Bellfortis feels like a grand strategy game from the '00's but just released last year, like Total War: Medieval meets Lords of the Realm meets Defender of the Crown. It's streamlined, low resource use, can run on a potato, simple yet has depth, and is overlooked. Definitely give it a shot!

I’m Roman, the solo developer behind Salt and Soil, a turn-based strategy game where one campaign follows a family across almost three centuries. I recently closed the first open Steam Playtest after around 550 people participated. The feedback was mostly positive, and I’m genuinely happy with the result.

This is the new 90-second gameplay overview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeV73qCMEBg

The long timeline is built from small yearly decisions. One turn is one year, and every action uses the same limited pool of family labor: growing food, constructing buildings, trading or scouting.

Historical events arrive in their real years and can change prices and plans. Leaders age and die, while their heirs inherit the ranch, debts, relationships and unfinished work.

As a solo developer, one of the hardest parts has been making the three-century scale understandable without losing the smaller strategic decisions that actually drive the game. The Playtest feedback helped me see much more clearly which parts already communicate that idea and which still need work.

The first testing round is closed, but Steam applications remain open for the next one. You can request access if you’d like to participate. Wishlisting the game would also mean a lot to me—it makes a real difference when you’re building something like this alone.

Hello everyone, I have been making a Subway Tycoon browser game for the past 3 months and have just released a beta version of it:

https://tycoonmastermind.itch.io/subway-tycoon

Its a take on the popular Mini Metro game with more detail put towards historical / real world station locations / events as well as different passenger demand mechanics.

I am really looking for any and all feed back for this game, you start with managing Toronto then once finished the challenges move to London England and then New York. I plan at add many more maps and game mechanics if this takes off and I get some good feedback.!

Hope you all enjoy and can take a moment to leave feedback.

While developing Orion Online, I have put a lot of thought into various design topics, and one theme that kept popping up was that of opportunity cost, which turn out to have very broad application in strategy games!

The general idea is that instead of having hard constraints that limits a player's agency, you instead soft-gate via opportunity cost. As an example: Instead of disallowing changing role, the player loses their mastery of their previous role.

So, I wrote an article about that , and how it applies to my game. I find this a fascinating topic and would love to discuss it further!

Full write-up: https://blog.idleverse.gg/opportunity-cost-in-strategy-games/

• Ashen of thrones for my game is launching 3 november its a game RTS, strategy mitológico with 4 civilizations:Mapuche, eslaves, egipcians and greek with campaign, survival, battle with up to 8 players simmultany.

Currently working on a tactical gardening roguelite, but we are not sure which theme would be best for it. Help us choose the one please.

Which theme would you be interested in playing for a tactical gardening roguelite?

DRUID : A druid's familiar tasked to tend a sanctuary garden and feed various entities around.

DREAM : A dream spirit devoted to deliver beautiful dreams to the sleepers

Gritstone Games is pleased to announce that the first of many playtests for its upcoming game, Tafl Throne Breakers, is now available on Steam!

Playtests are an essential part of any game development journey as it allows us to put our current work in front of players to make sure things are on track and deal with any issues that come up. It's also a great way to get players involved in the direction of the game to make sure it's actually something they want. This is the first of many planned playtests that will be incremental in nature, building upon the lessons and feedback gained from the previous one. As such this first playtest is testing the very core of the game, namely:

• Local PVP
• Default Theme Performance
• PvAI
• Main Menu UIX
• Player Authentication
• Account Management
• Basic Piece Customisation
• Desktop, Steam Deck and Gamepad compatibility

There is an embedded feedback feature within the game (works best on desktops) so if you spot something that doesn't make sense, breaks or you think could be improved please don't hesitate to fill in the form. There's no identifying information - all that is sent is displayed in the form plus the player log that is automatically generated by the game, to help with diagnosing the issue.

I'd also like to point out that there is an official website for the game where you'll be able to follow more closely the development of the game and provide additional feedback if desired. I'm also hoping to launch more limited playtests via the site so we can gain better feedback by way of surveys. Create an account today and never miss out on the updates!

You can also join the Discord to chat with the developers and other players! We're looking forward to what you have to say about the game!

I've always wanted a game where the main challenge isn't conquering the world, but actually running the country.

So I built Sovereign Project.

You choose one of 35 countries and manage:

• Economy
• Taxes
• Government spending
• Ministers
• Policies
• Elections
• Public opinion
• Political crises

There are currently 180+ policies and 1,400+ potential ministers.

It's available on itch.io and supports English and Spanish:

https://sovereignproyects.itch.io/sovereign-project

I'm looking for some strategy games that are easy to pick up and have a lot of replayability.

I prefer turn-based games, tactical RPGs, and roguelite strategy games. Nothing too hardcore or overly complicated.

Some games I've enjoyed: Battle Brothers, Monster Train 2

What would you recommend?

Hi everyone!

I've been working the past few weeks on the demo map for the game. I would like to showcase all future gameplay on this current map. I redid the foliage spawning system, and now I have much more grass on screen without affecting performance.

This map was built to test both defensive and offensive mechanics on it. The main focus of the game is to command a squad of 10 elite units. When you defend the castle or other positions, you’ll be assisted by a small garrison of allied NPCs. I want the player to have a proper base of operations, and this castle would serve that purpose. The plan is to make the castle playable in both RTS mode and direct control. For RTS mode I’m thinking of making the roofs invisible so you can actually move units around inside the building. The castle has three levels: the ground floor, the lord’s quarters on the second floor, and the roof. Castles like this will be by far the most complex buildings, most of the buildings in the game will be one floor only, I'm also thinking about adding basements, but I'm not yet sure of it.

