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Many video game fans are aware of the giants that modern gaming is built on the back of. Space Invaders, Mario 64, DOOM, etcetera. There's no shortage of vintage games that had a tremendous impact on gaming. But the strategy genre is arguably overlooked.
Deck-building, base-defense, tower-defense, real-time strategy, and even strategy Roguelikes. All of this and more has been shaped by what came before, and these are just some titles whose influence may have been overlooked.
Ironclad Tactics
A Failed Experiment In Deck-Building Tactics
Failed may be too harsh a word, but Ironclad Tactics is a rather forgotten entry in the catalog of Zachtronics, the iconic indie developer behind Infinifactory and Opus Magnum. It’s an ambitious blend of tactics and deck-building, but the inclusion of a turn timer likely caused it to fumble.
Ironclad Tactics is a strategy game that forces players to think quickly while having to parse information on the cards in their hand and make snap decisions. Summoning minions and playing cards are, in the current indie scene, relatively popular mechanics. Monster Train, Slay The Spire, Wildfrost, to name a few, are all games that could have been influenced by this experimental deck-builder.
Plants Vs. Zombies
An Elegant Economy and Accessible Tower Defense Gameplay
Plants Vs Zombies is an iconic tower-defense strategy game. That’s not just for its memorable soundtrack, which I personally find incredibly hummable. But PvZ also provided players with an accessible tower-defense experience without sacrificing depth.
The developers, PopCap, achieved this through the elegant addition of an economy. Fans of PvZ will remember having to collect sun in order to plant new towers, and having to ensure enough sunflowers to build a solid economy. It’s simple, but the blend of accessible economy mechanics and tower defense gameplay has had a clear impact on modern strategy games. Indie gem, Thronefall, is just one example.
FTL: Faster Than Light
A Roguelike Strategy Game
FTL: Faster Than Light was one of the first indie darling Roguelikes. Along with games such as Spelunky, it helped to take the permanent death and procedural generation of classic Roguelikes and bring them to modern audiences. However, unlike Spelunky, FTL brought strategy game mechanics into the fold.
This has had an undeniable impact on modern gaming. While perhaps not the sole reason, FTL certainly had a hand in inspiring the many modern indie games that now feature strategic gameplay combined with Roguelike mechanics. Subset Games also developed another of my personal favorites, Into The Breach, which I would highly recommend.
Stronghold
The Seed of Base Defense
A childhood favorite of mine, Stronghold is a legendary RTS that held a magnifying glass over the base-building pillar of the genre and amplified it. The game features robust mechanics for building castles. That’s what it’s known for. But, as with all RTS games, Stronghold features opponents, and those opponents have a nasty habit of attacking castles.
Yes, Stronghold is — essentially — a base defense game. As much as it is a castle-building game, though, it’s heavily focused on siege warfare. Take a look at Steam, and it’s easy to see the impact this iconic RTS has had on modern gaming, specifically in the indie scene. It’s hard to imagine games such as Diplomacy Is Not An Option or the more recent Cataclismo without Stronghold.
Homeworld
Space Combat on a True 3D Plane
Homeworld is a lesser-known RTS. While still a relatively well-known title, especially among fans of the RTS genre, it’s arguably been overshadowed by titan Blizzard games such as StarCraft 2 and Warcraft 3. However, it’s nonetheless influential.
Specifically, Homeworld introduced real-time combat on a 3D plane. By setting the game in space, Relic Entertainment were forced to allow combat on more than just a 2D plane in order to better immerse players. Taking a look at Homeworld’s space combat for just a moment, however, makes it clear how much influence the game had on the space-sim and space combat games of the future.
Dune 2: The Building of a Dynasty
The First Real RTS
The RTS is one of the most prominent subgenres of strategy games. For a long time, it was the sturdy center of PC gaming as a whole, and even today it remains a nostalgic pastime. Not to mention the still-standing communities of games such as StarCraft 2, which are still managing to bring in new blood after years.
While many fans may be aware of Dune 2’s influence, especially those in the RTS community, it would be easy to overlook the impact Dune 2 has had on modern gaming. Not only did it provide the first real structure for RTS games as we know them today, but it practically started a genre that then evolved into other genres, like the MOBA.
StarCraft 2
Esports, Community, and Asymmetric Design
StarCraft 2, after over fifteen years now, is still standing strong. It’s a real-time strategy game with deep mechanics and fast-paced gameplay, bolstered by asymmetric factions and a stalwart community.
Despite the RTS genre being well past its peak, StarCraft 2 has managed to survive. This is thanks to its enormous footprint on gaming, specifically its impact on Esports. One could also give the original StarCraft this badge of honor, as both were prominent and pioneering titles when it came to the facilitation of professional play.
Warcraft 3
An Engaging Narrative, a Pioneering RTS, and an Influential Mod Scene
Warcraft 3 and its predecessors were giants in the RTS scene back in the '90s, helping to bring the genre to its peak. This third installment, however, is arguably the most influential. Not only did it stand strong as an RTS and pave the way for the enormously successful StarCraft 2, but it also provided some fans with a veritable playground for designing their own experiences.
It’s likely that many fans of Warcraft 3 got into design through its editor. In fact, the creation of DOTA and the MOBA genre itself can be partly attributed to Warcraft 3, as it provided developers with the tools to create custom games.
