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Strategy game

arts Maturity 5-7 Next article →

A strategy game is a game of smart choices.

chess set
chess set

In these games, your own decisions are very important. They help decide if you win or lose. You must use your own thinking skills to make moves. This often means you need high situational awareness. You must pay close attention to everything happening around you. Most players use a type of thinking called a decision tree. This means you look at many different choices at once.

TSR's Divine Right Strategy Game
TSR's Divine Right Strategy Game

There are many different ways to play these games. Abstract strategy games are one kind. These games have rules that follow their own logic. They do not try to copy real life exactly. Games like Chess or Go are famous examples. Some games, like Backgammon, include a little bit of luck. Other games are called simulations. These try to act like real-world situations. They use rules that reflect real consequences. You can even find games that sit between these two types.

Kriegsspiel 1824
Kriegsspiel 1824

Many strategy games have a very long history. People played them in ancient Rome, Greece, and Egypt. The game of Go comes from China. It was mentioned in the writings of Confucius. Another old game is called Polis from Greece. It appeared in books around 450 BCE. The Royal Game of Ur is even older. It dates back to about 2500 BCE. Some people think Mancala might be the oldest game of all. This is because of very old boards found from 5000 BCE.

chess set
chess set

Chess is a very famous strategy game. It likely started in India around the sixth century CE. The game spread to the west through trade. It became a game of great skill and tactics. Players often have to think two or three moves ahead. This helps them keep up with their opponent. You can also play strategy games in teams. Contract bridge is a card game for two teams. Each team has two players working together. This can help people learn skills for business.

TSR's Divine Right Strategy Game
TSR's Divine Right Strategy Game

Some people play strategy games using wargames. These simulate big battles or entire wars. H. G. Wells said miniature wars are better than real ones. You can use tiny models of people and equipment. Some people use a board with cardboard pieces instead. There are also many video games for strategy. Some happen in real-time, which is called RTS. Others happen in turns, which is called TBS. Computers use artificial intelligence to act like a real person. This makes the game feel more alive and challenging.

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Kriegsspiel 1824.jpg
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