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Critical Moves Podcast - Strategy Videogames

Critical Moves Podcast - Strategy Videogames

Written by: Critical Moves Podcast
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About this listen

Critical Moves is a strategy games podcast that takes RTS, 4X, and tactics seriously. Most gaming podcasts treat strategy games as an afterthought. We don’t. Every week we cover real-time strategy, turn-based tactics, 4X empire builders, indie experiments, and overlooked classics with long-form analysis and no wasted time.

This isn’t quick reviews or recycled talking points. It’s sharp criticism and honest discussion about strategy game design. If a game is shallow or broken, we’ll say so. If it does something clever, we’ll explain why it works. We talk to developers without the marketing filter, getting into the mechanics and design choices that actually shape the games.

If you want a RTS podcast, a 4X podcast, or a place for smarter conversations about tactics and strategy gaming, this is it. Critical Moves is made for players who think about systems, mechanics, and design—not just surface impressions.

New episodes every Friday.

https://criticalmovespodcast.com

Critical Moves 2024-2025
Science Fiction
Episodes
  • 300 Hours to Game in 2026: Empire Total War, Cities Skylines, and Dwarf Fortress (Ep.64)
    Jan 16 2026

    Most gamers over 40 get five hours a week to play games. That's 300 hours for the entire year. We picked strategy titles that work when you can only play in short bursts between work, family, and everything else competing for your time.

    Al recommends Empire: Total War for its blend of grand strategy and tactical battles, plus it runs on iPad. Jack argues for Cities: Skylines because you can jump back in after a week and know exactly where you left off. Joe champions Dwarf Fortress for its ant-farm gameplay and the ability to set small goals each session.

    We also cover Paradox's predatory move with Colossal Order, stripping Cities: Skylines from the original developer and relocating it to Ice Flake Studios in the same city. The plan appears designed to poach talent and kill the studio that built the franchise.

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    45 mins
  • Strategy Games Coming in 2026: Dawn of War 4, Total War 40K, Space Sims, and Indies (Ep.63)
    Jan 9 2026

    Jack, Al, and Sid go through strategy games shipping in 2026. Sanctuary Shattered Sun from the Supreme Commander lineage. Dawn of War 4 returning to classic RTS after Relic lost the license. Total War 40K launching with four factions, no confirmed fleet battles. Three space strategy indies trying different approaches: Falling Frontier's physics-based combat, Fragile Existence's solo dev survival angle, Beyond Astra's grand strategy focus. Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era already proved itself in the demo. Stronghold coming back.

    We question whether small teams can deliver on ambitious scopes, why King Art keeps releasing updates while others go silent, and what Total War 40K needs to do right given Warhammer Fantasy's foundation.

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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Strategy Gaming in 2026: What the Media Gets Wrong. Critical Moves Year in Review (Ep.62)
    Jan 2 2026

    The Critical Moves team reviews our first full year covering strategy gaming and explains why "the gaming industry is dying" headlines miss the point completely.

    We interviewed developers from Luke Hughes (Burden of Command) to Brandon Castile (Tempest Rising) to Thomas Vandenberg (Kingdom series). Covered games from solo developers and Xbox Game Studios teams. Went from zero listeners to half a million YouTube views in 14 months without spending money on advertising.

    The discussion covers why AAA layoffs do not equal industry collapse. How 100,000 copies sold can sustain an indie strategy studio. Why we rejected review codes for poor games instead of lying to our audience. What makes strategy gaming coverage different when you answer to listeners instead of publishers.

    Strategy gamers, indie developers, and anyone tired of gaming journalism that inflates scores and avoids criticism will find this conversation relevant.

    We turned down opportunities to compromise. We will continue doing that in 2026.

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    1 hr and 3 mins
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