Critical Moves is a strategy games podcast that takes RTS, 4X, and tactics seriously. Most gaming podcasts don’t even bother with strategy games. We do. Each week we cover real-time strategy, turn-based tactics, 4X empire builders and indie experiments, plus shining a new light on old classics.These aren't quick reviews or recycled talking points. It’s sharp criticism and honest discussion about strategy game design. If a game is shallow or broken, we’ll say so. If it does something clever, we’ll explain why it works. We talk to developers and key industry figures, getting into the mechanic...
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Nov 13, 2026 · 59:15
Ashes of the Singularity II launched to mixed reviews, with many players complaining that its ten mission campaign is over in a couple of hours. That prompted this week’s…
Nov 6, 2026 · 43:15
Everyone has an origin story. In episode 106, Al is joined by Jack and Joe to talk about the games that first drew them into strategy, from Populous on the Mega Drive and Lords…
Oct 30, 2026 · 58:53
Does balance kill fun in strategy games? Al, Drexy and new co-host Rob, the former founder of eXplorminate, try to settle it. It starts with William Harms, who wrote the story…
Oct 23, 2026 · 59:53
For our two year anniversary and 104th episode, Nuno, Adam, Drexy and Al look at Steam NextFest and ask whether it has become Steam SlopFest. With over seven thousand demos,…
Oct 16, 2026 · 59:07
Anyone can now build and release a strategy game, but is that good for the genre? Al is joined by Jack, Adam and Drexy to debate whether free engines, asset packs and…
Oct 9, 2026 · 1:05:06
Drexy is joined by Dastactic to talk to Elliot Gibbs of Code Force, the designer and programmer of Distant Worlds. They cover how the series began as a side project, the thinking…
Oct 2, 2026 · 1:07:30
Al and Drexy talk to Dan, solo developer of Imperium, a spiritual successor to the 1995 cult classic Ascendancy. They cover the game's modular ship design, hybrid…
Sep 25, 2026 · 1:28:13
Critical Moves hits episode 100. To mark the milestone, Al is joined by regular co-hosts Drexy and Jack for a big debate on generative AI in game development, plus a special…
Sep 18, 2026 · 1:07:35
Jack hosts this week with Drexy and Joe as they run through a stack of strategy adjacent announcements from Gamescom and BlizzCon. Topics include Lego Skylines, Paradox's new…
Sep 11, 2026 · 46:11
Alejandro Nunez is building The Last General entirely alone: a massive scale RTS where you command thousands of troops with high level strategic orders, then jump into any tank,…
Sep 4, 2026 · 53:43
RTS isn't the genre it once was. Al is joined by Jack and Nuno to work through why real-time strategy fell off the map - the shift from PC to console, the rise of FPS, mobile and…
Aug 28, 2026 · 1:03:51
New face on the pod. Drexy joins us for the first proper sit-down — where he came from, how he got into strategy games, and why he reckons 4X is quietly dying on its feet. We get…
Aug 21, 2026 · 1:00:55
Jack and Adam dig into how strategy games model their economies — from Victoria 3's fully simulated supply and demand to Stellaris treating resources as a means to an end. Along…
Aug 14, 2026 · 52:28
Al is joined by Adam and Jack to work out how to build a strategy library on a budget, or for nothing at all. This one came straight from the Critical Moves Discord: community…
Aug 7, 2026 · 1:13:01
Jack, Adam and Nuno get into strategy simulations and war games: what separates a war game from an RTS or a turn-based strategy title, why so many people love the idea of them…
Jul 31, 2026 · 49:55
Tim and Adam step away from the screen this week to talk about strategy on the tabletop. It turns out board gaming and strategy gaming sit right next to each other, and the two…
Jul 24, 2026 · 1:25:45
Jack and Drexy are joined by nine2 and FoneE from Enhearten Media, the team behind Sanctuary: Shattered Sun, on the day their Kickstarter and free demo finally go live. This is a…
Jul 17, 2026 · 55:35
