Remember when the swan song was sung on PCs in the late 2000s and early 2010s? The consoles would take over everything and nobody would play the strategy genre native to the PC in the future, it was said. Ten years later, this assessment could not be more wrong. The PC is still one of the most important stations for games and some large manufacturers see the computer as the lead platform. That’s why it goes without saying that we don’t forget the strategy in our preview lists for 2023. This niche in particular will be more popular in the coming year than it has been for a long time. To give you the complete overview, we have put together the most important construction and strategy games for 2023 for you. We start with the games that have at least a reasonably precise release date, before we turn to the titles that are only described with a rough “2023” date.
Aquatic
Digital Reef Games | January 12, 2023 | personal computer
In Aquatico you go deep. Here you build a city on the seabed. In doing so, you make use of a unique layer system. So you shift your production to the seabed, while the population sits above in domed cities. But watch your defenses, because the underwater world is home to dangerous animals that can tear holes in your fragile infrastructure.
Surviving the Abyss
Rocket Flair Studios | January 17, 2023 | personal computer
You can go deep-sea diving again in Surviving the Abyss – just a little darker than in Aquatico. As the manager of a research organization, you set up a deep-sea station on the ocean floor, and that too in 1976 with the finest retro technology. You are in charge of a group of scientists who must be entertained to keep them from going insane in the depths. To do this, you mine resources and keep expanding your base, but beware of the horrors that await in the darkness.
Inculinati
Yaza Games | January 31, 2023 | personal computer
German style is on the rise – well, at least the one from the Middle Ages. After Pentiment had already convinced with it, Inkulinati is now also making use of the idiosyncratic graphic style. Instead of solving murder cases and experiencing story, it’s about strategic fights. They take place in proper style on the page of a yellowed book. There’s also a decent dash of humor and the next banger in German medieval optics is ready.
Development & strategy games 2023: New highlights for hobby strategists and construction kings (2)
Source: Daedalic Entertainment
Barkhan
Glyph Worlds | February 9, 2023 | personal computer
If we didn’t know better, Barkhan could easily be mistaken for a successor to Dune 2000. After all, it’s a real-time strategy game set on a desert planet where three clans fight for supremacy. To do this, they send vehicles and planes into battle, the latter of which look suspiciously similar to the famous ornithopters and then there are also sandworms that break out of the desert floor and devour everything? With this RTS, the developers probably miss the cease and desist declaration by a hair’s breadth, but hopefully slip directly into the hearts of real-time strategists.
The Settlers – New Alliances
Ubisoft | February 17, 2023 | PC, PS4, XBO, NSW
Few titles have stirred up the builder faction as much as the new settler. There isn’t that much construction left. After Ubisoft wanted to restart the series in 2019 with a fantastic first version, they tinkered with it for two more years. What looked like a lot of fine-tuning was actually a 180° turn. The charming construction game has been converted into a half-baked real-time strategy game. Ubisoft pulled the handbrake and gave the game almost a whole year more development time to refine the mechanics. But now you want to stick to the basic RTS principle. The consoles can also take part later.
Development & strategy games 2023: New highlights for hobby strategists and construction kings (18)
Source: Ubisoft
Company of Heroes 3
Relic Entertainment | February 23, 2023 | personal computer
The Company of Heroes series has blossomed over the years into a strategy classic in the world war setting. The series offers real-time strategy with triple-A optics, which has become rather rare in the genre. Part 3 mixes the familiar concept with new ideas. If desired, the action can be paused for better planning of attack tactics. The new map also offers variety, on which you not only select boring missions, but also move troops in the best Total War manner. Company of Heroes 3 doesn’t always send you to the same places, but also brings you closer to lesser known battlefields of the Second World War, such as Italy or North Africa.
Meet Your Maker
Behavior Interactive Inc | April 4, 2023 | PC, PS5, PS4, XBO, XSX
With Meet your Maker, the makers of Dead by Daylight are daring to try a fresh game concept. The title is a mix of building and heist gameplay in the first-person perspective. On the one hand, you raise your own fortress and make it as impregnable as possible to protect the treasure inside. On the other hand, you raid the fortresses of other players and they in turn raid your castle. So this promises a real arms race – who builds the better fortress? Of course, it’s debatable whether this is still a building game, but we think the mix is exciting enough for a mention.
Great Houses of Calderia
Resistance Games | Q1 2023 | personal computer
Now that you’ve risen to become the leader of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation twelve times in Crusader Kings 3, it’s time for a change. In Great Houses of Calderia you also control your entire family dynasty, only in a fantasy realm. Each family member has different characteristics. In addition, a lot of value is placed on the diplomacy features with which you spin conspiracies or forge pacts. There are also numerous myths and legends that can become reality in the fantasy setting faster than you would like.
