Open-world and strategy are two genres that don’t often find themselves put together, but when they do, the results are almost always great. Open-world sandbox exploration combined with strategic combat and planning makes for an engaging combination that only gets better the more time you invest.
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Games that fall into these genres are often incredibly deep, with tons of mechanics and systems to keep you engaged for hours, with minimal narrative storylines that allow you to create your own adventures. If you’re looking for an open-world strategy game where you can make your own story, here are a few of the best, listed in no particular order.
7RimWorld
RimWorldis a colony management simulation game driven by a complex AI storyteller. You will lead your group of colonists on their fight for survival on the Rim, building a base, gathering your resources, and hoping to survive through the dangerous hazards that plague your colony.
In RimWorld, you will tell your own story about the survival of your colony, with the Idealogy expansion further reinforcing this playstyle. Will you create a group of nature-loving pacificists or a cult of blood-hungry killers? The freedom present in RimWorld makes it infinitely replayable, and endlessly enjoyable.
6Satisfactory
Satisfactoryis a first-person open-world factory-management game. After crash landing on an alien planet, you must use your ingenuity and the resources available to you to create a massive factory, automating everything from ore refining to complex machine crafting.
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Besides constructing your massive factory, you’ll need to explore the planet to find new resources and items that will aid in your development. Before you set off on an expedition, you’ll want to make sure you’re sufficiently armed against the various dangers found on the planet. Satisfactory offers a great blend of strategy, exploration, and combat.
5Kenshi
Kenshi is a squad-based open-world sandbox strategy RPG. As a sandbox game, Kenshi allows you to do pretty much anything you want. There are a vast number of mechanics and systems to keep track of, but each of these facilitates the freedom to lead your squad however you choose.
In Kenshi, your character will start off weak, poor, and stupid, but with hard work and perseverance, you can grow into a powerful warlord, affluent trader, or humble farmer. Kenshi may not have the best graphics, and the user interface and mechanics can be obtuse at times, but the open-world sandbox freedom more than makes up for those shortcomings.
4Dragon Age: Inquisition
Dragon Age: Inquisitionis the third game in the Dragon Age series, and expands upon the previous entries in a number of ways. Like its predecessors, the game is massive, with tons of side quests to discover, puzzles to solve, and lore to dive into. The character creator is also greatly improved, allowing you to customize your character to your liking.
Combat in Dragon Age: Inquisition is a mix of action and strategy. Action-based battles play out in real time, but you can enter tactical mode to pause the game and give commands to your party before resuming the game and watching your plan unfold. Besides combat, Dragon Age: Inquisition has a great cast of characters and story to experience, as is expected from the franchise.
3Factorio
Factoriois a 2D top-down factory management game where you crash land on an alien planet. However, as you quickly discover, you aren’t alone. To survive the constant attacks of bug-like aliens, you’ll need to gather resources, construct defenses, research new technology, and grow your factory.
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Automation is the name of the game in Factorio; almost any task you can do can be handed off to a specialized machine that will do it for you. Factorio’s complete sandbox world lets you set your own goals; whether you want to exterminate all alien lifeforms, grow your factory to cover the world, or launch a rocket and beat the game, the choice is yours.
2Mount And Blade 2: Bannerlord
Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlordis a strategy action RPG set in the medieval era. After creating your character, you can explore the land, gather funds, and raise your army into a powerful force. Large-scale mounted combat encounters allow you to take the field as the commander, relaying orders to your troops as the battle progresses to claim victory.
Combat is divided into these large battles between armies and smaller-scale skirmishes. As a sandbox game, you can set any number of goals for your army, and work towards those goals in any number of ways. With a robust progression system that lets you upgrade your character and outfit your army, you’ll constantly feel the growth of your clan as you conquer the land.
1Wartales
Wartalesis a squad-based strategy RPG where you must lead a group of mercenaries through a world rife with crime and beset by a plague. There are several different regions to explore, each with its own storylines and difficulties to overcome.
While Wartales may lack an overarching narrative, the stories you write yourself throughout your journey will be much more meaningful. Your mercenaries may fall in battle, or you might escape a dangerous situation by the skin of your teeth. These details will have you grow closer to your band of fighters and make the experience all the more personal.
