Shop for games

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.1 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 8 reviews

The Bottom Line: Rome: Total War is the very definition of an epic strategy game. Read review

Specs: Teen, Creative Assembly, Strategy, Real-Time Strategy, Historic, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.0 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Civilization V: Gods and Kings is an eminently worthwhile collection of big and small changes that enhance an already amazing game. Read review

Specs: Everyone 10 and older, Firaxis Games, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - turn based

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.8 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: If not for some of the glaring bugs in the retail version, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 would have been a truly excellent sequel to a beloved franchise. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Frontier Developments, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - tycoon, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Everyone, Cornelsen Software, Strategy, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 48 reviews

The Bottom Line: Spore merges multiple run-of-the-mill building blocks into a big, entertaining game. Read review

Specs: Everyone 10 and older, Maxis, Strategy, Miscellaneous - virtual life, Strategy / tactics / wargame - real time, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Games - strategy / tactics / wargame, Strategy / tactics / wargame - real time

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: This intriguing real-time strategy game overcomes its feeble campaign by encouraging a different approach to battlefield tactics. Read review

Specs: Teen, Eugen Systems, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - wargame, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Games - strategy / tactics / wargame, Strategy / tactics / wargame - turn based

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: RP, Paradox Interactive, Strategy

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: Though not as polished as it could have been, SimCity 4 is still a complex and detailed strategy game that can entertain you for hours on end. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Maxis, Strategy, City Bulding, Modern, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Incompetent artificial intelligence and some weak gameplay mechanics hamper what could have been an interesting real-time strategy take on the popular board game. Read review

Specs: Teen, TimeGate Studios, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - wargame, Historical, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: If you're new to the SimCity franchise, this package is a solid introduction. Read review

Specs: Everyone 10 and older, Maxis, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - city building

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.6 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Zero Hour fundamentally improves the core game, and it should ensure that Command & Conquer: Generals continues to be popular well into the next year. Read review

Specs: Teen, EA LA, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - real time

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: This stand-alone expansion modernizes Total War while remaining true to tradition. Read review

Specs: Teen, Creative Assembly, Strategy

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Red Alert 2 offers lots of challenges and variety for real-time strategy players of all skill levels, and it'll be particularly fun for fans of previous Command & Conquer games. Read review

Specs: Teen, Westwood Studios, Strategy, Real-Time Strategy, Sci-Fi, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.6 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Sims 2: Pets for the PSP might have been a decent port of the console versions, if it would've just stopped loading for a second. Read review

Specs: Teen, Maxis, Strategy, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Disgaea 3 does a lousy job of familiarizing you with its complex mechanics, but rewarding tactical depth and goofy humor make the learning curve worth climbing. Read review

Specs: Teen, Nippon Ichi Software, Strategy, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.5 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Tension runs high in the excellent XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Read review

Specs: Mature, Firaxis Games, Strategy, Action - first person shooter

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Teen, Slitherine, Strategy, 1-2 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Games - strategy / tactics / wargame, Strategy / tactics / wargame - entertainment park builder, Strategy / tactics / wargame - tycoon, Fantasy

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 31 reviews

The Bottom Line: Those looking for a complex and interesting real-time strategy game with fantastic good looks and some historical flavor will find just what they want in Age of Empires III. Read review

Specs: Teen, Ensemble Studios, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - real time, Historical, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.2 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 3 reviews

The Bottom Line: The Frozen Throne is an impressive expansion pack for a remarkably good game, and anyone who enjoyed Warcraft III needs to get it. Read review

Specs: Teen, Blizzard Entertainment, Strategy, Real-Time Strategy, Fantasy, 1-12 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.4 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: As befits its source material, The Battle for Middle-earth is a huge game, and there's a lot of great real-time strategy gameplay to be had in it. Read review

Specs: Teen, EA LA, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - real time, Fantasy

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Everyone, Ubisoft, Strategy, Miscellaneous - kids / children's games & entertainment, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.2 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Mark of Chaos captures the fantasy combat of the Warhammer franchise in a beautiful way, but it's marred by some technical issues and a basic strategic campaign. Read review

Specs: Mature, Black Hole Games, Strategy, 1-6 Players