Critical Moves - Strategy Gaming

Critical Moves Podcast

Critical Moves is a strategy games podcast that takes RTS, 4X, and tactics seriously. Most gaming podcasts don’t even bother with strategy games. We do. Each week we cover real-time strategy, turn-based tactics, 4X empire builders and indie experiments, plus shining a new light on old classics. These aren'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 and key industry figures, getting into the mechanics and design choices that shape the games we love. We're an RTS podcast, a 4X podcast, a place for smarter conversations about tactics and strategy gaming. Critical Moves is made for players who think about systems, mechanics, and design. New episodes every Friday. https://criticalmovespodcast.com

  1. 17 jul

    The Strategy Games That Defined the 1990s (Ep.90)

    Marking episode 90 with the only decade fitting for the number, Al is joined by Joe, Adam and Drexy to work through the strategy games of the 1990s and the genres they created. The conversation covers Sierra's city builders including Caesar 3 and Pharaoh, the birth of the RTS through Dune 2 and the Westwood versus Blizzard debate, the rise and eventual oversaturation of Command and Conquer clones, and how Starcraft's competitive scene in Korea gave it a longevity that outlasted Westwood's single player dominance. There's a proper detour into esports history, tracing a line from Quake through Starcraft and Counter-Strike to League of Legends and Dota, and a genuinely surprising story about Games Workshop turning down Blizzard's request for a Warhammer licence, a decision that arguably shaped Warcraft and eventually World of Warcraft. The group also covers the birth of 4X games with Civilization, Master of Magic and Master of Orion, god games through Populous and Megalomania, the console versus PC strategy divide, and closes with recommendations for which 90s strategy games are still worth playing today. https://dark-reign.net More from Critical Moves Podcast: Web: https://criticalmovespodcast.com Forum: https://criticalmovesforum.com Newsletter: https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com Spotify: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify Apple: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple Amazon: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon Discord: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves Critical Moves examines strategy games through weekly Friday episodes and Monday news updates. Six hosts across multiple continents analyze recent releases, forgotten classics, and industry developments without the typical podcast theatrics. We cover real-time strategy, 4X civilization builders, turn-based tactics, and hybrid games that blur genre boundaries.

    The Strategy Games That Defined the 1990s (Ep.90)
  2. 10 jul

    The RAM Apocalypse: Why Gaming Got So Expensive (And What To Do About It) (Ep.89)

    Al, Drexy, and Joe tackle a question hitting every strategy gamer's wallet: is modern gaming too expensive? From the RAM price surge and the Steam Machine's launch price to Civ 7's $70 tag and Football Manager delisting its own back catalogue, the panel breaks down where the real cost pressure is coming from, and argues the case for mods, indie studios, and simply not buying on day one. Topics covered: hardware price inflation, console pricing, AAA price increases adjusted for inflation, DLC-as-vehicle releases, indie studios outperforming AAA at the awards, mod culture as a cost-saving strategy, and the ethics of delisting older game versions. More from Critical Moves Podcast: Web: https://criticalmovespodcast.com Forum: https://criticalmovesforum.com Newsletter: https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com Spotify: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify Apple: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple Amazon: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon Discord: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves Critical Moves examines strategy games through weekly Friday episodes and Monday news updates. Six hosts across multiple continents analyze recent releases, forgotten classics, and industry developments without the typical podcast theatrics. We cover real-time strategy, 4X civilization builders, turn-based tactics, and hybrid games that blur genre boundaries.

    The RAM Apocalypse: Why Gaming Got So Expensive (And What To Do About It) (Ep.89)
  3. 26 jun

    Steam Summer Sale Must Buys (Ep.87)

    It's Steam Summer Sale time, and the Critical Moves crew has recommendations. Al, Jack, and Drexy each bring one game they'd recommend to listeners and one they're taking the plunge on themselves this sale. From alien plant invasions to pirate city building, classic RTS nostalgia to gridless town builders, there's something here for every corner of the strategy gaming world. Also: a quick word on the Sanctuary: Shattered Sun Kickstarter launching 14th July. Links below. Synergy: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1989070 Age of Empires II: https://store.steampowered.com/app/813780 Republic of Pirates: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2103470 Halo Wars: https://store.steampowered.com/app/459220 SpellForce: Conquest of Eo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1581770 Calyx: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3211850 Town to City: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3115220 X4: Foundations: https://store.steampowered.com/app/392160 Sanctuary: Shattered Sun Kickstarter: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/37b88887-7add-479a-a91f-47ecebdf9e5e/landing More from Critical Moves Podcast: Web: https://criticalmovespodcast.com Forum: https://criticalmovesforum.com Newsletter: https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com Spotify: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify Apple: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple Amazon: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon Discord: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves

    Steam Summer Sale Must Buys (Ep.87)
  4. 5 jun

    Firaxis in Crisis: Is Civ 7 a Disaster, a Success, or Both? (Ep.84)

    This week on Critical Moves, we welcome back co-founder Nuno — and introduce brand new host Drexy — for a deep dive into one of strategy gaming's biggest stories: Civilization 7 and the state of Firaxis. Jack defends the game he genuinely loves, the rest of us are less convinced, and we dig into what the numbers actually say about Civ 7's launch, the Test of Time update, Take-Two's financial crisis, and whether the studio that gave us Civ and XCOM still has a future. Also: someone was coughing in the menu music at launch. We are not making that up. More from Critical Moves Podcast: Web: https://criticalmovespodcast.com Forum: https://criticalmovesforum.com Newsletter: https://criticalmoves.beehiiv.com Spotify: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/spotify Apple: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/apple Amazon: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/amazon Discord: https://criticalmovespodcast.com/discord Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/criticalmovespodcast Twitter: https://twitter.com/CriticalMoves_ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/criticalmovespodcast Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalMoves Critical Moves examines strategy games through weekly Friday episodes and Monday news updates. Six hosts across multiple continents analyze recent releases, forgotten classics, and industry developments without the typical podcast theatrics. We cover real-time strategy, 4X civilization builders, turn-based tactics, and hybrid games that blur genre boundaries.

    Firaxis in Crisis: Is Civ 7 a Disaster, a Success, or Both? (Ep.84)

Acerca de

Critical Moves is a strategy games podcast that takes RTS, 4X, and tactics seriously. Most gaming podcasts don’t even bother with strategy games. We do. Each week we cover real-time strategy, turn-based tactics, 4X empire builders and indie experiments, plus shining a new light on old classics. These aren'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 and key industry figures, getting into the mechanics and design choices that shape the games we love. We're an RTS podcast, a 4X podcast, a place for smarter conversations about tactics and strategy gaming. Critical Moves is made for players who think about systems, mechanics, and design. New episodes every Friday. https://criticalmovespodcast.com

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