Best Value Strategy Games Under $40

The Strategy games on Steam games under $40 that deliver the most playtime per dollar: median reviewer hours divided by current price.

All Indie Action Adventure Simulation RPG Strategy Co-op Open World Story Rich Casual Funny Survival Difficult Pixel Graphics PvP Horror Anime Puzzle Rogue-like Relaxing Turn-Based Strategy Local Co-Op Psychological Horror Hack and Slash Platformer MMO RTS Immersive Sim Post-apocalyptic Action Roguelike City Builder Life Sim Zombies Sports Racing Survival Horror Stealth Bullet Hell Dungeon Crawler Visual Novel JRPG Deckbuilding Grand Strategy Cyberpunk Tower Defense Clicker Fighting Open World Survival Craft Boomer Shooter Colony Sim Farming Sim Cozy Auto Battler Cooking Twin Stick Shooter Metroidvania 4X Souls-like Dating Sim MMORPG

By price

Any priceUnder $5Under $10Under $20Under $40
Median reviewer playtime divided by price. Reviewers tend to sink more hours in than the average owner, so treat this as an optimistic estimate. Free games are excluded because there's no price to divide by.
  1. 1Black Desert108 h/$
  2. 2Don't Starve Together62 h/$
  3. 3Hearts of Iron IV39 h/$
  4. 4BidKing30 h/$
  5. 5shapez27 h/$
  6. 6CryoFall27 h/$
  7. 7Cookie Clicker23 h/$
  8. 8X4: Foundations20 h/$
  9. 9Foxhole19 h/$
  10. 10Victoria 317 h/$
  11. 11Banner of the Maid14 h/$
  12. 12Wall World14 h/$
  13. 13Slay the Spire13 h/$
  14. 14Football, Tactics & Glory13 h/$
  15. 15Rock 'N' Roll Defense12 h/$
  16. 16Sid Meier's Civilization III Complete12 h/$
  17. 17Dungeon of the ENDLESS11 h/$
  18. 18Total War: EMPIRE – Definitive Edition11 h/$
  19. 19Space Engineers11 h/$
  20. 20Loop Hero10 h/$
  21. 21最后的仙门 The last Practice Sect10 h/$
  22. 22Town of Salem10 h/$
  23. 23Rusty's Retirement10 h/$
  24. 24Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword9.9 h/$
  25. 25Mechabellum9.9 h/$
  26. 26Survivalist: Invisible Strain8.9 h/$
  27. 27Settlement Survival8.9 h/$
  28. 28The Dungeon Of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet Of Chaos8.7 h/$
  29. 29Monster Sanctuary8.4 h/$
  30. 30Orcs Must Die! 28.1 h/$
  31. 31Cities: Skylines7.5 h/$
  32. 32Punch Club7.4 h/$
  33. 33The Riftbreaker7.0 h/$
  34. 34Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition7.0 h/$
  35. 35RimWorld6.8 h/$
  36. 36Beholder6.7 h/$
  37. 37Age of History II6.7 h/$
  38. 38Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun6.7 h/$
  39. 39Niche - a genetics survival game6.6 h/$
  40. 40Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition6.6 h/$
  41. 41Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition6.5 h/$
  42. 42ENDLESS Space 26.4 h/$
  43. 43Total War: SHOGUN 26.4 h/$
  44. 44Victoria II6.4 h/$
  45. 45UBOAT6.3 h/$
  46. 46Factorio6.3 h/$
  47. 47Orcs Must Die!6.2 h/$
  48. 48Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition6.2 h/$
  49. 49TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children6.0 h/$
  50. 50Terraforming Mars5.9 h/$
  51. 51Dyson Sphere Program5.9 h/$
  52. 52Terra Invicta5.7 h/$
  53. 53Mindustry5.7 h/$
  54. 54觅长生5.7 h/$
  55. 55The Guild II Renaissance5.6 h/$
  56. 56Tavern Master5.6 h/$
  57. 57The Long Dark5.5 h/$
  58. 58Dragon Cliff5.3 h/$
  59. 59Rise of Nations: Extended Edition5.3 h/$
  60. 60From the Depths5.3 h/$
  61. 61Software Inc.5.2 h/$
  62. 62Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition5.1 h/$
  63. 63Halo Wars: Definitive Edition5.1 h/$
  64. 64Airport CEO5.1 h/$
  65. 65Rogue: Genesia5.1 h/$
  66. 66Arma 35.0 h/$
  67. 67Bloons TD 64.8 h/$
  68. 68Total War: NAPOLEON – Definitive Edition4.7 h/$
  69. 69Age of Empires: Definitive Edition4.7 h/$
  70. 70Talisman: Digital Classic Edition4.7 h/$
  71. 71Satisfactory4.6 h/$
  72. 72Sid Meier's Civilization V4.5 h/$
  73. 73Holdfast: Nations At War4.5 h/$
  74. 74Captain of Industry4.5 h/$
  75. 75Gordian Quest4.5 h/$
  76. 76Cauldron4.4 h/$
  77. 77Rusted Warfare - RTS4.4 h/$
  78. 78FTL: Faster Than Light4.4 h/$
  79. 79Age of Empires II (Retired)4.4 h/$
  80. 8020 Minutes Till Dawn4.3 h/$
  81. 81Football Manager 264.3 h/$
  82. 82Empyrion - Galactic Survival4.3 h/$
  83. 83Slay the Spire 24.3 h/$
  84. 84METAL SLUG ATTACK RELOADED4.2 h/$
  85. 85Hell Let Loose4.2 h/$
  86. 86ISLANDERS4.2 h/$
  87. 87Tower Dominion4.2 h/$
  88. 88河洛群俠傳 (Ho Tu Lo Shu ： The Books of Dragon)4.2 h/$
  89. 89Papa's Freezeria Deluxe4.2 h/$
  90. 90Cosmoteer: Starship Architect & Commander4.2 h/$
  91. 91Might & Magic: Heroes VI4.2 h/$
  92. 92Party Hard4.1 h/$
  93. 93Conan Exiles Enhanced4.1 h/$
  94. 94Wasteland 34.1 h/$
  95. 95Super Robot Wars 304.1 h/$
  96. 96Barotrauma4.1 h/$
  97. 97Across the Obelisk4.0 h/$
  98. 98XCOM: Enemy Unknown4.0 h/$
  99. 99The Scroll Of Taiwu4.0 h/$
  100. 100Worms Armageddon4.0 h/$

How the math works: we sample each game’s Steam reviewers, take the median of their total recorded playtime (lifetime hours, not hours at the time of review), and divide it by the game’s current price in your selected currency. Reviewers usually sink more hours in than the average owner, so the numbers run generous. Free games aren’t listed because there’s no price to divide by, and a game needs playtime data from at least 20 reviewers before it qualifies. All prices are Steam’s own regional prices, never exchange-rate conversions.