Best games
Best Strategy games of 2018
The 16 best Strategy games released in 2018, ranked from 3,827 critic and player ratings.
The best Strategy game of 2018 is Frostpunk, with a critic score of 85/100 — 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: 2018.
- 16 games are listed on this page, carrying 3,827 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 16
01
Frostpunk
Frostpunk, the newest title from the creators of This War of Mine, is a society survival game where heat means life and every decision comes at a price. In an entirely frozen world, people develop steam-powered technology to oppose the overwhelming cold. You face the task of building the last city on Earth and securing the means necessary for your community to survive. Optimization and resource management often clash with empathy and thoughtful decision-making. While city and society management will consume most of the ruler’s time, at some point exploration of the outside world is necessary to understand its history and present state.
85
/100
02
Among Us
Play with 4-15 player online or via local WiFi as you attempt to prepare your spaceship for departure, but beware as one or more random players among the Crew are Impostors bent on killing everyone! Originally created as a party game, we recommend playing with friends at a LAN party or online using voice chat. Enjoy cross-platform play between Android, iOS, PC, and console.
82
/100
03
Overcooked! 2
Overcooked returns with a brand-new helping of chaotic cooking action! Journey back to the Onion Kingdom and assemble your team of chefs in classic couch co-op or online play for up to four players. Hold onto your aprons… it’s time to save the world again!
80
/100
Frostpunk
Frostpunk, the newest title from the creators of This War of Mine, is a society survival game where heat means life and every decision comes at a price. In an entirely frozen world, people develop steam-powered technology to oppose the overwhelming cold. You face the task of building the last city on Earth and securing the means necessary for your community to survive. Optimization and resource management often clash with empathy and thoughtful decision-making. While city and society management will consume most of the ruler’s time, at some point exploration of the outside world is necessary to understand its history and present state.
85
/100
02
Among Us
Play with 4-15 player online or via local WiFi as you attempt to prepare your spaceship for departure, but beware as one or more random players among the Crew are Impostors bent on killing everyone! Originally created as a party game, we recommend playing with friends at a LAN party or online using voice chat. Enjoy cross-platform play between Android, iOS, PC, and console.
82
/100
03
Overcooked! 2
Overcooked returns with a brand-new helping of chaotic cooking action! Journey back to the Onion Kingdom and assemble your team of chefs in classic couch co-op or online play for up to four players. Hold onto your aprons… it’s time to save the world again!
80
/100
04
BATTLETECH
BattleTech is a turn-based tactical 'Mech combat set in the classic 3025 era of the BattleTech Universe. From the creators of the Shadowrun Series!
78
/100
05
Green Hell
Green Hell is a sweltering struggle for survival in the Amazonian rainforest. Clinging to life, the player is set on a journey of durability as the effects of solitude wear heavy not only on the body but also the mind. How long can you survive against the dangers of the unknown?
78
/100
06
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle
"From the makers of Slayaway Camp—the award-winning “Bloodiest Puzzle Game Ever”—comes an even more frightening puzzler starring one of horror’s most iconic killers. Now you can go behind the hockey mask of Jason Voorhees on his mission to murder unfortunate campers at Crystal Lake and beyond. Players control Jason by sliding him around an isometric puzzle level to attack his victims, either directly with a variety of weapons, or indirectly, by frightening them into environmental hazards like campfires, bear traps, and woodchippers. Gruesome reflex-based “Kill Scenes” punctuate the puzzling as you progress through multiple episodes, from classic campgrounds to more exotic locations such as Manhattan, abandoned amusement parks, supermax prisons, beach resorts, outer space and more."
78
/100
07
Beholder 2
Every citizen of our great State dreams of working at the Prime Ministry! You are lucky, intern – your dream has come true! While you are at the bottom of the career ladder, that is more than many of your fellow citizens will ever achieve! Have you already decided what you're going to become? Will you become a diligent and responsible officer decorated by the Wise Leader himself? Or will you become a hardline careerist capable of destroying anyone who stands between you and the Prime Minister's seat? Or maybe you are just a whistle-blower? If so, who sent you? And why? Whatever the case, you are now part of the Ministry! From this moment on, no one beyond these walls has ascendance over you! You are free to shape your own future! So, what are you going to become?
76
/100
08
RimWorld
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.
74
/100
09
Jurassic World Evolution
Take charge of operations on the legendary islands of the Muertes archipelago and bring the wonder, majesty and danger of dinosaurs to life. Build for Science, Entertainment or Security interests in an uncertain world where life always finds a way. Jurassic World Evolution is a new chapter in the official Jurassic mythology that puts you in charge of cinema’s most famous tourist destination. Bioengineer dinosaurs that think, feel and react intelligently to the world around them. Play with life itself to give your dinosaurs unique behaviors, traits and appearances, then contain and profit from them to fund your global search for lost dinosaur DNA. Control the big picture with deep management tools or go hands-on to confront challenges on the ground or in the air. Expand your islands and choose your own journey in an all-new narrative featuring iconic characters from across the franchise and decades of Jurassic lore at your fingertips.
