Three Moves Ahead Three Moves Ahead 644: 2025 Strategy Games of the Year
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Jan 1, 2026 Joining the discussion, Mike Williams is a regular strategy game commentator, while Luke Plunkett writes for Aftermath and shares his strong opinions on game design. They dive into the major disappointments of 2025 releases, with Civilization 7 paving the way for critique. Positive notes arise about indie titles and expansions like Crusader Kings 3's improvements and the charm of Two Point Museum. They also explore the challenges of modern 4X games, public testing priorities, and innovative titles like Burden of Command, concluding with excitement for the upcoming year.
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Civ 7 Defined 2025's Disappointment
- Civilization 7 set 2025's tone by being a major, visible disappointment for veterans.
- Len argues Firaxis made fundamental design missteps that feel unfixable by patches.
Build Casual Base Before Chasing Esports
- Multiplayer RTS success requires building a large casual player base before chasing esports.
- Mike and Len warn that starting with hardcore PvP players without broad adoption kills matchmaking and longevity.
Stormgate's Quality Couldn't Build An Audience
- Stormgate was an RTS with strong ideas that failed partly due to mismanagement and lack of player base.
- Len felt its 1v1 play had esports potential but never grew the necessary audience.
