Best games
Best Strategy games on Linux
The 88 best Strategy games on Linux, ranked from 21,521 critic and player ratings.
The best Strategy game on Linux right now is Dota 2, with a critic score of 90/100 — 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: 1970 to 2026.
- 50 games are listed on this page, carrying 21,521 ratings between them.
- Rankings are recomputed hourly; this one was last rebuilt on 28 September 2026.
Top 50
01
F
Dota 2
Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena video game and the stand-alone sequel to the Defense of the Ancients (DotA) mod. With regular updates that ensure a constant evolution of gameplay, features, and heroes, Dota 2 has taken on a life of its own.
90
/100
02
Empire: Total War
Empire: Total War introduces a host of revolutionary new features, including true 3D naval combat. For the first time in the Total War series, you will be able to intuitively command single ships or vast fleets upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummelling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board, taking control of your men as they fight hand-to-hand on the decks of these wooden behemoths. In addition, Empire: Total War will see further enhancements to the Total War series’ signature 3D battles and turn-based campaign map. Real-time battles will pose new challenges with the addition of cannon and musket, challenging players to master new formations and tactics as a result of the increasing role of gunpowder within warfare. And the Campaign Map for many, the heart of Total War introduces a variety of new and upgraded elements, including new systems for Trade, Diplomacy and Espionage with agents; a refined and streamlined UI; improved Advisors; and a vastly extended scope, taking in the riches of India, the turbulence of Europe and, for the first time, the untapped potential of the United States of America.
90
/100
03
Medieval II: Total War
Take command of your armies and expand your reign. Conquer, destroy, rebuild and improve the cities of the greatest medieval nations of the Western and Middle Eastern world. Employ diplomacy to manipulate your allies and enemies and direct epic and visceral real time battles with up to 10,000 meticulously detailed troops shedding blood on lush 3D landscapes complete with dynamic weather effects in order to re-write history and rule the world. Spanning four and a half centuries of Western history’s most bloody and turbulent era, Medieval 2 encompasses the golden age of chivalry, the Crusades, the creation and propagation of gunpowder, the rise of the professional army and the discovery and conquest of the Americas. The indirect sequel to 2002’s Medieval: Total War, Medieval 2 is set between years 1080 and 1530 and focuses on medieval warfare, religion and politics in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
90
/100
F
Dota 2
Dota 2 is a multiplayer online battle arena video game and the stand-alone sequel to the Defense of the Ancients (DotA) mod. With regular updates that ensure a constant evolution of gameplay, features, and heroes, Dota 2 has taken on a life of its own.
90
/100
02
Empire: Total War
Empire: Total War introduces a host of revolutionary new features, including true 3D naval combat. For the first time in the Total War series, you will be able to intuitively command single ships or vast fleets upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummelling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board, taking control of your men as they fight hand-to-hand on the decks of these wooden behemoths. In addition, Empire: Total War will see further enhancements to the Total War series’ signature 3D battles and turn-based campaign map. Real-time battles will pose new challenges with the addition of cannon and musket, challenging players to master new formations and tactics as a result of the increasing role of gunpowder within warfare. And the Campaign Map for many, the heart of Total War introduces a variety of new and upgraded elements, including new systems for Trade, Diplomacy and Espionage with agents; a refined and streamlined UI; improved Advisors; and a vastly extended scope, taking in the riches of India, the turbulence of Europe and, for the first time, the untapped potential of the United States of America.
90
/100
03
Medieval II: Total War
Take command of your armies and expand your reign. Conquer, destroy, rebuild and improve the cities of the greatest medieval nations of the Western and Middle Eastern world. Employ diplomacy to manipulate your allies and enemies and direct epic and visceral real time battles with up to 10,000 meticulously detailed troops shedding blood on lush 3D landscapes complete with dynamic weather effects in order to re-write history and rule the world. Spanning four and a half centuries of Western history’s most bloody and turbulent era, Medieval 2 encompasses the golden age of chivalry, the Crusades, the creation and propagation of gunpowder, the rise of the professional army and the discovery and conquest of the Americas. The indirect sequel to 2002’s Medieval: Total War, Medieval 2 is set between years 1080 and 1530 and focuses on medieval warfare, religion and politics in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
90
/100
04
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Civilization is a turn-based strategy game in which you attempt to build an empire to stand the test of time. Become Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age. Wage war, conduct diplomacy, advance your culture, and go head-to-head with history’s greatest leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known.
88
/100
05
Medieval II: Total War
88
/100
06
Total War: Shogun 2
In Total War: Shogun 2 you choose from one of 9 (10 with Ikko-Ikki dlc) clans, each with their own unique traits and skills and each with their own RPG-style warlord to lead them. Use a mixture of diplomacy, political manoeuvring, province building, research and special agents such as Ninja assassins or Geisha spies to get your enemies exactly where you want them. An intuitive user interface and a lovingly-created, complex and detailed campaign map make it both easy and enjoyable to build and run cities, recruit and move troops and issue commands – both noble and dishonorable, all with the aim of mastering enemy forces and seizing their lands.
88
/100
07
RimWorld
87
/100
08
A
World of Goo
World of Goo is a multiple award winning physics based puzzle / construction game made entirely by two guys. Drag and drop living, squirming, talking, globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins, and giant tongues. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo are curious to explore - but they don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. Congratulations, and good luck!
87
/100
09
S
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Sid Meier's Civilization V is a turn-based strategy game where the player leads a civilization from the stone-age all the way to future tech, there is more than one way to win, achieving one of a number of different victory conditions through research, exploration, diplomacy, expansion, economic development, government and military conquest. You will face other civilizations, either online as other people or played by the computer, civilization 5 features a advanced diplomacy system when dealing with computer controlled civs or computer controlled city-states.
