Strategy games were aplenty this past year. You can’t go wrong with any of the runner-up games.

Best Strategy Game of 2005:

Black and White 2 - The chance to be a God…who doesn’t want to take a shot at manipulating your own society? With your people worshiping you, your Godly powers, and your pet by your side you can choose to be benevolent or just downright evil. Literally anything you can think of to do to a society is in this game. Tops in it’s class. (9.5/10)

Runners-Up:

Civilzation 4 (8.8/10), Empire Earth 2 (8.2/10), Age of Empires 3 (8.8/10)

Worst Strategy Game of 2005:

Stronghold 2 - I was a big fan of the first game, yet the sequel could not seem to outdue it’s very elderly counterpart. Bad graphics, boring gameplay, and a steep learning curve make this an unattractive buy. (6.0/10)

Runner-Up:

Diplomacy (6.2/10)

Best Strategy Game of 2005 Nobody Played:

Earth 2160 - Think Civilzation 4 in the distant future. Great innovation with futuristic technology and its effects on a futuristic society which you control and manipulate. (7.9/10)