Top 10 REAL Strategy Games...

Dive into the World of REAL Strategy Games!
Join me in this deep dive as we explore what truly defines a strategy game. Tired of seeing "strategy games" that don't quite fit the bill? You're not alone! This video kicks off with a discussion on the often-misused term "strategy game," debunking common misconceptions and highlighting examples that don't make the cut.
🔥 What makes a real strategy game? Think commanding troops, crafting war strategies, and making decisions that a military general would. It's all about the art of war and tactics!
👉 Here’s what you’ll find in this Epic Video:
A Critical Look: I dissect popular KZbin videos that mislabel games as strategy games.
Top 10 Countdown: I unveil my definitive list of the best strategy games of all time, ones that truly embody strategic gameplay.
Community Giveaway: Celebrating 500 subscribers! Stay till the end for a chance to win one of two FREE board games in our giveaway.
🎁 GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Two lucky subscribers will win an exciting board game each. Make sure to watch till the end for how to enter!
👍 Like, Comment, and Subscribe if you agree (or disagree) with my picks and share your views on what makes a game a true strategy game!
0:00 - Intro
1:30 - What is a Strategy Game?
2:33 - My List Criteria
4:06 - 10
7:03 - 9
12:33 - 8
17:02 - 7
19:19 - 6
25:28 - 5
28:30 - 4
33:12 - 3
38:54 - 2
45:20 - 1
48:56 - Why I'm Right
54:30 - Game Giveaway
🎁 GIVEAWAY DETAILS:
You must be subscribed.
You must comment as directed in the Game Giveaway segment of the video.
Random Winners will be picked on May 13th.
I'll message the winners by replying to their comment on or shortly after May 13th
Any issues just email me, my email is in the about section of my KZbin channel homepage.
Good Luck!
#StrategyGames #RealStrategy #GamingCommunity #BoardGameGiveaway #StrategyGaming #WarGames #TacticalGames #GameStrategy #MilitaryStrategy #StrategicPlay #BoardGames #GameNight #GamerLife #GameReviews #GamingChannel #GamerCommunity #VideoGameCulture #GamePlay #GameLover #PCGames #ConsoleGaming #IndieGames #GameCollector #GameCollection #GameTutorial #GameTips #GamingNews #GamingFun #GamingForFun #OnlineGaming #GamingWorld #GameAddict #GamingSession #PlayMoreGames #GameDevelopers #GamingIndustry #Esports #CompetitiveGaming #GamingEvents #GameChampion #StrategyAnalysis #LearnToGame #GameGuide #GameTheory #GamerGear #GamingSetup #GamingCommunityLove #UltimateGamer #GamingIsLife #GamingFreak #TotalGamer #GamingZone #GamingIsMyLife #StrategyGamer

[@greencommander9760]

Really insightful take on this. You're right about most lists just being a group of a given creator's favorite games. Keep up the good work.

[@OperationGameTable]

Thank you, will do!

[@Exozik]

You said you didn't put abstract games on your list but then you proceed with Go..

[@OperationGameTable]

😂 I didn't say I didn't put abstract games on the list at all, just that I was very selective about them. Let me explain my thinking on it. I included a few abstract games, including Go , War Chest, and Chess, because even though they are abstract, they still give you the feeling of being a military commander, and therefore fall under the definition I used for strategy games on my list. Go has players placing pieces, like army soldiers , on a battlefield, claiming territory, and possibly capturing enemy pieces, so while it is abstract, it still feels like a military strategy game, and is one of the worlds most influential board games ever, and more complex than Chess, so I thought it deserved a spot. Azul and many other abstract games by comparison don't give you that military feeling at all and therefore was not a candidate for the list.

[@Exozik]

@@OperationGameTable I never felt like I was a general leading a army playing any abstract games but I guess to each their own.

[@a.baciste1733]

​​​@@ExozikI don't feel like a general either, but I do see a clear difference between Go, Chess, Abalone; where what is at matter is positioning and tactics; (and in their specific cas I for sure sometimes feel outflanked for example) and many other games where the strategy feels more like the strategy aims at optimizing a profit, a production capacity, to get a high score.

[@OperationGameTable]

@Exozik it's a bit of a stretch I agree, but there are a lot of games that fit into a gray area I think, I think the main point of the video was to emphasize that I disagree with other KZbinrs that call Monopoly or The Crew a strategy game. I thing Go is definitely more of a strategy game than either of those. What would you pick for your strategy game list?

[@Exozik]

@@OperationGameTable I totally agree with you on that.