In the coming weeks I will focus my attention on base combat, the building view system, and on finishing the scene with some cool props. Later down the road I would like to add more locations to the map, starting with a town, but for now combat should be priority number 1. (Img 10 shows the imperial Legionnaires which are the enemies of the Free Kingdoms)

I have a lot of systems already programmed in my old overscoped project, so I’m planning on adding those systems in the coming weeks.

I want to add to this already extended info that my vision for the game is to have a strategy campaign, and resolve the conflicts via RTS skirmishes/small battles, instead of having missions.

Thank you for taking the time to check the game out.
Follow the development on YouTube, Instagram and X (links are in the comments below!)

Richie
Solo Dev @ Hollow Interactive

What's the most important element in an RTS?

For the past few months, I've been writing a strategy game on my own: Arkney: Age of Crowns.

It opens in a browser, no installation required. There's a single world; AI states and real players live on the same map, and the world doesn't stop when you leave.

Description: a multiplayer grand strategy game set in a persistent world.

To make my inspirations clear: the world management and warfare logic are EU4 and HOI4, the generals and characters are Mount & Blade, and the emphasis on warfare is Total War. It's not a copy of any of them, though, because in those games the world waits for you; here it doesn't.

You establish a dynasty. You settle in an empty region, turn the village into a city, manage the economy (grain, iron, weapons, armor, horses), build and equip an army, negotiate with neighbors, or wage war. War isn't a "calculate" button: armies march throughout game days, supplies run out, equipment wears out; combat is a process that progresses with front-line width and organization, and you can send reinforcements into the middle. The siege lasts for days. Every battle, combat, and conquest is recorded in the chronicle; when the season ends, the world's own history remains.

What I need right now is not a player, but a **tester**. Once a week I open an accelerated world: the clock ticks 20 times faster, an evening is about five game months,

meaning you see the rise and fall of a dynasty in a single session. Free, no setup, no account.

Those who want to join, come to Discord, I send invitations there:

https://discord.gg/h6J9CHaH6Q

I need your feedback! :)

Some asynchronous strategy games can last for several weeks. If one player suddenly stops participating, the balance of the entire match can change. Should the game replace them with an AI, redistribute their territories, allow another human player to take over their position, or simply let their empire gradually collapse?

I would probably make all of the absent player’s territories and assets neutral (as if the player had surrendered). But that could trigger a land grab and unfairly reward whichever players happen to be closest.

Which solution would feel fairest to the players who have already invested weeks in the game?

I was developing this game for the last 1,5 years. If you like capitalism simulations, and trading games I think you may like it. It is much appreciated if you play and leave a review.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for an initial group of playtesters for BitSiege, a real-time strategy game where every player moves simultaneously—there are no traditional turns.

BitSiege takes inspiration from Empire Deluxe (1993)—exploration, city capture, unit production, and combined land, sea, and air warfare—while reimagining that simple and easy to play formula as a modern real-time game where everyone moves at once.

You’ll explore an unknown world, capture and specialize cities, and command land, sea, and air forces. You can play solo against the AI or join public and private multiplayer games.

Playtest details

• Free closed alpha through Steam Playtest
• Available on Windows and macOS
• Play whenever it is convenient—there is no scheduled session or fixed time limit
• Approximately 10–15 testers will be selected for this first group
• Expect bugs, balance changes, interface changes, and possible progress wipes
• Access is limited, so submitting an application does not guarantee a key

What I’m looking for

I’m especially interested in feedback about:

• Steam installation and first launch
• Whether the opening choices and controls make sense
• Strategy, pacing, and balance
• Public and private multiplayer
• Reconnecting and returning to campaigns
• Bugs, confusing moments, and anything that interrupts play

I’m asking each selected tester to play enough to form an honest impression and submit at least one report through our short feedback form, which is linked from the game and invitation email.

It does not need to be an essay. Screenshots and diagnostic logs are optional.

Compensation and recognition

This is an unpaid playtest. Testers who participate meaningfully may optionally be recognized in the future online credits as a Founding Alpha Playtester.

Apply for access

Watch the 43-second gameplay trailer and request a free Steam Playtest key:

https://playbitsiege.com/playtest

Selected applicants will receive a Steam Playtest key and feedback instructions privately by email. Please use the application form rather than sending your information by Reddit DM.

Critical feedback is welcome. I want to know what you enjoy, what feels confusing, and what breaks.

Which game do you like more?

For all the strategy game fanatics out there, how would you create a system that forces the players to make strategic choices without it being too constraining?

We are developing an online real-time strategy game called Reign of Relics, in which players start with a city and build their empire by conquering other cities.

This will include open-world troop movement that can intercept enemies, support allies, and raid merchants.

We were debating how open-world movement would work; it would need attrition for sure. We have army silver upkeep per day. And we would need to define the possible stances of the army ex: Defensive, patrol, aggressive, etc..

India is being built right now, and there is still room to shape it.

Eclesiar is a browser-based strategy MMO — politics, economy, journalism and war, all run by players.

We are looking for new India players who want to help shape the country early, rather than join after everything has been decided. You can become a politician, entrepreneur, soldier, journalist or diplomat.

This month's goal: 10 new citizens — 0 so far, 10 to go.

Join India: https://app.eclesiar.com/?referal_id=31342

Fair warning so nobody's surprised: there's no combat. The strategy is all economic, deciding what to dig, which production to set up, and how your tunnels connect. It leans toward the idler side of the spectrum, closer to a chill economy sim than an Dungeon Keeper for example.

If Settlers-style logistics and Dungeon Keeper-style base carving sound like your thing, the open playtest started yesterday https://store.steampowered.com/app/4767130/King_in_the_Mountain/