Marking episode 90 with the only decade fitting for the number, Al is joined by Joe, Adam and Drexy to work through the strategy games of the 1990s and the genres they created.…
Jul 10, 2026 · 49:19
Al, Drexy, and Joe tackle a question hitting every strategy gamer's wallet: is modern gaming too expensive? From the RAM price surge and the Steam Machine's launch price to Civ…
Jul 3, 2026 · 50:42
Drexy hosts this week, joined by Adam and an early-rising Joe (5am and counting). The trio raid each other's Steam libraries for a "Pile of Shame" challenge, picking games none…
Jun 26, 2026 · 50:55
It's Steam Summer Sale time, and the Critical Moves crew has recommendations. Al, Jack, and Drexy each bring one game they'd recommend to listeners and one they're taking the…
Jun 19, 2026 · 55:25
Adam, Jack, and Drexy run through the strategy and tactics releases worth watching in 2026 — from Star Wars Zero Company to Stronghold 4, a pirate city builder from the Tropico…
Jun 12, 2026 · 54:35
This week on the Critical Moves Podcast, Al, Joe, Nuno, and Drexy dig into everything revealed so far about Total War: Warhammer 40,000. Fresh from the PC Gaming Show 2026…
Jun 5, 2026 · 1:06:06
This week on Critical Moves, we welcome back co-founder Nuno — and introduce brand new host Drexy — for a deep dive into one of strategy gaming's biggest stories: Civilization 7…
May 29, 2026 · 1:04:45
This week Jack and Al sit down with Matt, Creative Director at Saigon Dragon Studios, to talk about Space Tales — an early access RTS inspired by StarCraft, built by a Vietnamese…
May 22, 2026 · 54:48
Jack and Adam dive into Crusader Kings 3 — where it stands six years after release, what the DLCs have added, and whether it's worth picking up if you've never played a Paradox…
May 15, 2026 · 55:11
Al, Jack, and Joe dig into the Stellaris Season 10 announcement: the Nomads expansion arriving 15 June, the Willpower ethics rework coming Q4, four new scenario packs introducing…
May 8, 2026 · 1:08:24
Episode 80 is a community-led episode. Al is joined by Adam, Jack and Tim to work through fifteen listener questions submitted via the Critical Moves Discord, covering biggest…
May 1, 2026 · 54:53
Jack is joined by Tim and Joe for a full episode on Victoria 3. They cover how the game has changed since launch, what the Charters of Commerce and subsequent DLC updates have…
Apr 24, 2026 · 44:59
Al is joined by Adam and Joe to dig into the role of villains and evil factions in strategy games. The conversation covers standout bad guy characters including Arthas from…
Apr 17, 2026 · 40:50
Jack is joined by Timothy and Joe for a campfire session of war stories. Every strategy gamer has them: the run where everything clicked, the lucky seed, the moment the sandbox…
Apr 10, 2026 · 1:03:43
We're throwing you a curveball this week. Al, Jack, and Joe share the games they'd recommend to strategy gamers who want to step outside their comfort zone — covering classics,…
Apr 3, 2026 · 53:19
Al is joined by Adam and Jack to dig into the world of downloadable content — what makes a great DLC, what makes a cynical one, and how the industry has shifted from the era of…
Mar 27, 2026 · 57:34
Is the RTS genre dying, or is it on the verge of a real breakthrough? Tim and Al are joined by Perafilozof, one of YouTube's most dedicated RTS content creators, to dig into the…
Mar 20, 2026 · 1:13:39
Dr. Ben Angell returns to Critical Moves to lead a discussion on innovation in strategy games, the topic he chose when we interviewed him on his work for the Age of Empires 2…
Mar 13, 2026 · 42:23
It's Turnbased Thursday Fest week, and Al, Sid, and Jack are leaning in hard. This episode is a full deep dive into the turn-based genre: what makes it so compelling, why "just…
Mar 6, 2026 · 1:32:37
Chris McElligott-Park (Arcen Games) returns to Critical Moves to discuss the 1.0 full release of Heart of the Machine, launching March 6th via Hooded Horse. We dig into what…
Feb 27, 2026 · 53:52
Timothy, Jack, and Adam review their Steam Nextfest demo experiences across a wide range of strategy titles, from a god game that felt genuinely finished to an RTS sequel that…
Feb 20, 2026 · 48:51
