12 Rare Grand Strategy Games You’ve Never Heard Of!

[@Toshiro_Mifune]

Great list, but you should squeeze in at least 1 of slitherine classics collection (chariots of war, gates of troy, legion, spartan), they were amazing grand strategy games with excellent battles.

[@darrelld8837]

The gameplay of Imperialism still holds up today as Really Good game design. A true classic!

[@wolfm33]

Imperialism is an old time favourite of mine. However i still vividly remember that the earliest available scenario is bugged with France always getting invaded by Great Britain and conquered relatively easily in the early game. The only way to prevent this is to play as France and hope for the best.

[@giannislainas5187]

Interesting. Used to play with random maps so i never had this issue.

[@neprevzoydenny_svet]

Bravo! Special thanks for mentioning Annals of Rome and Imperialism.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

You're welcome mate!

[@frshunter]

The games before 2000, I played them all and had forgotten most of them! Thanks for the memories!

[@Malbeefance]

I can remember playing Annals of Rome, Fantasy Empires, and Imperialism. They were awesome games for the time. Though with Annals of Rome, if you conquered the map the game just kept going but you have nothing more to do.

Great choice, still playing Imperialism II, Merchant Prince I and II and Supreme Ruler Ultimate on my PC, Highly recommend them, but I'm almost sure everybody here knows about them, you have a bunch of connoisseurs following the channel.

[@SleepDepJoel1]

I loved Shadows of Forbidden Gods. There's several gods you can choose from, all with very different in the ways that they corrupt the world, everything from a direct assault with a world-eating worm to societal collapse through spreading psychic fungal spores.

[@jaojmnhzhzm]

Content idea: maybe you could do a vid (or series) on the Romance of the Three Kingdoms games and rank them from worst to best. This vid reminded me of a guilty pleasure of mine, Rot3K 2 from 1991. A bit light on the strategy and tactics but that iteration had so much personality - I still play it today.

[@nimay13]

Should've covered Koei's grand strategy line up. Like Liberty or Death, set in the US civil war. There were a few more titles too.

[@ForrestFox]

I love these old games. I remember how I used to play games such as Kingdom of england (1989), Lords of the Rising Sun (1989), Powermonger (1990) and many others back in the day. Is real sad so many is impossible to get hold on today (glad I have my old amiga 500 still running) :D

[@BlackDeej]

Lords of the Rising Sun was an awesome game, that game started my fascination with the whole Sengoku period of japanese history. I was even thinking of it just the other day but I couldn't remember the name of it. That's one game I would love to see a modern remake of - as long as it was a faithful version of the original game.

[@sidmcmillan926]

Thanks, Luke & Tom ... Older gamer myself, late 80's Amiga 500 scene onwards ( 💾 it's called a "disk" lol 🙃 ) real blast from the past *flashback 🍄* seeing some of these oldies, and least we forget the 1998 turn based version of Axis & Allies 🪖🕹 cheers guys 😎🖖

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Glad you enjoyed it! I will try do a bit more retro

[@kirbyone]

Not only have I heard of, but I also own the last 3 😉 one series of games that's not on this list but deserves it is Illwinter's Dominions series (latest iteration Dominion 6)

[@andrewcole4843]

Indeed and still being updated as when I revisited one of the >100 nation choices, middle age Machaka recently.

[@GloriousGrunt]

Woah you really dug deep to find these old gems. Fantasy Empires particularly looks like a game with a great vision and just from the UI you can see lots of care put into the details.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

I would love a modern remake of this one! - Tom

[@joramhh1637]

Shadows of Forbidden Gods is an excellent and unique game. Highly recommend. For something 'classic', I think its criminal not to have Balance of Power on this list!

[@LTGamingYoutube]

I will check it out!

[@AS-gn7mb]

Another really interesting and informative video. Luke mentions the Steam Deck often and I think it would be great to see some content about your top games that you play on the deck, how well they work etc. Keep up the good work.

[@cirrusminor7504]

Great list! I used to play to Fantasy Empires, 1 vs 1fighting reminds me of Star Control (90s classic).

[@DreamingCyclist]

Great list! I would give a +1 vote for Imperialism 1 & 2, and also for Machiavelli (Merchant Prince 1 & 2). Keep up the great videos!

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Thanks for watching mate!

