GOTY 2011 Strategy

Strategy games by their very definition incorporate key decision-making aspects where skilful thinking and sound planning is required to achieve victory, or at least some form of completion. With that many titles lend themselves to the genre, whether it is sandbox-building, a construction and management simulator, or a tower defense come third-person shooter hybrid. Unsurprisingly all of these and more feature amongst our list of nominations, but there is one in particular that excels above all others in more ways than one.

Anno 2070  (PC)
The ideal game for those who enjoy building large cities with a focal point on ecology, and keeping a tight grip on the control of the economy of said metropolises. Undoubtedly the best and best-looking Anno game yet and a large stride in the right direction for the series.

Iron Brigade  (XBLA)
Another gem from the Xbox Live Arcade, with a steady mix of tower defense, action, and third-person shooting mechanics all meshed into one mother f-ing fun experience that works to such an extent that perhaps wouldn’t and shouldn’t on paper. Strategists with lightning reactions will prevail here.

Minecraft  (PC, iOS, And)
Have you ever wanted to build your very own world out of cubes? Well look no further than Minecraft, with more mind-boggling freedom than you’ll know what to do with. Seriously, this game is a wonderful technical achievement and if it doesn’t get your creative juices flowing then I don’t know what will.

Total War: Shogun 2  (PC)
The Total War series has given us many great titles over the years, right back to the original Total War: Shogun in 2000. This long awaited sequel had a lot of hype attached to it and thankfully has aptly delivered what is an exquisite turn-based strategy with real-time tactics.

Tropico 4  (360, PC)
What sets the Tropico games apart from others in its genre is the infusion of humour and the fact that it never takes itself too seriously. The fourth installment in particular has a great selection of options available to the user that sets it apart just enough for those with the previous iteration to plump for a purchase.

While officially released this year the game - if you can call it that - has already been played by millions across the globe through various development stages, which is a refreshing change to the ‘behind closed doors’ approach that many developers take. Even now it isn’t technically a finished product nor will it ever truly be, as creator Markus Persson has stated many times; users will see continuous improvements while interest remains. Minecraft is a hugely difficult game to sum up for many reasons and may be a little too open for some who like their games objective-based and with an overall target to reach, but here it is essentially what you make of it and that’s one of the biggest compliments you could give. Whether you only have a few moments to spend with it, or many hours, there’s no denying its mass appeal.

Game of the Year 2011