[@Emeeem]

I really appreciate the deep dive on strategy. I often think about strategy vs tactical games. I think at the end of day I’m more tactical. This helps me know I do enjoy just a bit of luck😉

[@OperationGameTable]

I love both, long term strategy and short term battle tactics, so many great games for both. Memoir 44 didn't make my list just because of the Luck in it, but it's a good one for tactics.

[@HurplePazeGer]

finally a video with strategic games. i always thought "yeah when the strategy means winning the game every game is a strategic one then".

[@OperationGameTable]

Same!

[@Thirftstorekeeper]

Very interesting take on the strategy game genre and much different than the other channels. Thanks for the take. Need to try hive out but was always hesitant to

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks, and good luck on the Hive giveaway 👍🏻

[@mikehall9240]

Love this take on strategy games! It is confusing how other game lists are created. I love your definition and examples. Thank you for the video! New subscriber here!

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks for the sub! Welcome to the channel 😁

[@CardboardHunter]

Fantastic list man! Would have liked to see Onitama make the list but loved seeing War Chest make it!

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks! Onitama seemed too light to me to put in the top 10 list, I thought about it though! It's in my other top 10 video 👍🏻

[@ShadowParalyzer]

From an AI perspective, Onitama strikes me as one of the easiest games for an AI to master because according to someone who wrote an AI for it, the branching factor for Onitama, on average, is 2-3. Tic-Tac-Toe has a higher branching factor than that. I think it's way too easy to cheat in Onitama on BGA. The cheapest of AI algorithms would suffice, and it doesn't take much skill to program it.

[@Zunidrap]

Outstanding work! I knew this was going to be good and subbed based on the first 2 mins alone! I am relatively new to modern board gaming but I don't think any other strategy game will ever top chess either.

[@OperationGameTable]

Welcome to the channel! Modern boardgaming is incredible but it's hard because so many channels say so many games are good, it's easy to get caught up in it and end up buying a bunch of games that don't end up being good. Board Game Arena online is the best way to check them out often before they're even released for retail! 👍🏻

[@Zunidrap]

@@OperationGameTable Good advice, thanks!

[@greggentry9223]

i love the Fire Giants cameo in Kemet Great Video✌️

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks, you're the first person to mention that 😂 I was wondering if anyone would notice 👍🏻

[@vowel2]

Love the video and thank you for clearly and definitely defining a strategy game! A couple I love, although they aren't as complex as these and quite simple (I don't believe a strategy game has to be complex to be in a best of list when it comes to games. Just need to be fun). Shobu, and Onitama.

[@OperationGameTable]

I haven't played Shobu, but I love Onitama!

[@mrp4242]

Look, you have an argument, you formulated it well and provided great examples. First time seeing one of your vids, and it was great. Well done. I gifted my son Hive pocket a number of years ago and it is one of our go-to games for camping. Easy and lightweight to pack, and has the nature theme which belongs in the great outdoors. Root, Twilight Struggle and Rebellion would all be in my Top-10 on a list like this. War of the Ring, 2nd edition, is fantastic. I think Antike II (designed by Mac Gerdts) would fit this definition and is a great game!

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks for the praise and for the tip on Antike II , I hadn't heard of it but in reading the BGG description it definitely seems like my kind of game. I'll have to look into it more!

[@nERVEcenter117]

Player interaction is central to true strategy. Your "armies", whatever that abstraction might be, need to clash. All of your logistics, positioning, maneuvering, preparation, and more need to come to a head against the other player's mobilization of the same elements. Also, I think War Chest's random elements are very simple to mitigate while adding a dash of that real-world battlefield uncertainty. Everyone I have played against who complained about their random draws put themselves in a poor position and was never prepared for when I got my good draws! I was ALWAYS better positioned and able to make sacrifices if necessary. You earned a sub, most of my collection is strategic games and I'm always prowling for great additions.

[@OperationGameTable]

Very well said! Welcome to Operation Game Table, thanks for the sub! Do you have any favorite strategic games that were not on my list that you think should have been?

[@nERVEcenter117]

@@OperationGameTable Air Land & Sea is a wonderfully brain-burning bluffing and positioning game. Hive is an excellent Chess alternative with a much more open play space, more possibilities. Homeworlds is jaw-dropping in the openness of its playspace, lots of room for creative play. And while I haven't played it much, Mind Bug is a fascinating compression and minimization of the Magic formula with a deeply strategic card-stealing twist. Very impressed with General Orders WW2, and I'm desperate to try Hanamikoji with someone.

