Re: Game Drought

On Fri, 1 Nov 2024 11:42:39 -0000 (UTC), Samuel Söderberg
<samuel@samuelsoderberg.se> wrote:

I have played my strategy games for too long.
>
Age of Empires Online (the fans are keeping it alive)
Company of Heroes 3
Supreme Commander 2
Civilization VI
>
There is a Men of War II out, but the reception has been mixed.
>
Any ideas?

Lots! The idea that there's a dearth of strategy games is silly given
how many have been released in recent years

* Manor Lords
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1363080/Manor_Lords/
Still in early access, but a fun city-builder set in medieval times.
The combat (what little has been developed of it so far) is dull as
dishwasher, but overall the game reminds me in style of the old Caesar
games

* Age of Empires 4
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1466860/Age_of_Empires_IV_Anniversary_Edition/
It's Age of Empires. It's online is apparently shit (and filled with
cheaterS), but the campaign is well regarded

* Terra Nil
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1593030/Terra_Nil/
The anti-Civilization game; help the cute critters fight off
encroaching humanity

* Factorio
https://store.steampowered.com/app/427520/Factorio/
Aanother resource management sim; build up your industrial base from
scratch with increasingly complex levels of infrastructure. Similar to
games like Satisfactory but played from a top-down viewpoint for a
more 'strategy game' feel

* Master of Magic (2022 remake)
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1623070/Master_of_Magic/
Classic MOM but with better visuals and QOL features

* Marvel Midnight Suns
https://store.steampowered.com/app/368260/Marvels_Midnight_Suns/
Forget that it's a Marvel superheroes tie-in game; it's actually a
pretty fun tactical combat sim (think X-Com).

* Battletech
https://store.steampowered.com/app/637090/BATTLETECH/
A slightly older game, but an excellent translation of the tabletop
game to the computer screen. Rompy-stompy robots for the win!

* Timberborn
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1062090/Timberborn/
An unexpectedly deep city-builder management sim featuring beavers, of
all animals.

* Age of Wonders 4
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1669000/Age_of_Wonders_4/
More Age of Wonders. Not really that different from the previous
games, but if you liked those you'll like this one

* Jagged Alliance 3
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1084160/Jagged_Alliance_3/
Another tactical combat sim; one of the better JA games in the
franchise

* Romance of the Three Kingdoms 8
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2288150/ROMANCE_OF_THE_THREE_KINGDOMS_8_REMAKE/
Another remake, but the old version didn't age well so if you liked
that one this update is probably quite welcome

* Crusader Kings 3
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1158310/Crusader_Kings_III/
Or, really, any of the Paradox games like Hearts of Iron or Europa
Universalis. Admittedly, they're not to everybody's taste, but their
fans are devoted

* Railway Empire 2
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1644320/Railway_Empire_2/
A railroad network game; think "Railroad Tycoon" for the modern age

* Xenonauts 2
https://store.steampowered.com/app/538030/Xenonauts_2/
Off-brand X-Com, albeit based on the classic DOS games rather than the
2012 remake. It's still pretty good. It's early-access though

* Age of Mythology Remake
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1934680/Age_of_Mythology_Retold/
What it says on the tin. The classic RTS with new graphics



Also, there's stuff like the endless flood of "Total War" games,
innumberable "Warhammer" titles, flops like "Cities Skylines II" or
"Homeworld 3", older titles like "Stellaris", and stuff that doesn't
excite me personally, like "Planet Coaster" or work-place sims like
"TCG Card Ship Simulator".

The problem isn't that there's a drought of strategy games; it's
picking which one to play in the flood!