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Transport strategies on PC. Development and management: the best economic strategies on PC

Friends, hello everyone. The Gamebizclub team is on air, and today we will continue to introduce you to the genres of the world computer games. At the end of May, we dove in and revealed the 12 best games in the genre. And in this article we will tell you in detail about the best strategies on PC over the past few years and compile our top best games in this genre.

It would seem that making ratings is a simple matter. It’s worth taking a list of the games you like, choosing the best ones and putting them in order. We would have done so, if not for one nuance - the Gamebizclub team gathered people who saw Warcraft 1 and Heroes of Might and Magic.

Since then, many games have been released, one way or another, we managed to play most of them and form our own opinion. Therefore, we made a plausible rating taking into account all opinions - we retested old games and new ones, refreshed our memory. And this is what happened.

From this article you will learn:

14. DEFCON

The last place in our ranking goes to DEFCON, a game about nuclear strike tactics released in 2006. The name translates as “defense readiness” - this is a real-life scale of the US Army’s readiness for possible combat operations.

DEFCON is based on the plot of the American film “War Games”, which shows the global nuclear conflict between the USA and the USSR. Not only the events of the game, but also its style echo the film, as evidenced by the motto “Everybody dies” (translated as “Everybody Dies”).

In DEFCON you will not be able to create combat units, collect resources and develop technologies. But you can choose the location of forces on the territory of North or South America, Europe, Russia, Africa or Asia. The game starts when the DEFCON scale shows alarm level 5. Then you move to the following levels sequentially. All this time, the conflict is developing, tension is growing. When the level reaches 1, a nuclear attack can be launched.

The main goal is to inflict damage on the enemy while avoiding your own losses. There are no moral restrictions, so you should follow only your thoughts, desires and emotions. Up to 6 people can participate in the game. Nuclear missiles of various types, fighters, bombers, submarines, aircraft carriers, cruisers, airfields, and radars are used as combat units.

DEFCON is similar to a real command post, where the president of the country sits and plans fighting. There is nothing superfluous - just a map, marks of friendly and enemy troops, the most important targets and cities. And you can do whatever comes to your mind: take on the role of the main villain, save peoples and countries, destroy cities and entire regions with one click.

The only negative that outweighs all the advantages is that DEFCON does not have graphics engine. Despite the interesting gameplay, after a while the process of exchanging nuclear warheads gets boring - it becomes boring to move warheads and combat vehicles on the map, destroy minor countries, and so on.

And all because there are no special effects or any accompaniment. Therefore, it is suitable instead of Minesweeper or any other game with low requirements - it takes up only 60 MB on your hard drive and will run on any PC.

13. Dune

In thirteenth place is the Dune series of games about the world of Arrakis, which became one of the first real-time strategies. Dune was released in 1992 on Sega console, and after a while it became available on PC. At that time it was a breakthrough that could be repeated only three years later.

Interesting fact: on behalf of the publishing company Virgin Interactive, two independent developers worked simultaneously to create the game. French company Cryo Interactive released the game first. American Westwood Studios - a little later. That's why the title of the game from Westwood Studios contains the number "2".

The plot is based on the science fiction novel Dune by Frank Herbert. During the passage you will meet the main characters, take the role of the leader of one of the great houses and conquer the planet Arrakis.

The only negative is that the events of the book and the game are loosely connected; the gameplay is based on missions to clear the territory from the enemy and extract useful resources.

In the struggle for dominance on the planet, three great houses collided - the Atreides, the Harkonnens and the Ordos. Each home has its own pros and cons, unique technologies and powerful leaders.

You can choose any house, but you cannot change it later. After choosing, you will find yourself on the battlefield, command an army, build a base, extract resources and destroy the enemy. Important - to win, you need to destroy all enemies on the map.

For example, if you have destroyed the enemy base, but one soldier is hiding in the corner of the map and is constantly moving, you will not win until you destroy him.

Dune pioneered the approach that would become the basis of the RTS genre. This global map, economic model, command bar and mini-map in the user interface, “fog of war” and different capabilities of the warring parties.

In 1998, a remake called Dune 2000 was released, and in 2001, the developers continued the series by releasing Emperor: Battle for Dune. Unfortunately, after that, no more games about Dune appeared. 15 years have passed, but the series remains only in the memory of the most devoted fans - that’s why only the penultimate place.

12. Age of Empires

We give twelfth place to Age of Empires, which became the basis for many RTS that came out after it. The first part was released in 1997, and since then Microsoft Game Studios has released 8 games and 4 additions to them. The series also includes Age of Empires Online (MMORTS).

In Age of Empires, you will find yourself as the leader of one of 16 civilizations, reflecting a specific architectural style: Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Asian and Roman. By completing missions and developing, you will move from era to era - from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.

Civilization develops through the construction of buildings, technology research and war, where would we be without it. Besides you, there will be several more civilizations on the map competing for resources. Therefore, you will constantly be at war - defending behind walls or attacking the enemy.

The game contains campaigns, including educational ones. The learning process is based on 12 scenarios that explain gameplay. This will help you quickly master the basics of control, work effectively with units and fully use the camera. Other campaigns consist of different missions in which you will defend in a fortified fort, attack castle walls and much more.

Multiplayer is available for a maximum of eight people. To play online, you can choose who to fight with - bots or other people. If you choose a mode with other users, you will have the opportunity to form an alliance, declare war on the selected enemy, or take a neutral position.

Age of Empires doesn't require a powerful computer. Even with the most modest configuration, the game looks realistic, and the image is pleasing to the eye at maximum zoom.

For many people, Age of Empires has become a guide to the world of strategy. But the series gradually faded away and lost popularity - the third part was released back in 2005, and there is still no full-fledged fourth part, if you do not take into account AoE Online. Therefore, we recommend the game to those who want to see the beginning of the RTS era.

11. Star Wars: Empire at War

In eleventh place Star Wars: Empire at War is a game released in 2006 based on the setting of the world famous Star Wars saga. The plot is based on episodes 4, 5 and 6 Star Wars, namely the civil war between the rebels and the imperials.

You will find yourself in the role of a commander of one of the sides, you will control the fleet, command in battles with opponents, destroy bases and much more. The storyline consists of missions in which you will meet famous heroes - Darth Vader, Palpatine, Firmus Piett, Han Solo, Boba Fett, Chewbacca and other characters.

Each character provides certain bonuses, and if necessary, you can hire additional supporting characters - agents, smugglers and others.

Star Wars: Empire at War consists of two parts:

Conquest of the Galaxy - a global strategy on the galaxy map. In this mode, you will manage controlled planets, study (or steal) technologies, seize strategic resources, attack and defend.
Tactical mode - consists of space and ground operations. You will spend a lot of time in this mode, because a lot will depend on the outcome of the battle. It is here that you will see the main combat vehicles, infantry and ships of both sides, and you will be able to demonstrate your team skills and win.

The main thing is to choose the right side. The Imperials have more opportunities to master new technologies, improve weapons and ships. And the rebels cannot do science, but they know how to steal the technological achievements of the Empire.