[@jthornburg12]

I always love your lists; I appreciate your overviews and that you tend to look at lesser known or older titles. I’ve played a ton of Imperialism 2 and love it, but have never played the first one. It looks very similar, so I might have to give it a try, but I do love the race to colonize in the second game. From your list Machiavelli and Hegemony piqued my interest the most. Thanks for the great content.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Thank you mate 🙏 much appreciated!

[@SpeedyCM]

Annals of Rome reminds me of the Medieval Lords game from 1991, I spent many hours in that trying to paint the map one colour or another.

[@nashrussell753]

I like these gaming history dives. I knew very few of these tbh and then I think only from this channel. Enjoyable watch keep it up!

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Thanks, will do!

[@Tim_van_de_Leur]

Usually those 'never heard of' lists contain a lot of stuff I played back in the day. This one truly has a lot of unheard of (for me) games, except Imperialism2. Played that one to death :)

[@dpancerovas]

Thanks guys. I recently looked for any list of I go / You go wargames but couldn't find anything. Maybe someday it would be a useful and interesting topic for you!

[@JP-dc4zm]

I've enjoyed most of the Supreme Ruler series, but if I remember correctly 2010 had scenario maps with limited scope so you didn't have to take over the whole world to finish, making it and 1936 my favorites.

[@norrosliroth2458]

Using the same criteria, Medieval Lords: Soldier Kings of Europe was the first grand strategy game I ever played, first on C=64, and later a DOS version. Cool idea where you are not a ruler, but an immortal adviser, so if the ruler dies, you continue. Even if your kingdom gets destroyed, you get an option to choose a different one. Graphics were very similar to Annals of Rome. It covered same map as Medieval Total War and it also had historical events, like Golden Horde and Mongol invasions, Black Death, Crusaders capturing Constantinople, etc. A lot of fun in multiplayer too, on the same computer, taking turns, of course.

[@brunopassarelli8993]

Great video! thank you so much!

[@spaceman9599]

Indeed, loads here I have never heard of - and I do like this genre.

[@sceptique7981]

Super vidéo moi qui suis un grande fan des jeux de grande stratégie je suis impressionnée par t'es recherches sur le sujet.super travail l'ami 👍

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Thank you mate!

[@Mendogology]

Hegemony games are truly amazing, very recommended to any totalwar - paradox lover!

[@RyanCaden-w4m]

I’m adding this to my list already. I’m also anticipating Gates of Pyre. Lovely innovations springing up

[@yaasinm]

Awesome video. Wished it was at least 50 min

[@IIIJG52]

Goddamn Supreme Ruler. I got 2020, 1936 and the Ultimate edition. Bit of nostalgia there.

[@vladmods]

Imperialism 1 & 2 are amazing.

[@stuartdollar9912]

Played a ton of Annals of Rome on the Amiga back in the day. Imperialism was one of the first games I played multiplayer on the then still new Internet with a couple of guys.

[@trax1794]

Had to do some digging on this one!

[@thehellyousay]

i still have a disc copy of XIIIth century from years ago. the gold edition.

[@rafaelitho]

i love eador master of the broken world

[@slowliving_]

good video 👍🏻

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Thank you 👍

[@igavinwood]

A few in this vid that are an absolute blast from the past. I very rarely look back at older games unless they are still being modded. After 5-7 years there's normally a new game engine that can do more on new tech. Of course now that tech has become expensive, especially when so many other requirements are actually needed (food, warmth, meds), so perhaps you're onto something here. Providing the publishers don't hit the kill switch ;)

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Yes I would love a mod scene for some.of these or a remaster with the right studio

[@RemusKingOfRome]

1980s Waterloo by Dr Peter Turcan was an excellent battle game, very realistic. k

[@LTGamingYoutube]

Will check it out

[@GhostofSash1m1]

Remember when guys put all their forces outside of Winterfell instead of inside?

[@McToaster-o1k]

I would add 'Emperor of the Fading Suns' by Holistic Design and 'Ascendancy' by The Logic Factory.

[@ilejovcevski79]

Centurion - Defender of Rome!!! Arguably best Rome centric grand strategy of all times!

[@xk1390]

Hegemony looks very interesting, I'm surprised I've never heard of it before.

[@LTGamingYoutube]

It is a gem!

[@Mendogology]

Hegemony games are very unique and very well made. They are not so complex as Paradox games, but they are not so simple as total war games, mixing both styles in one.

