The best PS5 strategy games 2023

If you want to know about the best strategy games on PS5, then you’ve come to the right place. The PS5 has a huge library, ranging from single-player adventures to shooters and everything in between. Strategy games have pride of place on the PS5 and there are some amazing options if you want to take your time with a game’s combat and learning other systems, which you can do with this list of the best strategy games on PS5.

The PS5 has something for everyone, so make sure you look at our lists of the best RPGs on PS5 and the best open-world games on PS5. Now, on to the best strategy games on PS5.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a masterclass in strategy RPGs and for extremely good reasons. The scope alone of BG3 is unparalleled and the strategic combat will have you plotting and planning your position, attacks, strategies, and everything else as you take on each encounter. The difficulty can be cranked up for an even more challenging experience, but the core systems alone are brilliant. This RPG story is effectively a Dungeons and Dragon campaign, complete with dice rolls, party members, and a branching story full of charm. Our extensive review of Baldur’s Gate 3 heaped praise on the story, characters, and especially the combat.

Divinity: Original Sin 2

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the game Larian Studios made before Baldur’s Gate 3, and it is different in a bunch of ways. While still a story-driven RPG, the combat has more of a focus on elemental reactions and other ways to use the environment to dispatch your foes. Due to this in-depth system, turn-based combat in Divinity 2 requires a ton of strategic thinking, especially on harder difficulties. The characters and story are brilliant, and if you’ve only played BG3, you should give Divinity 2 a try.

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales

Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales is a neat, not-so-little spin-off of characters and stories from the world of the Witcher. In Thronebreaker, you play Meve, the Queen of Lyria as she fights in the war against the invading Nilfgaardian army. Any fan of the books will know Meve and her journey, and Thronebreaker uses many stories and details mostly from the Baptism of Fire book as a foundation. In Thronebreaker, you explore an isometric grid and the strategic battles happen in a quasi-card and deck-building manner. You need planning, patience, and knowledge of the Witcher 3 minigame Gwent doesn’t hurt.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel is the most modern iteration of the incredible card game, all of which you can access for free on the PlayStation. It is arguably the best way to play a game of Yu-Gi-Oh! outside of dusting off your old deck of cards. Take on AI battles, battle other players, and build your real-life decks in-game – there is plenty to do in Master Duel that you won’t ever need to spend money on the game’s gacha.

Jurassic World Evolution 2

If you ever thought you wanted to build and run your own dinosaur theme park, then Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the game for you. This construction and management sim requires strategic thinking, simply because you don’t want any of the dinosaurs to escape and start wholesale eating the visitors. Think Zoo or Rollercoaster Tycoon, but with dinosaurs, and you’ve got a great idea of what to expect.

Crusader Kings III: Console Edition

Set in the Middle Ages, Crusader Kings 3 is the ultimate strategy test. In a similar vein to Civilisation and Age of Empires, you choose a house to lead to victory, glory, and world domination. The game spans generations, meaning when your characters die it’s up to the next in line to carry the torch through the ages and during this time you can wage wars, strategise through diplomacy, and set up vast trade networks. If you need a game to sink hundreds of hours into, then Crusader Kings 3 on PS5 should be your next port of call.

Marvel’s Midnight Suns

Marvel’s Midnight Suns is a combination of XCOM-style tactical strategy with Marvel characters. In Midnight Suns, you play a character called the Hunter, who is in charge of leading a team of superheroes and other fighters against an evil threat. Combat happens through card-based tactics, meaning there is plenty of deck customisation out there if that’s what you’re into. The best part about Midnight Suns is the tactical combat and that you make your own superhero when customising the Hunter.

XCOM 2

XCOM 2 is one of the best – and not to mention meme-worthy – turn-based tactical games on the PS5. You can fully customise your whole team and give them backstories as you take them on tough missions to defeat an invading alien force that is trying to subjugate all life. Along with the tough fights, there is an element of base management which lets you unlock more upgrades for your soldiers. Permadeath is a thing in this game, making it a tough tactical journey from start to finish. In our review of XCOM 2, we highly praised the gameplay and the combat, even if we did miss a shot with a 99% chance to hit twice in a row.

Slay the Spire

Slay the Spire is an excellent turn-based roguelike strategy game mixed with deck-building. Each run of the Spire is different and you clear chambers to progress until you win or die trying. As you go through each chamber you get cards and abilities that you need to pay attention to as you build out your character to face the extremely challenging fights and encounters in Slay the Spire. As you proceed, there will be options to take safer routes or more challenging paths if you’re feeling brave. Boss battles are tough and you need to build our decks of cards that synergise well together.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a remake of an old PS1 game, fully remastered with improved visuals, quality-of-life changes, and full voice acting. You play Denam, a young man who, along with his sister Catiua, becomes embroiled in a war between nations. Combat takes place on a grid and you move your characters depending on a turn order. Positioning and strategy are a must in this game, and several encounters will challenge your abilities. Essentially, this is the closest you can get to playing Final Fantasy Tactics on the PS5.

This concludes our list of the best strategy games on PS5. If you want to find more PS5 games, try our list of the best free games on PS5 and the best action games on PS5 to find your next favourite game.