Become the ruler of the galaxy with Darth Vader, or free the planets from the tyranny of the Empire with Luke and his friends. Choose a side and go into battle. You will definitely like it.

Star Wars is a super popular project by George Lucas. Therefore, it is not surprising that many films were published based on the film. interesting games, but we still haven’t seen the continuation of Empire at War, which is a pity. Only eleventh place in our ranking, let's move on.

10. World in Conflict: Soviet Assault

The top ten is rounded out by World in Conflict: Soviet Assault, a real-time strategy game released in 2009 that continued the events that happened in World in Conflict. In other words, the developers took World in Conflict and added 6 new missions - the game became one and a half times longer.

Gamebizclub's opinion: in our opinion, this best strategy about the beginning of the Third World War. Events begin with the fall of the Berlin Wall, which is destroyed by Russian tanks. USSR troops begin an offensive along the entire front and create a meat grinder for NATO forces.

You will find yourself in the role of a Soviet paratrooper and unit commander, standing at the forefront of the attack, destroying enemy soldiers and equipment. Indescribable sensations!

Combat operations take place either in Berlin or in rural areas, where they have to fight with NATO troops. You will also be able to command an artillery battery and provide air escort for the convoy.

Each mission has a specific plot, but the main thing is that there is no need to build a base. You have a limited number of troops at your disposal, but you can request reinforcements.

The developers could not avoid stereotypes about Russians - the ideas of Americans, British, Germans and other peoples are very noticeable and often hurt the eyes. Therefore, in the dialogues there is sometimes a feeling of unreality of what is happening until the fighting begins.

You can also choose the side of NATO - in this case, the plot will begin on the territory of the United States, where you will defend cities and the coast. Gradually you will push back the USSR troops and move to Europe. Let us add that both storylines are inextricably linked, so the side you choose will win.

The game attracts with its sharp plot, large-scale battles that take place not only nearby, but all over the map - you get the feeling that you are participating in a large-scale military operation. It all looks very realistic, as if we were really in the center of a battle.

World in Conflict: Soviet Assault is in tenth place only because we did not see the continuation of this series. The game should be on the shelf of every fan of the genre - this is 100%.

9.Stronghold

In ninth place is the Stronghold series of games - a strategy about the Middle Ages, the Crusades, knights and kings. The first part of Stronghold was released in 2001, and the last Stronghold 3 in 2011. Let us add that in 2010 the developers released the first MMORTS - Stronghold Kingdoms, where online play against other people became available.

The action takes place during the early Middle Ages, so you will take on the role of a baron or count - you will build a castle, develop production, establish settlements and fight the enemy. Depending on the chosen part, you will be taken to the territory of Europe or Palestine.

In Strongold Crusader the action takes place in the hot lands of Palestine. As a crusader, you will build and defend a castle, establish production, and attack the impregnable fortifications of desert warriors.

Stronghold 3 takes place in Europe. The plot begins seven years after the end of the events of the first part.

The series became successful due to the combination of economic strategy and medieval surroundings. You can build your own castle, besiege your neighbor’s castle, pour boiling oil and tar on the attackers - all the medieval romance is present. But before the start of hostilities, it will be necessary to provide the rear with food and develop production so that everything is enough for the duration of the war.

Computer opponents are controlled by artificial intelligence - like you, they extract resources, build castles, form their own army and start a war. And in multiplayer you will be opposed by those people whom you invite to the game - friends, acquaintances or family members.

8. Heroes of Might and Magic III

In eighth place is one of the best turn-based Heroes strategies of Might and Magic III. Despite the fact that the game was released back in 1999, it still remains the most revered in the turn-based strategy genre. And the following parts of “Heroes”, released after it, were never able to surpass the third part.

The game takes place in a fantasy world where there are dragons, elves, goblins, gnomes and many other mythical creatures. You will lead one of the factions, command a squad, capture and manage cities, and explore the world.

The adventure map is difficult to navigate in places. Movement in the game world is not always predictable - there are areas where it is very difficult to get to and you have to follow an unobvious path.

One of the main tasks is to develop cities in such a way that they generate income, provide combat power and give power to magical spells. If a city is well developed, it brings in enough gold and allows you to hire a strong army to capture adjacent territories and destroy the enemy.

As it should be in turn-based strategy, time in the game flows discretely. The main unit of time is the move, which is also called a day. During a turn, you can perform a certain number of actions - make a move with heroes, plan the construction of a building, and so on.

And in battle, actions take place one by one and resemble chess game. Each unit has a certain number of action points, attack type and amount of health. The stronger the unit, the harder it hits and the harder it is to kill. The troops are led by a hero who, upon victory, receives experience and artifacts from defeated enemies.

Heroes of Might and Magic 3 is available in single and multiplayer. Although multi-user is a strong word. The first mode is called “Hot Seat” and is translated as a hot seat - two people at one computer take turns making moves and finding out who is stronger.

The second mode is network. You need to create a separate “room” and give the address of this room to friends and acquaintances. Then you don’t have to sit in one chair, but really surf the net.

In 2015, the version of Heroes of Might and Magic III HD was released - a remake of the popular game, made for a PC with average characteristics. We advise everyone - HoMM should be on the shelf of every turn-based strategy fan. And we move on.

7.Command & Conquer

In seventh place is the famous Command & Conquer - a real-time strategy about the confrontation between the NoD brotherhood and the World Defense Initiative (if translated into modern realities - Terrorists and the Security Service).

The first part was released back in 1995, and the last one was released in 2013. Note that the first part, along with Dune, became the basis for the RTS genre. But compared to the world of Arrakis, the Command and Conquer saga lasted much longer. The two games have the same developer - Westwood Studios, so it is quite possible that they decided to sacrifice Dune in favor of the more popular C&C.

The Command & Conquer universe includes 3 story subseries: Tiberium, Red Alert and Generals. This is a total of 15 games.

The plot of C&C is built on the conflict surrounding Tiberium, an alien substance sent by aliens to Earth in a meteorite shower. This substance extracts minerals, it can be used as an energy source, and in general Tiberium is a valuable element.

World governments consolidate and begin to mine Tiberium. At the same time, terrorists also begin to mine it, as a result they quickly gain strength and receive financial injections from countries where there is no Tiberium.

After some time, IVZ decides to put an end to NoD, but that was not the case - the Brotherhood strikes back and a long and exhausting confrontation begins.

You can become a member of the terrorist brotherhood NoD, which seeks to take over the world. But if high ideals are closer, you should choose IVZ. Although the main emphasis is not on the side of the conflict, but on how you will command in battle.

Each game has missions that you need to complete and achieve your goals. In principle, everything is simple - build a base, mine Tiberium, recruit troops and build military equipment. And then you send an army to attack and command how, where and who to destroy. Easy?

But the enemy does not sleep, so it is never easy. They will constantly attack you and try to destroy your base, attack from unexpected directions and deprive you of the opportunity to earn money. Therefore, you need to constantly be prepared for sudden attacks by the enemy, which suddenly appears in the most vulnerable places. The main factor of victory is not superiority in combat power, but the absence of mistakes.