74
/100
10
Bloons TD 6
Bloons TD 6 is a tower defense game in which players place various monkey towers along a path to pop waves of balloons ("Bloons") before they reach the exit. The sixth entry in the Bloons Tower Defense series, it features 3D graphics viewed from a bird's-eye perspective and introduces Hero units that level up over time. Towers have three upgrade paths with a maximum of five tiers each, allowing for varied strategic builds. The game supports solo play and up to four-player co-op, and includes Boss Events, Paragon upgrades, and paid expansions adding roguelike and story-driven modes.
74
/100
11
Surviving Mars
74
/100
12
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War
71
/100
13
Ultimate Custom Night
70
/100
14
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
69
/100
15
Farming Simulator 19
68
/100
16
Thief Simulator
62
/100
BATTLETECH
BattleTech is a turn-based tactical 'Mech combat set in the classic 3025 era of the BattleTech Universe. From the creators of the Shadowrun Series!
78
/100
05
Green Hell
Green Hell is a sweltering struggle for survival in the Amazonian rainforest. Clinging to life, the player is set on a journey of durability as the effects of solitude wear heavy not only on the body but also the mind. How long can you survive against the dangers of the unknown?
78
/100
06
Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle
"From the makers of Slayaway Camp—the award-winning “Bloodiest Puzzle Game Ever”—comes an even more frightening puzzler starring one of horror’s most iconic killers. Now you can go behind the hockey mask of Jason Voorhees on his mission to murder unfortunate campers at Crystal Lake and beyond. Players control Jason by sliding him around an isometric puzzle level to attack his victims, either directly with a variety of weapons, or indirectly, by frightening them into environmental hazards like campfires, bear traps, and woodchippers. Gruesome reflex-based “Kill Scenes” punctuate the puzzling as you progress through multiple episodes, from classic campgrounds to more exotic locations such as Manhattan, abandoned amusement parks, supermax prisons, beach resorts, outer space and more."
78
/100
07
Beholder 2
Every citizen of our great State dreams of working at the Prime Ministry! You are lucky, intern – your dream has come true! While you are at the bottom of the career ladder, that is more than many of your fellow citizens will ever achieve! Have you already decided what you're going to become? Will you become a diligent and responsible officer decorated by the Wise Leader himself? Or will you become a hardline careerist capable of destroying anyone who stands between you and the Prime Minister's seat? Or maybe you are just a whistle-blower? If so, who sent you? And why? Whatever the case, you are now part of the Ministry! From this moment on, no one beyond these walls has ascendance over you! You are free to shape your own future! So, what are you going to become?
76
/100
08
RimWorld
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.
74
/100
09
Jurassic World Evolution
Take charge of operations on the legendary islands of the Muertes archipelago and bring the wonder, majesty and danger of dinosaurs to life. Build for Science, Entertainment or Security interests in an uncertain world where life always finds a way. Jurassic World Evolution is a new chapter in the official Jurassic mythology that puts you in charge of cinema’s most famous tourist destination. Bioengineer dinosaurs that think, feel and react intelligently to the world around them. Play with life itself to give your dinosaurs unique behaviors, traits and appearances, then contain and profit from them to fund your global search for lost dinosaur DNA. Control the big picture with deep management tools or go hands-on to confront challenges on the ground or in the air. Expand your islands and choose your own journey in an all-new narrative featuring iconic characters from across the franchise and decades of Jurassic lore at your fingertips.
74
/100
10
Bloons TD 6
Bloons TD 6 is a tower defense game in which players place various monkey towers along a path to pop waves of balloons ("Bloons") before they reach the exit. The sixth entry in the Bloons Tower Defense series, it features 3D graphics viewed from a bird's-eye perspective and introduces Hero units that level up over time. Towers have three upgrade paths with a maximum of five tiers each, allowing for varied strategic builds. The game supports solo play and up to four-player co-op, and includes Boss Events, Paragon upgrades, and paid expansions adding roguelike and story-driven modes.
74
/100
11
Surviving Mars
74
/100
12
Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics of War
71
/100
13
Ultimate Custom Night
70
/100
14
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
69
/100
15
Farming Simulator 19
68
/100
16
Thief Simulator
62
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Strategy game of 2018?
Frostpunk currently tops the ranking with a score of 85/100 across 1,070 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.