Best games
Best Strategy games of 1999
The 14 best Strategy games released in 1999, ranked from 4,959 critic and player ratings.
The best Strategy game of 1999 is Chrono Cross, with a critic score of 94/100 — updated September 2026.
How this ranking is built
- Games are ranked on the aggregated critic score out of 100 imported from IGDB and Metacritic, never on Tier's own grades.
- A game only enters the ranking with at least 80 external ratings, so a single enthusiastic review never outranks a proven classic.
- Community grades from F to S are shown next to every game, and only stated as a fact above 5 Tier ratings.
- Release window covered: 1999.
- 14 games are listed on this page, carrying 4,959 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 14
01
Chrono Cross
CHRONO CROSS, the sequel to the SNES favorite CHRONO TRIGGER, is one of the most ambitious role-playing games ever made. There are over 40 playable characters, each with their back-story, special moves, abilities, and weapons. The story spans two discs and follows the story of Serge, a young man who is able to cross dimensions. Suddenly he is pulled between worlds, trying to figure out his own past at the same time. The graphics are bright and beautiful, utilizing the PlayStation's capabilities to the fullest. The polygonal character models are huge and detailed, and the pre-rendered backgrounds are immaculately detailed. The music is composed and arranged by Yasunori Mitsuda, and features very realistic-sounding synthesizers. The battle system revolves around Elements, which are used to grant magical powers, as well as to summon huge monsters. For anyone that wanted to see the story of CHRONO TRIGGER continue, this is your chance.
94
/100
02
D
Age of Empires II: Age of Kings
92
/100
03
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia is a turn-based strategy game and the third installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic series. The game's story is first referenced throughout Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven and takes place before Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor. The player can choose to play through six different campaigns telling the story, or play in a scenario against computer or human opponents.
91
/100
Chrono Cross
CHRONO CROSS, the sequel to the SNES favorite CHRONO TRIGGER, is one of the most ambitious role-playing games ever made. There are over 40 playable characters, each with their back-story, special moves, abilities, and weapons. The story spans two discs and follows the story of Serge, a young man who is able to cross dimensions. Suddenly he is pulled between worlds, trying to figure out his own past at the same time. The graphics are bright and beautiful, utilizing the PlayStation's capabilities to the fullest. The polygonal character models are huge and detailed, and the pre-rendered backgrounds are immaculately detailed. The music is composed and arranged by Yasunori Mitsuda, and features very realistic-sounding synthesizers. The battle system revolves around Elements, which are used to grant magical powers, as well as to summon huge monsters. For anyone that wanted to see the story of CHRONO TRIGGER continue, this is your chance.
94
/100
02
D
Age of Empires II: Age of Kings
92
/100
03
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia
Heroes of Might and Magic III: The Restoration of Erathia is a turn-based strategy game and the third installment of the Heroes of Might and Magic series. The game's story is first referenced throughout Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven and takes place before Might and Magic VII: For Blood and Honor. The player can choose to play through six different campaigns telling the story, or play in a scenario against computer or human opponents.
91
/100
04
Pokémon Gold Version
Pokémon Gold, along with Pokémon Silver, are the sequels to Pokémon Red and Blue. They offer 100 new Pokémon to capture and train, 8 more Gyms to take on and a new Pokémon League challenge. Featuring an expanded post-game, Pokémon Gold and Silver additionally offer extra content from the previous entries in the series.
88
/100
05
Dungeon Keeper 2
Like its predecessor, players take the role of a dungeon keeper, building and defending an underground dungeon from the would-be heroes that invade it, as well as from other keepers. In the game's campaign mode, the player is charged with recovering the portal gems from each area in order to open a portal to the surface.
86
/100
06
Pokémon Silver Version
Pokémon Silver, along with Pokémon Gold, are the sequels to Pokémon Red and Blue. They offer 100 new Pokémon to capture and train, 8 more Gyms to take on and a new Pokémon League challenge. Featuring an expanded post-game, Pokémon Gold and Silver additionally offer extra content from the previous entries in the series.
85
/100
07
RollerCoaster Tycoon
The premise of the game is to complete a series of preset scenarios by successfully building and maintaining amusement parks through business ownership as a theme park entrepreneur. The key to any park is building a large amount and diverse range of rides for the visitors. Players can choose from dozens of roller coaster types and can also build log flumes, carousels, bumper cars, haunted houses, go karts, ferris wheels, and swinging ships, among other rides. The intensity and type of rides must be balanced, as visitors' preferences vary significantly from person to person. For example, some guests prefer exciting rides and have high nausea tolerance levels, while other guests are just the opposite.
