Given the ever-present differences in perspective between players and critics, it’s common to see video games whose ratings can range from mediocre to cult classic.
Considering the interactive medium’s inherently subjective nature, very few works achieve absolute consensus on their quality, whether high or low, while most are caught between two opposing forces.
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These Metroidvanias are more praised within the players’ community than by the specialized press.
The existence of said duality doesn’t imply a bad title, but rather one that appeals to a particular segment of the gaming audience, or even one that arises from updates over time or a specific cultural phenomenon.
10
Reigns: The Witcher
77 User vs. 74 Critic
As a political science graduate, I am always intrigued by video games that seek to explore their nature; that’s why I like Reigns, that’s why I like The Witcher, and that’s why I like Reigns: The Witcher.
I am fully aware that the mechanics of moving cards from left to right are not very exciting for many, but the number of paths and possibilities presented by this new interpretation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s world is magnificent for those of us who are used to reading.
Its puzzles and decisions are quite tricky, especially due to the need to balance your main stats depending on the paths you take, and even its simple combat system requires being attentive so as not to lose foolishly.
Reigns: The Witcher isn’t the ultimate herald of strategy in any of its variants, but when playing casually on mobile during downtime, it becomes an extraordinary companion.
9
Valhalla Hills
70 User vs. 69 Critic
With enough patience, it’s easy to see why Valhalla Hills garners perfect scores from the community but not from analysts, as it’s a game that demands a lot of time before it truly reveals its potential.
If you approach it with a less critical and more benevolent eye, you’ll find a title that serves as both an introduction for newcomers and a source of enjoyment for veterans, especially thanks to its status as a spiritual successor to The Settlers.
Visually and thematically, it’s beautiful, and while its mechanics aren’t groundbreaking enough to warrant anything beyond superficial praise, it does manage to keep you hooked for a good few hours without too much effort.
Valhalla Hills isn’t the kind of game you’ll see on lists of the genre’s best, though for those who have played too many (or too few) strategy experiences, it’s a change of pace that feels much better than it initially seems.
8
This Is the Police
76 User vs. 66 Critic
With a significantly higher score difference, This Is the Police is a franchise that has resonated much more deeply with the players, especially when we talk about the first installment.
Playing as a police officer isn’t something that particularly excites me, but the fusion of its aesthetic with the theme, where you manage your team of agents as resources to handle each situation, is quite immersive.
If you add to that its decision-making system, in which you constantly see the consequences of your choices when dealing with the press and other political matters, it becomes a rather unique representative of the genre.
The inclusion of XCOM-style combat in its sequel is a magnificent addition, though This Is the Police remains the people’s champion, which, even if it focuses solely on the concept’s reflective aspects, manages to captivate more quickly and profoundly.
7
ISLANDERS
84 User vs. 82 Critic
Minimalism in the strategy genre is an absurdly rare trend due to its usual tendency towards highly complex and branching gameplay concepts, though ISLANDERS is an excellent exception.
Despite the brief gap between its scores, both critics and players agree it’s great because of its more relaxing-than-thought-provoking approach, which sets it apart from its peers in terms of feel, amount of content, and complexity.
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The fear resonated more effectively with the community, who better appreciated these great proposals.
It’s a more intuitive and casual title, and although has infinite replayability thanks to its procedural generation, it finds its finest expression in a short and tranquil experience you can return to whenever you like, but which also satisfies even if you don’t.
ISLANDERS won’t be the default recommendation for fans of more traditional experiences, though the fact that it’s the antithesis of almost everything we know about the genre is what makes it stand out.
6
Beholder
77 User vs. 75 Critic
While it’s not common for indie games to become franchises with numerous installments and expansions, Beholder is the most vivid demonstration that, with good ideas, you can build a community passionate enough to support you through multiple installments.
However, the only thing as bad as playing a police officer is taking on the role of a state-installed landlord in a totalitarian country, which would make you feel considerably dirty were it not for the fact that its art, atmosphere, and gameplay loop are truly compelling.
Without being repetitive, with just the right level of difficulty, and the feeling that your decisions have real side effects, Beholder presents a 1984-esque story in which we take the side of the ruling class for a change, although replicating the status quo or challenging it will be up to us.
