Turn based but what genre...? Turn absed RPGs or strategy or tactics or 4X?

My personal favorite is Incubation, squad-level tactical game with dense atmosphere and a highly challenging expansion (Wilderness Missions). All included in the Battle Isle Platinum pack, a must have for any TBS fan.

I also recommend Gorky 17, another squad-level tactical game that focuses entirely on combat, rather underrated and unknown even here.

Has someone played Marauder? Looks janky but the combat looks neat. (But is one of those that i'm not gonna buy because it will probably end on a bundle)

Costume Quest is a lot of fun. Has it's charm, some humor and a somewhat unique idea. Honestly it's probably the best thing Double Fine made since Psychonauts (I have not played Broken Age yet, so not counting that).

Another turn-based RPG to look out for: Seven Dragon Saga.

Why do I get a sense that those guys were more than a little bit inspired by SSI?

Because they say so?

Apparantly they worked with SSI back in the days, although in what position I don't know (SSI 'alumni' could mean everything up to a short internship).

I spent many hours with with civ 3-4

I'd like some explaining here. Are we talking strictly RPG's or TBS, too?!

If it's TBS, too, i can recommend the 5 Stars General series (Panzer General 1+2, Fantasy General, People's General, Panzer General 3D Assault, Panzer General: Scorched Earth, Star General, Pacific General), Elven Legacy (add the expansions too), X-Com/UFO series, Endless Space, Galactic Civilizations series, Star Trek: Birth of the Federation (best Master of Orion clone out there). Also, Close Combat series and Panzer Corps with its expansions.

Master of Magic
Master of Orion 1 & 2
Civilization series
Age of Wonder series
Heroes of Might and Magic series
Alpha Centauri
Warlock Master of the Arcane (haven't played the new one yet)
Galactic Civilizations series
Fallen Enchantress Legendary Heroes (I think it's kind of blah, but lots of people love it)


Those are all strategy games of course but they are all really good.