The Best Strategy Games of 2023 - Editors' Choice

4. Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, Mimimi Games, 2023.

Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a unique example of a game that, although great, leaves a sense of sadness among fans of the studio and this genre. For we are talking about the farewell creation of the developers, who have openly admitted that they are winding down the business after its release. The developers' personal matters as well as financial issues both played a role in the decision. However, they bid farewell to their fans by handing over a game that many believe comes close to perfection.

But what exactly are we dealing with? If you don't know about the games made by Mimimi Games studio, let us explain. German developers have specialized in recent years in developing tactical strategies that place a strong emphasis on stealth. The situation is the same for Shadow Gambit, whose gameplay is centered on this aspect.

In The Cursed Crew, we take on the role of a pirate traversing the Lost Caribbean, the equivalent of "our" Caribbean, only with numerous fantasy influences. The player must find the legendary treasure and confront the Inquisition standing in the way to it. We'll achieve this by completing subsequent missions, during which we lead a team of several people and accomplish various goals in the stealthiest way possible.

This requires appropriate use of the characters' skills, as well as elements of the environment. Every mission can be done in many different ways, so there's no room for boredom. If you enjoy this kind of game or have experience with the creations of Mimimi Games, Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew is a must-have for you.

3. Dune: Spice Wars

Dune: Spice Wars, Shiro Games, 2023.

Dune Spice Wars is a strategy game that made a strong impression during its early access stage, and now, after extensive development and a full release, it deserves to be recognized as an RTS that no strategy game fan should overlook. Particularly one that got caught up in the hype surrounding Denis Villeneuve's film adaptation of Dune.

Your objective will be to gain control over Arrakis, the only planet in the galaxy abundant in valuable spice, as the leader of one of the six available factions in this title. How you achieve this depends solely and exclusively on you. In a battle or Conquest mode, you can defeat your rivals by relying on brute force, conspiracies, diplomacy, or even simply by purchasing majority shares in a corporation that trades in the previously mentioned resource.

There are many ways to achieve victory in Dune Spice Wars, and each one ensures a great deal of satisfaction. And everything is complemented by an exceptionally atmospheric audiovisual setting. The sand shimmering in the moonlight, the limited greenery hiding in the shaded canyons, and the unique music accompanying these views will make you feel as if you were traversing through the dunes of Arrakis yourself.