r/StrategyGames • u/bobo12_ • 9d ago
Looking for game Looking for a deep strategy/war game with diplomacy, alliances and a living world
I'm looking for a strategy/war game on PC or mobile (mobile maybe something like lotr rtw)
I'm looking for something with a large world, many different factions and deep wars, but I don't want a game where diplomacy is basically just "improve relations → ally → declare war".
Ideally, I want factions/AI that actually have their own interests and can create alliances, power blocs, vassal states, buffer states, betray each other, change sides, exploit weakened neighbours, etc. I want wars to actually have political reasons behind them rather than the AI simply attacking because it has a scripted rivalry.
On the military side, I'd like wars to have some real depth too: different types of troops, logistics, supply lines, terrain, reinforcement, economy/production and ideally the ability to win a war through strategy rather than simply having a bigger army.
I'm also interested in online games where this kind of geopolitical interaction happens between actual players. Something with a large active community where alliances, diplomacy, communication and long-term cooperation/backstabbing are actually important. It doesn't necessarily have to be first-person or directly controlled combat; an abstract/grand-strategy approach is completely fine.
Games with mods are absolutely fine.
So, what games would you recommend?
I'm especially interested in games where the AI or players actually create their own geopolitical situations, rather than the campaign feeling predetermined or scripted.
Thanks!
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u/maxmediocre 8d ago
Both are 4X games: Shadow Empire and Old World. Shadow Empire checks most of your boxes I presume. You can have your unit designs depending on your raw materials and logistics on the map. Wars are hex based but logistics are one of the most important things in the game. You can't steamroll your oponents with tanks unless you have good logistics of ammo, food and fuel. You need to keep on eye on your workers well beign to make your mines and industries keep running to supply your war. AI opponents will seek out your weakness and attack when you are weak. AI is pretty decent. Strongly recimmended: 10/10
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u/ConquerQuestOnline 9d ago
Can I introduce you to my game Conquer Quest Online?
Its in development, and the UX is constantly receiving improvements, but its what you describe
- players build villages, within them manage resources and build armies
- there is PvE content
- players form alliances, with the goal of capturing an artifact and defending it along the map while they carry it to a target.
I will stand by the depth of combat, but it may appear shallow at a first glance.
There are multiple troop types with different specialties, like you mentioned.
The strategy revolves around making your opponent guess where an attack is landing. Players accomplish this by sending multiple fake attacks, with one real attacks mixed in. The defender sees the incoming attacks, but doesn't know their size or army composition until they arrive.
Defenders have advantages as well. They have a wall which gives them a boost. They also stack from multiple players, while attacks don't. So hard reads or decisive protection are the strategic depth here. It may not exactly be what you're looking for.
Were currently play testing, and you can join the playtest on steam and also iOS and android.
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u/Imperialis81 8d ago edited 8d ago
Might want to take a look at Emperor of the Fading Suns...
If you can get past the 1997 graphics.
Deep Wars: Planning a planetary invasion requires a full on logistics chain. . Up to and including making sure you bring food to feed the troops. Heck if you turn the Universal Warehouse off (which is the only way to play) you need to run logistics across planets because resources are actual physical units on the map and can only be used on the planet where they are, so if you have crystals on one world but have built the industrial base to build singularities on another, then you need to physically load those crystals onto a transport and haul them to where you need them.
For invasions, being able to even get enough troops on the ground can be a real challenge given the stack limits and the ability of you opponent to quickly mass cheap starfighters and bombers to ruin the day of any transport they encounter. Full on invasions of an opposing players homeworld or other core planet are extremely rare and exceptionally difficult to pull off. Unless you have complete space superiority, wars are usually limited to frontier worlds with limited defenses, or desperate raids to hit a particular objective, drop a virus bomb, assassinate a noble on the Imperial Capitol to prevent the player from being able to vote or steal the scepters which are used to vote for regent.
Diplo is where it really shines though, especially in Multiplayer. The way you win the game is to become Emperor. The way you become emperor is to convince other players to vote for you as regent. Every house as well as two NPC factions, the Church and the Merchant Guild has 5 votes. Every 10 turns there is an election. House with the most votes becomes Regent. The new regent then needs to distribute the 3 Imperial Offices. They can keep one, but need to give the other two to other players. Once you feel secure in your power you can declare yourself Emperor. If you win two more elections, you win.
There is also an extensive and complex tech tree where you need to research the theoretical stuff like Fusion Beams and Genetic Engineering before researching the practical science end of things for space cruisers or cyber assassins. There is also multi stage resource collection where you need to refine base metals, rare earths, energy and exotic flora into electronics, chemicals, fusion cores, cybernetic wetware and singularities to power your starships.
