The Steam Strategy Fest sale is here, with discounts on some of the best strategy games on PC. The usual suspects are all here, from XCOM to Frostpunk, but there’s a few surprising inclusions this year as well. Newly released Shadow Gambit is discounted, Square Enix threw in a recent game for good measure, and there’s an overlooked gem from some of the Civilization makers as well. Some of them even work on Steam Deck.
The Steam Strategy Fest sale runs from now through Sep. 4, 2023, so if you’re planning on picking anything up, keep that in mind so the deals don’t slip away on you.
Crusader Kings 3 - $34.99
Crusader Kings 3 is such a wonderful mess of a game. The basic idea is that you establish a lasting dynasty that stretches across medieval Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia, which sounds like your standard grand strategy game. It isn’t. It’s more of a dark life simulator instead.
Lifestyle choices, relationships. and interactions with peasants, advisors, and enemies all have unpredictable effects. You might fight the pope, create a family that’s happy until your kids try to kill each other – and you – or haphazardly conquer your way across the world.
It’s an exceptional game, and you can get it for $34.99 on Steam.
Age of Wonders 4 - $39.99
Age of Wonders 4 throws a generous helping of fantasy and, well, wonder in the mold that Civilization made. You pick your faction, ranging from the usual fantasy races to warrior frogs and more, and set out to expand your influence over the world. Unpredictable interactions with allies and enemies, and the unwelcome intrusion of random events keep every round fresh. It encourages experimentation and rewards curiosity, and it’s just so darn creative.
You can pick it up for $39.99.
Victoria 3 - $34.99
Victoria 3 unfolds in the turbulent 19th century, and it delves surprisingly deep into the social and cultural developments that shaped that period and our modern world. There aren’t many games like Victoria 3, and you might even learn something while you’re at it.
It’s on sale for 30 percent off, which is a steeper discount than we even saw during the Summer Sale.
Battle Brothers - $14.99
Battle Brothers is a unique twist on strategy. It’s a turn-based game where you control a band of mercenaries in medieval Europe as they travel across procedurally generated maps and hack each other to pieces using period-accurate weapons and warfare methods. Like Fire Emblem, your heroes die forever if they fall in battle. The stakes are high, but the satisfaction of winning is even higher.
You can grab Battle Brothers for $14.99.
Triangle Strategy - $29.99
Square Enix struck again with its unorthodox naming conventions, but wonky nomenclature aside, Triangle Strategy is a brilliant tactics game. It follows your usual “small kingdom overrun by an expansionist neighbor” story, but throws in some important choices at key moments to help keep the narrative interesting. Add a cast of charming characters and a string of smart battles, and you’ve got a modern classic – all for $29.99.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew - $35.99
Shadow Gambit literally just launched, but it’s on sale for $35.99, coinciding with developer Mimimi’s closure announcement. Shadow Gambit is Mimimi at their best, a riotously fun pirate strategy game with brilliant characters and top-notch stealth tactics. Do yourself a favor, and grab this if you can.
XCOM 2 Collection - $12.04
The premier squad-based tactics game is on sale, and so are all of its expansions. XCOM 2 is a meaty experience on its own, as you and your band of doughty humans fight to save the planet from alien invasions. Its War of the Chosen expansion is even better, though, with almost a whole separate game’s worth of battles and some devilishly clever maps.
You can get the bundle for $12.04 or the base game for $5.99.
Moonbreaker - $19.79
If you combine a turn-based RPG with a tabletop game and lavishly detailed miniatures, you’d get something like Moonbreaker. Paint and kit out your figure, customize them in battle, and then watch the story unfold around them as it’s brought to life by seasoned voice actors and some pretty slick scenes. Just bear in mind that Moonbreaker is still in early access, so you might run into some bugs.
It’s going for $19.79.
Baldur's Gate 2 Enhanced Edition - $6.99
Is Baldur’s Gate 2 a strategy game? Well, Steam apparently thinks so during this sale, so if you want to see the saga of Bhaal and some of the backstory that lurks underneath Baldur’s Gate 3, this is certainly the time to do it. The classic RPG and its expansions are discounted to $6.99.
Frostpunk - $5.99
Frostpunk blends survival with city building and grand strategy, and the result is simply splendid. You lead a small band of survivors in a future where the world is covered in ice, and while the focus is firmly on constructing a functioning civilization, you’ll also have to arbitrate your people’s problems and pay attention to the social situation. It adds a thoughtful extra layer and really helps set Frostpunk apart.
If that sounds good to you, you can get it for $5.99 or the season pass that includes Frostpunk‘s two expansions for $8.56.
Evil Genius 2 - $9.99
Evil Genius 2 throws the seriousness of grand strategy out the window in favor of something quirkier with a wry sense of fun. You play as, well, an evil genius, a criminal mastermind with ambitions of taking over the world, and divide your time between building an elaborate base and expanding your reach around the world. If you prefer a stronger emphasis on building in your strategy, this is definitely the one for you, and it’s down to $9.99.
Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition - $4.99
The best versions of one of the best strategy games is down to $4.99. Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition brings back everything from the award-winning original game and adds three new campaigns, four new civilizations, and support for 4K.
Stellaris - $11.99
Stellaris brings strategy to space, with an exceptional level of detail, complex systems, and a generous helping of exploration thrown in the mix. You create your own space civilization and venture into the unknown to make friends and foes – probably more foes – as you find your place in the galaxy. It’s a massive game, and you can get it for $11.99.
Old World - $29.99
Old World comes from some of the Civilization 4 devs, but goes deeper with better strategy and, more importantly, a more intimate approach to building a society. Success in Old World is as much about managing your relationships as it is making big choices and taking risks on the political map. It’s a special game, and you can grab it for $29.99.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
