Grand Strategy
Ongoing coverage on Grand Strategy.
Latest coverage
Tapestry is a painterly grand strategy multiplayer war game where you plot your victory at the start of every match
Tapestry is a new turn-based grand strategy multiplayer game from BeeForge Studios, featuring a painterly art style and unique mechanics for plotting actions at the start of each match. Players can choose from four distinct factions, engage in dice-based combat with modifiers, and utilize private one-to-one chats for diplomacy or deception. The game is currently fundraising on Kickstarter and available to wishlist on Steam.
Hearts of Iron 4 Thunder at our Gates just brought three undervalued WW2 players to life
The new Hearts of Iron 4 expansion, Thunder at our Gates, is now available, focusing on three underrepresented nations: Australia, Siam, and the Dutch East Indies. The expansion introduces new focus trees, political systems, and strategic elements like military HQs and ship captains. Accompanying the DLC is update 1.19, which brings balancing changes and new doctrines to the base game.
Crusader Kings 3's new republics get to the heart of its politics at a more manageable size
The upcoming Crusader Kings 3 expansion, Silk and Silver, will introduce a rework of the game's economy, including merchant governments and republics inspired by historical city-states like Venice. These new republics will focus on internal politics, trade, and managing a smaller realm. The expansion, set to launch in Q4 2026, also includes changes to mercenary caps and will be part of the Chapter 5 bundle.
SGF 2026: Chronicles: Medieval Early Access Preview – How War Is Brought To Life
Raw Power Games provided a preview of Chronicles: Medieval, a real-time grand strategy game set during the Hundred Years' War, highlighting its unique battle system. Senior Game Designer Gareth Bourn and Community Lead Clemens Koch detailed how unit preferences, tactical formations, and commander skills influence combat. The game is set to launch in early access on PC via Steam in 2026, featuring playable factions like England, France, and the Holy Roman Empire.
Hearts of Iron 4 just turned a "dangerously shippable" idea into a new system of frontline command, with a splash of HOI 3
Paradox Interactive detailed a new Military HQs system for Hearts of Iron 4, inspired by the 'theater pack' Thunder At Our Gates DLC and predecessor Hearts of Iron 3. The system allows players to deploy generals to on-map army HQs to propagate bonuses and improve planning, with considerations for command power and equipment costs. The developers discussed the iterative process of designing this feature, aiming for a balance between depth and accessibility.
Dire Wolf Launches Kickstarter for War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time
Dire Wolf has launched a Kickstarter campaign for "War of the Dragon: The Wheel of Time," the first official board game adaptation of the popular fantasy series. The grand strategy game features tableau building, action selection, and area control mechanics, with two distinct play modes: Hero Mode for beginners and Epic Mode for experienced players. The campaign has already surpassed its funding goal, offering different editions with varying components and miniatures.
I solved the Strait of Hormuz crisis with videogames, simply by creating an even bigger Strait of Hormuz crisis
The author attempts to resolve the Strait of Hormuz crisis by simulating it within the grand strategy game Europa Universalis 5. Initial attempts using historical approximations of Iran and the USA proved difficult due to game mechanics and geographical distance. The author resorts to in-game manipulation and naval conflicts to try and find a solution, highlighting the complexities of both real-world geopolitics and game simulation.
Total War: Warhammer 3 Bhashiva release date, units, lords, and campaign mechanics
Creative Assembly has announced the release date for the Bhashiva character pack for Total War: Warhammer 3 as May 21st. This DLC introduces Bhashiva, the White Tiger, as a new Legendary Lord for Grand Cathay, focusing on a stealth and ambush playstyle with new units like Tiger Warriors. The pack also includes a spellcaster hero and a lord focused on anti-large combat, with campaign mechanics centered around recovering relics and earning Iron Favour.
Hearts of Iron IV: Thunder at our Gates Announced
Paradox Interactive has announced "Thunder at our Gates," a new theater pack for their World War II grand strategy game, Hearts of Iron IV. The content focuses on the historical period of World War II.
