Crusader Kings 2

Developer: Paradox Development Studios

Crusader Kings 3 might have replaced its older brother at the top of the Paradox pecking order, but if you’re looking for grand strategy on a budget, this is easily the best place to start. The base game, which puts you in charge of your own portion of medieval Europe, is now entirely free. If you want to expand upon that already excellent experience, the game’s huge number of DLC add-ons are now available via a subscription service that costs $4.99 a month, but even without all that extra content there’s hundreds of hours worth of diplomacy, warfare, and subterfuge on offer.