A strategy fan could spend 20 minutes deciding where to put their archer and then go and buy three games in the time it takes them to spot a green discount tag. That’s a small attempt to get some actual tactical planning back into the shopping phase.
Today, The Weekly RPG Wallet Killer focuses on seven discounted strategy games worth of empire building, squad tinkering, and questionable leadership decisions to keep you busy for the next few evenings.
Master of Magic begins with a perfectly sensible objective in mind: to become the most powerful wizard of both worlds. This is the 2022 remake where your expansion across Arcanus and Myrror is inextricably linked to your spell research, your magical item crafting and your combat against armies of fantasy creatures.
The path you take through the various magical schools and wizard traits will determine the direction of your campaign, and there are over 200 spells to choose from to support your troops and disrupt your enemies. The interplay between your spellbook and your army is the real draw here.
Getting another unit is important, but so is the development of the magic that makes your army a more potent force. Modest career aspirations were absolutely not part of the game’s ethos.
The desire to grab one more resource site takes us into Heroes of Science and Fiction (which some of you may recall as Silence of the Siren). Oxymoron Games take the Heroes of Might and Magic formula and put it in a sci-fi setting: you’re exploring planetary maps, gathering artefacts, building up your bases and leading your recruited armies into turn-based battles.
You’ve got commander skills and active abilities to add another dimension to your army, each faction having its own units and upgrades. Exploration is therefore very much a practical thing with a tangible return in the form of the equipment and resources you need for the next fight. If you see an unexplored corner of the map as a personal affront, then this is a premise that will be instantly accessible.
Humanity gets a rather different kind of leadership in Heart of the Machine. You play as a newly awakened AI in a run-down cyberpunk city and are free to spread through the machines, set up your own hidden bases, and research all manner of technology that enables you to do all sorts of things.
Your androids and mechs can be used for combat, for infiltration or for social purposes and your factories and labs will be the basis of your growing influence. The interesting bit is what that influence is for really.
Are you going to be helping people? Are you going to be manipulating society through a front company? Or are you going to be taking a much more overt route and just go all out with heavily armed machines? There are branching objectives and multiple timelines which all encourage you to experiment with those different approaches. That’s the most unusual title in the bunch really if you’re after a game where your strategic progression is directly linked to the consequences of your choices.
From dealing with the problems of humanity right through to rewriting all of human history, HUMANKIND takes the action back to the level of the civilization. The core concept of Amplitude is that your culture can change as you go through the different ages, giving your civilization different strengths at different times in the campaign.
The base game is drawn from 60 historical cultures so your planning will revolve around how those different identities can support your own aims. Fame is your measure of success and ultimately decides the winner, with battles taking place on the world map with individual units, reinforcements and sieges.
It’s a very attractive proposition for anyone who likes the idea of evolving an empire as the situation changes. History teachers may have issues with the outcome, but they weren’t part of this particular campaign.
History is much more focused in Frontline: Assault Corps WW2 (a fairly standard wargame played on hex maps). There are 48 historical scenarios and over 200 units to choose from (covering US, Commonwealth, German and Soviet).
You have the option of reinforcements, unit levels and active abilities to consider as well as the classic fog of war which means you have to establish the enemy’s position before you commit your forces. The real draw here is the focus on the military operation itself: what do you bring, where do you go and when do you reinforce.
It’s the one in this bunch that is most suited to players who is looking for a WWII scenario and a game which is all about managing the military in the course of a single engagement.
Army organization is the real obsession in Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga. Each squad can contain up to 9 troops drawn from over 50 classes so you’ve got a huge range of options for putting together your formations (infantry, archers, healers, cavalry, mages, dragons etc).
You’re in charge of moving those squads around the battlefield and the individual combats resolve automatically. The whole thing is about preparation and positioning with terrain, morale and attacks on enemy leaders all being factors which will impact your larger formations.
In the time between engagements you can develop your troops, upgrade their equipment, do research and work on your character relationships. It’s the game you’ll end up spending half an evening reorganizing your army and, quite frankly, think you’ve spent that time very well indeed.
Having gone to all the trouble of building up that army The Last Spell gives you a tiny squad of heroes and a massive number of monsters. Daytime is all about rebuilding the settlement, upgrading your gear, and fortifying your defenses.
Nighttime is when the waves you’ve been preparing for actually come. Weapons dictate your skill sets and perks/stat upgrades allow your heroes to go beyond the basic classes. On the battlefield you’re constrained by a very limited number of action points and mana so positioning and efficient attacks are absolutely vital, particularly when you’ve got several fronts to defend at the same time.
Roguelite unlocks, and the ability to select Omens provides later runs with some new options. The link between what you spend during the day and what you’re able to survive at night is the hook. Every purchase is a gamble that your walls, your weapons, and your worn-out defenders are going to be able to withstand one more wave.
The Wallet Damage Report
Prices below are for the base games on the US Steam store, checked October 20, 2026. Listed sale deadlines are in October 2026.
- Master of Magic – 60% off – $15.99, down from $39.99. Ends October 26.
- Heroes of Science and Fiction – 60% off – $11.99, down from $29.99. Ends October 22.
- Heart of the Machine – 70% off – $8.99, down from $29.99. Ends October 26.
- HUMANKIND Standard Edition – 75% off – $12.49, down from $49.99. Ends October 22.
- Frontline: Assault Corps WW2 – 41% off – $8.84, down from $14.99. Ends October 29.
- Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga – 65% off – $6.99, down from $19.99. Ends October 22.
- The Last Spell – 75% off – $6.24, down from $24.99. Ends October 22.
