5 Best Strategy Games Of 2026 (So Far)

Whether it's turn-based or real-time, we love strategy games of all shapes and sizes here at SVG. From strategy games like "Civilization" to squad-based experiences like "XCOM," the genre is a particularly malleable one. 2026 has seen its fair share of solid strategy games in all shapes and sizes, with even more to come. We've gathered our personal favorites of the genre from this year that every fan should add to their gaming playlist.

Eagerly anticipated titles like "Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave" aren't out yet, but there are plenty of fantastic alternatives while we wait. Whether it's other established franchises or indie titles that put their own fun twist on the genre, there is a lot to choose from. What these games share is an underlying emphasis on combat planning and coordination to secure victory. These are the five best strategy games of 2026 so far, each requiring your tactical cunning to come out on top.

Not to be confused with the similarly titled board game, "Strategos" instead refers to the ancient Greek term for strategy. Developed by Strategos Games, the title is a real-time military tactics game set during the age of antiquity. The game features hundreds of units across scores of factions battling for supremacy across a number of sweeping battlefields. Players control these massive armies like an armchair general, positioning them and changing strategies as skirmishes rage on.

Admittedly, "Strategos" is a game that's still technically in early access, with its official release still a ways off. But we like what we've seen from the game so far and it'd have to go out of its way to squander its already visible potential. The game channels early real-time historical strategy games like "Fields of Glory" while adding new features to keep players coming for more. For fans looking for an alternative to "Total War," "Strategos" is certainly off to a promising start.

Another game that's currently in early access whose production we're watching with keen interest is "Menace." Developed by Overhype Studios, the game takes place in a distant future where lawlessness runs rampant on human colonies on frontier worlds. Players build up their mercenary company while commanding units on battlefields in turn-based combat. In between missions, players can train up and upgrade their units as they face everything from rival factions to an extraterrestrial threat.

There is still work that needs to be done getting "Menace" ready for its official launch, but there is a lot to enjoy in this early version of the game. The gameplay certainly feels reminiscent of "XCOM," complete with the usual ramp-up in difficulty making players think ever more carefully. The game also places an emphasis on players having to contemplate which missions to take, determining how the wider conflict unfolds. Another project that we'll be keeping a close eye on, "Menace" is shaping up to be a must-play for "XCOM" fans.

While it may not be cited among the best fantasy games of all time, "Heroes of Might and Magic" has a legacy spanning over 30 years. The series' latest entry, "Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era," is still technically in its early access phase (it's an unfortunate theme with the genre, but we stand by our picks) and it shows a lot of promise already. Like prior games in the series, the player controls a selection of fantasy heroes, but also an entire growing township. The gameplay expands to building up the community while recruiting and honing an army to defend the town from all sorts of external threats.

With its blend of community-building, overworld exploration, and turn-based combat, there is so much going on with "Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era." Fortunately, the game manages to balance all of its varying gameplay mechanics well, even in its early access state. The depth in its gameplay systems are already evident and the game embraces the classic aesthetics that made it so beloved for decades. Poised to be a triumph when it eventually makes its official release, "Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era" is shaping up to be something special.

While a franchise like "Resident Evil" might not immediately scream at needing a strategy game spin-off, "Vultures: Scavengers of Death" fills that void in an unofficial capacity. A turn-based survival horror game, the indie title is developed by Team Vultures and wears its influences clearly on its sleeve. The game has players control specialists venturing into a city overridden by ravenous mutants as they search for the cure for the horrific contagion. As with the survival horror games that inspired it, resources are scarce, making players think decisively of how to proceed.

With its turn-based combat and two-character scope, "Vultures: Scavengers of Death" is a much more intimate strategy game than other titles on this list. But the tactical elements are certainly present, from how players should cautiously progress through levels to how to manage their resources. The game also embraces its chunky '90s aesthetics beautifully, evoking those early 3D titles as the genre gained popularity. "Vultures: Scavengers of Death" makes excellent use of its tight focus while providing a strategic twist to its familiar premise.

One medium where the "Star Wars" franchise has been thriving has been within the gaming industry, the mixed reception of 2024's "Star Wars Outlaws" notwithstanding. The space opera franchise's latest title, "Star Wars Zero Company," is a squad-based strategy game set during the final days of the Clone Wars. The titular Zero Company is a group of mercenaries who find themselves caught up in battles poised to shape the fate of the galaxy. Gameplay has squads move and attack across grid-based maps, not unlike "XCOM," with players improving their characters between missions.

While it's still relatively new, "Zero Company" has the potential to be recognized among the best "Star Wars" games. There hasn't been a strategy-driven "Star Wars" game in years and "Zero Company" finds a way to make the experience feel exciting all over again. The story and design also utilize the Clone Wars era well, organically connecting to the wider mythos while adding something new. Proving there's still plenty of interesting directions to take in that galaxy far, far away, "Star Wars Zero Company" is one of the most captivating games in the franchise in years.