Technology research is a common thing in strategy and management games. Unlocking new buildings, gears, weapons, and overall bonuses is really fun. So, which games has the best technology research tree? Welcome to top 15.
Tech tree mechanic in gaming is to prevent player from building things too early. It’s just form of a gatekeeping. But I love it. Can’t think of another way to implement research to video games.
Technology research / tech tree stuff in gaming is also highly realistic. Just look at WW2, the one who developed the first nuclear bomb won. Same with Cold War, winner was the first one to reach the moon.
Games with most satisfying tech trees:
1. Stellaris
2. Hearts of Iron IV
3. Factorio
4. RimWorld
5. Age of Wonders 4
6. XCOM2
7. Civilization 6
8. Old World
9. Oxygen Not Included
10. Stranded: Alien Dawn
11. Surviving Mars
12. Remnants of the Precursors
13. Traveller’s Rest
14. Northgard
Northgard is a casual RTS where you lead a Viking clan. It’s based on Norse mythology, pretty cool. I really enjoyed playing it both solo and co-op with my friends.
The game has The Knowledge tree also as known as Lore Tree. It’s the equivalent of research tree for Vikings.
Lore tree is divided into three trees. Sharp Axes, weaponsmith, and mining efficiency. All meaningful.
15. Plague Inc.
Let’s end this list with something ultra weird. Plague Inc is an outbreak simulation where you play as a virus.
Transmission, symptoms, and abilities have extended trees you need to unlock for destroying human population.
Transmission tree is for spreading, symptoms for killing, and abilities for surviving. Each research has an impact on the world. The goal is to wipe out humanity before the cure.
