The best 50 free strategy PC games according to FGU users

The Free Games Utopia Top 50 lists the highest-rated free-to-play, full free-version, and liberated video games on the site, based on user ratings. The list spans the history of video gaming, from classic DOS titles to modern games for Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS, and other platforms.

The concept of a “free” game isn’t always clear-cut. All games listed on Free Games Utopia are available to play without an upfront purchase, although some may optionally offer paid features such as subscriptions, upgrades, or microtransactions, as is common with MMOs and free-to-play games.

The Top 50 covers a wide range of platforms, from popular systems such as Windows, macOS, and Linux to less common ones including Solaris, FreeBSD, and BeOS. To qualify for the Top 50, a game must have received at least three user votes. Use the button bar to filter the list by genre.

STRATEGY

Strategy games are video games in which the player must carefully plan each move to progress and achieve victory. Most strategy games use a top-down or isometric perspective to help the player manage armies, construct buildings, and oversee resources. Gameplay often involves exploration, economic management, and tactical combat. Some of the most popular strategy subgenres include real-time or turn-based strategy, 4X games (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, eXterminate), and wargames. More strategy games on Free Games Utopia.

action adventure card game platformer puzzle RPG shooter simulation strategy ALL GENRES

#	title	genre	status	rating
01.	Battle for Wesnoth Windows, Solaris, Linux, Free BSD, BeOS, Mac OSX, iOS, Android	strategy / turn-based tactics	open source	4.07 / 5
02.	0 A.D. Windows, Mac OSX, Linux	strategy / real-time strategy	open source	4.06 / 5
03.	The Ur-Quan Masters Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, Android, iOS	strategy / space exploration	full free version	3.88 / 5
04.	StarCraft Anthology Windows, Mac OSX	strategy / real-time strategy	liberated	3.88 / 5
05.	Retro Commander Windows, Mac OSX	strategy / real-time strategy	full free version	3.86 / 5
06.	Armoured Commander Windows	strategy / turn-based tactics	open source	3.83 / 5
07.	FreeCol Windows, Mac OSX, Linux	strategy / 4X	open source	3.82 / 5
08.	Freeciv Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, Free BSD, UNIX	strategy / 4X	open source	3.80 / 5
09.	Card Hunter Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, browser	strategy / board game	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.80 / 5
10.	Strip Hi Lo browserNSFW	strategy / board game	full free version	3.75 / 5
11.	Daily Sport Football Strip WindowsNSFW	strategy	abandonware	3.75 / 5
12.	atWar browser	strategy	full free version	3.75 / 5
13.	Widelands Windows, Linux, Mac OSX	strategy / real-time strategy	open source	3.73 / 5
14.	StarCraft II Windows, Mac OSX	strategy / real-time strategy	free, commercial version available	3.67 / 5
15.	Scorched Earth DOS	strategy / games like Worms	liberated	3.67 / 5
16.	The Settlers Online browser, Windows	strategy / MMORTS	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.67 / 5
17.	Clonk Endeavour Windows, Linux, Mac OSX	strategy	liberated	3.67 / 5
18.	Hedgewars Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, Free BSD, iOS	strategy / games like Worms	open source	3.60 / 5
19.	Alien Assault Windows	strategy / turn-based tactics	full free version	3.57 / 5
20.	LordsAWar! Linux, Windows, Mac OSX	strategy / turn-based tactics	open source	3.54 / 5
21.	Titans of Steel: Warring Suns Windows	strategy / wargame	liberated	3.53 / 5
22.	FreeOrion Windows, Mac OSX, Linux	strategy / 4X	open source	3.52 / 5
23.	4Play WindowsNSFW	strategy / board game	abandonware	3.50 / 5
24.	Heroes Of Newerth Windows, Linux, Mac OSX	strategy / MOBA	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.50 / 5
25.	Stronghold Kingdoms Windows	strategy / MMORTS	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.50 / 5
26.	Strip Blackjack browserNSFW	strategy / board game	full free version	3.50 / 5
27.	Legendary Legions Windows, Linux	strategy / turn-based tactics	full free version	3.50 / 5
28.	Travian: Legends browser	strategy / MMORTS	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.50 / 5
29.	Texas Holdem Strip Poker browserNSFW	strategy / board game	full free version	3.50 / 5
30.	Japan Castle Mahjong browser	strategy / mahjong	full free version	3.50 / 5
31.	UFO: Alien Invasion Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, Free BSD	strategy / turn-based tactics	open source	3.50 / 5
32.	Command & Conquer Windows, Mac OSX	strategy / real-time strategy	liberated	3.50 / 5
33.	Savage: The Battle for Newerth Windows, Linux, Mac OSX	strategy / real-time strategy	liberated	3.50 / 5
34.	Scorched 3D Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, Free BSD, Solaris	strategy / games like Worms	open source	3.45 / 5
35.	Imperia Online browser	strategy / MMORTS	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.44 / 5
36.	HEBEREKE!: March! Red Army Girls' Brigade WindowsNSFW	strategy	full free version	3.44 / 5
37.	Supremacy 1914 browser	strategy / wargame	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.44 / 5
38.	League of Legends Windows, Mac OSX	strategy / MOBA	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.43 / 5
39.	Anno Online browser	strategy / MMORTS	free-to-play, with microtransactions	3.43 / 5
40.	The Defender: Farm and Castle Windows	strategy / tower defense	full free version	3.43 / 5
41.	Order of Battle: World War II Windows, Mac OSX	strategy / wargame	free, commercial version available	3.42 / 5
42.	Ground Control Windows	strategy / real-time strategy	liberated	3.40 / 5
43.	C-Evo Windows	strategy / 4X	open source	3.40 / 5
44.	Lucas Chess Windows	strategy / board game	full free version	3.40 / 5
45.	UFO 2000 Windows, Linux, Free BSD, Mac OSX	strategy / turn-based tactics	open source	3.38 / 5
46.	CaesarIA Windows, Mac OSX, Linux	strategy / city building	free, optional donation	3.38 / 5
47.	OpenLieroX Windows, Mac OSX, Linux	strategy / games like Worms	open source	3.33 / 5
48.	Pixel Town Windows, Mac OSX, Linux, browser	strategy / city building	full free version	3.33 / 5
49.	Genocide DOS	strategy	abandonware	3.33 / 5
50.	Triple Triad Gold Windows	strategy / CCG	full free version	3.33 / 5

More free games to discover

The Top 50 is only a small part of what you can find on Free Games Utopia. The site covers thousands of free games, from forgotten DOS classics and old-school RPGs to modern indie games, free-to-play titles, browser games and open-source projects. Some are freeware, some are liberated, and some are simply games that you can download and play for free.

You can browse the database by genre, platform, year or keyword, or take a look at games similar to some of the classics you already know. There are plenty of oddities and hidden gems too, because not every good free game has made it into the Top 50.

The ranking is based on votes from Free Games Utopia users. A game needs at least three votes to appear, and the list can change as more people rate the games. If you find something you enjoy, give it a vote — your choice could help it climb the list.