Click. Click. BOOM. Strategy games are the bedrock of PC gaming, capitalising on the addictive nature of amassing huge armies and wealth or constructing a sprawling metropolis from the comfort of your own chair. Strategy games run the full gamut from fast combat-focused competitive titles through to the ponderous thinking man’s city-builders, with everything in-between. Refining what works and expanding on something we have played before only gets a game so far, but nominees for the Best Strategy Award offer you something more.

Admittedly, we take a bit of artistic licence when we say that a lot of these things we’re giving awards to this year are essential, but the CPU is literally the be all and end all of any PC. Without one you’ve got yourself a very expensive metal box and with one you can have one of the best rigs going. Which is why we must group together and honour those CPUs that have blown us away this year. Whether through the sheer calculative power they hold, the mind-bogglingly innovative technology they’ve used or just a great price for what you get, these are our top picks for this year’s CPUs.

Select Award... Best Action Best Adventure Best Audio Best Children’s Game Best Co-op Best Comedy Best Console of 2017 Best CPU Best Developer Best Digital Sales Platform Best DLC/Expansion Best Early Access Best Fighting Game Best Free 2 Play Best Gamers Case Best Gaming Hardware Manufacturer Best Gaming Keyboard Best Graphics Hardware Best Handheld Gaming Phone Best Headset Best Horror Game Best Indie Best Innovators Best Laptop Best Management Best MOBA Best Mobile Game Best Monitor Best Motherboard Best Mouse Best Multiplayer Best Open World Best Original Game Best PC Builder EU Best PC Builder US Best PC Exclusive Best Platformer Best Post-Launch Support Best Publisher Best Racing Game Best Remaster Best RPG Best Sci-Fi Best Shooter Best Sim Best Sports Best Stealth Best Story Best Strategy Best Survival Best Visuals Best VR Experience Best VR Headset Game of the Year 2017 Most Anticipated Game 2018 Most Anticipated Hardware