87
/100
10
Baba Is You
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where you can change the rules by which you play. In every level, the rules themselves are present as blocks you can interact with; by manipulating them, you can change how the level works and cause surprising, unexpected interactions! With some simple block-pushing you can turn yourself into a rock, turn patches of grass into dangerously hot obstacles, and even change the goal you need to reach to something entirely different.
86
/100
11
Oxygen Not Included
86
/100
12
Total War: WARHAMMER II
86
/100
13
Desperados III
86
/100
14
S
Factorio
86
/100
15
B
Cities: Skylines
85
/100
16
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
85
/100
17
Europa Universalis IV
85
/100
18
Frozen Synapse
85
/100
19
Cookie Clicker
85
/100
20
Portal Stories: Mel
84
/100
21
Lara Croft GO
84
/100
22
Darwinia
84
/100
23
Hearts of Iron IV
84
/100
24
D
Don't Starve Together
83
/100
25
This War of Mine
83
/100
26
Prison Architect
83
/100
27
Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
83
/100
28
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
82
/100
29
ISLANDERS
82
/100
30
Tooth and Tail
82
/100
31
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
81
/100
32
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
81
/100
33
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
81
/100
34
Overcooked! 2
80
/100
35
Company of Heroes 2
80
/100
36
Plague Inc: Evolved
80
/100
37
Game Dev Tycoon
80
/100
38
LUFTRAUSERS
80
/100
39
Osmos
80
/100
40
Total War: ATTILA
80
/100
41
Buckshot Roulette
80
/100
42
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood
80
/100
43
Worms W.M.D
79
/100
44
Revenge of the Titans
79
/100
45
Cook, Serve, Delicious!
79
/100
46
Stellaris
79
/100
47
BATTLETECH
78
/100
48
Wargame: Red Dragon
78
/100
49
Oxygen Not Included
77
/100
50
Mini Metro
77
/100
Sid Meier’s Civilization VI
Civilization is a turn-based strategy game in which you attempt to build an empire to stand the test of time. Become Ruler of the World by establishing and leading a civilization from the Stone Age to the Information Age. Wage war, conduct diplomacy, advance your culture, and go head-to-head with history’s greatest leaders as you attempt to build the greatest civilization the world has ever known.
88
/100
05
Medieval II: Total War
88
/100
06
Total War: Shogun 2
In Total War: Shogun 2 you choose from one of 9 (10 with Ikko-Ikki dlc) clans, each with their own unique traits and skills and each with their own RPG-style warlord to lead them. Use a mixture of diplomacy, political manoeuvring, province building, research and special agents such as Ninja assassins or Geisha spies to get your enemies exactly where you want them. An intuitive user interface and a lovingly-created, complex and detailed campaign map make it both easy and enjoyable to build and run cities, recruit and move troops and issue commands – both noble and dishonorable, all with the aim of mastering enemy forces and seizing their lands.
88
/100
07
RimWorld
87
/100
08
A
World of Goo
World of Goo is a multiple award winning physics based puzzle / construction game made entirely by two guys. Drag and drop living, squirming, talking, globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins, and giant tongues. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo are curious to explore - but they don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. Congratulations, and good luck!
87
/100
09
S
Sid Meier's Civilization V
Sid Meier's Civilization V is a turn-based strategy game where the player leads a civilization from the stone-age all the way to future tech, there is more than one way to win, achieving one of a number of different victory conditions through research, exploration, diplomacy, expansion, economic development, government and military conquest. You will face other civilizations, either online as other people or played by the computer, civilization 5 features a advanced diplomacy system when dealing with computer controlled civs or computer controlled city-states.
87
/100
10
Baba Is You
Baba Is You is a puzzle game where you can change the rules by which you play. In every level, the rules themselves are present as blocks you can interact with; by manipulating them, you can change how the level works and cause surprising, unexpected interactions! With some simple block-pushing you can turn yourself into a rock, turn patches of grass into dangerously hot obstacles, and even change the goal you need to reach to something entirely different.
86
/100
11
Oxygen Not Included
86
/100
12
Total War: WARHAMMER II
86
/100
13
Desperados III
86
/100
14
S
Factorio
86
/100
15
B
Cities: Skylines
85
/100
16
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
85
/100
17
Europa Universalis IV
85
/100
18
Frozen Synapse
85
/100
19
Cookie Clicker
85
/100
20
Portal Stories: Mel
84
/100
21
Lara Croft GO
84
/100
22
Darwinia
84
/100
23
Hearts of Iron IV
84
/100
24
D
Don't Starve Together
83
/100
25
This War of Mine
83
/100
26
Prison Architect
83
/100
27
Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine
83
/100
28
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
82
/100
29
ISLANDERS
82
/100
30
Tooth and Tail
82
/100
31
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive
81
/100
32
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth
81
/100
33
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
81
/100
34
Overcooked! 2
80
/100
35
Company of Heroes 2
80
/100
36
Plague Inc: Evolved
80
/100
37
Game Dev Tycoon
80
/100
38
LUFTRAUSERS
80
/100
39
Osmos
80
/100
40
Total War: ATTILA
80
/100
41
Buckshot Roulette
80
/100
42
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood
80
/100
43
Worms W.M.D
79
/100
44
Revenge of the Titans
79
/100
45
Cook, Serve, Delicious!
79
/100
46
Stellaris
79
/100
47
BATTLETECH
78
/100
48
Wargame: Red Dragon
78
/100
49
Oxygen Not Included
77
/100
50
Mini Metro
77
/100
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Strategy game on Linux?
Dota 2 currently tops the ranking with a score of 90/100 across 2,860 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.