It is unknown what will happen to the C&C series next. Four years have passed, but there is still no clear news or comments. Although there are still many fans of the game who continue to hone their skills in online battles. Therefore, so far only seventh place.

6. Civilization

We decided to give sixth place to Civilization, a step-by-step strategy about the development of humanity on Earth. The game, created by Sid Meier back in 1991, and its subsequent remakes were and remain the flagship of the turn-based strategy genre.

Now 6 parts with modifications and additions have already been released. Civilization has received a number of awards and has been inducted into the Video Game Hall of Fame. IN different countries ah sold more than 9 million copies - a great success, confirmed by numerous critics from all over the world.

The main task is to develop the chosen civilization, from primitive society to modernity. Become Stalin and rule Russia, or take the place of Napoleon, Ramses, George Washington and lead your people on the path to prosperity.

To achieve power and prosperity, you need to build cities, engage in economics and science, create technologies and wonders of the world, build up military power, establish diplomatic relations with other civilizations and fight with competitors.

In general, everything is as in real life– put yourself in the shoes of a president or dictator. Events take place on a given world map, chosen randomly or exactly replicating the Earth.

Settlers, military men, diplomats and other characters (units) participate in the development of civilization. You can change the political regime by choosing despotism, monarchy, democracy, communism, republic. The higher the selected difficulty level, the better you need to plan your actions.

The easiest way is to be a leader - opponents hardly interfere. And the hardest thing is to be a deity, in which case the whole world will take up arms against you and will constantly put a spoke in your wheels - declare war, suddenly attack, plunder and destroy cities, and so on.

The score is determined based on the outcome of the game. When calculating points, the number of population, the number of created wonders of the world and other criteria are taken into account.

Editorial opinion: in earlier versions Civilization had some funny moments. If one nation was significantly ahead of others in development and began to fight, then its tanks and infantry clashed with knights, swordsmen, crossbowmen and other units of the Middle Ages, and sometimes even antiquity. And often tanks lost when simultaneously attacked by several units of earlier eras. In Civilization VI, the developers have improved the balance, but problems still arise - with a coordinated attack, crossbowmen and catapults can destroy a tank.

The main feature of the game is the opportunity to see the development of civilization, participate in this process and rewrite history. Imagine the Aztecs launching the first satellite into space, the Egyptians building the Pentagon in Cairo, the Romans launching the Stealth bomber.

Within the framework of game mechanics, everything is possible. The latest part of the game was released in 2016, and the continuation should be expected in 2019-2020.

5. Total War

We decided to give fifth place Total War– series historical games, where tactics and strategy are organically combined. The series itself contains 10 parts and 7 additions. The first part was created in 2000, and the last one was currently released in 2016 under the name Total War: WARHAMMER.

The main feature of Total War is the transfer in time to a specific era of human development. The plot takes you to Japan during the Warring States era, to Europe during the Napoleonic era, to the Middle Ages and earlier times. In the role of Attila you will conquer the European continent, in the role of Charlemagne you will create an invincible empire, in the role of Peter the Great you will bring Russia to the level of the leading world powers.

If we describe Total War in a nutshell, then the most suitable ones are large battles. In addition to capturing cities, establishing economic ties and production cycles, you will fight. War consists of many battles of different sizes, and you will command an army in each of them. Castle sieges, city defense, ambushes and wall-to-wall battles - there is everything that fans of the genre need.

In strategic mode, battles are fought on a global turn-based map, where cities, armies, territorial boundaries, valuable resources and roads are indicated. And in tactical mode, you are transported to the battlefield, to a real terrain with hills, trees, buildings and other landscape details.

If you get tired of constant battles, click “automatic calculation of results.” If your army is greatly superior, the enemy will be defeated without your participation.

But if the forces are equal or the enemy is superior in numbers, then you cannot do without your participation. In the “automatic calculation of the results” you will most likely lose, but in the manual mode there is a chance to win. Moreover, it often happens that a smaller army first defends itself, and then successfully advances and cuts out the fleeing enemy troops - but only if you command the army.

Defeats also happen, where would we be without them. But after each defeat, you will learn to think and make innovative decisions, manage your troops more effectively and skillfully use the features of the landscape.

Let's give an example - if you are defending a city, then you need to sit behind the walls and not make forays. But if the enemy let the army down too quickly, and the siege equipment is only on the way and is slowly moving along the walls, feel free to bring the commander and cavalry units into the attack, try to destroy the siege towers and ram first. Without them, the enemy will not fight much.

In major battles, armies of several thousand people clash. Considering that most armies have a maximum number of units (15-20 depending on the version of the game), the largest battles involve several units of the maximum size - this is enough to litter half the map with the bodies of fallen warriors.

We could write a lot about Total War, but we will say this - do you want to become King Leonidas and lead the Spartans? So do it. You can take more people into battle than 300 elite fighters. And in the end, kick Xerxes in one place, completely changing the course of history. That's why Total War is in the top five.

4. Halo Wars 2

Fourth place goes to Halo Wars 2, the continuation of the saga about the war between people and alien invaders. The series developed by Microsoft has been trending for more than 15 years. Several dozen books and one film have already been released based on the plot of the game, and this is not the end yet. The series is developing, and after a while we will see a continuation in the form of a shooter, and maybe another film.

And now the background: in the distant future, people populated many planets and controlled a large area of space until they encountered the Covenant empire. The collision took place on the outskirts of “human space” and ended with the destruction of several patrol corvettes and a planet with a population of ten million people.

From that moment on, events developed badly for the people - dozens of lost systems, hundreds of millions of lives lost and the loss of half the fleet. In this situation, K.K.O.N decides to send the colony ship "Spirit of Fire" into an unexplored sector of space for colonization.

Halo Wars 2 begins with people awakening from cryosleep at The Ark, a space structure created by a mysterious ancient race. When landing on a space facility, the soldiers encounter an army of Covenants - the war overtakes the colonists.

Battles break out throughout the “Arch”, both sides lose fighters and equipment. The conflict is developing rapidly, and only you can defeat the enemy.

The gameplay in Halo Wars 2 is not much different from other strategies - building a base, collecting energy and supplies (they can be collected by ordinary soldiers), forming an army and fighting. That said, Halo Wars 2 is a story-driven game where you participate.

There are a lot of missions additional tasks that need to be carried out. For example, in one mission you will destroy the enemy with one Spartan with a machine gun, push through power shields and free prisoners - every mission is in this spirit.

Microsoft made not just an RTS, but a strategy with a high budget. The graphics and image quality look amazing - the soldiers, equipment, buildings and other details are made at a very high level. And you will remember the local beauty for a long time. This is a proprietary Halo feature that Microsoft is actively developing.

Halo Wars 2 is a stunningly beautiful strategy game that you can play for hours without stopping. She'll go to Xbox One and PC. However, there is one small drawback. PC owners may feel that tasks end too quickly. I would like to put it in the top three, but in terms of “legendary” it is inferior to more successful strategies. Let's move on to them.

3. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III

We decided to give bronze to Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III, an epic strategy about the war between a human empire and other races in space. Since its release in 2004, 3 parts of the game have already appeared, and the last one was released on April 27, 2017.

The world of War Hammer is very large. Everything in it is tied to a fierce confrontation between several races - people, orcs, elves, chaosites, necromancers and other factions. Moreover, each faction has its own policies, troops, development path and other features that make it different from the rest.

The events of the plot unfold on the surface of planets, where representatives of different races collide in a bloody battle. As a result, only one winner remains, and the rest are mercilessly destroyed.

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3 was included in the top three, and this is justified - the game is new, made at a very high level, and the plot continues the established traditions of the Warhammer series. The graphics and design of locations and nature, combat vehicles and infantry, buildings and heroes are pleasing to the eye - if you have a widescreen monitor, you will seem to be transported to the distant future. But little has changed in the gameplay - it is still a strategy made in the classic style.

On the battlefield, you will build a base, recruit infantry and build combat vehicles, form units and throw them into battle with the enemy. Try to take into account the vulnerabilities of each soldier or combat vehicle: light armored vehicles lose to heavy ones, anti-tank squads will quickly multiply the coolest tank by zero, but are vulnerable to infantry, and infantry are afraid of snipers and light equipment. Familiar scheme, right?

There is also an interesting feature - for the first time, unique super-heavy warriors have appeared, which turn the battle on its head. The Phantom Knight for the Eldar, the Imperial Knight for the Humans, and the Orc Stomp for the Orcs. But they appear closer to the end of the plot, so you won’t be able to control them for a long time.

Multiplayer - in the classic format 1 on 1, 2 on 2 and so on. It's simple - choose a race, build a base and try to quickly take out your opponents. Well, or they take you out, it all depends on the skill.

Overall, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III is pure excitement. The plot and battles are captivating and literally do not allow you to tear yourself away from the monitor screen. In the heat of battle, you don’t even have time to pay attention to mistakes in the voice acting and phrases of the heroes. For example, imagine orcs speaking normal Russian - a fantastic sight. Bronze is well-deserved, let's move on.

2. StarCraft II

Second place goes to StarCraft II, a popular real-time strategy game developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The first part of the game, called Wings of Liberty, was released in 2010, and in 2013 and 2015 the second and third additions Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void.

StarCraft 2 is the main representative of strategy games in eSports. StarCraft championships are held regularly, the winners receive valuable prizes. Note that the game is inferior in popularity to other representatives of e-sports - CS: GO, Dota 2, League of Legends.

But still, she has millions of fans from different countries, and the first day after the release of Legacy of the Void, sales amounted to more than 1 million. Simply put, StarCraft II remains very popular.

Time and place of action: a distant part of the Milky Way, 26th century. The plot is based on a war between three races - protoss, zerg, terrans. Terrans are the descendants of exiled criminals who have severed all ties with their home planet. Zerg are mutated creatures from various planets controlled by the Overmind and the Queen of Blades. Protoss are representatives of a high-tech civilization with psionic abilities.

StarCraft 2 is a classic strategy game. By choosing one of the races, you will build a base and combat units, extract resources, develop technologies, form armies and participate in battles. To win, you must destroy buildings, the main base and destroy all enemies.

For example, if at least one builder survives, then after five or ten minutes of the game you risk running into the second base of the enemy, who will have time to prepare for defense.

In single-player mode, you will follow the storyline, go through 26 missions, meet the main characters and get used to the gameplay. In addition to the plot, you can pass tests that require special ingenuity. If you pass successfully, you will receive a medal. After everything has been completed, you can move on to multiplayer.

IN network game Players from the CIS, USA, Asia and Europe can take part. Here you can make friends, organize a clan (online community), take part in tournaments and get to the big championship. The better your skill, the greater your chances of winning something. If you want to achieve good results, train on different maps, communicate with people and see what professional players are doing.

Starcraft II should be on every fan's list of games. It will remain trendy for a few more years, and then Blizzard will outdo themselves and release the third part. The neighbors have already done this - the example of Diablo is before our eyes. Now let's move on to the winner of our rating.

1. Warcraft III

Gold goes to legendary game Warcraft III is a real-time strategy and RPG made in the fantasy genre. Blizzard Entertainment developed and released the game in 2002, with sales exceeding 2 million copies in its first month. We put Warcraft III in first place for just one reason, the name of which is that it is the best game in every sense.

Let's be clear: Warcraft established for a long time those principles of RTS and RPG that remain relevant 15 years later. All modern RPGs and MMORPGs with open world one way or another they use the development system laid down by Warcraft 3.

Fantasy races, interesting story, the mechanics of combat and magic - all this is organically combined and makes you return to the game again and again. And it’s no coincidence that World of Warcraft and Dota 2 remain at the top - they continue the genre established in the third Warcraft.

Let us add that the plot of the game was filmed, released in 2016. Box office receipts for several months of release worldwide collected more than $300 million - this is a great success that few can repeat.

We've sorted out the popularity, now let's talk about the gameplay and fundamental differences from other strategies.

Warcraft III is a classic strategy game with RPG elements. Everything is here from strategy: from building a base and recruiting an army, to tactics of battles on the map. You have a small army at your disposal, limited by the number of farms that produce food for it.

Workers mine gold in mines, cut down forests and build structures - barracks, farms, workshops and other buildings. And the RPG component is about leveling up the heroes.

According to the plot, in each task you control a hero who increases the level by destroying the enemy, uses artifacts, and applies powerful abilities and spells. The higher the hero's level, the stronger he is and the more powerful the damage from his abilities.

The plot is based on a bloody confrontation between two races - humans and orcs. There are also night elves, gnomes, undead and other races that influence the balance of power in battle. Someone will be your ally, someone will put up fierce resistance and will be destroyed - it all depends on the chosen side.

Combat actions take place on maps - in locations with forests, rivers, lakes, mines and neutral characters. Picture quality may seem a little dated, but it's 2002, when PC requirements were much different. But W3 will work on any computer, plus you can chat online with other people from different countries. There are still enough fans of the game.

Warcraft 3 should be in every strategy fan's favorites. Best of the Best – just like that and no other way. And we are waiting for news about Warcraft 4, rumors have been circulating for two years, but the Bliz remain silent.

Let's sum it up

Despite the fact that the strategy genre is gradually losing ground, worthy strategies like Halo Wars 2 or Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 3 still appear. And we see a new trend - developers are trying to make games interesting. The new games feature an exciting plot, well-developed unit models and beautiful location design.

Let's see what happens in two or three years - perhaps we will see a really interesting and exciting strategy and we will definitely write about it. Good luck everyone, bye bye.

The best economic strategies- these are games that have long gained popularity among those who like to feel like a real tycoon, lead the country entrusted to them to prosperity, or develop a powerful and durable empire from scratch. This article will focus on games that can be considered the standard of this genre.

