Summary
The immersive world ofgrand strategygaming allows players to experience a wide variety of combat methods and systems. While the genre is most synonymous with its emphasis on battlefield warfare, many games have opened the door to more nuanced tactics beyond the open battlefield as well.
Political intrigue and propaganda, among other topics and approaches, have popped up in strategy games over the years. Such approaches to gameplay have allowed players to use mind over muscle, employing intellectual methods of warfare to secure victory. Of the many games to highlight thepsychological warfareside of strategy and action, a select few have captured it better than the rest.
As is to be expected with theHearts of Ironfranchise, this grand strategy epic takes players into the brutal warfare of World War 2. The game spoils its players with choice from the get-go, giving them the chance to pick any country in the world to control prior to the beginning of the war.
Propaganda was a major psychological tool throughout the Second World War. andHearts of Iron 4taps into this as a part of its political system. Players are able to use propaganda, along with covert operations and espionage, to manage both internal dissent and external threats. The result is the ability to not only psychologically manipulate the enemy, but the player’s country’s own people as well, making for one of the most thorough examinations of psychological warfare in the strategy gaming world.
This well-regarded installment in theTotal Warseriestakes players back to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. With a dozen factions to choose from, gamers must use all manner of warfare in a bid to come out on top and rule the nation.
With so many factions vying for power, it can be relatively straightforward for players to sow discord to fit their own agenda. Such actions can be done via diplomacy, or through the manipulative use of spies. In both setting up and sabotaging alliances, players can maintain a psychological edge over the competition, moving foes and allies alike into convenient positions to strike. Coupled with its emphasis on action-packed sieges,this turn-based epichas all corners of warfare covered.
This turn-based sequel toXCOM: Enemy Unknowncontinued the effort to keep the reboot of the classic series chugging along. Players take control of soldiers in the titular XCOM, a powerful military collective chargedwith rebelling against Earth’s alien invader dictatorship.
When it comes to the tactics of warfare used, players will find themselves frequently relying on ambushes. These guerrilla tactics give the XCOM squad a better shot at getting the better of their technologically advanced foes. Furthermore, the frequent surprise attacks can prove damaging to the enemy’s morale, as soldiers are gunned down, missions are sabotaged, and everyone must be on their toes and on edge at all times. Later on inXCOM 2, players get to add a Psi Operative to their team. Among this soldier’s powers are telepathy, allowing for a new level of psychological and psionic warfare to be added to the mix via the ability to influence and control enemy soldiers.
Military might isn’t always the easiest method of taking on an enemy inCivilization 6.Diplomacy is also key, and can, ironically, lead to better outcomes on the battlefield.
Through psychologically-motivated tactics and negotiations, players can both create and destroy alliances, robbing an enemy of their support on the battlefield. In turn, military conquest becomes that much easier, as players essentially rob the enemy of their strengths in both war and trade before moving in for the kill when morale is at an all-time low. Overall, there is next to no stone left unturned in providing players withthe ultimate civilization-building experiencein this modern strategy classic, and that includes its attention to detail on a variety of warfare strategies.
Taking players back to the Middle Ages,Crusader Kings 3provides the opportunity to grow a powerful lineage over several centuries. The third installment in the series garnered praise for its incredibly detailed character models and emergent storytelling.
to successfully cultivate their dynasty, players must navigate a variety of complex familial relationships, as well as plenty of political intrigue. Gamers must frequently utilize psychological tactics such as deception and manipulation in order to get their hands on power and influence, manipulating both the leaders of rival provinces and their own allies to advance the interests of their family and their kingdom. Overall,Crusader Kings 3is a richly detailed look at all aspects of life in Middle Ages, warfare, and leadership.