[@maxduro]

Hi! I just discovered your channel and I wanted to compliment you on this great overview on strategic games! Then I found out about your giveaway and I was even more incentives to do so! I really enjoyed the way you presented the information with a good combo of talking points and graphics, you made me really excited about trying some of the games on your list such as Twilight Struggle and War Chest. I tried HIVE a few years back when I was more into chess and what attracted me was the free form playing field without the constraints of a board, I really dig this concept and there aren't really many games that take advantage of it or use it in an efficient or creative way. If I were to be so lucky to win the giveaway I'd love the carbon version of the game 😀 All the best with your channel!

[@OperationGameTable]

Yes I love that about Hive! No board needed, just an easy to carry travel bag, and so strategic! Good luck on the giveaway 👍🏻

[@juannaranjo9525]

Excellent video, very interesting! i really would like Hive Carbon 😋

[@OperationGameTable]

Thank you, good luck!

[@lukerowden980]

Thanks for the giveaway! I love the design of hive!

[@OperationGameTable]

Yeah it's a pretty remarkable game, good luck!

[@kaytee8716]

I didn't wanted this list to end. How about another ten and then some more.

[@OperationGameTable]

Glad you enjoyed it ☺️ more videos to come!

[@StanleyVB_20]

Great video! I would live to get HIVE carbon. Have you considered Oath for the next list?

[@OperationGameTable]

I haven't played Oath yet but it's high on my list of games I'm interested in! Have you played it? What are your thoughts? Good luck on the Hive game giveaway 👍🏻

[@StanleyVB_20]

@@OperationGameTable the asymmetric setup enabled my friends to specialise in the roles they preferred. It requires dedicated and creative players in order to develop memorable stories behind the actions and game mechanics. In terms of strategy there is plenty going on and you have to keep track of everyone's actions if you want to win. Like Diplomacy you must negotiate well so that other players do not gang up on you. Dice rolls mean battle outcomes are not always guaranteed. I found that to be a plus in this case.

[@leonardobanci]

I would love a video on your thoughts on kemet. For the giveaway definitely hive pocket

[@OperationGameTable]

I love Kemet, one of my favorite games! I will probably do a video on the new Rise of the Gods expansion release on Gamefound when it comes out! I already picked the winners for Hive on May 13th, sorry 😞. Keep in touch for my next game giveaway!

[@biznesstime83]

Fantastic list. And continues great production. I love many of the games on that list. Rebellion is probably one of my favorite games. And Hive was one of my first games when I got into hobby gaming. I recently got War Chest as part of a swap and am itching to get it to the table. Based on your list I would recommend you try Onitama. Would something like Undaunted count as strategy based on your definition, what about memoir 44? All that said I’d like ti see what you would consider your favorite tactical games (or even tactical skirmish games). I was taught a long time ago that strategy is grander plans and tactics is at finer level of engagement between opponents.

[@OperationGameTable]

I LOVE Onitama! Please check out my Top 10 Beginner Games video, and not saying it's only for beginners either, it's definitely a top-tier strategy game. But I feel there is a bit of luck involved and it doesn't feel as grand as the other games I chose, but I do love it and am glad you do too. I also like undaunted but there's a bit more luck not just in the dice but also the deck building luck of the draw. Love memoir 44, please check out my other video! All of these are on my list of favorites 👍🏻 But I think Memoir 44 also has too much luck to be on my top 10 strategy, not just the dice rolls but also luck of the draw for which flank or center moves, or your opponents' luck. As far as Strategy vs Tactics, I love them both. Yasser Seirawan's books on chess clearly define the difference nearly as you did. Tactics are short term, like movements on a battlefield, and strategy is long term, like how to win a many years long war. As far as tactical games I like X-wing and ASOIAF... if that's the type you mean... What are your favorite tactical games?

[@peerm2130]

Absolutely agree with you about other KZbin channels! Maybe it's also because of the language (I'm German), but many people confuse tactics with strategy. For me, tactics are something you decide in the moment. So what is the best option at this exact moment? Strategy, on the other hand, is something I think about at the beginning of a game, often after the first few moves, and pursue for the rest of the game. So something long-lasting. For me, a strategy game becomes really good when it is able to throw something at you (e.g. an event for coop games or a strong opponent in a competitve game) that makes you change your strategy. In many games there are often only 1-3 strategies you can use. These aren't strategy games in my opinion.

