would be Shadowrun on the PC and even the old school Shadowrun on the Super Famicom/SNES.

 

Where did OP mention he wants game recommendations, ffs.

He asked for tips for games that He have, if he just started his adventure with strategy games and already have 8 games, you guys really think that he needs more?

Especially with some of the best titles (Civilization or Total War), even if these are too complex for newcomer, he have great games like CoH or X-Com.

Judging by some replies some people are posting without even reading OP...

Like I mentioned earlier, start with Company of Heroes or X-Com. Civilization and Total War are (like You said) hardest to understand and most complex.
You shouldn't need guide for CoH.

 

Ah my mistake. I thought this was more of a strategy RPG, along the lines of Valkyria Chronicles or FF Tactics - but you know...not Japan.

Thanks, I think I'll take your advice and install CoH first. :thumbup:

 

CoH has a very good turtorial to get your started.

 

company of heroes is the best ww2 strategy game i've played to date, even all the expansions and the latest game ardennes assault is excellent, gameplay is just perfect, camera angles puts you right in the thick of the battles and it actually plays well , maxed out graphics, looks awesome, well worth playing!!!