In any case, co-op multiplayer in grand strategy games or even hybrid 4X-grand strategy games are always fun-filled power struggles. Having a friend in tow lets players cover their empire’s weak spots. While most grand strategy games have some rather basic implementations of co-op or multiplayer, the following titles shake up the formula with their themes and overall structure.
Updated January 31, 2023, by Sid Natividad: Multiplayer in any game is always fun, especially if one has friends to troll in-game. For that matter, even coop strategy games can introduce some unique modes of interaction not seen in other games with multiplayer.
So the best co op strategy games list is getting even more titles for people who prefer their world domination with a few partners in crime. They’re chosen for their unique take on the grand strategy genre while others are more interactive and immersive with human players.
11 Field Of Glory: Empires
Release Year: 2019 Platforms: Microsoft Windows Theme & Setting: Classical Age
One can’t mention grand strategy games without including titles set smack dab in one of the most romanticized eras of human history, the Classical Age. It’s a time period when Hellenistic civilizations were under pressure from the rise of Rome and other powers around the Mediterranean.
Field of Glory: Empires explores that playground and includes a multiplayer that features an asynchronous system. This lets players carry out their campaigns like chess matches. Diplomacy is more elegant and versatile compared to other strategy games, and this adds spice to the player-to-player connection.
10 Airships: Conquer The Skies
Release Year: 2015 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac operating systems Theme & Setting: Steampunk
It’s quite hard to classify Airships: Conquer the Skies into just one genre since it’s an amalgam of multiple. There’s a layer of grand strategy in it via the campaign map and part of the core gameplay also includes customizing steampunk airships and commandeering them into a tactical and strategic battle.
For this very reason, Airships: Conquer the Skies has a more dynamic and thrilling multiplayer. Duking it out with the AI with the help of friends or fighting them head-on in airship engineering showdowns is always a delight and a nice break from all the management.
9 Old World
Release Year: 2020 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS, Mac operating systems Theme & Setting: Ancient Age
Old World is a hybrid 4X and Grand Strategy game that’s most similar to Civilization games. The scale is definitely there and it can qualify as a grand strategy game. There’s also a comprehensive multiplayer component, similar to Civilization games.
But unlike with Civiliazation games, Old World’s multiplayer makes players work with each other to actively improve their opinions with each other instead of just locking them as default teams. There are also play by email or cloud games in Old World’s multiplayer component for those who prefer that.
8 Imperator: Rome
Release Year: 2019 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux Theme & Setting: Classical Age
For even more classical age goodness, here’s a Paradox Studios game about Rome. It’s generally regarded as one of the more accessible Paradox games since it was released near the end of the 2010s. Make no mistake though, it’s still complex compared to simpler grand strategy games.
Regardless, Imperator: Rome and its relative simplicity makes it one of the suitable candidates for a multiplayer coop session with friends since it’s easier to bring in new faces to the game. The mechanics are easier to learn and grasp.
7 Total War: Three Kingdoms
Release Year: 2019 Platforms: macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac operating systems Theme & Setting: Medieval China
There are other historical Total War titles that also have a smooth implementation of co-op, such as Shogun 2, but Three Kingdoms gets extra points for the added drama. The Romance mode is an interesting semi-fantasy twist to the campaign that practically turns the generals into superheroes.
Players can also intermarry their generals and lords to forge better alliances and create more heirs or future lords. Romance campaigns in Total War: Three Kingdoms thus get an added layer of family tree intrigue and dynamics similar to games like Crusader Kings (more on that one later).
6 Total War: Warhammer 3
Release Year: 2022 Platforms: macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Mac operating systems Theme & Setting: High Fantasy
For the most complex and multi-layered Total War experience to date, there’s no more robust option than Total War: Warhammer 3. It’s a culmination of all the previous Total War: Warhammer games as well as the mechanics of the historical Total War titles in a grand Thunderdome where dozens of races battle it out for supremacy.
There’s no shortage of choices here, and it can get rather dizzying. That’s all the more reason to bring a friend for a co-op Immortal Empires campaign. The asymmetrical nature of the combat ensures some rather busted army compositions from co-op partners never before seen in a Total War title or in any grand strategy game, for that matter.
5 Crusader Kings 3
Release Year: 2020 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 Theme & Setting: Medieval Era
If mobilizing armies and micromanaging them is too chaotic or tedious, then perhaps a different kind of drama awaits players in Crusader Kings 3. This latest entry in the Crusader Kings series focuses on courtroom and family tree drama— a perfect game to play after watching House of the Dragon or Game of Thrones.
Like its predecessors, Crusader Kings 3 is primarily a dynasty simulator where players manage and develop their dynasties until the in-game year 1453. Players can then select government types, marriage arrangements, and political edicts to shape their territories. Or if they’re petty, they can have their characters commit infidelity by sleeping with their co-op partner’s character’s spouses.
4 Stellaris
Release Year: 2016 Platforms: Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Theme & Setting: Space Opera
Stellaris is made by the same team responsible for Crusader Kings 3 though it introduces a more hands-on approach in letting players manage their empires. Stellaris has a fully-fledged combat system similar to Total War games though not as tactically intricate or involved. The meat of the game, after all, lies in territorial expansion and aggression.
To that end, the game starts out like a 4X game and gradually develops into a grand strategy once the borders start squeezing into one another. Like other grand strategy games with multiplayer, players can bring their friends and start out as a team or form alliances and merge their empires later on.
3 Hearts Of Iron 4
Release Year: 2016 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux Theme & Setting: Modern Era, World War 2
Hearts of Iron 4 has something for those craving for a strategy title closer to contemporary times. It’s a World War 2 strategy game that lets players pick their favored World War 2 faction and out-plan and outgun all the other players in this great war. In fact, if players want, they can even modify the outcome of World War 2 in an alternate history.
The game starts in 1936 or 1939, so players receive ample time to prepare for the eventual start of the war at the latter date. Or they could speed up World War 2 with the country of their choice. Hearts of Iron plays out differently compared to other grand strategy games since it focuses primarily on wartime economics and logistics and, of course, warfare itself.
2 Dominions 5: Warriors Of Faith
Release Year: 2017 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Linux, macOS Theme & Setting: Fantasy
Dominions 5: Warriors of Faith is an underrated gem in which the goal is to ascend one’s ruler into godhood. For that to happen, the players need followers in their dominion, which will generate enough faith for their ruler character to ascend to godhood. In essence, this game is all about waging holy wars to determine who has the best religion and imaginary friend.
This unique strategy game/4X hybrid introduces a hot-seat type of co-op or a multiplayer mode called Disciple Mode, where among human players, only one can ascend to godhood as they fight against the AI factions. If there are more than two players, this definitely creates a peculiar dynamic; players can help each other ascend to godhood but will need to fight a sudden death elimination war once it’s time to choose a god candidate.
1 Endless Space 2
Release Year: 2017 Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS Theme & Setting: Space Opera
Like Stellaris, Endless Space 2 is a hybrid 4X/grand strategy title but at a slower pace since it’s turn-based like Civilization games. Multiplayer is also less friendly to teams here, but players can form alliances easily with their preferred friends once they have the proper technology.
It’s just that the factions here are brimming with so much lore and personality that it’s hard not to recommend it for multiplayer. Even interacting with the AI with an allied friend is a good roleplaying experience which is usually what makes co-op in grand strategy so engaging.
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