There’s something about a well-thought-out mobile strategy game that gets you so immersed, you’re planning your next move even without your phone in hand.
If you’re itching to play a game so good it’ll have you feeling like this, look no further than this list of the 9 best mobile strategy games. They’ll completely hook you with their intricate and engaging mechanics that’ll make you feel like you’re on top of the world, once you master them.
Play these titles alongside one of the nine addicting mobile puzzle games we recommend, and your brain will definitely get a good workout.
9) XCOM 2
If you like your tactical strategy games to have a heavy dose of sci-fi, then this one is going to suck you in fast. Earth has fallen victim to an alien invasion, and it’s your job to lead a resistance to reclaim it.
You’ll make tough choices in this turn-based combat game as you guide your team through dangerous missions while taking cover, positioning, and advanced tech into account.
8) Solaris
This title brings ‘grand strategy’ straight to your mobile device. Build and expand an empire across the stars from anywhere you and your device are.
The game runs for long and requires a lot of patience and planning. Focus on diplomacy, trade, or military conquest depending on your style of rule. Be careful; choosing to ally or sabotage someone can have dire consequences.
7) Subterfuge
This is another strategy game that takes a while to get through: you’ll be playing it over several days and have to plan moves way ahead, negotiating, lying, and scheming your way to victory.
The goal is simple: dominate the world under the ocean, and your success completely depends on how you do it. You’ll be thinking of the map even in your sleep.
6) The Battle for Wesnoth
Wesnoth Inc.
An open-source turn-based strategy game set in a high-fantasy world, you have a multitude of campaign options to play through.
Lead armies of humans, elves, orcs, and other fantasy races into battle. Resource management and battlefield tactics are the highlights of this game, and it’s backed by a great modding community that creatively expands the fun.
5) Unciv
If you’re a fan of Sid Meier’s Civilization series, this game will be your best friend. It’s the stripped-down, mobile-friendly version that delivers a very similar experience.
You start with a small tribe and guide it through the ages, researching technologies and growing your cities. Its open-source nature has let the community continue to improve it regularly.
4) Into the Breach
From the creators of FTL: Faster Than Light, this game throws you into a world under siege by giant alien creatures. To save humanity, you must take control of the powerful mechs at your disposal.
This tactical grid-based game will constantly challenge you to get the positioning of your mechs correct to block enemies and minimize damage to cities. It’s a great mix of strategy and fast-paced action.
3) The Battle of Polytopia
This gorgeous game dons a clean, low-poly art style, but offers a ton of strategic depth you wouldn’t expect at first glance.
You control a tribe trying to expand its empire, competing with other tribes for dominance. Each match is quick but fun, where you’ll manage resources, build cities, and conquer lands. It’s an easy title to pick up, but hard to master.
2) Rusted Warfare
This no-nonsense, retro-style RTS is definitely going to scratch that classic strategy game itch you’ve been having for a while.
You’ll gather resources, build massive armies, and engage in large-scale battles across different terrains. There’s a lot of flexibility with this release, since you can try out intense single-player campaigns or equally chaotic multiplayer modes to face off against your friends or random opponents.
If you enjoyed the multiplayer aspect of this game, we’d recommend checking these 9 must-have mobile multiplayer titles that’ll let you experience more of that cooperative mayhem with your friends.
1) Slay the Spire
At the top of the list is Slay the Spire, and with very good reason. This game masterfully combines deck-building with strategy and roguelike elements.
As you climb the spire, you’ll battle enemies and bosses using cards that represent attacks, defenses, and abilities. Every single decision you make matters, and can be the difference between surviving the spire’s dangers or being booted back to the start.
Every run in this game can be wildly different, making it almost infinitely replayable.
With that, we conclude our list of 9 mobile strategy games that are sure to have you addicted within a matter of minutes. There’s all types of strategy gameplay included, so that there’s something for everyone.
Do you agree with this list? Are there any other games you’d like to add to it? Let us know in the comments below!
