The free strategy games with the highest Steam scores on PC are The Battle for Wesnoth (turn-based), Zero-K (real-time) and Crusader Kings II (grand strategy). For war games, World of Tanks and War Thunder are free, but they are vehicle combat, not strategy. Every game here is free to install. Most also sell something, and each entry says what. Last checked: November 11, 2026.
Want a wider list than strategy? See our best free to play games on PC.
Free Strategy and War Games on PC at a Glance
| Game | Type | Cost model | Steam score (Nov 11, 2026) | PC route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Battle for Wesnoth | Turn-based | Free, no purchases listed | 94% of 3,244 | Steam |
| Zero-K | RTS | Free, optional donation packs | 93% of 3,242 | Steam |
| Crusader Kings II | Grand strategy | Free base game, paid DLC | 90% of 47,906 | Steam |
| World of Tanks | War, tank combat | Free, paid DLC and shop | 73% of 25,685 | Steam |
| War Thunder | War, vehicle combat | Free, paid DLC | 72% of 331,166 | Steam |
| Stormgate | RTS | Free, paid campaign and bundle | 49% of 5,608 | Steam |
| Beyond All Reason | RTS | Free multiplayer | No Steam page yet | Website launcher |
| Rise of Kingdoms | Mobile 4X | Free, in-app purchases | No Steam page found | Windows client |
| Star Trek Fleet Command | Mobile space 4X | Free, in-app purchases | No Steam page found | Windows and Mac client |
| State of Survival | Mobile survival | Free, in-app purchases | 55% of 484 | Steam, Windows client |
How We Picked
We read each game's Steam page on November 11, 2026, and kept games that are free to start and live today. Steam scores are the English-language summary on each page; all-language totals can differ. The first seven are built for PC and ordered by Steam score, with the game that has no Steam page last. The last three are mobile-first and sit in their own group. App Store ratings there were also read on November 11, 2026.
Unlike our free-to-play list, we set no score floor here: the list covers the category, and low scores are flagged in each entry.
Some links here are offer links, and only the last three games have one. If you use one, LevelRig may earn a commission. It doesn't change the order.
Free Strategy Games Built for PC
1. The Battle for Wesnoth
Genre: turn-based fantasy strategy. Money: the Steam page lists no purchases. Score: 94% positive of 3,244 reviews. Get it: Steam, for Windows, Mac and Linux. Per Steam, it's open source, with 17 solo campaigns and dozens of multiplayer maps. For you if you like thinking through each move.
2. Zero-K
Genre: real-time strategy with physically simulated units. Money: the Steam page says "no paid advantages" and sells optional donation packs of $5.79, $12.49 and $22.99. Score: 93% positive of 3,242 reviews. Get it: Steam, for Windows and Linux. Per Steam, it has a campaign, co-op and matches up to 16v16. For you if you want RTS without a shop.
3. Crusader Kings II
Genre: medieval grand strategy, 1066 to 1337 per Steam. Money: the base game is free on Steam, but the page lists 32 pieces of paid content, an expansion subscription at $2.99 per 30 days, and $188.20 for all of it. Score: 90% positive of 47,906 reviews, the largest sample of the top three. Get it: Steam. For you if you want dynasty drama more than armies, and can ignore the DLC.
4. World of Tanks
Genre: tank combat. It's a war game, not a strategy game. Money: free, with paid DLC from $8.00 to $52.30 and a points shop, per Steam. Per Steam, it needs a Wargaming.net account. Score: 73% positive of 25,685 reviews; the last 30 days read 65% of 736. Get it: Steam, for Windows 10 or 11 per its requirements. For you if you like team tactics and careful aiming.
5. War Thunder
Genre: aircraft, tanks and ships. Steam tags it vehicular combat, so it's not strategy either. Money: free, with 36 DLC items from free to $79.99, per Steam. The page also lists kernel-level anti-cheat (BattlEye). Score: 72% positive of 331,166 reviews. Get it: Steam, for Windows, Mac and Linux. For you if you want large-scale war in the air, on land and at sea.
6. Stormgate
Genre: real-time strategy from Frost Giant Studios. Money: free to play on Steam, which also sells a campaign DLC at $24.99 and a $64.99 Ultimate Edition. Score: 49% positive of 5,608 reviews, and 30% of 26 in the last 30 days, the lowest score here. Get it: Steam, Windows 10 or later; per Steam, the minimum spec lists 16 GB of RAM. For you if you want a modern RTS and accept a rocky reputation.