[@OperationGameTable]

Agree completely! I'm German by family history but my ancestors moved to Illinois from Germany back in the 1800s I think. I'm not sure why people confuse tactics and strategy... Both are important, I think chess does a good job illustrating the difference, chess strategy is decided from the beginning usually in the type of opening you go for, whether you're going to play attack or defense or King side vs Queen side, possibly by knowing your opponents strengths and weaknesses, while chess tactics are simple moves like pinning a piece to another, or forking two pieces, or setting up a hidden and later to be revealed check.

[@peerm2130]

@@OperationGameTable Absolutly. Chess is amazing!

[@WarIsNoMoreCold]

First of all, great video quality! Great presentation! But I think it is mostly semantics. The genre you're trying to define is war-themed strategy wargames with some arbitrary ones haha. Also, I don't think games with convoluted rules are necessarily better strategy games, since most of them need studying of the game and can't measure one's native strategy skills.

[@OperationGameTable]

Thank you, and valid points, I agree 👍🏻

[@sacroyalty]

Nice vid. Chess is great, i agree 💯

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks 👍🏻

[@amz1amz1]

Hive! Haven’t played it but intrigued to give it a try. Agree 100% that chess is an amazing strategy game.

[@OperationGameTable]

If you like chess you'll definitely like Hive! Good luck!

[@ezra1791]

I agree with Go and Chess being in top 10. I played War of ring once and was overwhelmed by the asimetric part, it is funny(or very frustrating) with 4 players (your partner decisions can be detrimental haha). If you are a LOTR fan and enjoy all the lore it is perfect but I believe it has to be replayed many times to fully grasp it. It is a strategy game but you still role dice to determine your actions so there is a luck component. Blood rage is one of our favorite we recently discover it. Hive pocket looks useful for a trip, never played it.😊

[@OperationGameTable]

I am a LOTR fan, so I think I would like it 😄. Blood Rage is awesome 👍🏻. Good luck on the Hive giveaway!

[@zacharyvalentin]

Hive looks great! I tend to like a little bit of luck mixed into my games. I don't think I've ever played a strategy game under your definition enough to have it "figured out" but I feel like the pure strategy games can suffer a bit based on the experience of the players compared to each other.

[@EpicFamilyAdventures]

Good point 👍🏻

[@OperationGameTable]

I agree, that's where luck based games shine, for people that don't know the game, are new, or don't want a game they have to study, the higher luck makes the games more fun and balanced. Strategy games can be no fun at all if you keep getting destroyed by experienced players, happens to me on BGA all the time. But, that's what drives me to want to study and learn and become a better tactician! I like either depending on my mood. Good luck on the Hive giveaway 👍🏻.

[@user-df3gz4ow9d]

I’ve got a few years on you and I purchased axis and allies 30 years ago . Great game and yes certainly takes 3 hours minimum. I now play with my son we have played it 15 times of 3 years and I’m 4-11 so I’m not very good lol Axis and allies D-Day is my favourite game takes 45 min it’s turned based so if you guys want a “ mini axis and allies game “ highly recommend it . Great video 🎉

[@OperationGameTable]

Dang! Congrats on having a son willing to play such a long board game with you so many times! I'm hoping mine will when they're a bit older. Thanks for the tip on D-Day, I'll have to check it out!

[@user-df3gz4ow9d]

@@OperationGameTable sad thing is he was 11-14 years old . Smart kid smart then his old man

[@EpicFamilyAdventures]

Even more reason to congratulate! We don't live forever, our sons carry on our name and our memory! I hope all my kids are better than me.... The sad thing is when my wife beats me at games I've studied for weeks and she's never played and just chooses her moves based on the color... And destroys me 😬

[@don_dad]

The black and white look of Hive Carbon is awesome.

[@OperationGameTable]

That's what I thought at first too, which is why I got it, but after playing both I tend to prefer the colors, just easier to distinguish the pieces at a glance. But if you're going for purely classical aesthetics, the black and white is the way to go, good luck!

[@OperationGameTable]

@don_dad CONGRATULATIONS! You won HIVE! Please email me to verify it's you and to arrange shipping, my email can be found in the "About" section under "Details" on the home page of my KZbin channel. (Please email me or reply within 7 days or I'll have to pick a new winner)

[@don_dad]

I wanted you to know I got this. I am struggling to find the about section (may need to be on a PC instead of my phone).

[@OperationGameTable]

Just emailed you back! Congrats again! 👏🎉👏🎉👏

[@ginkid7006]

hive Well some of the games I'm not familiar like the hive. the axis & allies strike the most to me. I think in the future I will get one of that :) thank you for tis video

[@OperationGameTable]

I'm glad you liked it, good luck!

