Strategic games that exceeded expectations

Summary

• The fortress surprised players with his depth, story and graphics and became a classic that earned a remaster.

• These are billions of challenging and unforgivable RTS experiences that resisted players' expectations.

• In spite of the initial skepticism, it has become a great game with unique playing, surprising players.

Since the middle of the 90's. strategic games They were known for their complex mechanics and detailed systems that force players to plan every transition to overcome their opponents. With such a depth of only a few selected games, the brand really hit. Even less will go over and behind.

Whether they introduce innovative mechanics that cause skepticism or try to restart their beloved franchise, many games have been underestimated, only to the surprise of players. Even titles that were expected to be good have become a classic defining genres and surprised all their permanent impact.

7

Strength

More than just the builder of the castle

At first sight, Strength It looked like a simple castle builder, but Studios Firefly brought a surprisingly deep and absorbing strategy. The RTS mixture, the defense of the castle and the construction of cities, along with the innovative map editor, the engaging story and the impressive graphics for 2001, captured players and critics out of sight.

Stacked with these great features, Strength Over a million copies continued on sale and was even nominated for the strategic game of the year in 2001. Only few expected it to have such a lasting impact. This title eventually received HD re -release in 2013 and Remaster in 2023 with Fortress: Definitive edition.

6

They are billions

Steampunk, Zombies and Strategy

When They are billions He was first revealed, it seemed like another strategic game in real time with an unusual concept. However, even those who have high expectations could not anticipate how fun, addictive and tense it would prove. They are billions Then he became one of the most demanding and unique RTS games in the years.

They are billions It is not for the weak heart. It is an unforgivable game, even a single zombie capable of smoking the whole colony. This feature game, which plays with a high share, offered a refreshing change for the genre of strategy, which has been easier to grow over the years when developers tried to reach a wider audience.

5

Under violation

Good things come in small packages

Made developers FTL: Faster than Light, Many players and critics expected Under violation Being a great game. But when it was revealed that the battle grid would be small.

But once Under violation They were released, players found out how fun and difficult the game was. A small grid was not a disadvantage; Instead, the game was similar to chess and forced the players to carefully consider every decision. Although players expected a good game, its unique style and a pleasant game turned into something great.

4

The company of the heroes

More than mere World War II

When The company of the heroes He was first released, setting up the Second World War became somewhat overused in strategic games in real time, which led to a minor excitement among fans. However, it quickly turned out that this game was different from the rest of its impressive graphics, angles of film cameras and a destructive environment.

The company of the heroes She was also one of the first RTS games to create the basic and edging of the basic mechanics of the game, a function that would continue to inspire many other titles. The enemy and friendly units were intelligent, even looking for coverage when they were under the fire, causing the experience to feel absorbing. Almost two decades later, The company of the heroes He is still considered one of the best RTS games of all time, something no one would have anticipated when starting.

A game that revived the xcom franchise

When XCOM: The enemy unknown He was first revealed in 2010, fans and critics had mixed feelings about whether it could live according to the legacy of the originals. Sure, developers could play it safely and simply copied the original games with updated graphics to please long -time fans. Instead, however, they took everything that caused the originals so popular and rebuilt them from the ground up.

One of the most surprising aspects of the game is how difficult it can be. Limited curves, RNG and Permadeath for soldiers add a high level of tension. New combat scenarios, such as bomb, hostage extraction and hostile capture, introduced the franchise a fresh layer of strategy.

2

Homeworld

The first game that has a real 3D space fight

Homeworld She was one of the most ambitious games of her time, the first fully 3D strategic game in real time. Initial skepticism was understandable because many players and critics feared that the 3D movement would be too complex and confusing. But after the release, Homeworld It turned out that there was nothing short stunning.

The control of spacecraft as primary units was still a new concept and Homeworld“The fully 3D environment, it was visually spectacular, especially in 1999. The 3D environment in combination with innovative playing, a convincing story and one of the best soundtracks in the history of games, made it impossible for Homeworld not exceed the expectations.

1

SID Meier's Alpha Centauri

More than just “civilization in space”

At the beginning of the 90s. Strategic games were still largely anchored in historical environments and in real conflicts. So when Alpha Centauri Many fans that started in 1999 have rejected it like nothing but sci-fi reskin Civilization. But they could not be wrong. What looked like a cheap spin-off, quickly overcame the expectations of everyone.

Her convincing narration in itself earns a place in historical books, but it was an innovative terravy mechanics, great building the world and competent hostile factions that created Alpha Centauri A truly refreshing experience. To date Alpha Centauri Continue to shape modern strategic games and strengthen your place among the biggest titles of all time of all time.