Strategy games offer a unique mental challenge for gamers who want to engage in critical thinking and decision planning. The competitive and often dynamic nature of strategy games offers opportunities for skill improvement and the thrill of outsmarting opponents. If you are looking to challenge your brain a bit we have you covered. Here at Hardcore iOS we have composed the best Iphone strategy games of 2024.
15. Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is a turn-based strategy game developed by Firaxis Games and published by 2K Games. In Civilization VI, players take on the role of a leader of a historical civilization and guide it from the ancient era to the modern age.
They must manage resources, research technologies, build cities, engage in diplomacy and wage wars in an effort to achieve victory through various means such as culture, science, diplomacy, religion or domination. Civilization VI is known for its deep and complex gameplay, intricate diplomacy mechanics and the ability to customize your civilization’s development throughout the ages.
14. The Bonfire 2: Uncharted Shores
The Bonfire 2: Uncharted Shores is an award-winning survival city building simulation game for mobile devices developed by Xigma Games. Players must design and build a city, manage resources and workers and explore a procedurally generated world map. They must also defend their city from monsters and raiders at night.
The Bonfire 2 features a variety of unique buildings and resources as well as a wide range of villagers with unique personalities. Players can also explore dungeons to obtain rare resources and uncover the mystery of the Bonfire.
13. Marvel Snap
Marvel Snap is a free-to-play, fast-paced, card-based strategy game featuring iconic Marvel characters and locations developed by Nuverse. Players build a deck of 10 cards, each with a unique power and ability. On your turn, play one card at one of three locations to increase your strength at that location. The player with the most power at a location at the end of the match wins that location.
The first player to win two out of three locations wins the game. Matches typically take less than three minutes to complete. Marvel Snap is an excellent game for fans of Marvel comics and superheroes. Anyone who enjoys fast-paced, strategic card games will have a blast.
12. Hearthstone
Hearthstone is a popular digital collectible card game (CCG) developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. Set in the Warcraft universe, it features a vast array of characters, spells and creatures from the franchise. Players build decks of cards representing heroes, spells and minions and engage in strategic one-on-one battles against other players or computer-controlled opponents.
Hearthstone’s accessible yet deep gameplay mechanics include managing resources, crafting decks, and outsmarting opponents in turn-based matches. Hearthstone offers regular expansions and updates. This ensures a dynamic and ever-evolving card pool, and it has a competitive esports scene with tournaments and a ranking system.
11. Polytopia
Polytopia, also known as The Battle of Polytopia, is a popular turn-based strategy game developed by Midjiwan AB. Players control a tribe and engage in a 4X-style gameplay experience, focusing on exploration, expansion, resource management, and combat. Polytopia offers a variety of tribes, each with its unique strengths and abilities, providing diverse strategies for players to master.
Its minimalist yet charming isometric graphics and simple user interface make it accessible to a broad audience. Polytopia’s combination of strategic depth, multiplayer modes and engaging gameplay has garnered a dedicated fanbase and critical acclaim in mobile gaming.
10. Infinite Magicraid
Team up with a group of heroes and go on a journey to defeat the heinous god Lihem and save the world. Developed and created by DHGames, Infinite Magicraid takes heavy inspiration from RAID: Shadow Legends regarding its hero factions, equipment and team composition mechanics.
Despite this, the game is able to combine all of these elements into something completely different and fun. It boasts exceptional 3D graphics with gorgeous cutscenes and the storyline is engaging and keeps you invested throughout.
Furthermore, the game is very generous in giving you powerful legendary heroes for free. That way you don’t have to pay for anything and still have a capable team. If you’re a big fan of RAID or strategy games, consider giving Infinite Magicraid a shot.
9. Endless Road: Reborn
This roguelike card game allows players to create their own unique strategies to test their survival skills and tackle interesting challenges while trekking along an endless road. Players can choose between eight different characters to play with and each character has their own special skills. Furthermore, you’re also given the option to pick from various equipment, accessories and gemstones to strengthen your cards and stats.
Endless Road also has tabletop game maps based on RPGs with a tabletop gameplay style. Each map has randomly generated content to keep you on your toes and to give you a fresh experience each time you play.
What makes Endless Road so fun is that the game encourages you to strategize and come up with different ways to defeat enemies. Winning battles and deploying the same tired tactics over and over again will only get you so far. By playing creatively, all playable characters will show off their true strength and potential, allowing the game to become incredibly fun. Alongside its beautiful graphics and superb music, Endless Road: Reborn is one of the best strategy titles you’ll find on iPhone.
8. Into the Breach
A game that’s only available for Netflix members, Into the Breach allows players to lead a team to save the world from alien threats. Engage in turn-based combat and build powerful mechs to battle against enemies, defend cities and plan the ultimate strategy to defeat your opponents. While the game is immensely brutal, the short length of battles and a limitless variety of playthroughs make the game a seriously addictive experience. With exciting, challenging, thought-provoking and intensely rewarding gameplay, Into the Breach is a tactical gem that will keep you jumping back into the fray for more.
