Best free "hex-based" games

Hex-based games are strategy or war games that use hexagonal grids instead of square tiles for map layouts. The hex system, popularized in board wargames and later in computer games, offers smoother movement and more balanced tactical options, since each hex has six adjacent spaces instead of four. This avoids diagonal movement issues common in square grids. Hex-based gameplay emphasizes positioning, terrain effects, and long-term planning, making it a favorite for military simulations, turn-based strategy titles, and 4X games. Classics like Panzer General and many tabletop wargames rely on this system, which continues to shape digital and physical strategy gaming.