[@benlauson555]

Hive, I've never played it, but its been on the want to play list for a while haha. None of my gamer friends have it?!

[@OperationGameTable]

Good luck! It's fun 👍🏻

[@MK99112]

Just got into chess as an adult and now I’m racing to learn as much as I can because my 5 year old is asking for a family set. Seen Hive in a few stores but had no idea what it was so glad to hear it’s in the same spirit and recommended. Looks fun! Now if only my wife would play Blood Rage with me…

[@OperationGameTable]

Wow congrats! Welcome to the Chess Club! I don't play as much anymore as I used to but I'd like to get back into playing more. Good luck with the Hive giveaway!

[@scottn7175]

Not sure if you have tried Cry Havoc, but I really like that game. It is asymmetric area control.

[@OperationGameTable]

Thank you! My favorite comments are ones that tell me about a good game I haven't tried, because I want them all 😂. The quote "Cry 'Havoc!,' and let slip the dogs of war" is from William Shakespeare's play "Julius Caesar." It is spoken by the character Mark Antony following the assassination of Caesar, expressing his intent to unleash chaos and revenge against the conspirators. When I was in the Navy my ship's crew were called the "War Dogs" so I always liked that quote. I looked up the game on BGG and it seems like one I would like, so I added it to my list of games to look into more! Thanks for the tip!

[@fredericbarbe]

I appreciate your effort in establishing a definition to clarify which games would be included in a list like the top 10 strategy games. This is a commendable task, and your effort to define strategy using sources like game theory shows a serious commitment to the goal. However, I believe that the military definition of strategy is somewhat reductive. The issue may lie in trying to categorize games as strategic or not, rather than categorizing them by their mechanisms, as you suggest. Mechanisms such as worker placement, economic mechanisms, area control, deck building, and 4X, as well as hybrid games that incorporate multiple mechanisms, become more challenging to categorize. I don't think games should be categorized as strategic in opposition to these other categories. In my view, any game, regardless of its category, has a more or less interesting strategic space depending on the game itself. The broader the strategic space a game offers, the more it allows players to explore different and distinct avenues from game to game to achieve the game's goal. This strategy will be orchestrated by players' planning and the actualization of the strategy through a series of tactics that allow the deployment of the strategy and reactions to what other players are doing. In a broader and more accurate sense, a game is deemed strategic not by category but by the strategic space it offers. Certainly, games like Brass: Birmingham or Great Western Trail become strategic games, just as most games on your list, with military confrontations, offer extremely interesting strategic spaces.

[@OperationGameTable]

Thank you for such a detailed response! I agree with you that categorizing games by mechanism like worker placement, does not mean it doesn't belong on the list, if there was a worker placement game, that I felt was a top 10 strategy game, I would have put it on my list regardless of the fact it was worker placement. And I love worker placement games. Also I think I'm very classical when it comes to the sense and feel of a strategy game being military and tactical in nature or in the way it feels to play like Hive. It was hard picking only 10 games. What games would make your top 10?

[@TheDGomezzi]

I totally agree with your final selection of what a strategy game is, I just think you mis-described it a bit. When you said “the game shouldn’t be abstract like azul” and then picked go, I don’t think this is actually about the abstractness of the game. I think what you’re really getting at here is player interaction. Azul is a game with low player interaction - there are certainly ways that you can hurt the other players intentionally, but it’s not the main purpose of the game. You’re mostly working on creating your own optimal tile placement, with occasional bits of player interaction. A strategy game should be head to head, each trying to beat the other directly, and I think that’s what’s giving you that “military general” feeling.

[@OperationGameTable]

That's a good way to describe it! I actually really like Azul, and technically Chess is an abstract game too. Player interaction would have been a better way to describe it, you're right 👍🏻

[@PBMatthews254]

Hive looks great! Always fun to have multiple versions of a game cosmetically. Every person will have their own preference and it showcases their personality in a way. Really enjoyed the list! I got axis and allies zombies as a gift for Christmas and have still yet to play it. Ever played that version? Twilight imperium is my all day big game but I've only played it once so far haha. Planning out a second game sometime soon. Ever try Santorini? I thought of that game multiple times as you were talking about hive and chess.

[@OperationGameTable]

No I've never played Axis & Allies zombies, I don't see the point in combining the two themes so I probably wouldn't buy it for myself, that being said I don't want to say anything bad about a game I haven't played, it might be great. Twilight Imperium is on my list of games to try, it's such a long game and long teach, but I definitely want to try it one day. I've heard a lot of good things about Santorini, also haven't played it yet, but I will when I get the chance. Good luck on the Hive giveaway!