Among all genres of computer games, economic strategies (and military strategies) are most popular on PCs, not consoles, much less mobile platforms do not have good representatives in this genre (correct me if I'm wrong).

The best economic strategies on PC

Tropico 5

The top of the best economic strategies would be incomplete without the game Tropico 5. This computer game combines elements of a city-planning stimulator. The player will become the head of an island located in the tropics. It is necessary to lead your state to prosperity, making it financially strong and influential on the world stage.

The fifth part of Tropico for the first time provided the opportunity to play in a cooperative mode, in which four players can take part at once. Thus game world has been replenished with an original multiplayer product in which rivals can both compete and coordinate their forces for a common goal.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Mac, Linux, Xbox 360, Playstation 4, Xbox One.

Release date– 2014.

Developer- Haemimont Games (Bulgaria).

Cities: Skylines

Almost all ratings that present the best economic strategies on PC cannot do without Cities: Skylines. This gaming product is one of the standards of urban planning simulators. The plot involves building your own city. You will have to plan the development zones, think through the infrastructure of the settlement, establish a rational level of taxation, and create some government institutions. City residents should receive all the services they need, which directly affect their comfort of living.

Users will be able to create their own modifications, adjusting Cities: Skylines to their preferences.

Platform Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Xbox One, PlayStation 4.

Release date– 2015.

Developer- Colossal Order (Finland)

The Guild 2

The list of the best economic strategies on PC would be incomplete without The Guild 2, a game that has become one of the benchmark gaming products of its genre. Guild 2 combines elements of a classic financial structure and RPG.

The gameplay begins in the Middle Ages. The user will have to participate in political campaigns, promote his candidacy from the humble position of clerk to overlord, and maybe even to the king himself. In parallel with this, a business and a strong dynasty are being built.

In total, the game features several modes. This best economic strategy for PC involves a campaign in which you will have to cope with tasks of varying levels of difficulty. You can also try your hand at free mode. The developers have also provided a multiplayer mode, during which players lead dynasties and fight among themselves.

Platform: Windows, Mac OS X.

Release date– 2006.

Developer- 4HEAD Studios (Germany).

Best economic strategies 2016

The Settlers: Kingdoms of Anteria

The list of the best economic strategies for PC 2016 is headed by The Settlers: Kingdoms of Anteria. The developers present this product as a mixture of classic economic strategy and strategic action. The gameplay is standard: the user must build own city and deal with its arrangement.

A special feature of the new part of the legendary gaming product is the developed military side of the game. Thus, The Settlers: Kingdoms of Anteria received well-deserved recognition due to its excellent warlike game elements.

The Settlers: Kingdoms of Anteria also allows you to play in co-op mode. Four players can join forces and together build the most efficient and prosperous settlement.

Platform: Windows 7/8.1/10 x64

Release date– 2016.

Developer- Blue Byte Software

Transport Fever

The best economic strategies of 2016 include Transport game Fever. It is a rather unusual simulator in which the main emphasis is on transport infrastructure. The game presents to users the history of the creation of various transport, which dates back more than 150 years.

In addition, the player will have to build cities. Their economy will mainly depend on trade, the most important lever of which is a properly established trade route. The placement of the network of land, air, water and underground modes of transport must be carefully considered.

Transport Fever is included in the best economic strategies on PC 2016-2017 due to its wide possibilities for using mods. The player will be able to independently develop new projects, armed with his own imagination.

Platform: PC

Release date– 2016.

Developer- Urban Games

Offworld Trading Company

The best economic strategy games in 2016 were added to Offworld Trading Company. It is developed in the science fiction genre. The plot takes place on Mars. And unlike many “space” products, there is absolutely no military line here. The gamer will have to defeat his rivals solely through trade.

At the beginning of the process, you need to head one of four companies that extracts natural resources. She will supply them to human colonies on Mars.

The gameplay provided for the presence of individual modes, as well as multiplayer versions. They last no more than half an hour. Competitions take place between several players or artificial intelligence.

Experts considered the lack of scenarios and increased complexity to be a minor drawback, which would be difficult for beginners to cope with strategy games. But these small shortcomings did not prevent Offworld Trading Company from reaching the top of the gaming tops.

Platform: Windows, OS X, Linux

Release date– 2016.

Developer- Mohawk Games.

Best economic strategies 2017

Urban Empire

Urban Empire has added tops representing best economic strategies 2017 on PC, despite its non-standard and originality. It is mainly aimed not at developing the economy, but rather at building a political career and getting to know the behind-the-scenes of this difficult arena.

When developing this product, the creators were guided by the idea of reviving the legendary Patrician IV, which became famous for its complex but exciting plot. The gameplay is based on urban planning principles. The time frame spans two centuries, during which it is necessary to develop a small village into a strong and prosperous metropolis. The gamer himself occupies the chair of the mayor, making profitable political decisions.

Overall the game received good reviews. Experts believe that it is optimal for those who are already familiar with this genre due to its relatively high complexity.

Platform: PC

Release date– 2017.

Developer- Reborn Games

Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth

The most anticipated game of the new year, Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth, justified all the expectations of its audience and topped the top, which includes the best economic strategies of 2017. The game combines not only economic building, but also global strategy with elements of military campaigns.

The gamer needs to take the reins of one of the greatest civilizations of our world. Acting on behalf of illustrious kings, leaders and statesmen, he will have to transform a small town into a powerful empire, the power and strength of which can leave all other civilizations behind. It is necessary to take care of the happiness of your people, build wonders of the world, expand your territorial borders, and fight with other countries. Single and multiplayer modes available.

Platform: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux

Release date– 2017.

Developer- Firaxis Games

Aven Colony

Aven Colony is a city-building simulator that covers the founding of the first human colony outside solar system. The player needs to create a settlement on an unexplored planet and lead it to a high level of development. In parallel with this, we will have to deal with many obstacles that will in every possible way hinder human happiness in outer space.

The gameplay is relatively simple. It combines simple military elements and rather difficult economic building. However, the main focus is still on urban planning.

Platform: Windows 7+

Release date– 2017.

Developer-Mothership Entertainment

Other popular economic strategies

Frostpunk

Platform: PC (Windows)
Release date: April 24, 2018
Developer: 11bit Studios

Frostpunk is a new project from the Polish team that gave us a war survival simulator The War of Mine, which has won numerous awards and rave reviews from critics. The new product goes even further, bringing survival mechanics to new level. Now we have a full-fledged economic strategy, where you take on the role of mayor in an alternative 19th century settlement. In the world of the game, almost all of humanity was destroyed by a global catastrophe that caused a severe snowstorm and severe cold snap. Only a few managed to survive, creating cities near powerful heat generators.

As the mayor, you will have to take care of a group of survivors, helping them settle near one of these abandoned devices. You will have to manage the most diverse aspects of the lives of citizens - manage the construction of infrastructure, obtaining food, fuel for a generator, and even funerals. Survival can sometimes require desperate measures and present difficult moral choices.

