Best games
Best Strategy games of 2003
The 9 best Strategy games released in 2003, ranked from 2,430 critic and player ratings.
The best Strategy game of 2003 is Rise of Nations, with a critic score of 92/100 — 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.
- Each game is ranked in one genre only, the one that defines it best, so the same title never tops two different genre charts.
- 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: 2003.
- 9 games are listed on this page, carrying 2,430 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 29 September 2026.
Top 9
01
Rise of Nations
Combining the deep tactical elements of turn-based strategy games with the rapid gameplay of real-time strategy, Rise of Nations puts you in command of one of 18 civilizations over the course of thousands of years of history.
92
/100
02
Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne
88
/100
03
SimCity 4
SimCity 4 is a city-building simultor. You are in the shoes of one or several mayors, and you are tasked with populating and managing your cities.When you have chosen a segment to place your city in, you will be able to chose between 3 game modes. God mode: This mode lets you shape the overall landscapes as you desire Mayor mode: In this mode you build and manage your own cities. My Sim mode: Here the player can choose his own Sims and have them move into the city, or import saved games from the game The Sims.
85
/100
Rise of Nations
Combining the deep tactical elements of turn-based strategy games with the rapid gameplay of real-time strategy, Rise of Nations puts you in command of one of 18 civilizations over the course of thousands of years of history.
92
/100
02
Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne
88
/100
03
SimCity 4
SimCity 4 is a city-building simultor. You are in the shoes of one or several mayors, and you are tasked with populating and managing your cities.When you have chosen a segment to place your city in, you will be able to chose between 3 game modes. God mode: This mode lets you shape the overall landscapes as you desire Mayor mode: In this mode you build and manage your own cities. My Sim mode: Here the player can choose his own Sims and have them move into the city, or import saved games from the game The Sims.
85
/100
04
Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
83
/100
05
Command & Conquer: Generals
Command & Conquer: Generals puts your trigger finger on the pulse of modern warfare. Choose your powerful General to control massive armies of bleeding-edge military weaponry across a globe teetering on the brink of Armageddon. Command one of three unique sides, each with customisable high-tech arsenals ready to deliver unprecedented firepower on land or in the skies. Annihilate the opposition in the 27-mission single-player campaign or dish out the damage in global multiplayer mayhem. Prepare your forces, Commander…it’s time to engage in the next generation of real-time strategy - Command & Conquer Generals.
80
/100
06
Neighbours from Hell
Woody is an average man who has a happy life, until his neighbor Mr. Rottweiler, makes his life miserable. So Woody decides to take full revenge on Mr. Rottweiler, becoming the star of a new TV show where he performs tricks on his unsuspecting neighbour, setting traps in his house such as sawing the chair, banana peels/soap on the floor, smeared paintings and messing with home equipment. Create disarray, increase ratings, and win awards as you make a living hell out of the neighbour's life!
72
/100
07
Worms 3D
Join the party as worm battles ensue across 3D worlds. Worms 3D pits four players--each with a customizable team of worms--against one another in fully deformable landscapes. All the bizarre weapons from the Worms series--including Banana Bomb, flying Super Sheep, Earthquakes, Air Strikes, and Holy Hand Grenade--appear for your destructive pleasure. Wreak havoc in turn-based multiplayer action or unlock landscapes, sound sets, challenges, and secret missions in the immersive single-player mode.
72
/100
08
Commandos 3: Destination Berlin
Third part of the legendary tactical strategic saga from Pyro Studios
70
/100
09
Neighbours from Hell: Revenge Is a Sweet Game
69
/100
Command & Conquer: Generals - Zero Hour
83
/100
05
Command & Conquer: Generals
Command & Conquer: Generals puts your trigger finger on the pulse of modern warfare. Choose your powerful General to control massive armies of bleeding-edge military weaponry across a globe teetering on the brink of Armageddon. Command one of three unique sides, each with customisable high-tech arsenals ready to deliver unprecedented firepower on land or in the skies. Annihilate the opposition in the 27-mission single-player campaign or dish out the damage in global multiplayer mayhem. Prepare your forces, Commander…it’s time to engage in the next generation of real-time strategy - Command & Conquer Generals.
80
/100
06
Neighbours from Hell
Woody is an average man who has a happy life, until his neighbor Mr. Rottweiler, makes his life miserable. So Woody decides to take full revenge on Mr. Rottweiler, becoming the star of a new TV show where he performs tricks on his unsuspecting neighbour, setting traps in his house such as sawing the chair, banana peels/soap on the floor, smeared paintings and messing with home equipment. Create disarray, increase ratings, and win awards as you make a living hell out of the neighbour's life!
72
/100
07
Worms 3D
Join the party as worm battles ensue across 3D worlds. Worms 3D pits four players--each with a customizable team of worms--against one another in fully deformable landscapes. All the bizarre weapons from the Worms series--including Banana Bomb, flying Super Sheep, Earthquakes, Air Strikes, and Holy Hand Grenade--appear for your destructive pleasure. Wreak havoc in turn-based multiplayer action or unlock landscapes, sound sets, challenges, and secret missions in the immersive single-player mode.
72
/100
08
Commandos 3: Destination Berlin
Third part of the legendary tactical strategic saga from Pyro Studios
70
/100
09
Neighbours from Hell: Revenge Is a Sweet Game
69
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Strategy game of 2003?
Rise of Nations currently tops the ranking with a score of 92/100 across 88 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.