[@PBMatthews254]

@@OperationGameTable I have no reference point at all for axis and allies games so getting it to the table will be fun. Glad it seems to have a little less luck in it than risk does. Dice rolling for strength is def not something I'm super excited about. Complete opposite of strategy to me. Santorini is great for sure. Yes twilight imperium is a beast. I basically need to relearn it at this point since it's been a couple years since I've played it.

[@PBMatthews254]

@@OperationGameTable thanks for the opportunity in the giveaway!

[@EpicFamilyAdventures]

​@@PBMatthews254 To set your mind even more at ease, I would say Axis & Allies has MUCH LESS luck, when played with low odds/ tournament rules for dice. Essentially the battle is decided, the dice only select the number of survivors from a very slim margin of error, 1/6 to 6/6, as the remainder of troops after the simple math decides the battle. It's harder to explain and easier to show. I suggest watching a few videos or trying it online to see what I mean. I would say Risk is 50/50 Strategy vs Luck. Axis & Allies is 90% Strategy , 10% Luck.

[@PBMatthews254]

@@EpicFamilyAdventures that's great to hear! Def more excited to try it now. Don't mind luck in games but strategy def needs to out weight it by quite a bit and mitigations and smart choices to even lessen the luck is nice. ☺️. Thanks for sharing!

[@OdonataCreations]

Hive ~ I raise tarantulas & love bugs. How I don't already own Hive....I have no idea! Thanks for a chance to win a copy!

[@OperationGameTable]

Hey! I just picked the winners yesterday, sorry you missed it, but only one of the winners has replied back, if the second winner doesn't reply after 7 days I'll pick a new winner so you could still have a chance if that happens 👍🏻

[@Emeeem]

Agreed on Santorini but it is a challenge to find! And I have played Hive once and was on the fence. But now that Hive pops up on so many lists including this, I am thinking it would be a good add!

[@OperationGameTable]

I've picked up and looked at Santorini so many times in the store... And always put it back... It's the cartoonish artwork that is holding me back lol, I'm sure it's a good game and will probably get it the next time I see it just to try, since I've heard so many good things about it.

[@PBMatthews254]

I had no idea Santorini was hard to find. I purchased mine way back when it released. It's well regarded so I'm not sure why they aren't keeping it fully in stock.

[@Whoatemychipz]

Think I'll check out hive

[@OperationGameTable]

Love your enthusiasm 👍🏻😂

[@Hanes.Review]

how about Pathogen? is it count as strategy game?

[@OperationGameTable]

I don't know that one

[@michaelhannell4083]

Agree with chess being number 1. I am surprised that War of Whispers didnt make the bottom or honorable mention. Also i have never played any version of hive so i cant say if its good or not.

[@OperationGameTable]

I haven't played War of Whispers but I definitely want to try it!

[@alcouture]

Hive has been on my watch list, interesting to see it on your top 10 strategic games. A game with over 50 million players should have made this list, Magic the Gathering is definitely worth a mention.

[@OperationGameTable]

I'm so glad you mentioned Magic. MTG has been on my wish list for a while. The fact that you say it should be on my strategic games list caught me by surprise. But I can't disagree until I try it. I've tried playing online and didn't get into it, I feel like if I tried it in person I would like it. The only thing holding me back is the cost, and the fact that all they have to do is make new cards or change the rules and everything changes. That's what killed me with X-wing. I loved it, but every new ship or new rule changed the game, meaning you had to keep buying more to stay winning. I'm interested in your thoughts on that.

[@alcouture]

@@OperationGameTable I completely agree with you on the cost aspect of this game. It does (did) become a lifestyle game for me. I moved over to board games to include my wife in a hobby that we can both share. One can argue that MTG has too much of a luck element in it to fit in your definition of "Strategic game", but this is usually mitigated by good deck building which is a beast of a hurdle to overcome for new players. I suggest Commander preconstructed starter decks to play a more casual and social version of the game. (Commander - a 4 player game format) Commander preconstructed decks can be found starting from $20. Commander however would deviate from the defined "strategic game" since diplomacy becomes more relevant, but much more interesting from my point of view.

[@avalynncirce5187]

I played Hive for the first time last week and found it to be very stressful. Each choice felt like it was life or death.