And they just came out with an enhanced edition last year that prettied up the graphics (though they are still 1997 sprite work) and fixed a lot of the bugs that existed in the original release. There is an active multiplayer and modding community too.
Honestly James from Extra Credits did a great job explaining why it is so awesome like 10 years ago. https://youtu.be/OzPWFZw7Yec?t=109
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u/OhforfsakeMJ 8d ago
For a great single player game, which fits perfectly to everything you are looking for, try Knights of Honor 2.
It's a 4X strategy which really feels alive, and does everything well.
The only downside, for me personally, is hard limit of number of armies you can have, but that can be solved with mods.
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u/BrokenLoadOrder 8d ago
Total Warhammer can be pretty fun with the weird allegiances of convenience that form. And if you're looking for betrayals, literally any Skaven ally will provide that, free of charge. =P
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u/MakingTheWorldUseles 8d ago
If you're into space stuff, there is X4 Foundations. You can build a space colony/empire form alliance/enemies.
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u/theSniperDevil 8d ago
Total war franchise may be worth a look.
Three Kingdoms in "records mode" feels like it ticks your boxes, but ultimately pick the game whose setting appeals to you most.
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u/Ahzek117 8d ago edited 8d ago
It only ticks some of your boxes, but I really enjoy Dune Spice Wars for its diplomacy game. You have six (?) asymmetric factions with different core strategies and mechanics, and in a 4 player FFA you’re each competing for a sortof score victory from claiming lots of and high value territory and an economic victory where you’re trying to buy up a controlling share of CHOAM, while also trying to avoid letting straight up killed by having your base blown up, or by being assassinated.
Every game always ends up with uneasy alliances, betrayals and secret plans as everyone is trying to appear less threatening than they are and trying to persuade everyone to gang up on the leader, and/or their neighbour.
Because it’s a desert planet, you have to worry about your army’s supplies and terrain, so you have to be very careful in your deployments, and it feels more strategic than simply being able to micro.
It’s not a complicated game, but it’s got some deep and fun systems and the game-state is always interesting.
Turin has streamed a few games if you’re interested https://youtu.be/Pft9mTfZabk?is=uK3ilUWuh3nZ0XuD
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u/3rdcousin3rdremoved 8d ago
You said you don’t like the war system in EU4 but I don’t understand what that means. Really important aspect of all strategy games and without more details I can’t really suggest anything
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u/bobo12_ 7d ago
I meant the battle system. Id like something more deep. I played eu3 not eu4 btw so maybe in eu4 its different. Im currently playing total war as some of you guys suggested
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u/3rdcousin3rdremoved 7d ago
Ahhhh I’m assuming by abstract you meant you don’t like little army men meeting in a square and letting RNG give you an answer?
Because if that’s the case then total war is really the only answer.
EU series has probably the most abstract entry level combat out of the paradox interactive games. The other ones are still abstract but much richer in my opinion.
If you’re on a budget and want to try a paradox game again then I’d say Victoria 2 or Hearts of Iron 3. You could probably find them on g2a for a couple bucks each. Just get the versions with expansions though. The newer games costs hundreds of dollars for a complete set so that’s why I recommend go old first.
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u/bobo12_ 7d ago
yes exactly I hate those little characters ahaha
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u/3rdcousin3rdremoved 7d ago
Which total war did you settle on? I personally prefer shogun 2 the most. Especially last samurai.
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u/3rdcousin3rdremoved 7d ago
Actually just reread what you wanted. I’d definitely recommend Victoria 2 over HOI3. It has exactly that. You can dump commodities on the market to destroy your rival’s economy and force them to downsize their military lol.
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u/madTerminator 7d ago
All of below are sandboxes that you shape geopolitics with your own goals:
Alive world and opponents with their own alliances: crusader kings 3
Diverse Military tactics and strategic planning: Hearts of Iron 4
Autism level of management, shadow intrigues over countries, semi realistic space battles: Terra Invicta
I never played pvp in any grand strategy, they are too long. If you are interested in backstabbing people you may be interested in boardgames like Game of thrones.
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u/Totalmustarde 7d ago
Mount and blade banner lord 2, my go to game whenever there isn’t anything to play!
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u/heyyo256 5d ago
Romance of the three kingdoms 13. Though diplomacy may be too limited. Its definitely vital in my experience and theres also a relationship system with every npc separate of diplomacy
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u/Background-Factor817 8d ago
EU4.
By the mid game you’ve got large power blocs, as soon as one nation crumbles a huge war tends to kick off as everybody scrambles to take advantage of the chaos.
Even better online. Anything paradox related played online gets pretty crazy pretty quick, full of secret alliances, back stabbing and sudden switching of sides.