7. Beyond All Reason
Genre: large-scale real-time strategy. Money: the multiplayer game is free through the website launcher, per the team's June 16, 2026 post. A paid Steam version with a single-player campaign is planned, and the post says nothing currently free will become paid. It gives no Steam date or price. Score: none, since it isn't on Steam yet. Get it: the launcher on its site. For you if you want a free RTS and don't mind a launcher outside Steam.
Free Mobile Strategy Games With a PC Client
These were built for phones. They aren't ranked against the games above, because their scores come from different places, and two of them draw complaints about pressure to spend (see below). Our guide to playing mobile games on PC covers the routes and account steps. Do this first. For Star Trek Fleet Command, save your game to a Scopely Account on your phone (Settings > General). This is the step people skip. For Rise of Kingdoms and State of Survival we found no official steps, so check your phone's account settings before you install.
Rise of Kingdoms
Genre: mobile 4X with alliances and a shared map. Money: free with in-app purchases; the App Store listing shows packs from $0.99 (read November 11, 2026), and Wikipedia reports criticism of its pay-to-win mechanics. Score: 4.5 out of 5 from 188,000 App Store ratings as of November 11, 2026. Get it: get the official client; the official site carries a Windows download and a Mac App Store link. Similar games are in games like Rise of Kingdoms. For you if you want a mobile kingdom builder with big alliance wars and can live with the pressure to spend.
Star Trek Fleet Command
Genre: space strategy with alliances and fleet building, the one space game here. Money: free with in-app purchases; the App Store listing showed packs from $4.99 to $99.99 on November 11, 2026, though its list is partial, and many Metacritic user reviews complain about grinding and paying to speed things up. Score: 4.3 out of 5 from 68,000 App Store ratings as of November 11, 2026. Get it: get the official client for Windows or Mac; Scopely's announcement dates Windows to September 2021. It's the game I'm playing for my alliance's schedule, so weigh my view accordingly. For you if you want ships and space and an alliance that plays on a schedule.
State of Survival
Genre: zombie-apocalypse survival strategy. Money: free with in-app purchases that Steam lists without details. Score: 55% positive of 484 Steam reviews (Mixed), read November 11, 2026. Get it: Steam, which lists Windows requirements, or get the Windows client. FunPlus announced a Windows version on September 8, 2022. For you if you want an alliance game with a survival theme and can live with a Mixed score.
What We Couldn't Verify
- We didn't play these games for this list. Everything comes from the pages linked above.
- Steam scores move, and small samples such as Stormgate's 26 recent reviews swing fast.
- Pay-to-win. We only have what store pages, Wikipedia and Metacritic users say. We didn't audit any shop.
- Beyond All Reason's platforms and Steam date. Neither was in the sources we read.
- Account transfer to PC for Rise of Kingdoms and State of Survival: we found no official steps.
- App Store figures are rounded by the store, and the purchase lists on those pages are partial.
Set a Limit Before You Install
"Free" is the install price. Write down a spending limit before you start, and keep a card off file. For the mobile-first group, do it first: Rise of Kingdoms and Star Trek Fleet Command draw complaints about pressure to spend, and State of Survival lists in-app purchases on Steam without details.
FAQ
What is the best free strategy game on PC?
By Steam score, The Battle for Wesnoth leads with 94% positive of 3,244 reviews, then Zero-K at 93% of 3,242 and Crusader Kings II at 90% of 47,906. Pick by style: turn-based, real-time or grand strategy.
What are the best free war games on PC?
World of Tanks and War Thunder, though Steam tags both as vehicle combat, not strategy. World of Tanks scores 73% of 25,685 reviews and War Thunder 72% of 331,166, and both sell paid DLC.
Are free strategy games pay to win?
It depends on the game. Zero-K's Steam page says "no paid advantages," and Wesnoth's lists no purchases. Wikipedia reports criticism of Rise of Kingdoms' pay-to-win mechanics, and many Metacritic users say Star Trek Fleet Command pushes you to pay to speed things up. Check the shop first.
What are the best free space strategy games on PC?
Star Trek Fleet Command is the only space strategy game on this list: a free Windows and Mac client with in-app purchases. We didn't search for others beyond it.
Can I play free mobile strategy games on PC without an emulator?
Yes. The Steam games run on Windows directly, Beyond All Reason has its own launcher, and Rise of Kingdoms and Star Trek Fleet Command have their own Windows clients. State of Survival is on Steam. An emulator is a last resort; use a studio client or Steam when one exists.
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