[@OperationGameTable]

Oh no! Maybe next time put on some Zen music, lavender infuser and have some chamomile tea ☕. I can see how it could be stressful, since each move matters a lot. But I think it's also related to the skill level of your opponent. At equal skill levels it shouldn't be too stressful, but playing a more experienced opponent would definitely make each move feel like life or death. Hope you keep playing, watch some strategy videos or play on BGA, there's some good tips out there on good openings and tactics, I'm sure you'll overcome the anxiety with more practice 👍🏻

[@avalynncirce5187]

@OperationGameTable I had a similar experience with Dominant Species and now it is one of my favorite games 😄

[@craigraley4228]

Finally!! 100% agree with this. Every game on this list is greatness. I am a huge fan of Blood Rage and actually prefer Ankh (especially for two players) over Kemet. May I suggest you give Sovereign Chess a try. It is awesome, brings multiple “armies” into two player chess.

[@OperationGameTable]

Thank you 🙏 I haven't played Ankh yet but it's on my list of games to play. Sovereign chess sounds interesting, but it sounds complex, I still need to master classic chess.

[@craigraley4228]

I thought the same when I first saw Sovereign Chess, but it is very easy and fun as long as you know basic chess. If your piece is on a colored square you also control that color pieces. As with normal chess, the hardest part is finding someone to play it with. 😂

[@DeepFriedDave]

Other great strategy games include Las Vegas Royale, El Grande, Tammany Hall, Hansa Teutonica, and Alien Frontiers. I would have picked those waaay before games like Axis and Allies and War Chest.

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks for the additional suggestions! I only played Hansa Teutonica once, and haven't tried El Grande yet, I own it but it's among about 10 games on my shelf of shame I haven't played yet! If I make this list again a year from now I'm sure there'll be some changes.

[@mammabahama4463]

Hive looks like a great game! Love the pocket version.

[@OperationGameTable]

It's definitely a lot of fun, good luck!

[@OperationGameTable]

@mammabahama4463 CONGRATULATIONS! You won HIVE! Please email me to verify it's you and to arrange shipping, my email can be found in the "About" section under "Details" on the home page of my KZbin channel. (Please email me or reply within 7 days or I'll have to pick a new winner)

[@mammabahama4463]

Wow!!! Thank you so much!!! We can’t wait to play Hive. It’ll be fun to learn a new game 🤗

[@OperationGameTable]

Have you emailed me? I haven't received it. Please email me at [e-mail] and I'll get your shipping info, congrats again!

[@mammabahama4463]

Yes, I emailed you when I saw that I’d won the game. I can try it again though if it didn’t go through. Thanks again, we’re really looking forward to getting the game.

[@Savagefred]

"All games have strategy in them" you solved your own problem 10 seconds into the video lol

[@OperationGameTable]

Yes I did lol

[@vzjrz]

I've always always wanted to play HIVE and feel those bakelite tokens.

[@OperationGameTable]

Good luck!

[@lone_pathfinder]

I agree with Chess. The others not so much. But I understand your choices. I would add 2 to the list, one being Eastern/Western/Mega Empires where you lead your tribe from Stone Age to Iron Age with up 18 opponents. This has strategy, trading, technology. But since trading is heavily dependant on strategy, which leads to buying tech and that drives your strategy, it is mostly about strategy. Next I would recommend Mythic Battles (Pantheon and/or Ragnarock and/or soon to be released Isfet - Greek, Norse, Egyptian mythology wars) very close to War Chest in style but based heavily in history. If you want to teach your kids about Historical mythology, look no further.

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks for the tips on the Mega Empires series. It looks like my kind of game, surprised it's not higher rated on BGG, do you know why? I'm assuming the long play time. My favorite kind of games are 4x games like civilization and this seems like my type. Also the Mythic Battles games. Those look like my kind of game too. That's the problem with this hobby, too many good games, not enough time to play them all!

[@ShadowParalyzer]

Although I like Chess, if I were to play Devil's Advocate, I must recognize that the reason I even know the rules of Chess is simply a cultural reason that my Elementary School had a Chess set. And as a thought experiment: If Chess were invented in the 21st century, I don't think it would necessarily do all that well when there are so many other games to compete against. Chess had the advantage of time; it originated a long time ago. But I must speculate: If board games are getting better over time due to designers learning from past mistakes, creating new ideas, and standing on the shoulders of giants, then isn't it likely that there are games that are better designed than Chess but simply lacked the time and a large community to elevate its status?

[@OperationGameTable]

Good point, I like the way you think. I'm not sure where chess would rank, it's hard to think about it like that because I love the game and have read so many books, it wouldn't have had so many books had it just been invented, not sure where I'd have ranked it had it been as new as the others.