83
/100
08
Worms Armageddon
Those intrepid invertebrates return with a vengeance in the much-loved Worms Armageddon. It’s a whole new can of worms! It’s hilarious fun that you can enjoy on your own or with all your friends. Worms Armageddon was originally developed as an expansion pack to Worms 2 and initially titled Wormageddon before it was released as a standalone game. Worms Armageddon was acclaimed by critics, who praised the refined gameplay and stylized graphics, and it has been featured in a number of "greatest games of all time" lists. Worms Armageddon is still updated periodically as of 2020, and was released on the Steam platform in 2013.
83
/100
09
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun
The sequel to 1995's genre defining Command & Conquer, Tiberian Sun takes place in a bleak future where the tiberium infestation has spread across the world, and made large regions uninhabitable, and the long dormant Brotherhood of NOD starting a surprise offensive against the GDI forces.
82
/100
10
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
Take control of a powerful civilization. Lead them through 1000 years of the Middle Ages to riches and greatness. Will you Intimidate the world into following you by using military force? Rule the world with honor and nobility by using commerce and diplomacy? Or Underhandedly seize power through conspiracy, deception and regicide? There are many paths to power, there can only be one ruler!
80
/100
11
Gorky 17
80
/100
12
Pokémon Stadium
73
/100
13
Planescape: Torment
70
/100
14
Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty
66
/100
Pokémon Gold Version
Pokémon Gold, along with Pokémon Silver, are the sequels to Pokémon Red and Blue. They offer 100 new Pokémon to capture and train, 8 more Gyms to take on and a new Pokémon League challenge. Featuring an expanded post-game, Pokémon Gold and Silver additionally offer extra content from the previous entries in the series.
88
/100
05
Dungeon Keeper 2
Like its predecessor, players take the role of a dungeon keeper, building and defending an underground dungeon from the would-be heroes that invade it, as well as from other keepers. In the game's campaign mode, the player is charged with recovering the portal gems from each area in order to open a portal to the surface.
86
/100
06
Pokémon Silver Version
Pokémon Silver, along with Pokémon Gold, are the sequels to Pokémon Red and Blue. They offer 100 new Pokémon to capture and train, 8 more Gyms to take on and a new Pokémon League challenge. Featuring an expanded post-game, Pokémon Gold and Silver additionally offer extra content from the previous entries in the series.
85
/100
07
RollerCoaster Tycoon
The premise of the game is to complete a series of preset scenarios by successfully building and maintaining amusement parks through business ownership as a theme park entrepreneur. The key to any park is building a large amount and diverse range of rides for the visitors. Players can choose from dozens of roller coaster types and can also build log flumes, carousels, bumper cars, haunted houses, go karts, ferris wheels, and swinging ships, among other rides. The intensity and type of rides must be balanced, as visitors' preferences vary significantly from person to person. For example, some guests prefer exciting rides and have high nausea tolerance levels, while other guests are just the opposite.
83
/100
08
Worms Armageddon
Those intrepid invertebrates return with a vengeance in the much-loved Worms Armageddon. It’s a whole new can of worms! It’s hilarious fun that you can enjoy on your own or with all your friends. Worms Armageddon was originally developed as an expansion pack to Worms 2 and initially titled Wormageddon before it was released as a standalone game. Worms Armageddon was acclaimed by critics, who praised the refined gameplay and stylized graphics, and it has been featured in a number of "greatest games of all time" lists. Worms Armageddon is still updated periodically as of 2020, and was released on the Steam platform in 2013.
83
/100
09
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun
The sequel to 1995's genre defining Command & Conquer, Tiberian Sun takes place in a bleak future where the tiberium infestation has spread across the world, and made large regions uninhabitable, and the long dormant Brotherhood of NOD starting a surprise offensive against the GDI forces.
82
/100
10
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
Take control of a powerful civilization. Lead them through 1000 years of the Middle Ages to riches and greatness. Will you Intimidate the world into following you by using military force? Rule the world with honor and nobility by using commerce and diplomacy? Or Underhandedly seize power through conspiracy, deception and regicide? There are many paths to power, there can only be one ruler!
80
/100
11
Gorky 17
80
/100
12
Pokémon Stadium
73
/100
13
Planescape: Torment
70
/100
14
Commandos: Beyond the Call of Duty
66
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Strategy game of 1999?
Chrono Cross currently tops the ranking with a score of 94/100 across 147 ratings. Ranking updated September 2026.
How is this ranking built?
Games are ranked on their aggregated critic score out of 100, with a minimum vote threshold so a single glowing review never outranks a proven classic; the Tier community's own F-to-S grades are shown alongside each game.