First time strategy game recommendations

[HossHuge]

Hi Everyone,

I've decided to branch out and try something different. I've really only ever played shooters except of course for sports games, driving/flying games. I've tried RPG games but just can't get into them at all.

So I want to try a strategy game for the first time but I don't really know anything about them. I'm interested in a single player campaign. No on-line stuff.

Is there a game that would be best suited for a first timer?

Thanks

 

[TheMailMan78]

Hi Everyone,

I've decided to branch out and try something different. I've really only ever played shooters except of course for sports games, driving/flying games. I've tried RPG games but just can't get into them at all.

So I want to try a strategy game for the first time but I don't really know anything about them. I'm interested in a single player campaign. No on-line stuff.

Is there a game that would be best suited for a first timer?

Thanks

I just got into Red Alert 3 and I gotta say its pretty damn fun and has a low learning curve compared to other RTS. The story is fun and the girls are hot. What else could you want?!

 

[Kreij]

What type would you prefer? (Space warefare, ground warefare, city building, historical, futuristic, etc.)

 

[Mr McC]

I suggest you try Company of Heroes.

 

[Lionheart]

Im just going to list my fav RTS games that I like to play

1. Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars (Non too distant future RTS)
2. Supreme Commander Forged Alliance (Epic futuristic RTS, robots and gigantic maps galore, bogs down system after awhile)
3. Supreme Commander 2 (A dumbed down version of the first one, smaller maps and less units but still a great game, I play with mods though) Thanx Overated
4. Red Alert 3 (I noticed some ppl didn't like this game, I couldn't ever figure out why because I think its a great fun RTS game, its different from Tiberium Wars but it still keeps that good old Red Alert feel to it)
5. Company Of Heroes (A great World War II RTS game, but its not like the previous games I mentioned above where you can build 100's of units in those games, there's a limit in this game but it has a realistic feel to it)
6. Starcraft II (Best story I have seen in a RTS game, and gameplay wise, its really fun, but you really have to be quick in this game, multitasking and skilled quickness iz your friend, but then again that could apply to most RTS games out there)

Well thats my list on certain RTS games, Im sure there's more out there but didn't want overwhelm you wit too many at one time

There iz also the Total War series but they are turned based strategy games, check em out on youtube if you like anyways I hope dis helps

If you want more help, just look for Mussels, he's a strategy freak

 

[n-ster]

The one that got me hooked is Company of Heroes as others said

 

[CJCerny]

You have to tell us if it is real-time strategy or turn-based strategy games that you are interested in. They are very different.

 

[MRCL]

Earth 2160 got me hooked on strategy. Its an oldie but it still looks great and the gameplay is cool, too. Build bases on a planet, create ridiculous armies (customizable robots, customizable tanks and even aliens) and watch all hell brake lose when two enemies collide. Tears of joy will run down your cheeks when your 24" monitor is one big explosion lol.

 

[Lionheart]

Earth 2160 got me hooked on strategy. Its an oldie but it still looks great and the gameplay is cool, too. Build bases on a planet, create ridiculous armies (customizable robots, customizable tanks and even aliens) and watch all hell brake lose when two enemies collide. Tears of joy will run down your cheeks when your 24" monitor is one big explosion lol.

I heard about that game but never ended up playing it, sounds like awesome sauce to me even if its still an oldie, but space FTW

Do you think its worth buying?

 

[BumbleBee]

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War series.

 

[CJCerny]

All the suggestions so far have been RTS games. I'll add Total Annihilation and Supreme Commander (the first one, not the second one) to that list.

If you want to try a turn-based strategy game, I suggest you start with some of the classics, like Civilization or X-COM or Master Of Magic or Master of Orion. Most of those, except for the earlier versions of Civilization, are available from GOG.COM or Steam. OpenTTD is also a cool game if you want to start with a freebie. They are older, for sure, but still great games. It does not take modern graphics with lots of explosions to make a great strategy game. You could even try the Chess game built into 7--gasp. It's not the strongest opponent, but it plays a decent game.

 

[n-ster]

Civilization V is pure awesomesauce

 

[BrooksyX]

Starcraft and Starcraft II FTW!!!

 

[MRCL]

I heard about that game but never ended up playing it, sounds like awesome sauce to me even if its still an oldie, but space FTW

Do you think its worth buying?

By now you'd probably get it for 99cents lol. Its six years old but I still play it occasionally.

 

[AlienIsGOD]

Total Annihilation

 

[razaron]

Warhammer 40k Dawn of War (the first one)
World in Conflict
Command and Conquer 3
Command and Conquer Generals
Starcraft 2
Black and White 1
Company of Heroes

They're all good games that are easy to get into and stay fun for a long while.
You can also try out "Sins of a Solar Empire". People say it's complicated but I personally thought it's quite simple.
There's also the Total War series but the battles are quite slow so you might not like that.

 

[DannibusX]

The Starcraft series is fantastic, Warcraft III is very good, as far as turn-based I would say Civilization 5 is a great game to play.

 

[razaron]

The Starcraft series is fantastic, Warcraft III is very good, as far as turn-based I would say Civilization 5 is a great game to play.

+1 on Warcraft 3. I somehow forgot about that.

 

[Mike0409]

Company of Heroes : Blitzkrieg or the Russian MOD Eastern Fronts.
Starcraft 2
Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War


X-Com series were good...The originals..the newer ones, Aftershock/Aftermath and Afterlight..Meh there OK..But nothing like Apoclypse or Original.

There is a Remake of X-Com UFO Defense.. Do a google search, I can't remember the name of it.


Long Games: Civ 5, Sins of a Solar Empire, or Hegemonia (Older and thought it was pretty neat)

 

[TheMailMan78]

I still say Red Alert 3. Much lower learning curve then any of the games so far stated. I'm an FPS junkie. For an RTS to hold my interest it better be damn simple.

 

[Dice]

Shogun 2 total war will be epic. Napoleon and empire were both great too.

 

[Fourstaff]

Depends on what flavour of game you are looking for.

My list:
Starcraft II
Warcraft 3 + TFT
C&C3
Company of Heroes/Dawn of War 1, they both run on the same engine.
Rome:Total War is good too, but old

I will get Starcraft 2 and Civ 5/Total War to get a good feel for RTS games.

 

[techtard]

Starcraft 2 is ok. A lot of ragers and little kids who talk smack, especially if you crush them with a cheese strat.
It totally didn't live up to a decades worth of anticipation. Plus, you can see how fat, greedy Bobby Kotick has planned to milk the franchise for all it's worth.

Sins of a Solar Empire is pretty good, if you're into space battles. Games can get really long tho.

Total war series is pretty good. Looking forward to Shogun 2. The first one rocked back in the day.

40k series is pretty good. Fun campaign and decent story. Personally, I don't like the GFWL crap, so I don't play DOW2 online.
So many good RTS/Strategy games.

 

[Benetanegia]

I still say Red Alert 3. Much lower learning curve then any of the games so far stated. I'm an FPS junkie. For an RTS to hold my interest it better be damn simple.

I agree with themailman on this one. For a first time player, this is a very enjoyable and simple RTS to start with. In SP you always have the option of "Command & Constructing" around your base if you feel overwhelmed and that's actually an strategy you can use, which is not posible in any other of the ones mentioned.

 

[Maban]

One of my very favorite RTS games is Warzone 2100 and it won't cost you a dime.