This year had a surplus of strategy games of all types, ranging from a sequel to the PS2 hit, Disgaea, to the next chapter in the Command & Conquer series, Red Alert 3. The Nintendo DS finally started to receive some love as well, finding Advanced Wars: Days of Ruin and Civilization Revolution hitting the system earlier in the year, while Ninjatown and Lock’s Quest blew away gamers in the winter months. Not only that, but the game hyped to be the be-all-end-all of the genre, Spore, finally was released, after what seems like an infinite development cycle. It seems that the main concept of strategy games in 2008 was accessibility, simplifying the genre known for its intricacies and complexities so that everyone can enjoy them.

However, despite there being considerable competition, one game truly stood apart from the rest.  In a year where simplifying strategy games became fashionable, one game raised the bar for complexity and depth, creating a strategy experience that no other title could match.

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