Wccftech’s most anticipated strategy/simulation games in 2022

“The most anticipated games? How can you make a list of the most anticipated games when an entire month of the year has passed?” I hear you thinking. You certainly have a valid point. Often there would be a risk that a game has already been released. In some genres, like RPGs, this has happened before. Alas, I was overwhelmed with work, a family health crisis, and general exhaustion that left me barely willing to turn on the PC, let alone write a list. Yet here you find me and my most anticipated strategy and simulation games of 2022.

When it comes to list participants, you’ll always get some of the obvious. Some games will be on the list that may not even be released this year; delays may occur. New working methods and the fact that crunch damages a game more than it helps is becoming more and more accepted. Still, it would be surprising not to see these strategy and simulation games hitting our digital shelves in 2022, and they’re certainly the most anticipated of the lot.

WCcftech’s Best Strategy and Simulation Games of 2021

Check out Wccftech’s other most anticipated lists of 2022: Fighting, Shooter, Action, Horror, Adventure, Indie, RPG.

Let’s all be honest here; there are two major publishers in the strategy game industry. SEGA is undeniably the biggest, with huge developers controlling the biggest franchises in the genre. One of them will hit the shelves in just a few weeks; the other is planned for the end of this year. On top of that, SEGA also has a strong sim lineup with Football Manager (will be on the Sports & Racing roster) joined by Two Point Campus, the follow-up to hit Two-Point Hospital.

Kind: Strategy (Grand Strategy). Platform: pc.

Total War: Warhammer 3. There isn’t much more to say than “Total War”. Following the previous two highly successful Total War: Warhammer titles, as well as the sheer force that the Total War brand brings, this is a game any strategy fan will look forward to, and they won’t have long to wait. As for what I think so far, here’s a bit of my rundown.

Company of Heroes 3 open strategy campaign detailed in new dev diary

Like every other game in the series, Total War: Warhammer III will offer tremendous replay value thanks to the ever-constant emergent gameplay. The addition of an increasingly focused story, your race against everyone else, and new features explored in just two of the factions are shaping up to be another big release in the series. Total War: Warhammer III is the one I can’t wait for, and I’m counting the days until its release on February 17th.

Kind: Strategy (Grand Strategy). Platform: pc.

Yet another considerable intellectual property. Although Company of Heroes does not offer as many titles as the Total War series, Relic Entertainment has made more than a good reputation with several series. Enough that Microsoft, bringing back Age of Empires, brought them for IV. Returning to World War II, but taking you to various theaters of the conflict, Company of Heroes is a massive game, one that people have already been able to try out in open multiplayer beta.

Kind: Simulation. Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch.

Two Point Hospital was a great hospital building sim, but with a nice dose of silliness. Goofy diseases, ghosts roaming your neighborhoods, and absurd machines used to cure conditions, it just provided a moment of fun. Two Point Campus seems to continue this tradition, with courses like gastronomy and robotics. Add to that the substantial management simulation aspects that Two Point Studios will likely bring from Two Point Hospital, and you have an interesting game to look forward to.

Kind: Simulation. Platforms: PC, Xbox Series S/X.

If you’re not a fan of the super cute and hyper colorful Slime Rancher, I have to wonder what in your life has made you so miserable that you can’t find pleasure in anything. Well, potentially you find joy in torturing kittens, and theoretically you can torture cat slimes in Slime Rancher, so that’s still the game for you.

Slime Rancher 2 promises to be bigger and better than the first, which started off well and has grown into a great title over time. the trailer Slime Rancher 2 shows that it has the same colorful looks and adorable sounds, so I can’t help but be interested in the sequel. Anyway, I was on board long before it was announced, and I can’t wait.

Kind: Strategy (Real-Time Strategy) & Simulation (City-Building). Platform: pc.

I’m always reluctant to say positive words to Ubisoft, because I’m Activision-Blizzard, but the point is, Blue Byte is a good developer. They proved it with their strong outings within the Anno franchise. After more than a decade without a release, it’s nice to see such an old franchise make a comeback (in 2016 Ubisoft released Champions of Anteria, originally planned as a Settlers game, Ubisoft dropped the name because it didn’t sound nothing to a Settlers title).

First looks at The Settlers look decent. Aesthetically, that is. What the gameplay will be like, we honestly don’t know. However, the franchise has a distinct style that Blue Byte should probably stick with, and what we do know is that there are new factions with their unique looks and playstyles.

Kind: Strategy/Simulation. Platform: pc.

Populous: The Beginning. Black White. God’s Play has long disappeared from the industry, with Peter Molyneux’s ill-fated attempt with GODUS leaving Kickstarter backers like me and Early Access purchasers with a monstrous case of blue balls. 22 Cans basically ditched the base game in favor of the mobile version, and people were left sad. Until (hopefully) now!

Fata Deum is not a game I know well, but I know I want it now. The first looks have been promising, mostly because the developer has been receptive to fan feedback. Playing as a young god rising to the top, you’ll see death and destruction unlike any you’ve seen in decades.

Strategy and simulation games of 2022 – will SEGA shine again?

There’s a big name missing from this list, and there’s a reason for that. I mentioned that there are two publishers in the strategy game scene; the other – as most know – is Paradox Interactive. Victoria 3 was announced to great acclaim last year, but it’s honestly missing from this list as we don’t know if it will be released in 2022. Still, keep that in mind.

Even without Paradox making an appearance, there’s more than enough to keep people going throughout the year, and those are just the headlines. There are plenty more great games to watch in both genres, and you’ll find more below in the honorable mentions:

In addition to these titles, you have games currently in early access that may see a release this coming year. These titles include Foundation, Going Medieval, Frozenheim, Dyson Sphere Program, and more. All in all, the next eleven months are looking good, with Total War: Warhammer III kicking off in less than three weeks.