Somewhere between Papers, Please‘s dystopia and This War of Mine‘s perspective, this political simulator truly tests your resistance to becoming a leech on power, and nothing pleases me more than games that challenge the player’s judgment and morality.
5
The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth
88 User vs. 82 Critic
The Lord of the Rings is a creation whose cinematic and interactive ramifications have helped create a plethora of devoted fans across all genres, and you’d be surprised to know how many became strategy game enthusiasts thanks to The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth.
Its accessibility is undeniable, yet the real surprise lies in how the simplicity of its core mechanics doesn’t prevent it from being a magnificent RTS, avoiding the tedium many titles in the genre succumb to when they drag on.
It would be impressive even if it weren’t a title based on Middle-earth, which is merit enough, though I can’t help but think the presence of such iconic characters, battles, and settings is what leads players to view it with even more affection.
Be that as it may, only those who frequent more complex strategy titles might see The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-Earth as an inferior option, although it’s clear most of us are not in such circles.
4
Pikmin 4
89 User vs. 87 Critic
I know the decade-long wait was painful for absolutely everyone, but considering how well Pikmin 4 turned out, the average scores from both the public and critics reflect that the wait was completely worth it.
When it comes to creative approaches to long-established genres, Nintendo is one of the undisputed leaders, exemplified by these expeditions within a fascinating mythology where the combinations of real-time strategy, puzzles, and exploration are as wonderful as ever.
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Independent experiences tend to resonate more with players than with the specialized press.
The inclusion of Ice and Glow Pikmin, nighttime raids, tower-defense mechanics, and the adorable Oatchi are innovative enough to add a refreshing layer to the rest of the IP, without losing the legacy that has characterized it for so many generations.
Furthermore, the story, controls, and art design are the best in the series, which says it all about Pikmin 4, a wonderful product and a must-have if you own a Nintendo Switch.
3
Knights of Honor
87 User vs. 77 Critic
Leaving aside the technical difficulties that have plagued it from its inception to the present day, Knights of Honor has only managed to withstand the test of time in the eyes of the gaming community, while being largely ignored by the specialized press.
Especially after the two-decade wait for its sequel failed to fully satisfy, the combination of disappointment and nostalgia for the original has revalorized a game that was always superb, consistently ranking among the best medieval titles.
While not among the greatest games in history, nor merely a good title, Knights of Honor found its place among the truly excellent games, captivating thousands enough to be played for years, including this humble writer.
It has certainly been surpassed by the quality-of-life improvements the genre has adopted over time, yet if you don’t mind embracing a more old-school, rough philosophy, it becomes genuinely enchanting.
2
RimWorld
88 User vs. 87 Critic
While it only garnered around a dozen reviews, users of both Metacritic and especially Steam have left no doubt about the marvel that is RimWorld.
While it doesn’t come close to the visual spectacle of the other games on this list, the depth of its systems allows for the creation of unique, spontaneous stories with truly endless possibilities.
RimWorld is a colony simulator designed to immerse you in its world and its complexities, with so many biomes, dangers, character relationships, factions, mechanics, worlds, buildings, stories, and even mods that it can easily become the only video game you play for months.
All the criticism regarding its expensive expansions is entirely valid considering how much they contribute to the experience, though if you’re someone who judges a purchase based on hours of fun, there are few games like this one.
1
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
92 User vs. 88 Critic
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
Even though it’s a masterpiece that every self-respecting analyst considers as such, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne is the undisputed king of a community that pays homage to it year after year as if it were a ritual of worship.
Especially after its deplorable remake, which has only made us appreciate the original’s quality even more, I dare say there isn’t a single human being on this earth who has dedicated even an hour of their time to it and hasn’t been completely delighted.
The units and their handling, the strategies and micromanagement, the campaigns and the characters… It’s incredible that an expansion pack is among the best RTS experiences of all time, but that’s the standard Blizzard unwaveringly maintained at the time.
Years pass, the genre evolves, and responsibilities multiply, but all of my friends who played Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne always return to it at some point, even if it’s just to applaud its greatness once again.
Besides being the precursor to DOTA, it is a perfect combination of story, gameplay, and audiovisuals that may have been surpassed, but will probably never find anything that generates the same sensations.
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