Give that brain a workout with strategy games that make you smarter!
Who says video games are a dumb waste of time? Sure, playing video games won’t exactly give you a six-pack, but did you know they can boost the power of your brain? No kidding, some games – especially strategy games – are known to make you smarter. Don’t believe us? Well, believe science!
Here are 10 Strategy Games That Make You Smarter – titles sure to give that brain of yours a substantial workout!
10. Company of Heroes 2
Furious tank battles await
This epic real-time strategy game is a blessing to the genre. Not only does it give us fantastic, brain-twisting combat, it serves as a history lesson, too.
Company of Heroes 2 focuses on the bloody Eastern Front conflicts during World War II. As such, you’ll be controlling the Soviet army, and dealing with harsh winter conditions. So yes, not only do soldiers have to dodge bullets, they also have to stay warm enough not to die of frostbite.
With the roar of cannons and the screams of dying soldiers your constant companion in battle, this game will test your ability to make quick, solid decisions under pressure – which will, in turn, do wonders for your concentration.
Not to mention you’ll learn a lot about the horrors of the Eastern Front in this grim history lesson… making it one of the bloodiest educational games in existence.
A hailstorm of bullets
Fire and ice
9. Galactic Civilizations III
Worlds to conquer
So you’re smart enough to win control of an entire planet. But do you have what it takes to conquer an entire galaxy?
Galactic Civilizations III challenges you to take that empire and spread it to the farthest stars. Although that’s a feat you can achieve through conquest, technological superiority, cultural dominance, or diplomacy, you’ll need an excellent balance of all to go far in this game. How you manage these various aspects is what will truly train your ability to exploit the various resources at your disposal in effective combination.
The amount of customization options the game provides is just as mind-boggling. Victory conditions? Map size? The appearance of your units? The personalities of the races themselves, which will affect their behavior towards you? They can all be tweaked to your liking, so the game helps develop your creativity and originality, too!
If you enjoy games that make you smarter, try Galactic Civilizations III!
The ships of the heavens
Interstellar war
8. Ultimate General: Gettysburg
Army ants
Set during the Battle of Gettysburg, this real-time tactical war game gives you dominion over thousands of troops scurrying like tiny ants across a map.
You serve as a general for either the Union or Confederate army in Ultimate General: Gettysburg. This entails leading hordes of troops on assaults against the opposition, while using all tactical advantages at your disposal. Of course, things aren’t that easy; enemy cannon fire can coat battlefields with the blood of soldiers, and the resulting low morale can exact a heavy toll on army effectiveness. The formation of your troops is also important. Will you attack the enemy head-on, or flank them? Will you risk dividing your forces for a two-pronged attack, or circle around enemy lines for an ambush from behind?
The A.I. boasts myriad personalities, from foes who play defensively to those who’ll get under your skin by employing more devious tactics. This way, you’ll always be on your toes, training you to make decisions on the fly in response to shifting priorities and evolving situations. An excellent way to learn how to handle a crisis, army general-style!
And yes, this game is another history lesson, making it one of the best educational games you can play.
Bird's eye view of carnage
Gunfire and smoke
7. Crusader Kings II
Toy soldiers
Enjoy the mentally taxing skullduggery of Game of Thrones? Then Crusader Kings II is for you.
In Crusader Kings II, your goal is to become the ultimate dynasty between 1066 and 1454. Aside from economy management and city-building, winning means blood, barbarism, and deception.
Your children play a significant role in the game. As you can teach them the ropes of governance, and inherit the skills and culture of their parents, political marriages can be arranged to produce offspring boasting augmented attributes – which, of course, can be a boon to your efforts. This will train you how to make choices with the future in mind, kicking those planning skills into high gear!
Many other systems are in play that will influence your game, from gender and tax laws to religion and intrigue. These not only give you a window into the cultural and political climate of those times, they also teach you how to juggle your priorities in order to deal with difficult issues.
A deep, well-executed strategy experience, it’s one of the most mentally taxing yet satisfying strategy games that make you smarter!
A rival in every nation
Europe in conflict
6. Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge
The chain of command
Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge brings us to one of the most merciless conflicts of World War II – the bitter, teeth-gnashing winter of 1944, Western Europe.
Here, you’re not reduced to some disembodied god giving orders to every individual on the battlefield. There’s a working chain of command which allows you to hand out instructions to subordinate army leaders, who in turn will be responsible for unit organization, routes, and operational concerns before they send their troops to battle.
As for micromanagement? None of that, here. Because your subordinates are sweating the small stuff, you’re free to dedicate your time and energy to planning maneuvers of a larger scale – the really big, risky decisions that can either win or lose the war. If that doesn’t sharpen your foresight to a knife edge, nothing will.
In addition to these factors, incredible A.I. and 27 scenarios make Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge one of the best historical educational games around.
Planning big
Forces on the move
5. Europa Universalis IV
Conquistadors en route
In the grand strategy game Europa Universalis IV, you are tasked with the not-so-simple task of world domination.
