Cross-platform gaming is one of the truly brilliant inventions of the last few years, enabling gamers to open up their games on one console, then save and switch to another. It's begun the process of closing the gap between Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft and generally, we're absolutely here for it. There are a ton of games that are available to play across different platforms, including a good selection that falls under the strategy genre. This is our pick of the very best ones.

Chess

It wouldn't be a countdown of strategy games without the original strategist's dream. Chess has been around for centuries upon centuries, and the turn of the 21st century saw it become a cross-platform sensation. It's possible to play online on PC or Mac at chess.com, where you can take place in tournaments, play against an equally matched computer, or choose an opponent from around the world. You can also play on your smartphone too, making this the perfect game for those who are often on the move.

Civilization VI

Civilization VI was a long-awaited instalment in a beloved series. This game is available to play on PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo, Xbox, Android, and iOS, so it really does take cross-platform gaming to a whole new level. Whichever platform you're playing on, the aim of the game is simple, to rise through the ranks faster than the other civilizations on your map. You can do this by achieving one of four different victory types. One goal could be to launch a rocket, another to capture the capital cities of all the other players. It's a deeply strategic game and one that lovers of board games such as Risk will adore, as well as fans of one of our favourite games Anno, the city-building sim.

Poker

Whilst some strategy games demand hours and hours of your undivided attention, there are some strategy games that are much quicker to pick up and put down. Poker is one such game, and it's a good cross-platform choice because as well as being available on various websites, you can also play poker mobile as well. Starting off by learning your hand rankings is the best idea for beginners, after this, you can move on to some of the more complex strategy. We love this game because it's one that grows with you; the more you learn, the more you realize there is to find out.

Ticket to Ride

Ticket to Ride is a fascinating addition to the list because it's about as cross-platform as it gets. This game started off as a board game and still has a huge following as such, but it's now also available to play on Xbox, Playstation, Mac, Windows, and Android too. The game is a turn-based strategy game that asks players to complete as many train journeys as possible. They can decide what they think they're capable of and then spend their time either working on their own routes or ambushing other people's. Whilst the board game remains our favourite version, all the adaptations are worth playing too.