The Play Store hosts countless strategy games, from industry titans like Civilization VI to indie hits like Card Thief. Ports of popular PC games often appear in our roundup of the best Android games, but there are still plenty of stunning mobile exclusives. These aren’t puzzle games; the strategy games on today’s roundup will engage you with challenging tactics, enemies, and missions.
We’ve rounded up the best strategy games on mobile, from RTS games to card and turn-based titles. An Android tablet is recommended for the full experience, as some of these games offer UIs that are challenging to view on a smaller screen.
1 Civilization VI
The Civilization name needs no introduction; the venerable franchise has won the hearts of strategy lovers for decades, and now the latest installment is on mobile. It’s the same experience you can expect on a desktop, but with enough UI tweaks to make it comfortable to play on a touchscreen. (Although we recommend playing it on an Android tablet for the best experience).
Civilization VI puts you in command of a civilization of your choosing, from England to the Huns. You must shepherd them through history while defeating rivals, researching technology, and spreading your religion. It’s a fantastic experience that’ll suck you in for hours. Just note that older devices may encounter performance issues late game.
2 Into the Breach
Into the Breach is a roguelike puzzle game that puts you in command of three mechs to save humanity. You’ll battle the Vek, giant alien monsters set on destroying you and the human cities you’re protecting. Battles consist of five turns, and you’ll only have one chance to reload if you make a mistake. Clever positioning will trap the Vek into attacking each other or burning alive, whereas a mistake can have catastrophic consequences for your battle.
Into the Breach is one of the finest turn-based strategy games available for mobile, but as a Netflix exclusive, you’ll need a subscription to play. Our Netflix Games guide will get you up to speed if you’re unfamiliar with the service.
3 Bad North
Bad North is a Viking-themed roguelike that pits your men against waves of fierce marauders set on watering the ground with their blood. You’ll give your soldiers general orders before the battle starts, but they’ll respond to enemy actions intuitively. This allows you to avoid micro-managing and focus on the larger battle. Like Into the Breach, one wrong move can cost you the battle and send you back to the start, so plan carefully.
Bad North is also a visual masterpiece. Fetching cliffs and flowers decorate each procedurally generated island; take a moment to admire the view before the ground is stained red.
4 The Battle of Polytopia
Love Civilization VI but want something a little more relaxed? The Battle of Polytopia has you covered. This isometric strategy game might look quaint, but it’s got everything the more popular 4X games offer. Once you’ve picked your tribe, you’ll engage in warfare, diplomacy, and espionage to achieve victory. There are three ways to achieve success, and each requires an entirely different strategy.
The Battle of Polytopia is the most accessible 4X strategy game available for mobile, but it’ll take some time before you master the game. It’s complex, rewarding, and a must-play.
5 Bloons TD 6
Once a titan of the online flash game world, the Bloons franchise has shifted seamlessly to mobile devices. Bloons TD 6 is the latest entry and is easily the best. It’s a reasonably simple tower defense game at its core; place monkeys to defend against enemies, which are sent out in several waves. The monkey vs. balloon concept might seem silly, but you’ll need to practice with every tool at your disposal to win.
Bloons TD 6 has a colossal amount of game modes and maps; while the standard game mode will keep you occupied for hours, try one of the more challenging modes to see just how well you know your monkeys and balloons.
6 Total War: Medieval II
Total War: Medieval II is one of the finest games in the Total War genre, and its Android port doesn’t cut any content from the original game. However, the UI has been completely overhauled for mobile for comfortable play. It takes a little time to get used to controlling massive armies with a touchscreen, but it’s intuitive enough that you’ll win battles in no time. It’s another game that we recommend playing on a tablet.
7 Northgard
Northgard follows the 4X formula but is trimmed into a smaller RTS package. You’ll grow your economy, research technology, and defeat rivals, but unlike Civilization VI, games of Northgard won’t take longer than an hour or two. It’s perfect for people who love a complex strategy game but don’t have the time to play it over multiple days.
The RTS format of Northgard keeps the action flowing, but don’t worry about getting overwhelmed. The game progresses at your own pace, so you won’t be penalized for taking time to consolidate your position.
