The best strategy and simulation games of 2023 on PS5, PS4, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

In a splendid year 2023, as it could not be otherwise, the strategy and simulation genre has done fantastically well, in practically all its aspects. We started reviewing the best games of each genre in this last week of the year, we will have a look at the likes of role-playing, shooters, or sports and driving, but for now today it’s time to review the great games for the most thoughtful gamers.

From here, get your mouse and keyboard (or controller, why not?) ready not to miss the best strategy and simulation games of 2023, find war games like Company of Heroes 3, pure management games like Football Manager 2024, or others that include both elements like Age of Wonders 4. Have fun.

Company of Heroes 3

Relic Entertainment’s saga has been a reference for war strategy fans for years. Set in the Mediterranean (Italy, to be exact), Company of Heroes 3 offers great possibilities in both combat and strategic decisions, making it the most complete release to date. To the delight of fans of the World War II context, Relic has created scenarios that are ravaged by the conflict, yet rich in detail. Now, with the recent Hummer & Shield expansion, it’s even bigger and more indispensable.

Football Manager 2024

There is not much to explain when we talk about Football Manager 2024. It has reached such a depth in its database that it is already used by professional clubs and not a few coaches. The British company Sports Interactive has been delighting millions of football fans for years (because they are) who want to take their team to the elite of world football, including several new features in this season, which was assumed a priori of the transition. Set-piece creator, more demanding transfer market, setting individual goals...

Jagged Alliance 3

A saga with almost 20 years behind it has seen this year a very complete delivery in terms of combat strategy, although with a slightly more casual atmosphere than other proposals such as Company of Heroes 3. Set in a fictional country where the president has been kidnapped and a coup has been staged with the help of a paramilitary group, we will be in the skin of a group of mercenaries hired by the president’s family to recover him. From here we find ourselves in a game that is not only to control units on the battlefield but also to establish relationships with other characters, improve the arsenal, and customize our troops with perks... until completing one of the most amazing games of the genre in 2023.

Advance Wars 1 + 2: Re-Boot Camp

Although strategy is not one of Nintendo’s favorite genres, every time they have touched it, they have succeeded... almost as well as any other, to be honest. Whether we are talking about Fire Emblem or Pikmin, we are talking about sagas treated with the usual care of the Kyoto company, and of course, Advance Wars was no less, although unlike the previous two, it is practically forgotten when it comes to continuing with new installments. However, we should not disregard these fabulous remakes of two Game Boy Advance classics that remain as fresh as the first day, and far from what their visuals might suggest, they are as complex as they are difficult.

Age of Wonders 4

The mere mention of Paradox Interactive is enough to know that we are not talking about anything, and the seal of the Swedish publisher is an absolute guarantee of quality in the strategy genre. No less than 9 years after its third installment, Age of Wonders 4 enters through the eyes with a really attractive visual design, but when you start playing is when you realize that you are facing a demanding proposal as we are used to from Paradox. Complexity when it comes to managing our race and combat for all audiences (but in which you can delve to high levels) are its credentials.

Pikmin 4

And after talking about Advance Wars 1 + 2, how could we not talk about Pikmin 4? This fourth installment serves as a new beginning for the series, far from being a mere sequel to the no less fantastic Pikmin 3, which was originally released on Wii U and has a deluxe version for Nintendo Switch. Although limited by time, the freedom of exploration is significantly greater, but it is far from the only novelty: camera zoom, new controls, and a redesigned progression system complete the virtues that make it a must for Nintendo’s hybrid.

Aliens Dark Descent

Fortunately, Alien Isolation did justice to the Alien saga, a license that has traditionally not been well treated in video games. This year we can say that the other great title has arrived with Alien Dark Descent, undoubtedly a candidate for sleeper of the year thanks to a solid combination between XCOM and Darkest Dungeon. Similar to a dungeon crawler, we control our squad of four Colonial Marines in an extremely hostile environment where the Xenomorphs are just one of the many threats, although they are the main one. Aside from exploration, it is essential to know how to manage your soldiers and resources to get the most out of them in combat. A game that is also very long.

Last Train Home

Although it is the most modest game on the list, it is probably the most hostile, honoring the path that the Czech legionnaires represented in Last Train Home had to take. Undoubtedly, the main protagonist of the game is the train in which we travel, and we will have to manage as well as possible, since resources are scarce in a remarkable way, although it is true that we can explore the scenarios to find more. However, we will also have to face more than just enemy soldiers, we will have to face cold, hunger, disease, and even low morale. It is one of those games to take it easy, as there are many things to take into account to complete the journey successfully.