[@Krysnha]

Fallen enchantres was an amaising game, is a pity was never very popular and the game was really buggy, but have so many unique ideas, the last federation is such a unique game in game concept and ideas, impirialism was a nice idea but i dont know never understand the game per se

[@IanGerritsen]

Fantasy Empires was amazing for it's time. I think some interface work and increased resolution is all it'd take to modernize it to being playable and fun again. Shadows of Forbidden Gods is a peculiar beast, I'm really trying to get into it but its rough haha. Were in a golden age ATM for our niche I thinkz just need paradox to sort their shit and someone to compete head to head with CA.

[@doctoronishispsychosislab1474]

Centurion: Defender of Rome is a stand out to me

[@thomastrinkle2294]

Last Enchantress looks a lot like Age of Wonders 4.

[@dennissvitak5475]

I owned every single one of these. You missed QQP's Conquered Kingdoms, and the Warlords Battlecry series.

[@johncrumb7909]

You know what is good is Gangsters: Organized Crime. Not the sequel, which was a step down in my opinion. Only The Original. Very good, but very hard to find today.

[@Asahamana]

I had that too! I was like 9 and never played it since I had no idea what to do. Like 20 years later I realized you had to read The manual before playing it. The manual that was also on The CD because it was a sold out release.

[@thehatred94]

7:34 i keep forgeting that soundtrack damn it... is it from halo? It always feel like halo but... hmmm

[@Guðmundur4369]

What about imperium Galactica 1 and 2 .. they ROCKED! Empire earth was cool too

[@Doc_Tar]

I use to play Imperialism. It's a good game. I don't see it on Steam. Is it available anywhere else?

[@LTGamingYoutube]

GOG I have it on.

[@dennissvitak5475]

I have Imperialism, and Imperialism 2. If you want, I can post some data to generate some really over powering starts.

[@memyshelfandeye318]

5:04 Imperialism - you forgot to mention and show the army / combat part. 10:49 Fallen Enchantress - it's a rather bland, boring game that does not really deliver any new aspect to the genre, but has had some questionable design decision like: - limiting your exansion options by using a system of pre-set city locations; you could spell-scan for locations, but this is so costly and slow it basically promotes save-scumming, and that's it. - punishing you for going wide. - limiting the possibility to go tall by making your city size dependant on ressource values of the tile the city is placed on. - ranged units with umlimited range in combat, which means Ai units will unerringly kill your lowest-HP unit in combat, no matter what. - map full of monsters and lairs, yet 99% of the time the main Ai players and monsters ignore each other; monsters go only after the player. Add to that a bunch of bugs that never got fixed, and you're left with quite a turd of a game. Got it for a handful of bucks and never finished the one game I started.

[@Timlagor]

Fallen Enchantress was such a disappointment. They cut all the things that looked set to make Elemental great.

[@chenxueqiang4690]

Imerialism 2 can't be missing

[@Asahamana]

I had imperial glory! I only played it once since it was intimidating with cheats of course. I now own it on gog and on CD.

[@tomoliop]

Some cool picks

[@paramprasetyo]

damn i really miss the imperial glory, had the demo once from a magazine

[@jakeynoobs5388]

I love Fallen Enchantress, but I would advise anyone interested to buy the standalone ‘expansion’ Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes. Feels like an overall improvement and I have many more hours in LE. That being said it’s not the greatest of the genre, yet I enjoy creating my own OP factions and playing against them :3

[@tzm_tvp_rbe5808]

Check out Sword of Aragon too

[@hagmann65]

Fallen Enchantress could've been such a great game if it wasn't for all the bugs😞 I can't count the hours I've spent on Machievelli though 🙂

[@PowerAutomator]

Romance of the 3 kingdoms 2 from koei

[@GarkKahn]

The background music is forcing me to play morrowind after i'm done watching this

[@leandrooliveira1593]

Danke.

[@Sahmajstor]

DWU from 2004 😁 To well known for this list of list of unknown gems?

[@immortaljanus]

Puts in the music from Morrowind, doesn't give it proper credits. *angry nerd noises*

[@aleyn7182]

Hmm some of these games you show were "never heard of" for some good reasons, but some others were... famous, like Macchiavelli the Prince or Imperialism, and some was well known like Imperial Glory ou XIII Century but faced better games than them (and they had to much bugs)

[@wilczekkubam]

It's look like Victoria games take a lot of ideas from imperialism.

[@RemusKingOfRome]

My posts keep getting delted so am not sure if my post survived. v

[@jcataclisma]

👌👌💥💥💥💥🤌👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@rabidroach999]

👍

[@SuperDoggy99]

Fallen Enchantress? lol. Uh, no. That game is abysmal.