Stronghold HD

Old game but good. Runs well, no problems.

I mean, kinda. There is an online skirmish mode that's more like a typical RTS, but no skirmish against AI, that's what I think is really weird about this game. Most campaign and missions are about building and defending your castle until some objective is met. There's not even an enemy base, attacks just come in waves from some edge of the map. And then on the other missions you are on the attack, with a preset army and no base of your own. I did enjoy the game, but I would recommend Stronghold Crusader instead. This one feel like a demo compared to Crusader.

This RTS carries a charm that seems to be lacking in modern RTS. The simplicity and the atmosphere are just lovely. It is definitely dated, but give it a try. It'll pull you in!

Build a small empire to fight off the enemy. (popularity gains people, people need food, buildings need wood, etc) Excellent game, great graphics, music, gameplay. Modes: combat campaign, economy campaign, single match, map maker. Playtime: 3 hours

Just what I was looking for - a game in which I make myself an impregnable fortress. There's something supremely satisfying about constructing a wooden and stone deathtrap which minces attacking enemies. It works fine on my little low-powered, low cost netbook and rarely requires the kind of twitch mousing the touchpad hates. This game is bursting with personality and detail. You can enjoy watching your peasants going about their business with some surprisingly detailed 2D animations. The battles themselves are more about preparation than reflex, letting those of us who prefer to sit back and let our plans unfold enjoy ourselves. Taking a keep seems, to me at least, less fun. But hey, if all you want to do is build, then you can do that in the sandbox modes.