Top 5 strategy games on Apple Arcade

By Shaun Walton

| Mar 27, 2023

Apple Arcade + iOS

1/5

Let’s face it, the odds of any of the regular folk walking down the sidewalk suddenly getting pulled out of their everyday life and being placed at the head of a sprawling army is pretty slim. As too are the odds any of us will be chosen to set the course for an epic foray into space.

It's a sad reality, but, luckily, video games come to the rescue and allow anyone the opportunity to feel what it would be like to set up a battle plan for an immense offensive against a stronger power. When your pincer attack to perfection, you feel like you could go back in time and give Sun Tzu a run for his money.

From real-time war games all the way to wave-based tower defence, there is a strategy game to suit all skill levels. They are certainly one of the more accessible genres too, you don’t need hyper-fast reaction speeds for a lot of them. For iPhone users, here are a few of the best titles on Apple Arcade to make you feel like a tactical genius.

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Kings League II

Despite its rather simplistic-looking gameplay, Kings League II is incredibly deep in its strategy. You will recruit an army from over 30 different classes, and before each fight select and position your units to pull off the best tactics. Do you put a few archers behind an iron wall of defense to wear down the enemy, or charge in with a full melee battalion?

As you level your units up, you get the chance to give them a class advancement, further specializing their skills and role in your army. Picking the right path for your tactics is vital. There are countless ways to tailor your team, and each fight presents a fun new challenge.

Kingdom Rush Vengeance TD+

Kingdom Rush takes the tower defense genre and gives it a big injection of action. Each of the towers you can build has its own unique abilities and special powers to unleash on your unsuspecting opponent, and with 20 to choose from, there are a lot of possibilities to explore.

An interesting twist to this game is the use of heroes, 15 powerful units that can charge into battle and turn the tide. Each of these heroes can also be levelled up to upgrade their abilities and make them even stronger. If you have ever wanted your tower defense to be a lot more action-packed, this is perfect for you.

Steller Commanders

In this 1v1 RTS PvP game, you face opponents for control over whole planets, although they are a bit smaller than earth. Each match lasts a total of seven minutes meaning you will need to think on your feet because if time runs out, the planet will simply explode.

You will be able to join a faction, each with its own unique strengths and roster. There are a variety of units to choose from, ranging from RPGs to orbital cannons. You can choose to be a master commander and tactically take key territory on your way to a win, or simply cry havoc and win with supreme firepower. The planet would just blow up anyway, so why not?

Outlanders

Outlander is a cute, minimalistic city-building simulator that tasks you with leading a group of citizens and building a new town. There are a variety of levels to play through each with its own challenges and aims. Some just want a safe place to live, whilst others required a bustling and prosperous city.

As the town leader, you will need to make sure you manage your resources incredibly carefully as you build up the town. Any mishap and the townsfolk won’t hesitate to overthrow you. There is even a decree system that allows you to issue proclamations. They may not be popular, but you get a useful bonus, so make sure you have the support before you try it.

Spaceland

After being stranded on an uncharted island with your squad, you find yourself confronted by some rather irate mutants, forcing you and your friends to defend yourselves. Each of the seven members has a unique style to master, with various weapons available such as assault rifles, grenade launchers, and of course, plasma rifles.

The gameplay unfolds in a turn-based, grid system setup, with fully intractable battlefields and a cover system. If you see an explosive barrel and think it would look better next to that big brute, simply kick it over to them before you explode it. It's a lovely little feature that adds a new layer of tactics to the game.

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