Tropico 6

Platform: PC (Windows), PS4, XBOX One
Release date: second half of 2018
Developer: Limbic Entertainment

For the sixth time, the popular economic strategy about the dictator of the small island state of Tropico has delighted PC users. And even though this time the developers were not an experienced team responsible for parts 2-5, but a studio with a dubious track record, including the failed Heroes of Might&Magic VII in many respects, there is something to see here. The game has become even more diverse and deep in terms of gameplay, new original features have appeared. And the scene itself is now not one large island, but a whole archipelago, parts of which will have to be connected by bridges, provided with infrastructure and developed in every possible way.

In addition to improving the country, the dictator can decorate his residence, and also send agents on various tasks, for example, stealing architectural monuments and transporting them by helicopter directly into the country. If El Presidente wants to have the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty or the Egyptian Sphinx on its islands in order to increase the flow of tourists to its domain, no one will be able to stop him.

Caesar III

Platform: PC (Windows)
Release date: September 30, 1998
Developer: Impressions Games

Among the entire series of Caesar city-planning simulators, it was the third part that received cult status, which received universal recognition thanks to its easy-to-learn and not overloaded with unnecessary gameplay elements, combined with gradually increasing complexity as the story campaign progresses. Players take on the role of a novice governor, who is in charge of a run-down province (to be precise, an empty field with grass and a couple of stones), and together with him they begin a long and persistent climb up the career ladder, along with the gradual improvement of the wasteland and its development to the scale level of Rome.

But it's not that simple. The mayor is forced to deal with a lot of problems - drought, city fires, overpopulation, disrepair of houses and even raids by hostile soldiers. To achieve victory, you need to build the right buildings and roads, monitor the needs of the population, and prepare for military action. The last one, however, is not the most strong point games. Victory depends more on the presence of temples of Mars (the god of war) in the city than on the choice of troop formation.

City Life

Platform: PC (Windows), Nintendo DS
Release date: May 12, 2006
Developer: Monte Cristo

City Life is the spiritual successor to Sim City, with the only difference being that while EA's popular series has moved towards simplification over the years, this product was aimed at gamers who value primarily the variety and complexity of the tasks assigned to them. This urban planning simulator has acquired a strong economic component - the lion's share of the game time will have to be spent on resource management and budget distribution between structures of various types (municipal, economic, etc.).

The population of the city in City Life is divided into social strata, and each of them has its own needs and aspirations that will have to be taken into account. And it won't be that easy. Before the average gamer, even if he has experience in games of this genre, manages to create a city that is comfortable for living and attractive for visitors, it will take a dozen hours of attempts, interspersed with the desire to erase the save file and start all over again. There is no plot as such, but you can set yourself certain goals and conditions, for example, to achieve a specific high percentage happy residents.

Economic strategies, where players take on the role of the “Owner” of the city, attract attention due to the ability to personally manage the economy and construction, and sometimes fight the invasion of enemies and natural disasters. The most important thing in all this is the need to think with your head, because in order for the economy of your state to develop successfully, sometimes you have to make difficult decisions.

So, if you like economic strategies and want to play one of them, then check out our list of “TOP 10 economic strategies on PC”.

10. Total War: Rome 2

Of course, it’s difficult to call this game exactly an economic strategy, because in addition to economics, it combines war and global strategy, but it still managed to take tenth place in our top, because Total War: Rome is one of the best global strategy games in which the player will take the lead of one of the factions ancient Rome in the period from 270 BC. to 14 AD

Prove that your family is worthy of becoming the most powerful and gain all the power. Develop your faction's economy to achieve success as quickly as possible.

9. Civilization 3

Management of an entire state will fall on the player’s shoulders. It will be important to make economic and political decisions that will lead your state to triumph and make it great.

You can use any tactics to achieve victory. The disobedient can always be subdued with the sword, and those who are afraid can always be negotiated peacefully and come to a common conclusion.

Prove that you are a talented ruler, and not a slob incapable of prudently managing available resources.

8. Rise of Venice

A game that shows the world of economic strategies from a new perspective. After all, only here you will have to deal with the unique Venetian architecture.

This game is undeniably worthy of taking a place in the top economic strategies. Main storyline will introduce the player to the events of the 15th century during the heyday of Venice.

Rise of Venice will surprise the player with an unusual implementation of actions, as well as quite intriguing gameplay. Please note that completing the game will probably take you more than an hour, so it is better to do all your household chores in advance.

7. Anno 2070

Among fans of economic strategies, the Anno series of games is one of the oldest and most beloved. The project is dedicated to the construction and development of our own cities of different eras. You will have to deal with all aspects of economic life, from resource extraction to... trade wars with competitors.

In Anno 2070, the player will have to manage a huge city. In order for a city to develop, it is important to control all areas of its life. Make sure that the townspeople have a good life in the city, otherwise they may simply run away. Increase your population, improve existing buildings and build new ones.

Each stage of construction carries with it certain problems, and therefore the player will be required to make serious and responsible decisions.

6. The Guild 2

Another game related to economic strategies took sixth position. Despite the fact that the game was released back in 2007, it still remains in demand among fans of this genre.

The Guild 2 will immerse the player in Middle Ages Europe. Passions are running high, events are heating up, and this makes it even more interesting. History can change depending on the decisions the player makes, so when choosing something, think about how this decision can affect the future.

5. Cities XL 2012

Cities XL 2012 is considered the best economic strategy of the long-past 2012. However, the game remains popular among fans of games of this genre today.

The player will take on the role of a major city planner. The peculiarity of this project is that not one city will be built, but several at the same time.

The player is offered more than 1,000 different buildings and several dozen fairly detailed maps.

Please note that a huge responsibility falls on your shoulders for the citizens of the city and maintaining order and stability.

4. Civilization 5

And again Civilization. This time the fifth part of the legendary series, which is one of the most famous in the field of economic strategies released for PC. Of course, all the games in the series are good in their own way, but the fifth part of Civilization has raised the bar to unprecedented heights.

In the fifth version of the game, more buildings appeared, everything became much more realistic and interesting. The player will have to develop his nation and lead it through the centuries. You will have to start with the most primitive society and smoothly move to modernity.

In order to make the game easier, it is very important to earn the respect and love of the citizens of your city.

3. Port Royale 3

Port Royal 3 takes a well-deserved third position in the ranking of the best economic strategies.

The plot of the game is based on the events of the 17th century taking place in the Caribbean. It was precisely then that the conflict flared up between France, Holland, Spain and England.

The whole game is built on trading. You will have to produce and sell certain resources. Only you can choose to become an honest merchant or earn a reputation as an adventurer.

2. Second place went to the game Stronghold: Crusader

This is a strategy that will tell about the famous Crusade. The player will have to take part in the battle for dominance in the Middle East, but most of the gameplay is not war, but the construction and development of the state's economy.

The game became popular thanks to its beautiful graphics and commitment to the classics of the genre. The last part of the famous series called Stronghold Kingdoms For the first time, players from all over the world have the opportunity to compete against each other.