You can play as the sovereign of any country that existed between November 11, 1444 and January 2, 1821. Conquering the globe involves a balance of economy, diplomacy, and military. Just remember it’d be foolish to wage war on everyone – you’ll need people who’ll watch your back, too. Needless to say, there are a lot of difficult decisions to be made.
For the history buffs out there, numerous historical events, from the Discovery of the New World to the Protestant Reformation are represented in this game. How you ride the turbulent tides of history will determine whether you come out on top, or end up at the bottom of the food chain.
They don’t make educational games this intense!
Blood is the price of colonization
Fog of war
4. XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Assembling the troops
Matching wits against alien invaders? Who knew it could be so much fun?
In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, you’re humanity’s last line of defense against alien miscreants bent of dominating planet Earth. This tactical strategy game has you overseeing the growth and operations of your base, researching and developing technologies acquired from the aliens, and planning missions that will put you in direct contact with your enemies. Taking care of the logistics this way will challenge your decision-making skills and your ability to make estimates about the future based on the current circumstances. Seriously, it’s a great way to learn how to prepare for the worst.
And then there’s the pulse-pounding combat. You’re given a squad of up to six soldiers or robots to kill or capture aliens in a particular site. To outwit this intelligent foe, you need to learn how to exploit your troops’ strengths and the items they’re carrying. Tactical considerations include using the environment as cover, camouflage, unit formation and positioning, and military techniques, such as using suppressive fire to limit the opposition’s choices.
One of the best educational games that’ll teach you how to fend off an alien attack!
You need high tech weapons to fight off these alien invaders
Firestorm
3. Sid Meier’s Civilization V
Clash of swords
The Civilization franchise reaches the epitome of quality with Civilization V.
Civilization V demands a lot from its players. Starting at the dawn of time, you transform a single settlement into a continents-spanning empire by conquering neighboring cities or founding new ones. And as the wheel of time turns, you’ll find that there are many alliances to be made, technologies to research, cultural marvels to build, and, of course, blood to be spilled.
Aside from world domination via military conquest, you can win the game by being the first to send a vessel to space, acquiring other civilizations’ support in the United Nations, or completing a special project called Utopia. How you pave that road to victory is your choice, and the challenge that Civilization V offers.
It’s gorgeous, epic, and a treat to the mind, making it one of the best games that make you smarter on this list.
For democracy!
The age of gunpowder
2. Total War: Shogun 2
These men mean business
Attention, students of history! Total War: Shogun 2 takes place during the Ashikaga Shogunate, one of Japan’s bloodiest eras. Just how bloody? Play the game and find out!
Nine clans exist for you to lead to victory, each with its own area of expertise. For example, the Chosokabe clan comes with exceptional bowmen. The Mori clan possess the mightiest navy. Then you’ve got the Uesugi, whose devotion Buddhism lets them to recruit the game’s most lethal warrior monks.
Battles are brutal, gory affairs, but it’s not all about cutting each other down. You’ll have to use tactics and clever unit combinations to win. By training you how to coordinate your troops in a timely fashion, you’ll learn how to use your various strengths to exploit your enemies’ weaknesses. And when not skewering opponents on the battlefield, special agents, such as geishas and ninjas, can be sent to spy on and assassinate enemies – teaching you the importance of subtlety in any conflict. Yes, because victory does not always have to come at the cost of direct confrontation.
Seriously, it’s like Sun Tzu’s Art of War, only with better graphics!
Cavalcade
Storming the woods
1. StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty & StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm
Here it is, the game that science has proven can make you better at thinking: StarCraft II.
In 2013, a psychological study demonstrated that after playing StarCraft II, participants performed better on cognitive flexibility tests than those who played other games. What’s cognitive flexibility? It’s the ability to think quickly and critically in response to ever-changing circumstances. In other words, StarCraft II bolsters your thinking skills.
And anyone who’s played the two StarCraft II games will attest to how mentally taxing those games can be. You not only have to manage resources, tech upgrades, and unit formations, you have to know when, where, and how to hit the enemy, and when to retreat.
The dreaded Zerg rush
StarCraft II also boasts a story of heroism and sacrifice in the face of overwhelming odds. Main protagonist Jim Raynor serves as the moral compass in a sector where shady political maneuverings and the disregard for the sanctity of life run rampant. He is the only one who sees the good in Kerrigan, which is instrumental in her transformation from mass murderer to something more heroic.
It’s in the direst straits that Raynor’s humanity shines the brightest, teaching us how hope, bravery, and a never-give-up attitude can help banish the darkness. He also shows us the value of placing our faith in the goodness inside everybody. Kerrigan, in turn, teaches us that it’s never too late to turn from evil – that we can make up for the terrible things we did in the past by committing ourselves to doing what is best for everyone.
Definitely one of the greatest games that make you smarter!
Monster vs. machine
The almighty Protoss war machine
So, fellow gamers… do you enjoy games that make you smarter? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
