Table of Contents

If you are a brain-over-brawl type of guy (or girl), then you probably are an enthusiastic fan of strategy games. But if you are too busy to play on PC/console, don’t worry, since there are also many great options available on mobile. From turn-based to real-time, large-scale battles to peaceful city-building, everything is right there in your pocket!

Here is a list of the best strategy games of 2018 on Android:

Best turn-based strategy games

This is a genre for those who like to take the time to make the most strategic decisions. In order to come out on top, you will always have to think ahead of your opponent(s), sometimes more than one step.

When talking about mobile strategy games, of course, the first name that has to be mentioned is the legendary X-COM, as it is arguably the best game of the genre.

 

Meanwhile, Epic Little War Game is another title worth noting with large-scale battles similar to the Civilization series.

 

The Battle of Polytopia is also a game that draws inspiration from Civilization. This game will have you play as the leader of a tribe whose task is to build a powerful civilization while competing with other tribes.

 

The Banner Saga, while not strictly a strategy game, demands a lot of strategic thinking on the player’s part since every choice will affect the personal story of the main character, as well as the state of the entire world.

 

The last one on this list is Final Fantasy Tactics, a strategy RPG that is among the best of its genre on mobile. The original version of the game, which came out on PlayStation in 1997, managed to sell over 2.4 million copies all over the world.

 

Best real-time strategy games

Real-time strategy is the genre for people who like to micromanage and improvise in the heat of things. While they might not require the same kind of reflexes as, say, a shooter game, players will still have to think fast and react to difficult situations.

The first name on the list of best Android RTS games is Clash of Clans, the pioneer of the genre on mobile. Clash Royale, from the same developer, also brings an excellent RTS experience.

 

Then there is Mushroom Wars 2, a game similar to Total War but with cutesy graphics. This game will get you involved in the conflicts between four Mushroom tribes, and you, as a valiant Mushroom Commander, will need to choose a hero to lead your army into battle.

 

If you don’t want to be limited to Earth only, then Iron Marines brings you to numerous planets with its immersive gameplay and outstanding visuals. Courageous soldiers, powerful mechas, and mysterious aliens are all at your disposal.

 

On the other hand, if you prefer the tower defense genre, then Kingdom Rush Vengeance is the latest addition to the popular tower defense series Kingdom Rush. However, this time you will be playing from the perspective of the bad guy, and control the forces of evil to exact vengeance upon the righteous. The game made some changes in terms of gameplay compared to its predecessor, but is still a true Kingdom Rush game at its core.

 

Best city-building games

City building simulation is probably the most relaxing genre on this list. There is no bloody battle or thrilling adventure. You will simply be building a city and watching it develop. That is not to say games of this genre are not challenging. There are a lot of things to consider when building and managing a city, and tons of stuff will not go according to what you planned.

Pocket City is a title worth checking out if you are a fan of this genre. It lets you play as the mayor of a city, and you can develop it however you wish. You shall have to provide houses for residents and construct various facilities to develop the industry while dealing with problems such as crimes or natural disasters.

SimCity BuildIt follows the same approach as Pocket City, but it has very impressive graphics. From skyscrapers to factories, everything is beautifully rendered in 3D.

Megapolis is also a notable title, with immersive gameplay and a wide range of features. There are rooms for multiplayer as well.

Township, meanwhile, brings a breath of fresh air to the established formula of the previous games. This one is a hybrid between a city-building and a farming game. You will still be expanding your town, but in order to do so, you have to harvest crops from the farms, process them with different facilities, and sell the completed goods for income.

Or, if you are sick of the modern setting, Townsmen takes you back to the medieval time. Instead of skyscrapers and waterparks, you will be decorating your city with towering statues and magnificent monuments.