In a strategy game, you win because you think better, not because you roll better. There is no luck in chess, checkers or Connect Four, and the player who plans ahead usually wins.
These games work well on a screen because the computer can act as a patient opponent at several difficulty levels, and the board is always set up correctly. You can also play against a friend by passing the device back and forth.
If you are new to strategy games, our guides explain the basic ideas, such as controlling the centre in chess and building threats in Connect Four. A few simple principles go a long way.
How to get started
- Ask what your opponent is threatening before every move.
- Control the centre of the board.
- Review your losses to find the move where things went wrong.
All strategy games (3)
What each game is about
- Tic Tac Toe — The classic three-in-a-row game with three ways to play: an unbeatable computer, two players on one phone, or online with a friend using a simple room code.
- Connect Four — Four in a row against a real minimax AI that looks several moves ahead. Three difficulties, undo, and a saved win record. Take the centre, watch for double threats.
- Turret Defense — Wave-based tower defence. Line the winding path with gun and frost turrets, upgrade them to level 3, and stop every wave before it breaches your base. Turrets target whatever is closest to getting through.
Guides for strategy games
Chess for Beginners: Opening Principles and Basic Tactics
The principles that make a chess opening work, the tactics every beginner should know, and a checklist to avoid the most common blunders.
StrategyCarrom Strategy for Beginners: Shots, Angles and Rules
A beginner-friendly guide to carrom: the board, the rules, how to aim and strike, and the shots that win games.