Top 10 Strategy Netbook Games [Updated: 09/01/12]

 Editor's Note: Hello again everyone, as you probably noticed there is a lack of news here. This because, since it's currently just me posting news and I still have an academic life to accomplish its really, really hard to post anything so you might not hear from me until I have time for this. With that said, on with the news.

Most of the modern student or even a professional doesn't have a laptop, this due to being heavy and the lack of battery life so its obvious that the choice is sometimes obvious in buying a notebook.

The notebooks themselves have little strength to work with so they aren't suitable to play modern games. Its just like your parents computer, only better.

What I mean is, old games are still tons of fun when the other option is either getting bored to death, or work non-stop and we all know that "all work and no play makes us gamers really cranky!".

For those who love RTS this is the TOP 10 Strategy Games you can play on your Notebook.

10. Pizza Connection 2

Comming in 10th place is our favorite, pizza restaurant managing Pizza Connection 2 (aka Pizza Tycoon 2). The game was severely underrated when it came out, but it's almost brilliant in it's complexity. In Campaign mode you are a regional manager of a important pizza enterprise and it is your task to make brilliant pizzas with the most exotic of ingredients (Grasshoppers, yuck!). Of course there is also obstacles in a form of a unscrupulous AI that wants to take you out, so it's either you or him! Mafia style. 

9. Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe

Coming in 9th place, is an oldie but a goody, now improved as well. The name at the time of its release was Transport Tycoon (later another sequel Transport Tycoon Deluxe) and at that time CDs were still in development so you had to make due with floppy disks. Yeah those old squared shaped things you still might have laying around in the dark recesses of your room. Anyway the objective of the game is to thrive as a multimillionaire transport company starting with nothing but a steamer train or slow wheeled transportation to spaceship-like design planes (In the year 2000ish!). The punch about this is that there is still a good bunch of people that developed the game better and with a more intuitive and challenging design and called it OTTD. You might want to check out in here. There are tons of modifications waiting for you (and some of them are really worth it) and if you want there is a online mode for the game.

8. Locomotion

In 8th place we have the sequel of a previously mentioned game (OTTD), Locomotion. The game sees a lot of improvements from its predecessor but also some bad moves by the creator and it's design team. The game has the same objective as OTTD, but its categorized with challenges ranging from Beginner to Challenging modes. Unfortunately there is no multiplayer, and its building design resembles of the next entry in our Top10. Still worth it for those who are seeking a more "graphics/fun ratio"

7. Anno 1503

Most of the people know that Anno is a brilliant series since its first release Anno 1602. The sequel Anno 1503 and it's expansion pack are in our number 7 spot, due to its improvements of 1602 and additions. In the campaign mode you are now a young entrepreneur who seeks fame and fortune in the form of building a gigantic and prosperous settlement but that's now all! You are also in an adventure through cold and dry environments and conspiracies in your own settlements.

6. Sierra Building Series

Every road leads to the number 6 in our Top 10 and Caesar, Pharaoh, Zeus and Emperor are all stuck in here. The games are much alike with a few improvements (and expansion packs) with each installment, and you will spend some time either trying to please the gods or preventing a Kraken to invade your settlement. Each game has it's own architecture and campaigns. It's worth every second you try to find a strategy for your settle to grow, to have an active and ripe agriculture and being the center of a commercial trade-route.

5. Roller Coaster Tycoon 

Screaming all the way on a roller-coaster is probably fun to watch, but sometimes in the minds of some deranged architect it looks more like torture. From the creator of Transport Tycoon Series and Locomotion, comes something that resembles Theme Park but with a twist (no pun intended!). The game is extremely fun to play, but sometimes gets downright hard and nerve breaking. This is for those who want to hear the screams of either joy or some random guy throwing up because he should have known better.

4. All Dosbox Games

Remember the titles such as Titus the Fox, Keen, or even Theme Hospital? Well if you have those laying around, some pretty decent folks created an emulation program (that might take a bit to learn or not) that lets you play the game on your Windows/Mac! Remembering the old days comes us in 4th place because there is nothing better like nostalgia. Don't have the games? No problem, head over to GOG, they are licensed to sell you the best of the past already with DOSBOX programmed and ready to go.

3. Command & Conquer Series

Comming in 3º and in our hearts is what defined strategy and massive armies, its the C&C series (for Netbooks only available to Red Alert 2 other's forward are either slow or not working) are known all over the world, you could probably scream NOD or Kane in the center of a mall and if you don't get arrested you might hear other people say it too (not advisable though!). The first games were truly original and fresh, and with its unfortunate demise at the hands of EA we now salute to the old games. C&C: Tiberian Dawn, Tiberian Sun and Firestorm Expansion Pack, Red Alert and Red Alert 2.

2.The Settlers Series  

Stranded in an island or fighting for your god thats whats it all about in Settlers taking out its most recent entries (from Settler V forward) the previous ones were all fun and balanced. The objective of the game (depending on what installment your playing) is to win through economic or decimation of the other civilization, you also have an outstanding campaign modes (Settlers III & IV) and trust me that these games are a nut to crack that will make you bang your head multiple times thinking of that wasted time you just spend only to die in such a way .The game makes a 2º place in our list just because, we all know that the settlers pick their noses when your not seeing.

1. Starcraft

Come on! You just HAD to see this coming! Starcraft is whats it all about, the game itself is still played by tons of people for its epic story, extremely balanced multiplayer and downright fun to zerg down a terran base. Truly a 1º place in our top 10! If you haven't heard about it, I suggest you educate yourself quickly because your missing one of the biggest games around!

[28-05-2011] Update: Honorable Mention: Age of Empires series (From 1 to 2 including expansion packs)

Since there was a suprisingly number of e-mails concerning this particular game i'll add these series up here as an honorable mention. I didn't add these games for the simple purpose that, besides the game going faster then the speed of light on my netbook (I don't even know why), the multiplayer stagnated with time, unlike SC1 which only now shows little stagnation. But give it up for AoE series comming up as an honorable mention.

[09/01/2012] Update: Honorable Mention 2: Rome: Total War

Another comment on a great game, posted by an anonymous user, unfortunately, and here is what he says about the game:

Great military RTS game. Take turns with the computer managing your empire, and then when you get into a battle, it goes into RTS mode where you control troops. Unlike its sequels (Medieval 2, Empire, Shogun), Rome employs a large amount of realism. It really is a one of a kind, you will not find another game using so much military strategy or even using the same gameplay mechanics. 

So that's our TOP10 (and Honorable Mentions) Strategy games for your Netbook! If you don't know how to buy them since you might be lacking a CD/DVD reader, be sure to check one of the online retailers that are currently in business. If you know of a game that works on a netbook perfectly and want to mention it, send us an e-mail or post something in our facebook or twitter account!

Remember! These games were tested in a Toshiba NB200 so be sure to check its specifications to compare with yours. This list is not based on any statistic, it's a personal opinion and should be treated as such. All photos are privilege of other gaming websites.