Strategos, a Promising Total War Competitor, Secures a Publisher

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Strategos is an upcoming real-time tactical strategy game set in classical antiquity, spanning nearly a thousand years of history, from the Persian Wars to the rise of the Sasanian Empire and its clashes with Rome. It was recently revealed that MicroProse will publish the game, which aims to simulate large-scale historical battles with a focus on authenticity and tabletop-inspired tactical mechanics.

Developed by a solo developer with support from contracted artists, Strategos differs from grand strategy titles like Total War by focusing on deep tactical combat rather than campaign management. The game is still in development with no official release date, but it’s already available to wishlist on Steam. It promises a detailed command system, over 120 factions, and more than 250 unique units.

Strategos immerses players in the ancient Mediterranean world, covering the period roughly from 500 BCE to 500 CE, including:

• The Persian Wars (Greek hoplites vs. Persian Immortals)
• The rise of the Hellenistic empires (the successors of Alexander the Great)
• The Punic Wars between Rome and Carthage
• Conflicts with Gallic, Germanic, and Iberian tribes
• The Late Roman era and wars against the Sasanian Empire

Battles feature thousands of soldiers on the field, each with individual movement and combat animations, though the outcome is resolved at the unit level using mechanics reminiscent of tabletop wargames. The advanced simulation models the challenges of ancient warfare, generals can issue orders, dispatch couriers, rally morale, or even fight personally, but units can also act independently, retreat, charge, or avoid combat based on morale and situational factors.