TOP 5 Impressive Indie Strategy Games of 2022

by Mike Alexander / Top Lists, Articles / 31 Jan 2022

You can never discount the creativity of an indie studio. These genre-bending development houses will always take a well-known formula and turn it on its head with brand new mechanics and gameplay that will surprise most gamers and inspire others to make the games that they wanted to play, but were never available. Especially in the strategy genre, a section of games that had become more or less stagnant over time due to lack of innovation, until games like Into the Breach came along and introduced something truly special.

Indie studios will always make the games they want, free from the overbearing producers that triple-A games have, whether it ultimately is successful or not. Because even if their product is not financially successful, they will know that it was the best product they could put out. Let’s see if there are any more upcoming indie strategy gems on the horizon with this list of the Top 5 Impressive Indie Strategy Games 2022.

Falling Frontier

Our first game is a sci-fi RTS being developed by Stutter Fox Studios: Falling Frontier. In Falling Frontier, you will lead a crew of brave men and women into the stars on a mission to fully explore and find materials in the void of space. This game features a focus on designing your own ship, engaging in recon of new areas for your exploits, all while managing the logistics of maintaining your crew and the supplies that are keeping everyone alive. The massive, procedurally generated star system you inhabit is your playground, and you will construct and upgrade important structures such as shipyards and supply depots to help you along the way. Use points gained to research new, helpful technologies in the form of ship and weapon upgrades. Experience combat in deep space with even deeper mechanics, such as real-time ricochet calculations and ship sub-system disabling. In this game, victory depends on your skill superiority, not who has the bigger guns. Lead your crew to victory when Falling Frontier releases on PC in the first half of 2022.

Terminator Dark Fate: Defiance

The Terminator franchise has been the inspiration for many different kinds of video games, but not many like the strategy game being made by developer Cats Who Play. Terminator Dark Fate: Defiance will have you playing as one of three factions: Founders, Legion, or the Resistance in missions that depict the Future Wars from the many films. Except in these battles, your greatest threat might not be the killer robots, as warring human factions can be just as ruthless as the cold steel that started the war. Recruit and train new soldiers for your cause, teach them special skills, equip them with armor and weapons, and do your best to use the best strategies at your disposal to keep them alive. With your limited resources, it will take every ounce of your available combat strategy to hope to make it out of this war alive. Fight the future when Terminator Dark Fate: Defiance releases in 2022 for PC.

Out There: Oceans of Time

Next, we have a brand new entry in the Out There series of narrative adventure games. This time, development studios Mi-Clos and Goblinz Studio have created a roguelike, space exploration, resource management, survival game that is sure to impress fans new and old. Explore entirely procedurally generated galaxies and uncover their secrets as well as discover the many new lifeforms that call them home. As you become acquainted with these new aliens, you will have the opportunity to gain allied nations in your battle against the Archon. From these alien races, you can recruit soldiers for your expedition group, using their individual knowledge and special skills to your advantage. Manage your crew, the ship you use to travel between galaxies and the systems that keep everything together to make sure your mission is successful. A branching narrative means that the decisions you make will affect the outcome of the story, so make sure every decision is calculated. Explore the outer reaches of space when Out There: Oceans of Time releases on PC on April 7th, 2022.

Astro Colony

Terad Games’ upcoming “endless simulation” looks to be another sci-fi strategy game indie lovers will want to keep an eye on. Their game, Astro Colony, is a game that focuses on exploration, automation, and management. As you explore an entire universe full of planets, scanning each one for valuable resources, you will be tasked with building a network of mining and transporting equipment. Use your best Factorio/Infinifactory skills in full 3D to build systems of conveyor belts to move materials from one place to another. Recruit new astronauts and make sure they are well taken care of so they can operate all of your heavy machinery. Research new technologies as you progress to increase your production, and once you have multiple planets optimized for peak production, connect those planets with conveyor belts of their own to share resources between them. But be warned, space is cruel and unforgiving, and all of your work could be gone in an instant if a black hole occurs. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst when Astro Colony releases on PC in the second half of 2022.

Stargate: Timekeepers

The final game on this list is one that takes place in the universe of the very popular sci-fi TV show, Stargate: SG-1. CreativeForge’s Stargate: Timekeepers is an RTS set in the same continuity as season 7 of the series, making it canon and a must-play for Stargate fans. In it, you will untangle a mysterious time loop through the use of careful strategy and thoughtful use of your team members’ abilities. Through 14 story missions, you will fight well-known Stargate enemies like Jaffa Generals, Kull Warriors, and Moloc’s Officers, as well as brand new, original enemies. Use tactical mode to perfectly sync your team’s actions in combat against these worthy foes. Stargate: Timekeepers will be available in 2022 for PC.

Mike Alexander

Mike has been playing video games since he was able to hold a controller, having been fascinated by Sonic 2 on his mom’s Sega Genesis. That fascination and passion for the art form has grown exponentially nearly 30 years later, and he doesn’t see that fading away anytime soon.

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