Strategy games – page 2. Best Free PC games without micropayments

FreeOrion

Currently, the 4X space strategy genre is doing well, but many older fans still consider the first two installments of the Master of Orion series to be the best. So a group of these fans decided to develop a free production, modeled after this classic. The result is an open-source FreeOrion.

It is not a direct port or remake of any installment of Master of Orion. Instead, the authors treated this classic as a major source of inspiration but were also not afraid to change a few things and add a lot of new ideas. So we get a turn-based 4X strategy game in which we have a complicated economic model, rich trees of technological development, and an interesting world. On the other hand, a much more advanced tactical combat system and mechanisms simulating social change were added, in a style modeled after the Europa Universalis series.

1. FreeOrion - download

The Ur-Quan Masters

The Ur-Quan Masters is another example of a fan version of a classic, developed to provide support for modern PCs and made available in open-source form. This project remakes Star Control II, one of the best games of the 1990s. .

In The Ur-Quan Masters, we explore a vast galaxy, encounter various alien races, assemble fleets, and wage war against the eponymous Ur-Quan Empire. All this in a heavily tweaked graphic setting and with numerous gameplay improvements. Commendably, despite these changes, the unique atmosphere and style of the original was fully preserved.

Star Control II remains unrivalled in its category, and The Ur-Quan Masters allows modern players to discover this classic or return to it years later.

1. More about Star Control II
2. The Ur-Quan Masters - download

UFO: Alien Invasion

Remember the UFO series, also known as XCOM? Say what? Are there new installments of it? And they're good? That's cool, but a small group of enthusiasts decided to create a game that looks the same as the original, only better in every way. More elaborate and complicated, but still similar.

According to the canon, the game is divided into the development phase, where our global agency fights a space invader and the tactical mode in which we take control of a troop of soldiers.

UFOAI also allows you to play online, both against others and in co-op mode. And to make it more fun, this clone of an ancient tactical game works on the engine of an equally old shooter, specifically Quake II. Despite this, it is a completely stand-alone production that does not need any additional files or programs to run.

1. Download UFOAI

Freeciv

In the case of Freeciv, the title explains virtually everything. It is a free turn-based strategy modeled after Sid Meier's classic Civilization series. The authors relied primarily on the first three editions, so sets of rules that are available faithfully reproduce these productions. However, you can also apply mods that introduce numerous changes and innovations, so everyone will find something for themselves.

It is mainly designed for multiplayer games, in which up to 126 players can participate. This leads to extremely extensive online campaigns that can last for weeks. However, the authors did not forget about the appropriate artificial intelligence that could effectively replace missing users.

The game is very popular and has been developed for a long time, so it impresses with the content available. We have more than half a thousand factions to choose from, and we can spice up the fun with numerous modifications. In addition, fans have developed a number of localizations, including a Polish language version.

The latest stable version of the game was released in early 2020. It shows that the project is still alive.

1. Freeciv – download game