In Episode 9 of Critical Moves, Al, Joe, and Nuno look ahead to the biggest strategy games of 2025. From highly detailed war games to bold new takes on RTS and city-building, they discuss the most exciting upcoming releases and what makes them stand out.
Here’s what the episode covered:
- The return of large-scale RTS: With Sanctuary: Shattered Sun leading the charge, the genre is getting a true Supreme Commander successor, complete with massive maps, strategic zoom, and terrain destruction.
- War games pushing realism further: Task Force Admiral and Burden of Command aim for historical accuracy and deeper player decision-making, from managing a WWII carrier battle to the moral dilemmas of leading troops in combat.
- Blending genres in new ways: Kaiserpunk mixes grand strategy and city-building in an alternate-history Europe, while Ascent of Ashes combines RimWorld-style colony sim mechanics with tactical combat.
- The rise of indie publishers like MicroProse and Hooded Horse: Once-dormant studios are making a comeback, backing ambitious strategy projects that might not get greenlit by major publishers.
The episode opened with a discussion on Task Force Admiral, a highly detailed WWII carrier command game. Nuno highlighted how its attention to realism and historical accuracy set it apart, calling it one of the most authentic naval strategy games in development. The conversation turned to how indie publishers like MicroProse are dominating the strategy market, with Joe noting how they seem to be involved in nearly every major upcoming war game.
Next, the team discussed The Last General, an RTS focusing on high-level strategic planning rather than micro-heavy control. Al explained how the game shifts players into the role of a true general, managing logistics, troop movements, and battlefronts across massive procedurally generated war zones. Nuno raised concerns about how AI will handle unit behaviour, noting that many RTS games struggle with competent battlefield decision-making.
Joe then introduced Hollywood Animal, a different kind of strategy game that blends movie studio management with crime and blackmail. He compared it to The Movies but with a much darker twist, where players manipulate actors and sabotage rival studios. Al and Nuno were skeptical but agreed it could be a sleeper hit if it balances strategy with its over-the-top narrative elements.
The conversation shifted to Kaiserpunk, a city-building grand strategy hybrid set in an alternate timeline where World War I never ended. Al explained how infrastructure and economic management directly affect military success, making city-building an essential part of warfare. Joe noted that while procedural maps offer endless variety, they can sometimes lack the depth of handcrafted campaigns.
From there, the group tackled Broken Arrow, an RTS focusing on modern warfare, infantry tactics, and urban combat. Nuno, having played a preview build, praised its improvements over the Wargame series, particularly how infantry plays a more significant role in battles rather than just being cannon fodder. He described it as “Warno but with better urban combat and more control over your forces.”
Joe wrapped up his list with Kingmaker, an absurd medieval strategy-FPS hybrid where players time travel to wage war with modern weapons. He described it as “the strategy version of Goat Simulator,” blending large-scale battles with ridiculous, over-the-top action. Al compared it to Evil Dead, noting that sometimes, completely unhinged ideas just work.
For his final pick, Al spotlighted Sanctuary: Shattered Sun, the upcoming RTS that many see as the spiritual successor to Supreme Commander. He detailed its massive battlefields, the ability to destroy sections of the map, and unique mechanics like freezing oceans to create new paths for land units. Nuno was particularly impressed by the potential for strategic depth, calling it “a game that could define the next era of large-scale RTS.”
The episode closed with a discussion on how 2025 could be a major year for strategy games, particularly for fans of large-scale RTS and grand strategy. The hosts invited listeners to share their own most anticipated games on the Critical Moves Discord.
Listeners can find this episode on Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. For ways to get involved visit the Critical Moves Podcast website.
Next Week: The team dives into Underrated Strategy Games You Might Have Missed, looking at hidden gems that deserve more attention. Don’t miss it.
