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Turn-based Strategy Games PC & TBS Amiga

This is an index to cRPG Blog commentary on turn-based strategy games and wargames on IBM PC MS-DOS, Windows and microcomputer platforms. The TBS games covered are historically significant computer games whose influence on gaming has been incalculable.

Indeed, the TBS genre is not only the high-point of 1990s Computer Game History, it is the high-point of computer-game history as a whole: the GOAT genre that can never be beaten.

In Liluran commentary TBS games occupy seven of 12 positions in the Hall of Fame (see sidebar).


Computerized turn-based strategy games have their origins in traditional wargames such as Empire and boardgames such as Risk.

Note that I am primarily concerned with PC TBS games and Amiga TBS games.

TBS games almost always feature avatar-anchorless screen-scrolling via clicking tiles or moving the cursor to the edge of the screen.

Turn-based System



As with cRPGs, the ultimate strategy computer games are turn-based in nature. That is, actions by both players and AIs are taken in discrete turns each of which can correspond to between two minutes or two decades, depending on the game (and sometimes also depending on the current game state).

As a rule, the player makes a series of moves, hits End Turn and then waits while the other player/s or AI makes their/its moves. [1]

Moves in TBS games include actions such as building, battling, exploring, researching and trading.

During an opponent's turn players may not intervene until their next turn. Indeed, in most TBS games players lose control of the game completely during an opponent's turn (they are locked out of the game). Only when it is the players turn again is control returned.

Unlike RTS games turn-based strategy games are meditative computer games that do not rely on quick reflexes. If one were to say "They play like Chess", that would be enough of an entry-level comparison.

[1] In Chess, releasing the hand from a Chesspiece is confirmation of End Turn. The player then waits while the opponent makes their turn.

Terraforming Turn-based Strategy Games


In turn-based strategy games terrain and its resources should be first and foremost in the mind. Terrain is the backbone of civilizations. Especially rivers. Civilizations were built around river drainage basins: The Cradle of Civilization (Euphrates, Tigris: Sumer of Mesopotamia).


Terraforming is the engineered modification of terrain, which can impact topography, weather and ecology.


The precursor to SMAC terraforming was Civ2's terrain transformation via Engineers, which are the god-unit of Civ games. In Civ2 the nature of some terrain squares aka tiles can be transformed from (for example) Mountains to Plains. That's right, in Civ2 one can literally level entire mountain ranges.

The chief object of terrain modification is to make a square suitable for mining or irrigation; to build a mine or a farm on the square in order to increase a settlement's production or harvest, thereby increasing wealth, military power and population.


TBS PC Games: Overview of Releases


Battleground PC Games



TalonSoft of the U.S.A. released their Battleground series of turn-based wargames for Windows 3.x/95 from 1995 to 1999.

  • Battleground 1: Bulge-Ardennes Windows PC TalonSoft Nov. 1995
  • Battleground 2: Gettysburg Windows PC TalonSoft Dec. 1995
  • Battleground 3: Waterloo Windows PC TalonSoft May 1996
  • Battleground 4: Shiloh Windows PC TalonSoft Jul. 1996
  • Battleground 5: Antietam Windows PC TalonSoft Nov. 1996
  • Battleground 6: Napoleon in Russia Windows PC TalonSoft May 1997
  • Battleground 7: Bull Run Windows PC TalonSoft May 1997
  • Battleground 8: Prelude to Waterloo Windows PC TalonSoft Sept. 1997
  • Battleground 9: Chickamauga Windows PC TalonSoft Jan. 1999

Civil War General PC Games



Impressions Games of the U.S.A. released the Civil War General turn-based wargames for Windows in 1996 and 1997.

  • Robert E. Lee: Civil War General Windows 95 Impressions Games Aug. 1996
  • Grant, Lee, Sherman: Civil War Generals 2 Windows 95 Impressions Games Oct. 1997

Great Battles PC Games



Erudite Software of the U.S.A. released their Great Battles series of turn-based wargames for Windows 95 from 1997 to 1999.

  • Great Battles of Alexander Windows PC Erudite Software Jun. 1997
  • Great Battles of Hannibal Windows PC Erudite Software Nov. 1997
  • Great Battles of Caesar Windows PC Erudite Software Mar. 1998
  • Great Battles Collector's Edition Windows PC Erudite Software Dec. 1998
  • North vs. South: Great American Civil War Windows PC Erudite Software Mar. 1999

Svea Rike PC Games



Target Games of Sweden released the Svea Rike series of turn-based strategy games in 1997 and 1998. Note that Svea Rike III (Europa Universalis) of 2000 and Crusader Kings of 2004 are RTwP, not turn-based.

  • Svea Rike Windows PC Target Games 1997
  • Svea Rike II Windows PC Target Games 1998

Panzer General PC Games


Strategic Simulations Inc. (SSI) of the U.S.A. released the Panzer General series of turn-based wargames from 1994 to 2000.

  • Panzer General PC DOS SSI Dec. 1994
  • Panzer General: Allied General Windows PC SSI Dec. 1995
  • Panzer General: Fantasy General PC DOS SSI Mar. 1996
  • Panzer General: Star General PC DOS Catware Dec. 1996
  • Panzer General: Pacific General Windows PC SSI Jul. 1997
  • Panzer General II Windows PC SSI Oct. 1997
  • Panzer General: People's General Windows PC SSI Sept. 1998
  • Panzer General 3D Assault Windows PC SSI Sept. 1999
  • Panzer General III: Scorched Earth Windows PC SSI Sept. 2000