1. SimCity

First place undoubtedly goes to the best and one of the oldest game series in the economic strategy category. The entire series has long been known to players, and for its unique gameplay, as well as the abyss of possibilities for building and developing a virtual city, it deserves to be in first place.

The Sim City player is the main creator, master, boss or God, as you like. You have to build not just a city, but a huge metropolis with its own economy and developed industry. It is worth noting that not everything is so simple, because a wide variety of difficulties may arise on the player’s path, from a natural disaster to an invasion of alien forces.

Each genre of computer games has its fans who prefer it to any other. One of these genres is strategy. They come in a wide variety of forms: real-time, turn-based, tactical, global, and so on. And each variety has its fans. Today we will talk about economic strategies.

This subgenre corresponds to all the canons of strategies, but at the same time, the emphasis is not on battles, not on any other aspects, but on the economy. Your main task will be the financial prosperity of the nation, group or any other entity that you will manage. In this article, you will learn what economic strategies are available on PC, and perhaps you will find the project that will make you love this genre with all your heart.

SimCity

Most popular game is SimCity. This series literally personifies economic strategies on the PC, because it was with it that the rise of this genre began. Back in 1994, the first part of this game appeared, in which the gamer is given control of an entire city. It needs to be built up, developed, and the population needs to be made happy. It is worth noting that this game is often attributed to the genre city planning simulator, and this tag also has a right to exist. In general, in the games of the SimCIty series, you will need to make every effort to achieve success, but not your own, but your city, because only its development matters.

Naturally, it is worth noting that it didn’t end there, and to date five parts of the series have already been released, each of which introduced something new, and most importantly, improved the graphical component. In the fifth episode, released in 2013, you can already see incredibly beautiful and realistic landscapes and buildings.

However, economic strategies on PC are not limited to this series. There are other projects that deserve attention.

Anno

Economic strategies on PC will take you not only to modern cities - you can also be sent on trips to the distant past, as, for example, the Anno series does. Each game allows you to take control of a specific nation in a specific period of time. For example, in the first game the action begins in 1602, and in the 2009 project - in 1404. Separately, it is worth noting the very last episode of the series, which was released quite recently. It stands out from the rest because it does not send you back to the past, but throws you into the future. The game is called accordingly - Anno 2070. You have to build a full-fledged city of the future with futuristic technologies and other relevant details.

Here, again, you will have to focus on the economic component - much less game time is allocated to battles and other moments. That's why Anno is an economic strategy. Games on PC are very diverse, and this genre also finds its fans, although fans of dynamic shooters sometimes cannot understand why gamers are attracted to rather passive and slow economic strategies.

CitiesXL

This series can be considered the younger brother of SimCity. The fact is that the gameplay is extremely similar to that of the most popular economic strategy. Games on PC are often similar, especially within the same genre, so this is not surprising. Moreover, you should better pay attention to the differences in this series, since they are available in quite impressive quantities. You have access to other buildings, the economic system that is at the core of these projects is fundamentally different, and there are many other nuances that you will quickly discover if you start comparing these two popular series. However, it is worth paying attention to the fact that CitiesXL is a much younger project; the first part appeared on the market only in 2009. And if you are interested in the best economic strategies on PC, then this series is definitely one of them.

Settlers

This project is one of the most diverse. The fact is that the series began back in 1994, the same time as SimCity. But only main games in Settlers today there are already seven, and there are also various add-ons that create dozens of hours game content. And this is definitely not all economic strategies on PC - the list of Settlers projects will continue to grow.

In these games you will take on the role of the leader of a medieval community, that is, you will build your own royal castle, around which you need to develop a city, a village with its own inhabitants and the personal problems of each family. These games can also be described as military-economic strategies on PC, since they pay equal attention to war, economics, and scientific development.

Tropico

This series of games is special, as it is very different from the other projects that were described above. Here you will need to place special emphasis on economics and politics. Games in this series are often called dictator simulators. You have to act as the ruler of one of the Caribbean islands, on which you will establish your own power. You will need to keep the residents under control, but so that they themselves want to work for you. In parallel, it will be necessary to develop the tourism business so that it brings both direct income and profit from smuggling.

Port Royale

This is another game that mixes economics with warfare. Here you have to try yourself in the role of a pirate who is developing his own pirate community, or a pirate hunter who is preparing ships to catch bandits.

Business simulators are a unique opportunity to become a real financial tycoon, trying yourself in the role of a generous businessman and skillful investor!

These days there are a huge number of business games. However, very high demands are placed on this genre, so often low-quality games on this topic do not gain the due attention of gamers. Over the past few years, the Tycoon series has made a real splash, which also includes time management games and clicker games. As a rule, with such a discouraging number of existing business simulators, it is often difficult to choose something really worthwhile big problem for the sophisticated consumer.

Next, the readers are presented with the top 10 best business games in their genre. They are arranged in alphabetical order, because... each of them is so good that they all simply want to be awarded an honorable first place, avoiding lower ratings by all means. All of the games listed below can be purchased on Amazon.

1. Airline Tycoon

The list opens with perhaps one of the most controversial games of its kind - Airline Tycoon. It can hardly be called a bestseller, and, to be honest, it was never considered in a serious manner. Moreover, it can be called simply entertaining, not burdened complex rules simulator. In Airline Tycoon, the player is invited to try on the role of the owner of one of four competing airlines. The competitive nature of the game is quite exciting, and the gameplay is more and more addictive, immersing the gamer in its fascinating business reality. Despite the fact that the graphics are made in a cartoon style, the internal economic system is very carefully designed and functions perfectly. As a result, it is fair to say that Airline Tycoon has very easy gameplay that will appeal to both beginners and dedicated fans of this genre.

By the way, the recently released Airline Tycoon 2 also undoubtedly deserves attention.

2. Anno

Anno is a city-building simulator dedicated to the creation of both small colonies and entire majestic empires. The main task of the player is to settle on the island and begin building his own colony there, rationally using available resources and effectively managing finances in his possessions.

It is obvious that the main emphasis in the proposed simulator is aimed precisely at the development of the internal economy of the colony. Frankly speaking, it is not at all easy to maintain such an impressive territory, satisfy the needs of your people and at the same time try to get even the slightest decent profit from your land. In addition, the player has an entire army at his command, and the battle elements fit very well into the gameplay of Anno.

Interesting fact: Anno is actually a very successful and quite long-running franchise. It includes:

Anno 1602 (1998), also known as "1602 A.D." in Australia and the United States.
Anno 1503 or 1503 A.D. (2003). In this sequel, some details have been improved: the territory of the islands has been increased, the buildings being erected have been improved, the organization of the army has been improved, as well as various resources taken from the previous Anno 1602.
Anno 1701 or 1701 A.D. (2006) differs in some ways from its predecessors: although the main tasks of the game remain unchanged, the player now has to deal with government agencies that periodically stand in his way and even with the queen herself. As a result, the landowner player must put in a lot of effort and money to bravely defend the honor and dignity of his developing financial empire. Among other things, natural disasters and popular riots can also occur in the game. But, as you know, the path to the stars is difficult and thorny, so the listed additions only add excitement to the gameplay.
Anno 1404 (in the USA - Dawn of Discovery). Was released in 2009. In this part of the franchise, unfortunately, the quality of the graphics leaves much to be desired. In addition, apparently, the developers were too lazy to introduce any new interesting improvements into this sequel.
Anno 2070 (2011). At the moment, it is the last released simulator within this franchise. Here the player is transported to the distant future, where he comes face to face with new environmental and financial problems.