Al is joined by Joe and space 4X expert Sid to trace the complete history of the space 4X genre — from its board game roots in 1974 through the golden age of Master of Orion, the…
Feb 13, 2026 · 1:00:11
Al, Jack, and Timothy examine Paradox Interactive's business practices, from their DLC-heavy approach to their handling of development studios. The conversation covers why…
Feb 6, 2026 · 57:41
Menace released into early access yesterday. We recorded this episode ten days beforehand having played the demo and knowing almost nothing about what the early access version…
Jan 30, 2026 · 1:23:44
Amir and Almog from Tri Arts Games talk about their RTS project Defcon Zero: Frontlines of Tomorrow. They worked for two years without pay on a tech demo that got them 12,000…
Jan 23, 2026 · 45:47
Terra Invicta just hit 1.0 after years in early access. It's a grand strategy game where you run a shadowy organization trying to control Earth's nations while aliens show up…
Jan 16, 2026 · 45:27
Most gamers over 40 get five hours a week to play games. That's 300 hours for the entire year. We picked strategy titles that work when you can only play in short bursts between…
Jan 9, 2026 · 1:10:59
Jack, Al, and Sid go through strategy games shipping in 2026. Sanctuary Shattered Sun from the Supreme Commander lineage. Dawn of War 4 returning to classic RTS after Relic lost…
Jan 2, 2026 · 1:02:38
The Critical Moves team reviews our first full year covering strategy gaming and explains why "the gaming industry is dying" headlines miss the point completely. We interviewed…
Dec 26, 2025 · 59:50
Our best games of 2025 are a DLC for a 2023 game, a DLC for a 2022 game, and a remaster of a 2004 game. That tells you everything about the state of strategy gaming this year.…
Dec 19, 2025 · 55:35
Creative Assembly announced Medieval 3 and Total War Warhammer 40K within two weeks. We break down what we know, what's missing, and whether the new Warcore engine can handle…
Dec 12, 2025 · 41:34
City builders split into subgenres that barely resemble each other. Cities Skylines focuses on traffic optimization and aesthetic building. Anno centres on island logistics and…
Dec 5, 2025 · 1:12:19
In this episode of Critical Moves, we sit down with Ben Angel, narrative lead and designer on the Age of Empires 2: Chronicles DLC campaigns. Ben shares fascinating insights into…
Nov 28, 2025 · 51:26
Does Anno 117: Pax Romana live up to the hype? Err... No. In this episode, Al (the Anno noob) got a chance to quiz Anno veteran Timothy on what the latest instalment of the…
Nov 21, 2025 · 1:23:04
Join hosts Jack and Adam as they sit down with Thomas Vandenberg, the visionary creator behind Kingdom Classic and Kingdom New Lands, for a deep dive into the evolution of…
Nov 14, 2025 · 53:10
Joe and Big Sid talk Football Manager from Championship Manager 01/02 to the FM26 disaster. Big Sid has been playing for 25 years. Joe started with FM12 and the San Marino…
Nov 7, 2025 · 1:00:19
Welcome back to Critical Moves! In this episode, hosts Jack and Adam welcome newest team member Sid to break down the Sudden Strike series - the World War II real-time tactics…
Oct 31, 2025 · 58:26
To celebrate the new year of Critical Moves Podcast, Al, Tim and Adam sat down to recommend a new game for the others to try. These were games that the others had never played…
Oct 24, 2025 · 54:41
Jack and Adam compare two modern revivals of strategy design: Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era and Endless Legend 2. We cover how HOMM OE modernises the classic loop, the…
Oct 17, 2025 · 1:08:25
Adam, Jack, and Tim dig into the October 2025 Steam Next Fest lineup. They highlight the most promising strategy titles, the ones to skip, and talk about how Steam’s visibility…
Oct 10, 2025 · 56:41
Nuno, Al, and Jack talk about how modern real-time strategy has changed — and improved. Dawn of War: Definitive Edition shows the strength of classic design, while new projects…
Oct 3, 2025 · 51:31
Al, Tim and Joe come together to discuss the future of the Total War franchise ahead of Creative Assembly's December announcement on what to anticipate next from the studio. With…