7. Heroes of Flatlandia
This epic turn-based strategy game takes you to the world of Flatlandia where you must lead your kingdom of elves, orcs, dwarfs and even the undead to war. From raising vigorous armies to unleashing powerful spells to seize victory over your enemies, Heroes of Flatlandia is a strategically rich, fun adventure that’ll keep you busy for quite some time.
The game also contains various maps to explore and even has a multiplayer mode where you can play against your friends. The controls are very simple as everything is controlled with just single taps. While Heroes of Flatlandia does feel like a clone of other games in its genre, such as Heroes of Might and Magic, the game has plenty to offer and the developer is constantly active and open to feedback. A solid recommendation for those looking for a fantasy-like strategy game to play.
6. Egypt: Old Kingdom
The history of Ancient Egypt is in the palm of your hands in this strategy title. Your job is to build Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, to its glory. Players must gather resources, deal with friendly and not-so-friendly neighbors, send expeditions to faraway regions and build up the Great Pyramids.
Old Kingdom is a wonderful game in that not only is it highly entertaining to play, the game is also a great way to learn about the history of Ancient Egypt and its people. While the game can get challenging at times, it never feels unfair. You’re given plenty to work with to overcome all obstacles. You just need to come up with the right strategy to achieve victory. For those wanting a strategy game that’s fun but also educational, Egypt: Old Kingdom is definitely one of the best you’ll find on the App Store.
5. ROME: Total War
If you’re someone who loves grand battles where acute strategies take center stage, this is the game for you. ROME: Total War sees you building and ruling a powerful empire by displaying your strength in difficult battles against enemy nations. Battles take place in real-time and are in 3D, which allows the game’s graphics and power to shine through. The gameplay is very addicting as strategies and battles are intensely detailed. While there are some issues with the touch controls, they are incredibly easy to use and the game will give you countless hours of fun and entertainment. This is an e xcellent strategy fans should not miss.
4. XCOM: Enemy Within
If you’re looking for an amazing strategy game to keep you busy for a long time, look no further than XCOM: Enemy Within. Newcomers are especially in for a treat as not only can you experience the original game in all of its glory, but you also have the added benefit of the expansion and its insane amount of content.
XCOM: Enemy Within is a standalone expansion of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, 2012’s strategy game of the year. This game features the core gameplay of Enemy Unknown but with more fun and engaging content. In fact, the heap of content the game gives you is what makes this standalone so incredible.
With new soldiers, abilities, maps, enemies, missions and a multiplayer mode, XCOM: Enemy Within takes the game to a new level of replayability and challenge. A game that was already incredible to begin with is now made even better thanks to the plethora of excellent content. It allows XCOM: Enemy Within to provide a fresh gaming experience for the strategy enthusiast and achieves a level of intuitive complexity that all games in the genre should aspire to.
3. Ticket to Earth
A tactical puzzle strategy game where settlers are trying to return to Earth but must go on a 10-year journey to reach the serene blue ball of water. To make matters worse, only a few are worthy enough to afford a Ticket to Earth, while the rest must remain in one of Earth’s dying colonies. Ticket to Earth fuses RPG, puzzle and strategy into one stunning package. Players can obtain matching titles to move their characters and change their powers as they see fit.
Moreover, Ticket to Earth possesses high replayability as it contains over 120 missions to complete and many strategies players can utilize to their advantage. Alongside its enthralling story, Ticket to Earth provides a ticket to the third-best iPhone Strategy titles iPhone has to offer.
2. Kingdom Two Crowns
This side-scrolling strategy game initially launched on PC and consoles, but eventually ported its way over to mobile devices. In Kingdom Two Crowns, you play as a monarch who must recruit new citizens into your empire. You start off with barely anything except for a few coins and some land to get you going. As you progress through the game and add more villagers to your empire, your kingdom will gradually expand and become more formidable. Become the strongest empire in the world and defend your kingdom from “The Greed,” a group that raids at night and tries to steal your resources.
Kingdom Two Crowns sports beautiful graphics and runs very well for a mobile game. The gameplay is also significantly engaging and while it’s simple overall, it has a ton of replay value. Well worth the $7 price tag, Two Crowns easily earns its spot on this fabulous list.
1. XCOM 2 Collection
What makes XCOM 2 Collection rank at the top of our list is how it strives to push the mobile gaming industry further. Feral Interactive, the developers for the game, has created some of the most outstanding strategic options you’ll ever find in a mobile game of this genre. There are countless methods at your disposal on how to approach scenarios and achieve victory. Moreover, the game is optimized for iPhone and boasts a redesigned interface that ensures a smooth gameplay experience.
While XCOM 2 Collection is expensive, the price is worth it due to the quality and polish of the game. Considering all the content and features the game has, it’s easily one of the most complete mobile games out there and well worth your time.
Enjoyed the list? Check out our take on the Best iPhone Games of 2024 and the Best iPhone RPGs of 2024.
Android users, head on over to Hardcore Droid and check out their best of 2024s: the Best Android Games of 2024, the Best Android Strategy Games of 2024 and the Best Android RPGs.