[@georgevassilev3122]

Lovely video and I like the approach, like you're taking it very seriously! Just one thing, please don't use ai generated art, there's plenty of free open source art out there

[@OperationGameTable]

Thanks for the tip! I haven't been very impressed with the ai generated art either :(

[@lone_pathfinder]

Forgot to add, would have loved Hive but could not be bothered since by the time I woke up there were 20 others clambering fot it. Unless you want to post up at 3 am I'll not have much of a chance of winning at UTC +11

[@OperationGameTable]

No worries, you're entered in the drawing, I'm not doing the random draw for a few more days. Two winners will be chosen from everyone that mentioned Hive.

[@MaksimMessing]

So what is than the difference to tactics?

[@OperationGameTable]

Strategy is the overall plan or goal, while tactics are the specific actions taken to achieve that strategy. For example, in chess, a strategy might be to control the center of the board, while tactics could involve specific moves like using a pawn to capture an opponent's piece to achieve that control. Or using a knight to fork the king and the rook, or a bishop to pin a piece to the king. Strategy is a longer term overarching goal while tactics are short term quick methods to hopefully achieve that goal. I feel like good strategy games offer a variety of both tactics and strategy.

[@robertthurman9866]

Star wars Rebellion was FFG's attempt to remake War of the Ring as a Star Wars game. And did they ever hit the ball out of the park on this one. Amazing game. It is the Star Wars universe in a box. What side does you wife like to play?

[@OperationGameTable]

We switch it up, but I think she prefers the dark side 😳

[@richardhutnik]

Strategy is applied to other areas besides military. A game like Brass: Birmingham is an ECONOMIC strategy game. It is meant to differentiate from tactics. Saying a game is a top strategy game doesn't mean it will appeal to everyone.

[@OperationGameTable]

Thank you for the reply! I love Brass, and I love studying brass strategies and playing and going for different production choices which especially changes based on player count. But the word "Strategy" literally means "The Art of a Military General" when looking at its Greek origins. I like classical definitions and believe the original definitions are the most accurate which is what I tried to stick to for this list. So I only picked games that made me feel like a military leader. If my list was titled "Top 10 Most Strategic Economy Games" then Brass definitely would have made the list, because I would primarily label it as an Economic game. Players compete to develop, build, and establish their industries and network in various markets like coal, iron, and beer. It involves a mix of resource management, network building, and strategic investment. And I love it! There's a lot of games that I love that have deep strategy but aren't what I consider to be strategy games, but that's because I prefer the classic definition of what a strategy game truly ought to be. Thanks again for the reply, I'm always curious to know what other people think, and I knew my classical stance might ruffle some feathers! 😊

[@flashbond]

You haven't played Catan, have you :)

[@OperationGameTable]

Only a few hundred times, way back when it was called Settlers of Catan, my kids love Catan Jr

[@DeepFriedDave]

What about Imperial?

[@OperationGameTable]

Never played it. Do you recommend it? I see it came out in 2006 and was reimplemented by Imperial 2030 in 2009. But I don't really know much about either.

[@DeepFriedDave]

@@OperationGameTable Imperial is the result when Risk, Diplomacy and Monopoly somehow have a three-way baby. You are a banker and the world is at war. You don't really care who wins, as long as you get to lend them the money and become rich.Thus, your allegiance to a particular country can shift from one turn to the next all in the name of sweet profit and VP. Yeah, I recommend it!

[@OperationGameTable]

Sounds interesting, thanks for the tip!

[@ourunfilteredlifepodcast]

What a very well thought out video. I appreciate your hard work. Your wife ia a lucky lady 😍

[@OperationGameTable]

Don't tell my wife, but you're kinda cute 😜

[@ourunfilteredlifepodcast]

@@OperationGameTable I am your wife!! 😘😘

[@maachew]

Hive, really like Blood Rage and SW Rebellion! Id also add Ankh to the list

[@OperationGameTable]

A few other people also mentioned Ankh, I haven't played it yet but it's on my list to try! Good luck 👍🏻

[@Alexdruchii]

Chess is a tactic game, not a strategy game.

[@OperationGameTable]

I think there's both. I think that every move can be tactical, but that deciding which opening to use, based on who you're playing and what you know about their strengths and weaknesses, whether they like playing a closed or open game, kingside or Queen side, what their favorite openings are or their lack of knowledge of other openings, is all strategy. Deciding whether to initiate a trade war and move to the end game, trade queens etc., is all strategy.