Summary
For some people, grinding in games is their worst nightmare, but for others, it is one of the unique pleasures all of gaming has to offer. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of putting in the hours and coming out the other side with incredible results, and strategy games are a surprising but delightful place for this to take place.
Most of these strategy games mix the normal genre rules with RPG mechanics, infusing the best of both worlds and hybridizing number-crunching into a more macro-scale conflict. That means, in these games, grinding matters, and it can be the difference between success and failure.
Darkest Dungeonis one of the most popular indie games ever released, partially because of its brutal difficulty and unique atmosphere, but also because of how it rewards careful thinking and meticulous preparation. Nothing makes a dive into the game’s various dungeons go sour more quickly than an unprepared and under-leveled party (though learning some tips and tricks in advance can help a lot).
That sometimes means that the player will need to adventure out into lower level dungeons to improve the level of their party for the future, or to find rare magic items that could make the difference when it comes to the final Darkest Dungeon of them all. EveryDarkest Dungeonplayer knows that if their time hasn’t been properly invested beforehand, they won’t stand a chance.
Fire Emblem’sreputation precedes it, andFire Emblem: Three Housesis a remarkable continuation of the long-running franchise that doubles down on its key characteristics. Taking place in Fodlan, a nation divided by three great nations, the player must decide which to fight for as a professor at Garreg Mach Monasterywhile avoiding, or actively pursuing, a wide range of romantic options.
However, if the player doesn’t complete the all-important auxiliary battles to grind for experience and levels, or spend activity points in the Training Grounds at the university, then they’ll be hard-pressed to succeed once some of the ridiculously tough battles arrive further down the line.
Released back in 1997 on thePS1 during the franchise’s heyday,Final Fantasy Tacticsis a legendary entry into the series that boasts a strong cult following to this day. That’s partly because of its great story, but its also because of its unique fusion of the traditionalFinal Fantasyjob system with turn-based strategy gameplay.
Most players of the game have fond (or sometimes not so fond) memories of Mandalia Plains, an early area renowned for grinding Job Points and XP, which is an absolute necessity for success later down the line. If players don’t grind, they can expect the difficulty spikes to be incredibly punishing.
Fans of theDisgaeaseries know the distinct pleasures and tribulations the franchise offers, particularly for hardcore strategy gamers. Known for its incredibly over-the-top damage numbers and extensive character customization,Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeanceis the platonic ideal of the entire franchise, even if itwould continue to evolve in fantastic ways for its sequel.
This game is perfect for gamers who like to grind out scores, because it is actively encouraged inDisgaea 5. Randomly generated dungeons in Item World encourage players to hit it over and over again to get the best gear and level their stats, while the post-game Carnage Dimension is designed for endless grinding to bring player characters into stratospheric damage-dealing territory.
WhileXCOM 2may not be the most sophisticated strategy game ever made, it is simply one of the best, and has introduced so many players to the world of strategy gaming. Taking place 20 years after the original 2012 reboot of the franchise,XCOM2 sees the player take control of a resistance faction attempting to dislodge the alien invaders from their position of global control.
XCOM 2is renowned for its perma-death mechanics, but it actively encourages the player to do missions to grind up their soldiers' gear and experience to make them into lethal killing machines. With a little bit of grinding,the player can assemble a fighting force that works together perfectly, but it does require patience and forethought.
