There are many varieties of strategies: economic, military, social and other games. Each narrow focus has its own leaders, which developers from all over the world to this day cannot surpass. Let's look at the most popular of them.
Fantasy
So, old PC strategies are widely represented in this popular genre. Of course, they quickly gained their popularity due to the surroundings. Well, who, tell me, is it interesting to fight on modern and already familiar tanks, when there is an opportunity to compete with the enemy in the skill of spells?
The following games can be safely called the best in this area:
- Heroes of Might and magic. The world famous series of games that do not need a detailed presentation. She won particular popularity, starting with the third part, which even deserved a second life in the form of a multitude of Chronicles.
- Age of Wonders. Truly an age of miracles. The fundamental principle that distinguishes this game is the system of global spells that allow not only destroying the enemy with magic, but also invoking various creatures to their side, improving the army, and also expanding its territory. And the ability to destroy and create their own settlements positively distinguishes this game from the "heroes".
- Disciples The series already has three parts, the last of which, according to the players, was a failure. However, this did not prevent the toy from climbing into the top of old strategies on the PC. A distinctive feature was the ability to improve the elements of the game: you have several initial units that can develop along your chosen path. Otherwise, the differences from the same Age of Wonders are insignificant. To argue which of the games is better is an ungrateful and senseless thing. Everyone will find something in them.
- Warcraft 3. All games in the series have a well-balanced balance. As you can see, the previous positions in the ranking were occupied by old turn-based strategies on the PC. In contrast, Warcraft is played in real time. The universe of this franchise will allow you to play four campaigns for different races that fight to survive in a dying world. And in the Frozen Throne add-on, you can also play for the amphibian race in a separate episode.
Reality
Despite the popularity of the fairytale genre, many players prefer more real strategies. In this case, people have little choice. Not because there are very few games. It’s just that most of them are devoted to one topic - World War II. Thus, the old PC strategies, the list of which we provide below, are the closest in spirit and armament to the modern army:
- "Confrontation." A series of tactical strategy games. You have to play the role of commander of the Soviet troops and lead your army to victory. The main feature will be the limited number of available troops and ammunition. You will have to cope with the tasks by any means.
- Tom Clancy's End War. An analogue of the previous game, only in more modern realities. Dedicated to the mythical Third World War, which began after nuclear attacks by terrorists in the Middle East.
- World in Conflict. Another series of strategies dedicated to global conflict. In it, you will not build a base or extract the necessary resources. At the beginning of the mission, the player is given a set of points for which you can hire soldiers. After death, points are restored, and you can get new units.
Fantasy
The next set of strategies will be dedicated to space. Events and wars unfolding on distant planets give scope for the imagination of developers. Old PC strategies dedicated to this topic are very diverse in gameplay and style. You can meet both games in real time, and in a step-by-step mode.
In this genre, one can distinguish the following games:
- Starcraft A game that won the hearts of millions of people around the world. Six campaigns for three races will cover almost a twenty-year history of the confrontation of humanity with an alien threat. The game is not only balanced, but also has a deep interesting plot.
- Master of Orion. A toy from the 90s. You have to build a galactic empire - civilization in space. You will have to deal not only with war, but also with the building of diplomatic relations. By the way, in 2016, the developers plan to release a remake of this legendary game.
- X-COM. And here you already have to deal with the protection of your native Earth from alien invasion. The essence of the game is to build a base and tactical battles on the surface of the planet.
- Warhammer 40k. Another real-time strategy on intergalactic warfare. The main feature of the game is that the developers managed to mix fantasy here as well. You have to choose one of the many sides: it can be ordinary people, evil spirits or mythical creatures - orcs.
Middle Ages
And finally, we analyze the genre of interesting strategies that reflect the lifestyle of the XI-XV centuries:
- Age of Empires. Everyone knows the strategy. In real time, you have to build a city and fight against numerous opponents. At the same time, you have to go from an ancient person with a club to a medieval grenadier with a musket.
- Stronghold. And here you need to build a real medieval castle with barbicans and mangonels. The "chip" of the game was an advanced economic system. If in most strategies of this kind a player just needs to chop wood and hire soldiers, then in the Citadel you will have many other obligations: to monitor the welfare of residents, create weapons for soldiers, fight off enemy sieges.
- "Cossacks." The average, but at the same time an interesting strategy. The meaning is extremely simple - collect resources, hire soldiers, destroy the enemy. Almost all old PC strategies were built on this principle. The main feature was the ability to choose one of dozens of countries with unique architecture and troops.
Conclusion
In general, there are many different games: to list all existing, high-quality and exciting, there simply will not be enough time. Old PC strategies have a deeper plot and gameplay. At a time when the resources and capacities of computers were not enough to create high-quality images, the developers tried to lure players with uniqueness and unusualness. So if you are offered to play an old toy until 2008, you can safely agree. You definitely won't be wasting time.