Bad Guys, Evil Factions, and Moral Grey Areas in Strategy Games (Ep.78)

The Strategy Games That Defined the 1990s (Ep.90)

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. The conversation covers Sierra's city builders including Caesar 3 and Pharaoh, the birth of the RTS through Dune 2 and the Westwood versus Blizzard debate, the rise and eventual oversaturation of Command and Conquer clones, and how Starcraft's competitive scene in Korea gave it a longevity that outlasted Westwood's single player dominance. There's a proper detour into esports history, tracing a line from Quake through Starcraft and Counter-Strike to League of Legends and Dota, and a genuinely surprising story about Games Workshop turning down Blizzard's request for a Warhammer licence, a decision that arguably shaped Warcraft and eventually World of Warcraft. The group also covers the birth of 4X games with Civilization, Master of Magic and Master of Orion, god games through Populous and Megalomania, the console versus PC strategy divide, and closes with recommendations for which 90s strategy games are still worth playing today. https://dark-reign.net [https://dark-reign.net] More from Critical Moves Podcast: Web: https://criticalmovespodcast.com [https://criticalmovespodcast.com] Forum: https://criticalmovesforum.com [https://criticalmovesforum.com] Newsletter: https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com [https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com] Spotify: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify] Apple: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple] Amazon: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon] Discord: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast [https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast] Twitter: https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_ [https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast] Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves [https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves] Critical Moves examines strategy games through weekly Friday episodes and Monday news updates. Six hosts across multiple continents analyze recent releases, forgotten classics, and industry developments without the typical podcast theatrics. We cover real-time strategy, 4X civilization builders, turn-based tactics, and hybrid games that blur genre boundaries.

The RAM Apocalypse: Why Gaming Got So Expensive (And What To Do About It) (Ep.89)

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 7's $70 tag and Football Manager delisting its own back catalogue, the panel breaks down where the real cost pressure is coming from, and argues the case for mods, indie studios, and simply not buying on day one. Topics covered: hardware price inflation, console pricing, AAA price increases adjusted for inflation, DLC-as-vehicle releases, indie studios outperforming AAA at the awards, mod culture as a cost-saving strategy, and the ethics of delisting older game versions. More from Critical Moves Podcast: Web: https://criticalmovespodcast.com [https://criticalmovespodcast.com] Forum: https://criticalmovesforum.com [https://criticalmovesforum.com] Newsletter: https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com [https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com] Spotify: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify] Apple: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple] Amazon: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon] Discord: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast [https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast] Twitter: https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_ [https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast] Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves [https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves] Critical Moves examines strategy games through weekly Friday episodes and Monday news updates. Six hosts across multiple continents analyze recent releases, forgotten classics, and industry developments without the typical podcast theatrics. We cover real-time strategy, 4X civilization builders, turn-based tactics, and hybrid games that blur genre boundaries.

A Pile of Shame: Critical Moves Hosts Force Each Other's Backlog Games (Ep.88)

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 of them have played and forcing each other to give them a proper go (2-5 hours minimum) before reporting back. Adam gets handed Warhammer 40K: Gladius – Relics of War by Drexy and Terra Invicta by Joe, complete with a rundown of Gladius's brutal AI (built by a modder-turned-freelancer) and a full strategy briefing on playing Terra Invicta as the Initiative. Drexy is gifted Nova Lands by Adam and the original Mount & Blade (with the Prophecy of Pendor mod) by Joe. Joe gets Prison Architect and Warsim: The Realm of Aslona from Adam, plus a Shadow Run: Dragonfall pick from Drexy — with a shared, unplayed copy of Warsim becoming a running joke and unofficial group homework. Expect tangents on Zephon's end-game crisis problem, Terra Invicta's mid-patch Ukraine war update, and a Rock Paper Shotgun story about a Solium Infernum player who won a match he almost missed entirely.

Steam Summer Sale Must Buys (Ep.87)

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 plunge on themselves this sale. From alien plant invasions to pirate city building, classic RTS nostalgia to gridless town builders, there's something here for every corner of the strategy gaming world. Also: a quick word on the Sanctuary: Shattered Sun Kickstarter launching 14th July. Links below. Synergy: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1989070 [https://store.steampowered.com/app/1989070] Age of Empires II: https://store.steampowered.com/app/813780 [https://store.steampowered.com/app/813780] Republic of Pirates: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103470 [https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103470] Halo Wars: https://store.steampowered.com/app/459220 [https://store.steampowered.com/app/459220] SpellForce: Conquest of Eo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1581770 [https://store.steampowered.com/app/1581770] Calyx: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3211850 [https://store.steampowered.com/app/3211850] Town to City: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3115220 [https://store.steampowered.com/app/3115220] X4: Foundations: https://store.steampowered.com/app/392160 [https://store.steampowered.com/app/392160] Sanctuary: Shattered Sun Kickstarter: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/37b88887-7add-479a-a91f-47ecebdf9e5e/landing [https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/37b88887-7add-479a-a91f-47ecebdf9e5e/landing] More from Critical Moves Podcast: Web: https://criticalmovespodcast.com [https://criticalmovespodcast.com] Forum: https://criticalmovesforum.com [https://criticalmovesforum.com] Newsletter: https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com [https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com] Spotify: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify] Apple: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple] Amazon: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon] Discord: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord [https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast [https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast] Twitter: https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_ [https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast [https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast] Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves [https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves]

Upcoming Strategy Games We're Watching in 2026 (Ep.86)

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 team, two suspiciously similar space 4X games, and a medieval combat game that might finally give Mount & Blade some competition. Games covered: Stronghold 4, Star Wars Zero Company, Corsair Cove, Company of Heroes Anniversary Edition, Fragile Existence, Beyond Astra, Chronicles Medieval, Carthage Bellum Punicum, Grand Tactician Napoleonic Wars, Total Victory World in Conflict.