Travel The Medieval World In Crusader Kings III’s New Console Expansions
Paradox Interactive has released two new expansions for Crusader Kings III on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5: Roads to Power and Wandering Nobles. Roads to Power introduces a new Byzantine Administrative Government system and allows players to become landless adventurers, while Wandering Nobles adds new travel-focused lifestyles and activities. These expansions significantly broaden the gameplay options for console players.
Crusader Kings III on Console Gets Major Expansion and Event Pack
Paradox Interactive and Room 8 Group have released two new content packs for Crusader Kings III on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5: the major expansion Roads to Power and the event pack Wandering Nobles. Roads to Power introduces new government types inspired by the Byzantine Empire and allows players to start as landless adventurers, while Wandering Nobles adds new travel-themed events and lifestyles.
Feudums Open Alpha: State of the Game news
Feudums, a persistent multiplayer 4X and grand strategy hybrid, has been actively developed with over 40 updates and 400 game sessions during its open alpha, largely shaped by player feedback. The game emphasizes long-form, asynchronous multiplayer where player-driven diplomacy, warfare, and territory control build a lasting legacy, with no pay-to-win mechanics and full moddability. Current development focuses on sieges, realm-wide war exhaustion, and player-to-player vassalage, with ongoing UI/UX improvements and a focus on enhancing the early game experience.
Stellaris is 10 years old and still getting DLC, which is impressive
Paradox Interactive's grand strategy game Stellaris is celebrating its 10th anniversary, highlighting the success of its extensive DLC model and long-term development. Original game director Henrik Fåhraeus and former director Daniel Murray discuss the game's focus on exploration and player-driven narratives, acknowledging the challenges of maintaining such a complex title over a decade. They express optimism for Stellaris's continued lifespan, though the possibility of a sequel is also considered.
Stellaris is getting space nomads and scenarios for its 10th birthday
Paradox Interactive announced Season 10 for Stellaris, which will introduce space nomads, allowing players to control species without a homeworld using mobile arkships. The update also includes the Willpower expansion focused on Ideologies and new scenarios like a king-of-the-hill PvP mode and a roguelike ship journey. Game director Stephen Murray discussed the technical challenges and design inspirations behind these new features.
Europa Universalis 5's latest patch notes took up 72 pages on a Google Doc so I think it might be a big one
Paradox Tinto has released Europa Universalis 5's largest update yet, patch 1.2 'Echinades,' which spans 72 pages of patch notes. The update introduces significant content for the Balkans, overhauls the economy and religious systems, and improves military mechanics. Alongside the patch, the game's first DLC, focused on the Byzantine Empire, is also available.
Europa Universalis 5's 'biggest update yet' expands the Balkans, overhauls the economy, and fixes more…
Paradox Interactive has released the Encinades update for Europa Universalis 5, described as its biggest yet. This update significantly overhauls the game's economy, expands the Balkans region with new historical events and advances, and reworks the Orthodoxy system. The patch also includes over 2,000 bug fixes, addressing issues like The Wars of the Roses event and country liberation.
Civilization 7 has been profitable despite design missteps
Despite controversial design changes in Civilization 7's "Ages" system, which have led to lower player counts compared to previous installments on Steam, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick confirmed the game is a profitable enterprise. The article also touches on player sentiment regarding the game's design and potential future updates.
Europa Universalis V: Fate of the Phoenix Released
The immersion pack Fate of the Phoenix for the grand strategy game Europa Universalis V is now available on Steam. This is the first DLC released for the Windows title, which originally launched six months ago.
Relive the Glories of Byzantium in Fate of the Phoenix
Paradox Interactive has released Fate of the Phoenix, the first immersion pack for Europa Universalis V, focusing on the Byzantine Empire. The DLC adds new content, including unique systems for bureaucracy, societal values like Latinitas vs Romanismos, and a new disaster to challenge players. It also includes more Orthodox content, Hellenism and Latin culture options, and new art and flavor events.
Total War: Warhammer 40k's map reveals fill me with faith that Creative Assembly can handle the setting's…
Creative Assembly's recent Total War: Warhammer 40,000 Show and Tell livestream has eased concerns about the studio's ability to handle the vast and complex 40k universe. The reveals showcased detailed planet maps and massive, dense battle maps with destructible elements, suggesting a grand strategy experience that can maintain replayability across its expansive star systems.
