Summary
The strategy genre covers a broad variety of titles, from real-timestrategy games such asStarCraft 2to the turn-based strategy ofDarkest DungeonorXCOM. There are many experiences for all kinds of player, but a great number of them require a hefty chunk of time to play.
Some strategy games are able to offer faster-paced and generally more accessible experiences by avoiding gameplay that requires extensive play sessions. A few titles even manage to do this without sacrificing mechanical depth.
Essentially an indie classic,FTL: Faster Than Lightis a painstakingly designed roguelike that featuresreal-time strategy gameplay with the addition of a tactical pause. This allowsFTLto be both strategic and accessible, and the real-time gameplay keeps a brisk pace.
This fast pace helps to elevate the inherent one-shot structure ofFTLthat’s brought about by its genre, with moments of reprieve provided by its random events. The ensemble of playable ship classes and potential builds also keeps the gameplay varied from run-to-run. However,FTLruns tend to play a little longer than the average roguelike.
Wildfrostis a superbly stylish deck-builder that centers itself around a unique core mechanic, bolstered by an evocative setting and a tactile user-interface. A roguelike,Wildfrostis naturally built to be played in one sitting, though it’s entirely possible to quit and return later on.
This run-based nature is supported by a light unlock system, but more importantly, it’s elevated by a unique mechanic wherein winning a run turns the player’s squad into the next final battle. Furthermore,Wildfrost’sstrengths as a one-shot experience are boosted by the addition of a fantastic daily mode that dramatically shakes up the starting position.
Super Auto Petsis a highly strategic and surprisinglydeep auto-battlerthat tasks players with building a squad of synergistic animals. Visually,Super Auto Petsmay be quite simple, but its mechanical depth keeps the game consistently engaging.
This depth is achieved through a variety of passive abilities, and unlike many auto-battlers,Super Auto Petsforgoes sets, a mechanic that will be familiar to fans of the genre. However, this allows players to mix and match squad members without consequence. Best of all, a match ofSuper Auto Petstakes very little time to play, and the simplicity of its gameplay loop makes it tremendously easy to learn.
Thronefallcombines the easy-to-learn structure of a tower/base defense game with strong elements of real-time strategy. Despite working in mechanics from the RTS genre,Thronefallis a remarkably accessible experience thanks to its intuitive controlsand minimalist design.
This minimalism preventsThronefall’svariety of mechanics from getting in the way of its pace, and the limited number of waves in each level puts a satisfying capstone on play sessions.Thronefallasks players to balance their defense and economy in equal measure, and it remains strategic in both the preparation and action phases of the game, resulting in an experience that’s consistently engaging without being overly long or complex.
Known for bringing the tabletop-focused gameplay of deck-building to the forefront of indie games,Slay The Spireis a cornerstone of modern indies and a tremendously addictive roguelike. Its tight three-act structure and intuitive node-based map keeps each run focused and relatively similar in length, making it a perfect one-shot experience.
Slay The Spirefollows a simple structure focused on node-based exploration and strategic battles fought with cards. Elevating this experience is a variety of bosses, unique playable characters, and potential builds and synergies. This, along with the game’s “Ascension” system for ramping up the difficulty, givesSlay The Spiretremendous replay value.
3Dune: Imperium
A Match-Based Digital Board Game With Competent AI Opponents
As anadaptation of a tabletop game,Dune: Imperiumis inherently match-based, offering a one-shot experience designed to be played over an hour or two. Despite being designed to play with other players, the digital adaptation ofDune: Imperiumfeatures surprisingly engaging AI opponents that make it great for single-player as well.
Dune: Imperiumcombines classic deck-building gameplay with unique cards andworker-placement mechanics, resulting in a distinctive structure. This creates a veritable playground for strategy, especially when combined with the multitude of unique leaders to play as.
With its winning combination ofroguelike deck-buildersynergies and accessible Poker gameplay,Balatrois ultimately deserving of its tremendous praise. Each run throughBalatro’suncertain gauntlet is a fast-paced thrill, thanks to its nature as a score-attack game.
EnsuringBalatroremains a do-or-die experience is its limited number of hands, preventing players from being caught in a slug-fest. This elegant design offers an addictive one-shot experience that’s likely to keep players coming back, only elevated by thoroughly tactile UI anda unique art-style.
Dune: Spice Warsis not a quick game. However, when playingits skirmish mode, it’s a surprisingly fresh and fast-paced experience when compared to similar games. Matches are slow-burning, but each of them can take anywhere from one to three hours to play (depending on speed settings), keeping it an experience that can still be enjoyed in a single sitting.
Based on Frank Herbert’s expertly-crafted world,Dune: Spice Warsis a deeply thematic experience that does its best to tie its mechanics in with the source material. The thematic setting helps in making the mechanics feel more natural — and therefore easier to learn and remember. Furthermore, the variety of playable factions and multitude of win conditions keep it replayable.