8 Rusted Warfare
Rusted Warfare is a fully-fledged RTS game on mobile. Inspired by the RTS games of the 90s, Rusted Warfare gives you access to a staggering amount of units to control, from tiny tanks to massive battleships. While the graphics look dated, this is intentional to help evoke the tone of classic RTS games like Total Annihilation.
The chaotic battles may seem overwhelming initially, but Rusted Warfare is surprisingly easy to learn. The touchscreen controls make it easy to send groups of units off to battle, and the limited number of buildings helps keep your production lines organized.
XCOM 2 is the best incarnation of the popular turn-based strategy franchise. Originally released on PC in 2016, the Android port brings the same experience to mobile without cutting any content. It’s also a significantly cheaper way to access the game, as for $19.99, you get XCOM 2 plus all the DLC packs.
Newcomers to the franchise will be hooked by the tight, punishing turn-based combat. Every move counts, and while a wrong step can lead to disaster, pulling off the perfect ambush is a feeling that can’t be beaten. There’s also extensive customization, so you can build a squad that’s unique to you.
10 Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus
Another brilliant turn-based game, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus, echoes the gameplay of XCOM while bringing a unique twist to the formula. Set in the sci-fi universe of Warhammer 40,000, you’ll control a group of cybernetically enhanced humans as they delve into an alien planet. An exotic array of guns, traps, and gadgets are at your disposal as you clear out room after room of creeping horrors.
While the campaign is a little short, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is a must-play for any turn-based fan. Even if you aren’t familiar with the Warhammer 40,000 universe, you won’t have any problem enjoying the brutal combat and unforgiving gameplay.
11 Sigma Theory
Out There is one of the best survival games for Android, and now its developers have turned to the strategy genre. Sigma Theory is an espionage game where you’ll command a team of agents to harness a world-changing scientific discovery. It’s got a distinct XCOM feel, but there are no battles here. Instead, you’ll make critical decisions through dialogue trees. Decisions you make early in the game can come back to haunt you, so be mindful of giving a powerful organization the cold shoulder.
12 Mini Metro
An arcade-style strategy game, Mini Metro’s apparent simplicity is deceptive. Tasked with designing a subway map for a growing city, you’ll draw lines between stations to ferry your passengers. Unfortunately, you have limited resources, so you’ll have to make hard decisions as you play.
City growth doesn’t slow down. While each game starts relaxed, you’ll have to think three steps ahead to avoid a slight delay turning into a game-ending disaster. It’s challenging, strategic, and addicting.
13 Siege Up!
Sieges are probably the ultimate expression of strategic warfare. Siege Up! presents challenging siege missions in a cheerful cartoon package. A 26-mission campaign has plenty of variety for offline play, but once you wrap it up, there are over 4000 community-created missions for download.
Siege Up! also has online multiplayer so that you can battle friends and strangers. Need a break from destroying castles? Use the level editor to create your own campaign missions, including dialogue and automated triggers. Overall, it’s a brilliantly fun RTS that will scratch that itch for defending against waves of enemies.
14 Card Thief
Card Thief is the follow-up to Card Crawl, one of the best card games on Android. Card Thief is a solitaire game where you’ll attempt to sneak through cards to collect treasure. Equipment cards can help, but traps can reveal you. It’s a tense experience condensed into just a few short rounds.
Card Thief is a challenging experience, but veterans of Card Crawl must give it a go. It’s also suitable for anyone looking for a rewarding single-player strategy card game that doesn’t forgive mistakes.
15 Crying Suns
Crying Suns is FTL cranked up to 11. You’ll manage a fleet of ships on hex-grid maps, fending off malicious threats to make your way to the center of the empire. The strategy is deeply engaging, and a rich storyline will keep you absorbed.
Crying Suns was initially released on PC, and this mobile port is available for half the price. However, despite a revamped UI for mobile, we recommend playing it on an Android tablet, as the UI can sometimes feel cramped on a smartphone.
Engage your brain with a strategy game
These strategy games are designed to make you think, whether in the fast-paced matches of Rusted Warfare or the methodical gameplay of Card Thief. However, strategy games often skimp out on the narrative, so make sure to try one of the best RPGs for Android if you’re craving a good story to keep your attention.
