When it comes to strategy games on Mac, there are a lot of impressive choices. Some of these are available through Apple Arcade, while others are just a download away from the Mac App Store. Here are our current favorites.
Civilization V
When it comes to turn-based strategy games, you can't do better than Sid Meier's series of Civilization titles. In this fifth edition, you begin with 20 historical leaders, and your job is to slowly take over the world from the dawn of man into the space age. Along the way, you'll get to discover surprising new civilizations and wonders, excellent gameplay systems, and much more.
Warhammer Underworlds: Online is the new dice-and-cards strategy skirmish video game adapted from Games Workshop’s popular tabletop title – Warhammer Underworlds. It pits mighty warbands against one another in an eternal battle for Glory in the realms of the Age of Sigmar. In Total War: WARHAMMER, Creative Assembly’s Total War series joins with Games Workshop’s Warhammer Fantasy Battles. The result is a spellbinding game of grand strategy and high fantasy. In an age of relentless conquest, warring Races battle ceaselessly for control of the Old World.
Currently, Civilization V offers 10 in-app purchases, including Brave New World and Gods and Kings. With these options, you get to decide just how far you want to go through the game.
How far will you go?
Civilization V
Diplomacy or War?
Sid Meier's Civilization V offers a brilliant story that's advanced further with a lengthy listing of in-app purchases big and small.
Source: Aspyr Media, Inc.
And here we go again! Similar to the previous installments, Civilization VI has one goal for players: to create and maintain a lasting civilization. In this most recent installment, you achieve victory through military domination, technological superiority, or cultural influence. It offers a nice mix of new and old civilizations. There's also renewed emphasis on the terrain and fresh artificial intelligence mechanics for computer-controlled opponents.
The game's first expansion pack, Rise and Fall, features entry into a prosperous Golden Age and terrifying Dark Age. There's also a Heroic Age. The second expansion pack, The Gathering Storm, features ecosystem difficulties that could impact the entire planet, including floods, volcanoes, and more.
The newest in the series
Civilization VI
Bigger than ever
This game is the newest in the long Civilization series and was first introduced to Mac in 2016.
Source: Dinosaur Polo Club
Being stuck in traffic is never fun unless you're playing Mini Motorways! The strategy simulation game gives you the power to keep existing roads clear while also expanding your digital city by adding new locations and road networks.
Featuring different color modes, including colorblind and night, Mini Motorways is for anyone with an imagination. Better still, like all Apple Arcade games, it comes without in-app purchases or any additional costs.
They will come
Mini Motorways
Create your city
As your city expands, make sure it remains easy to get from point A to point B. Otherwise, no one will be happy.
Source: Feral Interactive
Offering 3D real-time battles on land and at sea, Total War: Empire allows you to lead one of 12 great nations. Your success is determined by your diplomatic skills and military force, when necessary. Set in the 18th century, the game allows you to conquer overseas territories to establish colonies and profitable trade networks. Along the way, you'll need to learn more about your enemies and beat them on the battlefield accordingly.
First introduced on Mac in 2014, Total War: Empire is the fifth installment in the Total War series, which, as a whole, comes recommended. The turn-based strategy game was released for Windows in 2009. Before purchasing the game, just check the Mac App Store for compatibility with your Mac, since some older machines aren't supported.
Non-stop action
Total War: Empire
How will you succeed?
Empire is a thrilling installment in the Total War series. Just make sure your Mac supports it!
Source: Blindflug
In this multi-player real-time strategy game, you are fighting for control of distant planets. You have just seven minutes to destroy your opposition or the world as you know it will collapse and explode right before your eyes.
To accomplish your goal, you slowly gain access to rockets, tanks, and stealth generators. Futuristic troops are also available if you can find a way to unlock them.
Stellar Commanders is currently one of the best-reviewed Apple Arcade games available. Download it today.
Fly those rockets
Stellar Commanders
The world needs your help
You have seven minutes until success or destruction. Which path will you take?
Source: Tortuga Team
Old-school meets the 21st century in this impressive turn-based strategy game from Tortuga Team. Featuring a unique system of dynamic turn-based battles that last no more than 15 minutes, Spaceland features 10 different enemies from alien animals to unnerving monsters.
Offering a squad of space rangers, each with a unique fighting style, the game includes an exciting backstory about a mysterious planet, which you must protect. Use rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers, and more to get the job done. Fail, and you must start again!
Single player fun
Spaceland
Protect this fascinating world
Shoot, kick, blow up, and destroy and achieve greatness in this Apple Arcade game.
Source: iMore
In This War of Mine, you aren't a great commander or a space fighter looking to protect the outer reaches of the universe. Instead, you're just one in a group of civilians trying to survive in a besieged city. Along the way, you must struggle with the lack of food, water, and medicine. At the same time, there's a constant worry that snipers and hostile scavengers could cause further pain.
This War of Mine has been well-received since it was first released and continues to receive kudos with each new expansion. While it's not necessarily a 'fun' game to play, per say, it tells a relevant and emotional story that should not be missed.
Can you survive?
The War of Mine
There's no escape
Can you find and explore all of the different outcomes of the game?
What's your favorite?
Strategy games and Macs go together well. Which games are you currently enjoying on your desktop or laptop? Let us know in the comments below. Perhaps we'll add it to our list on a future update!
macOS Catalina
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Fishing timeC.J.'s next Fishing Tourney will be in July
There are four Fishing Tourneys each year in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Here's when they are and what the rules are for participating.
