This is the age of the Internet game: the always-online massively-multiplayer strategy game, the battle royale, the MOBA ladder, and the freemium shooter. But sometimes those just won’t do it for you. Maybe Grandma’s Wi-Fi isn’t up to the task. Maybe you have a bus ride that spends a lot of time in tunnels. Maybe you’re flying across an ocean.
Whatever the case may be, there comes a time when you need a strategy game that’s a real feast–but at a table set for one. Luckily, there are a large number of mobile games with great single-player experiences.
This is more of a ‘situational’ guide. We’re not trying to offer guidance on a whole genre here – we’re offering some of our top picks for offline strategy games on android and iOS. As such, you may recognise some of these entries from other guides we’ve done.
Games for the Airplane
Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions (iPhone|iPad & Android)
Lots of old console titles have been ported to mobile, but not many are worth the hassle. Final Fantasy Tactics is the exception. Brought over from the beautiful PSP port with an improved translation, gorgeous cel-shaded cutscenes, and new aspect ratio, the game still has the PlayStation original’s RPG-influenced tactics. Most importantly, FFT is the one console port that works brilliantly with touch controls. What makes FFT a great use of your offline time is its mammoth campaign with a rich, mature storyline. There’s gameplay here to fill a few months of commutes.
Likewise, the mobile port of XCOM is rightly lauded as one of the few PC-quality experiences to be had on a tablet. Not only did this standalone expansion of the original ground-breaking remake Enemy Unknown polish off all the rough edges of its original, it added great new wrinkles to the classic core gameplay. You still get a massive open-ended campaign with tactical turn-based missions, but now you have a much more interesting storyline that has your soldiers questioning whether they have gazed too long into the abyss to still be considered human.
For something in the same vein but more old-school, Aliens vs Humans is a clone/remake/homage to the original X-Com: UFO Defense. For gamers of a certain age, it will bring back fond memories (or nightmares) of staying up late into the morning, tentatively clicking End Turn and dreading the ominous message: Hidden Movement. Its globe-spanning campaign, base-building, and tactical missions are more open-ended, but just as compelling as the more recent X-COM reboot, as long as you don’t mind 2D graphics.
For a different sort of grand experience, try the venerable Battle for Wesnoth, an open-source project fifteen years in the making. It’s a grand strategy game with a Tolkienesque fantasy theme. There’s a massive variety of units in six highly distinct factions, plus different historical ages that change the balance. Its sixteen (!!) lengthy and story-based campaigns will keep you busy for a long long time. The complexity of the interface means this is one for the tablet, and the free Android version is a bit jankier than the more polished (and paid) iOS version.
Games for the Bus
Doorkickers makes a great bite-sized tactical treat. Each mission is a puzzle that you solve by drawing lines for your squad of police officers to follow. First you plan, then you can pause the game at any time to modify your strategy. The encounters are over as quickly as a real tactical breach would be, which means if you screwed up and got your officers fragged you can try again almost immediately. You can pass a mission with minimal requirements, but casualties and mistakes will carry over to the next level. While there’s not much story here, there is a gradual progression of unlockable gear and skills and new, more challenging missions. At the same time, you’re free to take on any one of several campaigns at the same time. Get stuck and you can just try a different one.
This is another great tactical game that works well with a touch interface. Set in a futuristic city with cyborg commandos that can be controlled remotely, Frozen Synapse breaks turns out of a real-time battle by pausing every few seconds for both sides to issue new orders. The orders play out simultaneously, so the core mechanic is predicting what your opponent is going to do next.
While Frozen Synapse is extra great with a human partner to second-guess, it also has a very cool single-player campaign with a pretty interesting post-cyberpunk story-line. This also features quite a variety of mission types, smart AI, and satisfying progression. On iOS, you’ll also be able to get the original, with hip minimalist graphics. On Android, you’ve got the Prime remake, which is essentially the same game but with more realistic visuals.
This mission-based RTS will take a little more commitment, but the rewards are worth it. From veteran developers Ironhide, creators of the mega-hit Kingdom Rush, is a polished, neon-colored gem of a mobile strategy game. It’s your basic space marines vs aliens set against highly improbable but beautiful alien landscapes. Your commander has MOBA-like hero abilities that will help you face a variety of mission types and enemies, and the game can get pretty tough later in the campaign.
For a less bubbly and more grimdark take on the same theme, there’s this tactical-RPG with clear Warhammer 40k influences. For those who prefer to take their time, Templar Battleforce has turn-based missions in a linear order, with time in-between to customize your space knights to your heart’s content. The storyline is serviceable enough, and the graphics are utilitarian, but there’s deep strategy to be had here. Don’t forget, there is a free version on Android that is supported by ads.
What would your favourite offline strategy games be for mobile? Let us know in the comments!