Best of 2012

All games are, at their core, exercises of risk versus reward. Few genres demonstrate this more capably than the games we consider "strategic." The best titles in this field strike a balance by making moment-to-moment decisions feel just as tense and important as considering the larger scope of a scenario, and create a level of investment on the part of the player which makes them feel as though the event at hand has genuine import to their lives.

Here are Destructoid's nominations for the best strategy game of 2012.

Crusader Kings II

It's an incredibly dynamic game that seems to perfectly simulate the state of flux that Europe and the Middle East were in during the Middle Ages. Crusader Kings II is exactly the sort of game I was hoping it would be. As deep and complex as its predecessor, but more accessible.

Read the full Crusader Kings II review.

FTL: Faster than Light

More than any other game I've played, more than the incredibly complex X series, more than the fanboy-titillating Star Trek: Bridge Commander, FTL made me feel like I was in command of a starship. Or, rather, a series of constantly exploding starships.

Read the full FTL: Faster than Light review. 

Tropico 4: Modern Times

Tropico 4: Modern Times gives the core game a much needed content injection, and turns Tropico 4 into a better game.

Read the full Tropico 4: Modern Times review.

Wargame: European Escalation

Wargame: European Escalation is the closest you'll get to a full-fledged military simulation of the Cold War era of modern warfare that is still fun to play. It's a cold, calculated affair set in the last decades of the 20th century where the tradition of the Clausewitz style of military doctrine for large-scale operations was still relevant; a style rendered almost obsolete by postmodern 21st century asymmetrical warfare.

Read the full Wargame: European Escalation review. 

XCOM Enemy Unknown

While the game lacks the polish we’ve come to expect from Firaxis, it stands up as one of the most addicting and fun strategy games I’ve ever played.

Read the full XCOM Enemy Unknown review. 

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Congrats to all the nominees! We'll be announcing the official winner on Friday, December 14. In the mean time we want you to tell us which game this year was the best strategy title. Plus, be sure to go vote in our Community Choice Award for your favorite game of 2012.

Check out all our other categories and nominations:

• Game of the Year nominees
• Best visuals nominees
• Best multiplatform game
• Best PC exclusives
• Best console exclusives
• Best multiplayer
• Best soundtrack
• Best portable
• Best platformer
• Best action/adventure
• Best fighter
• Best shooter
• Best RPG