Sep 26, 2025 · 51:41
Asymmetry is one of the defining features of strategy games, but it’s also the source of endless arguments. Giving players different factions, units, or victory conditions…
Sep 19, 2025 · 1:06:06
In this episode we brought in Ricky and Drexy from eXplorminate to correct the mistakes we made in episode 41 on the state of 4X. The discussion pulls apart what separates 4X…
Sep 12, 2025 · 1:16:26
Beyond All Reason (BAR) is a free open-source real-time strategy game based on Total Annihilation. In this episode we interview community manager PtaQ and our very own Timothy.…
Sep 5, 2025 · 50:36
Community supported games are the reason classics like Age of Empires 2, Company of Heroes, and Heroes of Might and Magic 3 are still played decades after release. In this…
Aug 29, 2025 · 35:10
Dawn of War 4 exists! We talk about what we know and what we expect. The franchise has one good game, one mediocre sequel, and one disaster. Dawn of War 3 killed the series for…
Aug 22, 2025 · 1:06:35
What does long-term survival look like for an indie strategy studio? In Part 2 of our interview, Chris McElligott-Park talks about: – Sustaining Arcen Games through shifting…
Aug 15, 2025 · 1:02:40
What does it take to make a critically acclaimed strategy game? Chris McElligott-Park, designer of Heart of the Machine, joins the Critical Moves team to talk through: – How…
Aug 8, 2025 · 50:42
We try to avoid Stellaris. We really do. But if you're talking about the state of 4X games in 2025, it keeps dragging you back. Al, Joe, and Tim take stock of a genre that’s…
Aug 1, 2025 · 48:23
We talk to Matt, the solo developer behind Fungal Front — a hard sci-fi real-time strategy game set on a hostile alien planet. In this interview, we cover what makes the game…
Jul 25, 2025 · 45:54
How important is narrative in strategy games and what kind of story actually works? In Episode 39 of Critical Moves, Adam, Jack, and Al dig into the role of storytelling in the…
Jul 18, 2025 · 45:08
Before Olden Era, there was Heroes of Might and Magic, the series that defined turn-based strategy for an entire generation. In this episode, we unpack what made HoMM so…
Jul 11, 2025 · 44:50
Why are strategy game tutorials so bad and who’s fixing it? In Episode 41 of Critical Moves, we’re joined by Joe from Example of Play to talk about the gap between what strategy…
Jul 4, 2025 · 54:38
Can indie strategy games do what big studios won’t... or can’t? In Episode 36 of Critical Moves, we highlight the independent titles that impressed us, surprised us, and in some…
Jun 27, 2025 · 1:02:24
What separates a good strategy game from a great one? And what does it actually take to earn “Game of the Year” in a genre built on complexity, depth, and replayability? In…
Jun 20, 2025 · 47:58
When did the best RTS games get made and why have we seen nothing like them since? Let's take a look back at the golden age of real-time strategy. From peak base-building to…
Jun 13, 2025 · 1:32:05
What does it take to build a strategy game that stands out in a crowded genre? Game developer Tatsu (Sanctuary: Shattered Sun, ZeroSpace, Ablight) joins us to break down the…
Jun 6, 2025 · 50:16
What’s the greatest World War II strategy game ever made and why do we keep coming back to this war? On the anniversary of D-Day, Nuno walks through the best WW2 strategy games…
May 30, 2025 · 36:11
Why do games like Victoria 3 , Anno 1800 , and Football Manager destroy your sleep schedule, and why are they so hard to quit? These are the strategy games that don’t just pull…
May 23, 2025 · 50:08
What’s the best Warhammer strategy game, and why do so many still miss the mark? With Warhammer Skulls in full swing, we dig into the long and messy history of Warhammer strategy…
May 16, 2025 · 37:16
What happens when Halo, Minecraft, and Gears of War try to become strategy games? Some franchises are built for action. Fast-paced, explosive, focused on moment-to-moment chaos.…
May 9, 2025 · 45:56