By Mike Wuerthele
Saturday, February 18, 2017, 06:32 pm PT (09:32 pm ET)
Warhammer 40k Strategy Game
Warhammer 40,000 is a storied universe, and has been a fan of tabletop grognards for literally decades. It's easy to amass tens of thousands of dollars in real-world miniatures for the game —making playing in the universe an obvious money-saving choice for iPad and iPhone gamers. Here's how to get started.
Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch —Tyranid Invasion
'Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch - Tyranid Invasion' is a turn based strategy game developed by Rodeo Games that critics have been singing the praises of since it came out. Not only is Tyranid Invasion a visual stunner with great animation and wonderfully designed and textured levels, the gameplay itself is solid.
You have the standard AP-based action system on a square grid rather than a hexagonal one, which will determine the strategy you'll have to employ to beat individual scenarios. Units are capable of ranged and melee attacks, there's a useful feature called 'overwatch' that allows you to set units to act if an enemy crosses into their sight path, and the learning curve is welcoming enough for new players, but not so easy that veteran turn-based strategy players will grow bored with it.
Our first title on our 'best of' list also includes enough universe lore to be interesting, but not so much to drive away people who simply want a game where they can sit down, play through a couple maps, and be on their way.
If you do well, you'll be rewarded with Overwatch Packs of 'cards' that give you bonuses and a way to ease the difficulty of especially tough level. Overwatch Packs are available as an in-app purchase, but it's not required to play or enjoy the game —the only thing the IAP does is serve as instant gratification rather than waiting for what will ultimately happen later down the line.
Overall, if you're looking for a place to start, this is the one we recommend snagging. It's low price and approachable learning curve are a great way to get introduced to the iOS library of Warhammer games.
'Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch —Tyranid Invasion' is regularly priced at $1.99, requires an iPhone 5, iPad 4, iPad Mini 2, or newer, and occupies 1.68GB of device storage space.
Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade
'Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade,' developed by Pixel Toys, was highlighted during the reveal of Apple's Metal, so as expected, visually the game is incredible. The models are fantastic, the levels are detailed and visually exciting, and the game feels good.
The objective of the game is to hop inside a giant mech and charge headlong into battle, mowing down seemingly endless enemies with a veritable arsenal of weapons. With 3D touch, the controls are a blast, but the game is completely playable without them as well.
There are almost 200 single player missions and the ability to play against other players as well. If you want a high-action game, this is the exact title you should be downloading this instant.
Because 'Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade' is, well, free, this is one of the more abrasive in-app purchase-laden games. Real world money can be exchanged for gold, which can then in-turn be used to repair your mech.
Repairing your mech removes the 'wait to play' timer which will tick down on it's own at a much slower pace. Is the game currency purchase required to play the game? No, but the game does suffer heavily from exhaustive time-lock mechanisms that could kill your enthusiasm for playing if you're in it for more than five minutes at a time.
Like we said, 'Warhammer 40,000: Freeblade' is free, requires an iPhone 6 or better running iOS 8, and takes 1.32GB of device storage space.
Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon
Another turn-based strategy title, 'Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon' developed by Slitherine is probably the beefiest of the 'Warhammer' iOS games. Visually, it is not graphically impressive, but it certainly makes up for that with the sheer volume of content.
Gameplay is solid, fairly standard turn-based strategy game stuff, requiring players to make cover of line-of-sight mechanics, outsmarting increasingly more difficult AI, and the ability to buy and upgrade your units as you win money from previous scenarios.
There are more than 30 scenarios to play through, and if you somehow manage to get done with the single-player content, there's an in-game editor that allows you to create and share your own levels.
If you're into the lore of 'Warhammer 40,000,' you're going to like this game. If you're not into the lore, you might be annoyed with the amount of it you run into, as it shows up absolutely everywhere, including mid-battle.
At almost $20, the game is an investment, but the game contains upwards of a hundred hours worth of gameplay without in-app purchase, not something you normally see on a mobile title.
If, for some odd reason, you manage to make it through the included hundred hours of content, additional scenarios can be purchased in-game as one-time only purchases for anywhere between $2 and $6.
'Warhammer 40,000: Armageddon' is a premium title like most of the rest of the Slitherine lineup, selling for $19.99. The game requires an iPad running iOS 7, and takes 1.27GB of device storage space. We recommend an iPad Air or faster.
Warhammer 40,000: Legacy of Dorn - Herald of Oblivion
So, maybe you're not into turn based or real time strategy games. Maybe on-rail shooters don't interest you. Maybe you want something entirely different. That's where this mouthful comes in.
Mac Game Free
'Warhammer 40,000: Legacy of Dorn - Herald of Oblivion' is a game book developed by Tin Man Games, that sits halfway between a text-based RPG and a choose-your-own-adventure novel. No twitching required.We're not the biggest fans of the game visually, as the game's endless green-on-black text leaves something to be desired, but are big fans of the story itself. Even the combat, which is based on luck and careful character level ups, is entertaining.
Warhammer Strategy Game
'Warhammer 40,000: Legacy of Dorn - Herald of Oblivion' is devoid of in-app purchases, which means that you'll get to buy once and play forever.If you want something that's not so quite so dire but has a deep story, this is the one for you.