The best strategy games, according to hackers
24 strategy games were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 7 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The three most recommended strategy games with the badge. Each figure is 2 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Long-lived, well-loved open-source project
Free, open-source turn-based hex strategy game with deep tactics and long campaigns; critics say combat luck and XP rules can frustrate.
Original Civ 1 preferred over sequels
Addictive turn-based strategy game people recommend for its fast, simple play and long hours of replay; critics say the AI is weak.
Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
16 recommend, 0 criticize, 100% approval
Shares rank 4 of 24 by recommenders
Ranked among the greatest 4X games
Turn-based 4X strategy game praised for sharp writing, timeless ideas and a place among the genre's best; one critic finds it a touch slow.
All 24 strategy games, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battle for Wesnoth | 39 | 4 | 91% | 4 | 10 yrs5 owners | Approved |
| 2 | Sid Meier's Civilization | 25 | 9 | 74% | 10 | — | Approved |
| 3 | Sid Meier's Civilization III | 20 | 10 | 67% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 4 | Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri | 16 | 0 | 100% | 7 | — | Approved |
| Tied 4 | Heroes of Might and Magic III | 16 | 2 | 89% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Tied 6 | Civilization IV | 15 | 3 | 83% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 6 | Stars! | 15 | 1 | 94% | 3 | — | — |
| 8 | Age of Empires I Definitive Edition | 13 | 3 | 81% | 7 | — | Approved |
| Tied 9 | Civilization V | 12 | 5 | 71% | 6 | — | Approved |
| Tied 9 | Freeciv | 12 | 9 | 57% | 5 | — | — |
| 11 | Civilization II | 10 | 3 | 77% | 5 | — | Approved |
| Tied 12 | Crusader Kings | 9 | 1 | 90% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 12 | Syndicate (1993) | 9 | 1 | 90% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 14 | Heroes of Might and Magic II | 8 | 1 | 89% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 14 | OpenCiv1 | 8 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 16 | Mindustry | 7 | 0 | 100% | 5 | — | — |
| Tied 16 | Civilization VI | 7 | 6 | 54% | 4 | — | — |
| Tied 16 | Populous | 7 | 1 | 88% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 16 | OpenCiv3 | 7 | 1 | 88% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 20 | Sid Meier's Colonization | 6 | 2 | 75% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 20 | Offworld Trading Company | 6 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | XCOM | 5 | 3 | 63% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Olden Era | 5 | 0 | 100% | 3 | — | — |
| Tied 22 | Total Annihilation rebuild | 5 | 7 | 42% | 1 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same strategy game in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to strategy games that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.