Best strategy game

[HarvesterofSorr]

Europa Universalis: Though I haven't been able to try out 4 yet. I started with and loved 2 and 3 was even better.

Colonization: This is actually the game that led me to buying Civ2. I had run across it in a bargain bin at the store I worked. The economic system was great and I still haven't seen one quite like it anywhere else. After I got to be really good at it I got frustrated that with my awesome economy and infrastructure I couldn't improve anymore because technology was stagnant. Hence my searching for a game where this didn't happen and lo and behold Civ was waiting at the game store for me. This game has been updated to play with a Civ4-like platform recently and I have to say it was a big improvement (with only one minor caveat. I miss the 2-turn per year from 1600 on in the original).

Rise of Nations: I Generally wasn't a big fan of this style of game (Age of Empires, Warcraft/Starcraft) because the tech was limited. However RON certainly didn't have that problem. I also loved the added depth of the Conquer the World campaign since this added much depth (and the overall board reminded me of my first strategy game RISK). Thrones and Patriots Expansion was even better.

Hearts of Iron: Love the original. Don't like the sequels because they over-complicated the tech in my opinion.

Civilization Call To Power: This may not count because it's got Civilization in the name but it isn't part of the Sid Meier series. Very similar to Civ. I like that every city is working on both an internal improvement and a unit at the same time with the % of your production spent on each to be determined by you. Also the future tech was much more interesting with it actually opening up new buildings, governments, wonders and allowing you to build cities on the ocean floor and space.

 

[PhilBowles]

Europa Universalis: Though I haven't been able to try out 4 yet. I started with and loved 2 and 3 was even better.

Colonization: This is actually the game that led me to buying Civ2. I had run across it in a bargain bin at the store I worked. The economic system was great and I still haven't seen one quite like it anywhere else. After I got to be really good at it I got frustrated that with my awesome economy and infrastructure I couldn't improve anymore because technology was stagnant. Hence my searching for a game where this didn't happen and lo and behold Civ was waiting at the game store for me. This game has been updated to play with a Civ4-like platform recently and I have to say it was a big improvement (with only one minor caveat. I miss the 2-turn per year from 1600 on in the original).

Rise of Nations: I Generally wasn't a big fan of this style of game (Age of Empires, Warcraft/Starcraft) because the tech was limited. However RON certainly didn't have that problem. I also loved the added depth of the Conquer the World campaign since this added much depth (and the overall board reminded me of my first strategy game RISK). Thrones and Patriots Expansion was even better.

If you like real-time strategy games with large tech trees, Cossacks is a great choice, although it covers a shorter timescale than Rise of Nations/Empire Earth/Age of Empires.

 

[civvver]

I liked starcraft 2 and warcraft 3 single player a lot. I don't enjoy multi player rts that much, too hectic for me. But those two have good story lines and enough depth.

Total Annihilation is still amazing to this day. Graphics hold up surprisingly well.

Supreme Commander is awesome. Supreme Commander 2 sucks.

Lords of the Realm 2 is a great game I still play a lot. It combines turn based economy sim and rts battles. Very addictive.

I also second Heroes of Might and Magic series. I'm trying to play through them in order and they are long. I've finished 1 and 2 and barely started 3. 3 seems to be what everyone is saying, the apex of the series but 1 was addictive as hell and 2 only improves it. Though the single player in both is a tad bit difficult and can be grindy.

Age of Mythology is a good one too, age of empires basically set in mythological setting.

I disagree with star wars empire at war. Seemed shallow and the rts land battles were awful. Space combat was fun.

 

[Cryptic_Snow]

While most RTS games are usually better for large groups of MP, such as Age of Empires 2, Rise of Nations, or Empire Earth, I actually really really enjoy the Civ V MP. I'm typically not a fan of Civ V in general (more a fan of IV), but after playing it with a few of my friends in a few games I get what a lot more the game was going for. I have not yet seen a strategy game that's better for MP, unless your group has many hours, patience, and good strategies. In which case I would probably say Crusader Kings 2 or Europa Universalis 4. Those games have much better potentially, but it is difficult to ensure that everything works out just right.

Thank you for the reply and suggestions. My group really enjoy Civ III, but the multi-player for that game was problematic. Maybe it's time we gave Civ V a try as you suggest. How easy is it to set up a multi-person game on Civ V? How many AI civs can you have competing with you in multi-player?

We all grew up playing Koei games like Romance of the Three kingdoms, Genghis Khan, Nobunaga's Ambition, etc. There's something to be said about the simplicity of those games and the freedom they allowed you. You could have up to 10+ human players for some of them and the other 30-40 states/leaders you didn't take were then all AI competing against you. Pretty simple concept, yet it's hard to find in today's games. I believe Civ III limited multi-player to 8 total civs. I want a game with dozens of AI civs and a robust multi-player where 5-10 people can all play.

 

[Nintz]

Thank you for the reply and suggestions. My group really enjoy Civ III, but the multi-player for that game was problematic. Maybe it's time we gave Civ V a try as you suggest. How easy is it to set up a multi-person game on Civ V? How many AI civs can you have competing with you in multi-player?

We all grew up playing Koei games like Romance of the Three kingdoms, Genghis Khan, Nobunaga's Ambition, etc. There's something to be said about the simplicity of those games and the freedom they allowed you. You could have up to 10+ human players for some of them and the other 30-40 states/leaders you didn't take were then all AI competing against you. Pretty simple concept, yet it's hard to find in today's games. I believe Civ III limited multi-player to 8 total civs. I want a game with dozens of AI civs and a robust multi-player where 5-10 people can all play.

Well, Civ V in particular is much easier on the MP end thanks to Steam integration. I'm not 100% sure what the max Civ limit is, as I don't typically play that game by myself. When I do me and my friends usually turn off AIs, and there's only 4 of us typically.

If you want dozens upon dozens of nations the Paradox Interactive games might be better, but be warned that the learning curve is steep. the time investment is huge, and MP on any of their games except the newest Europa Universalis IV is a pain to set up.

 

[scheva007]

Yeah iv eplayed a mp game of civ V too, and its great fun. we were 5 on a small map, but we didnt use an AI cause its prone for abuse. You just need to make good arrangements to when you play, cause it takes a wile to finish, especially if the game gets stuck a few times.

Also saving every turn in alternating savegames helps

 

[Azurian]

I would have to say AI War: Fleet Command with all 4 expansions. Its the most strategy deep game I have ever seen. The developer is highly active with the community. It is on Steam.


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