by Levi Ritchie

Created on: May 27, 2008   Last Updated: August 19, 2011

Video games are commonly associated with mindless violence and unintelligent gore-fests. There are some games, though, that break the violent stereotypes commonly associated with gaming and present an intellectual challenge. Different people enjoy different kinds of strategy games. Listed here are some of the finest real time strategy games available on the market. Included are descriptions of the games, so that you can find the game that is right for you.

1. World in Conflict

If you are seeking a simple military-style strategy game, World in Conflict's team-based strategy will put a smile on your face. The game's setting is a theoretical early '90s world where the Cold War never ended. As such, expect some classic military warfare with little in terms of science-fiction weaponry. Online games split players into two teams. When a player joins a team, he chooses one of four divisions to control: Infantry, Armor, Air, and Support. The 4 divisions play very differently, but the player is never required to control more than a handful of units. As such, the online game is very friendly to new players. You are able to learn the game without immediately losing, and you can enjoy lengthy games regardless of your skill level or experience.

World in Conflict is available to buy at various electronic and game stores. A demo of the game, along with system requirements, can be found here: http://www.worldinconflict.com/splash/index.html

2. Starcraft: Brood War

Starcraft is a (roughly) 10 year old game by renowned developers Blizzard Entertainment. Don't let the game's age fool you. It is quite a complex and engaging strategy game. There are three drastically different races to choose from when playing: The Zerg, a race of mutant beasts, The Protoss, a race of advanced aliens, and the Terran, a race of humans. Each faction has it's own strengths and weaknesses, and most players eventually decide on a single race that they most prefer. Even 10 years after the release of the game, the online community is still thriving. Be warned that if you want to play this game online, you must be prepared for a very severe difficulty curve. Many online gamers have been playing for years, and even the weaker players online are likely to give you a beating. Starcraft is an ideal strategy game for a player looking for a challenge.

Starcraft (and its expansion, Brood War) can be bought at a very cheap price in a bundle at most retail and electronic stores. Look for a large box titled "Starcraft Battle Chest". The game will run on virtually any currently existing home PC. Starcraft will also run on Macintosh hardware.

3. Supreme Commander

Chris Taylor's Supreme Commander, based on an older strategy game titled "Total Annihilation," allows the player to create massive robotic armies and control them from a massive perspective. The online community, while not as large as that of Starcraft, is usually friendly and helpful, and there are more than enough opportunities to get into a game. Supreme Commander requires a heavy level of multitasking. It is ideal for those looking to stretch the limits of their concentration. The games are typically around 20 minutes long, but can last over an hour. Three factions that all play similarly are available in the regular and online games.

Supreme Commander is available in most retail, electronic, and game stores. A standalone expansion is also available for the game, meaning that you may buy and play the expansion without owning the original game. Be warned, however, that the online features of the expansion pack are very limited unless you also own an original copy of the first Supreme Commander.

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