What’s keeping us hooked right now, and which strategy games are actually worth your time? We run through what we’re playing at the moment and why. From deep-space colony…
May 2, 2025 · 37:54
Is Star Wars finally getting a strategy game worth your time? Star Wars: Zero Company is set during the Clone Wars and aims to deliver the tactical experience fans have been…
Apr 25, 2025 · 55:23
What do you actually want to know about strategy games and about us? This episode is all Q&A, with questions from the community covering everything from our favourite mechanics…
Apr 18, 2025 · 1:13:57
Can a new RTS really bring back the feel of Command & Conquer? We talk to Brandon Casteel, lead designer on Tempest Rising, about building a modern RTS that doesn’t forget its…
Apr 11, 2025 · 44:01
Which is better, turn-based or real-time strategy? And why does it still divide players? This episode tackles the long-standing split at the heart of the genre. We look at how…
Apr 4, 2025 · 49:11
Is Broken Arrow the next great modern military RTS or just another missed opportunity? We take a close look at Broken Arrow , a large-scale strategy game built around real-world…
Mar 28, 2025 · 1:40:38
Can a game about leadership, ethics, and World War II actually be fun to play? We’re joined by Dr Luke Hughes, lead developer of Burden of Command , to talk about designing a…
Mar 21, 2025 · 46:40
Sick of Civilization VII already? Here’s what you should be playing instead. We skip the usual complaints and get straight into better options. This episode runs through strategy…
Mar 14, 2025 · 51:13
Is strategy gaming better alone or with others? And why does it matter more than people think? This episode tackles the divide between singleplayer and multiplayer strategy. We…
Mar 7, 2025 · 54:24
Which upcoming strategy games are actually worth your time? Fresh from Steam Next Fest, we talk through the strategy demos that stood out and the ones that didn’t. From grand…
Feb 28, 2025 · 38:31
Is Civilization 7 a true step forward or just Civ 6 with extra polish? Joe leads the review while Al pushes back with the tough questions. We break down what Civilization 7…
Feb 21, 2025 · 43:33
How did Civilization define an entire genre and why does it still matter today? We look back at the legacy of Sid Meier’s Civilization and how it shaped the 4X strategy genre.…
Feb 14, 2025 · 42:41
Why did AAA studios abandon real-time strategy—and is there any chance they’ll come back? RTS was once a major force in gaming. Now it’s mostly left to indie developers. In this…
Feb 7, 2025 · 46:58
What’s the best way to get into strategy games without getting overwhelmed? Strategy can be brutal if you start in the wrong place. In this episode, we look at which games…
Jan 31, 2025 · 49:29
What’s the best strategy, rush early or turtle up and wait? We break down the core playstyles that define RTS gameplay, from slow, methodical builds to fast, aggressive openings.…
Jan 24, 2025 · 44:02
What’s new in Stellaris and which RTS games should be on your radar right now? We start with a quick look at the Stellaris 4.0 update and what it means for the game’s long-term…
Jan 17, 2025 · 48:56
How did Paradox become the most influential name in grand strategy and is their approach still working? We take a close look at Paradox Interactive and the design choices that…
Jan 10, 2025 · 57:21
Why is Stellaris still the most ambitious grand strategy game out there? We take a full episode to break down what makes Stellaris stand out. From deep customisation to…
Jan 3, 2025 · 55:21
Can storytelling make a strategy game unforgettable or just get in the way? We take a hard look at how narrative shapes the strategy genre. Some games rely on written plots,…
Dec 27, 2024 · 1:02:25
Which upcoming strategy games could define 2025 and are they worth the wait? We look ahead at the most promising strategy releases on the horizon, from standout indie projects to…
Dec 20, 2024 · 50:48
Should strategy games make you think about right and wrong or just let you win? We examine how ethics and morality show up in strategy and wargames. From how Civilization and…
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