3. Caesar

Caesar is a city-building strategy game set during the reign of the great Roman Empire. Here the player is faced with the task of developing the infrastructure of their initially small cities and raising them to the level of impressive metropolises. In some places this game reminiscent of SimCity, only with the addition of fierce battles.

The graphics, the battle system and other gameplay details - all of this was quite successfully refined in the following parts of the series: Caesar II, Caesar III, and Caesar IV. Unfortunately, there is a sad trend in many franchises where the quality of the game only gets worse with each sequel. However, Caesar consistently maintains a high standard, which is pleasantly surprising. As a result, the simulator leaves an extremely good impression.

4. Capitalism

Capitalism is a truly uncompromising business simulator, sometimes so much so that some gamers call it the most boring of them all existing games of this genre. One may well disagree with this statement, using as an argument an indisputable fact: the game copes with its immediate task - to act as a business simulator. top level. Here the player needs to produce and sell his goods, manage his resources and materials wisely. The game also develops skills to skillfully maintain an optimal balance of supply and demand in order to extract maximum benefits. So an inexperienced newcomer who irrationally distributes his resources has quite a lot of chances to either go broke or be deceived by more enterprising businessmen.

Capitalism II is an improved version of the first part, with more advanced features and improved game artificial intelligence. Unfortunately, for a whole decade, no more parts of this series were released.

5. Europa Universalis

Some would not award Europa game Universalis business simulator status. However, this game can still be called such, because its essence lies in managing not just a small town, but an entire country. The main goal is to do everything that contributes to the prosperity of the player’s possessions, to keep under control all economic processes within the country, and also to try to expand the territory of their power, while maintaining friendly diplomatic relations with other empires.

Also, at Europa Universalis There are several interesting sequels:

Europa Universalis II (2001), which covers the time period from 1419 to 1820.
Europa Universalis III (2007), where events begin in 1453 and end in 1789, right before the French Revolution.
Europa Universalis: Rome (2008) - the player is invited to travel back to the times of the Roman Republic.
Europa Universalis IV (2013) is the latest installment in the illuminated franchise. Here the game takes place during the turbulent times of the Napoleonic Wars.

It is worth noting that Europa Universalis forces the player to work hard and requires considerable effort. The structure of the economy in the game is quite difficult to master, especially for beginners who have just begun to get acquainted with the rich world of business games. Still, this is a completely suitable simulator for a person who has always dreamed of standing at the helm of an entire empire!

6. The Patrician

Until the release of the third part The series Patrician game could not boast of great popularity. In the presented simulator, the player is invited to try on the role of a businessman, a member of the Hansa - an economic and political union that existed in Northern Europe during the Middle Ages. On the path to success, the player sells his goods throughout Europe, while trying to win honor and respect in the political arena and become the head of the Hanseatic League.

Sequels to The Patrician include:

Patrician II, released in 2000, is very similar to its predecessor.
Patrician III: Rise of the Hanse (2003) is noticeably ahead of the previous parts in terms of gameplay quality. New industry areas and excellent organization of the economic system cannot but please sophisticated players. In addition, in this part the game is given even more intense pirate battles than in previous sequels.
Patrician IV (2010)

7. Railroad Tycoon

Railroad Tycoon is the very first game in the Tycoon series. In it, the player must transport passengers and their goods, while simultaneously developing their own transport empire. The graphics of the first part of the franchise are very primitive: the territory is a flat green area, and the trains are simple black rectangles moving along plainly depicted rails.

Railroad Tycoon II (1998) - a kind of leap into an already more promising future, a game with noticeably improved customization. Railroad Tycoon II is rich in innovations: construction is now available to the player railways at different heights, construction of bridges and tunnels, it becomes possible to choose different passage scenarios, as well as trade and buy shares on the stock exchange. High-quality voice-over video inserts complement the overall picture well.
Railroad Tycoon III (2003) is a slightly modified version of the second part of the game: the mechanism of supply and demand has been improved here.
Sid Meier's Railroads! (2006) is the second game created directly by Sid Meier himself, the founder of the entire Railroad Tycoon series. This economic strategy is completely three-dimensional. Now the player can even track the movement of trains throughout their entire journey. But, unfortunately, The game interface cannot boast of a complete absence of lags.

8. Roller Coaster Tycoon

Rollercoaster Tycoon has nothing to do with either Railroad Tycoon or Transport Tycoon. However, the indecently ascetic graphics distort the overall positive impression of the game. The main task is to create your own ideal amusement park that meets absolutely all the requirements of visitors, who must be ready to leave mountains of money in this heavenly place just to ride the breathtaking roller coaster once again.

Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 (2002) is almost identical to the first part, apart from some minor improvements.
But Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 (2004) is significantly different from its older comrades. Firstly, the excellent 3D graphics add a noticeable advantage to the game, now giving the player real aesthetic pleasure. Secondly, from now on the owner of the park has the opportunity to ride the rides himself, appreciating them personally and enjoying the picturesque landscapes that open to the eye, which, by the way, can be changed at will. And thirdly, now you can significantly increase the rating of an amusement park and attract even more visitors by organizing bright pyrotechnic shows. In later expansions, the player is given the chance to add pools and animals to their park.

9. SimCity

It's no secret that back in 1989, a fresh, just released SimCity game became a real sensation in the world gaming industry. She was rightfully considered the most best game on PC and, by the way, is still not losing ground. After its release, several more sequels were released:

SimCity 2000 (1994) is quite different from the original, but this does not prevent it from enjoying the same wild popularity among fans of the city-planning simulator genre. In addition to the new rather futuristic title, this part of the presented series uses isometric graphics. In addition, a height map has been added to the game and the number of natural disasters that occur has been increased.
SimCity 3000 (1999), unfortunately, is not as good as previous games.
But SimCity 4 (2003) returned the franchise to its former glory. Graphics changed to 3D, added various types buildings and transport, colorful landscapes, as well as a map of the area and the ability to interact with other cities. Among other things, the game includes an editor that allows you to design your own structures.
SimCity Societies (2007) is so strikingly different from its famous predecessors that it can hardly be called a worthy continuation of this series.

10. Transport Tycoon

This is one of the most exciting and truly addictive games in its genre. Transport Tycoon has been refined and improved over the years thanks to the efforts of loyal fans of the game. In this simulator, the player is the owner and manager of a transport company. He is given a very simple task - to earn as much as possible more money and develop its railway network. However, for many years now the game has still aroused unflagging interest among gamers.