The longest-running strategy game franchise

Key Takeaways

• The Total War franchise excels at large-scale strategy gameplay that spans multiple eras and adaptations.
• The Civilization series remains mainstream popular for its addictive gameplay and historical depth.
• The Age of Empires franchise offers a rich RTS experience that covers a diverse history and brings the past to life.

Rendering realistic graphics with depth used to be difficult, but there's a clever workaround that can make the world look much more convincing on a broad scale. This may be one of the reasons why there was a massive strategy game boom early in video game history, which led to the creation of many great franchises that continue to this day.

Whether it's a continent-traversing adventure by wandering warlords or a franchise set in a fantasy environment across time, long-term strategic franchise He had a long and celebrated career worth remembering.

5 total war

2000-2024 / 24 years

• Starting from 2000 Shogun: Total War.
• It soon ventured into other historical settings, such as the Middle Ages and Roman times.
• very popular warhammer universe.

One of gamers' primal fantasies is being able to simulate a large-scale war and make tactical decisions to carve a path to victory. Very few franchises get this right. total waris a trademark blend of deep micro-strategy on the battlefield with the larger macro-scale of entire civilizations across various periods in history, both real and fictional.

but total war It's enjoyed a devoted fan base for a long time, and it's hard to imagine it becoming more popular than its relatively new release. Total War: Warhammer 3This was the ultimate encapsulation of the trilogy of games. warhammer It is a universe that features a variety of play styles across different factions and a larger world. This is the epitome of the franchise and a game every strategy gamer should play.

4 civilization

1991-2016 / 25 years

• Started with the original in 1991 civilization On your PC.
• It evolved, grew in popularity, and reached its peak. civilization 5 and civilization 6.
• There's a new one coming soon (if it does, it'll actually be at the top of this list).

Strategy gamers are a powerful group, but they are not always part of the gaming mainstream, except in the following cases: civilization franchise. Sid Meier's popular game series, which started from a very simple premise – take a historical civilization, build it, and dominate the map using 4X basics – is still going strong in modern times.

The game is known for its addictive “just one more turn” gameplay loop, which churns out new buildings and units all the time in larger cities, spurred on by the various leaders players can inhabit. The game's principles have changed significantly since the original, but every new iteration is an important milestone in the strategy game calendar.

3 Age of Empires

1997-2023 / 26 years

• Started with the original in 1997 Age of Empires release
• Widely loved development and reaching peak speed quickly Age of Empires 2.
• continues to this day Age of Empires 4 And various DLC releases.

A place to play games civilization has dominated the grand strategy conversation in mainstream gaming; Age of Empires The franchise is likely many gamers' first foray into the realm of RTS games. Initially based on early history, it soon became a game spanning from ancient times to the Renaissance. Age of Empires It follows popular RTS principles from games such as: warcraft And turns it into a rich, vivid description of the past.

These games are especially Age of Empires 2has garnered a devoted fan base, many of whom are still playing the remastered version. Age of Empires 2 To this day, it remains a reliable and exciting esport and an ideal first introduction to RTS games. Age of Empires One of the legends of strategy games, its longevity is thanks to its mechanical innovations.

2 warcraft

1994-2020 / 26 years

• Starting from 1994 Warcraft: Orcs and Humans.
• over and over again warcraft 2 It enjoys the greatest popularity. warcraft 3.
• The most recent release was a controversial remake. warcraft 3.

Most people probably know the world of Azeroth from the indelible and earth-shattering MMO. world of warcraftSome people may not know that the world was originally conceived and developed in the beginning. warcraft The series is a beloved franchise of RTS games known for telling great stories and innovating graphics with each entry.

The franchise reached peak popularity upon its release. warcraft 3has taken over gaming culture with its tragic story of Arthas and his rise to the Lich King through cutting-edge animated cutscenes. It's one of the best stories in gaming history and introduces some of the most powerful characters in the lore.

1 settler

1993-2023 / 30 years

• Starting from 1993 settler.
• It has reached its peak of popularity. settlers 2 In 1996.
• It was rebooted in 2023. Settlers: A New Alliance.

It's no surprise if most gamers have never heard of it. settler Or a follow-on franchise. But despite lying beneath the surface, settler A very important historical point that took the traditional “German style” of strategy board games and digitized it, forever changing the design principles of strategy games that came later.

The game is primarily known as an economic RTS, where players do not control their units so much as set specific conditions for them and their buildings. This results in a complex supply chain, which sounds a bit boring on the surface, but once the machines work, it's more satisfying than most other games. Even if some of the items are no longer playable, their contributions certainly make them worthy of a place in strategy gaming history.