Majesty really has one of the most interesting game designs I've seen in a while, and despite the chaos, manages to really work. Essentially you are the king, and you order your units to build buildings, make upgrades, research tech, and spawn units. After that, your units off and do their own thing. You can direct them to attack or explore certain things with gold, but this can be expensive. You have to balance taking your precious resources to better "command" your units or build up your kingdom against the hordes of hideous monsters blowing up everything you have. There's actually a big variety of missions to pick from, and each one is it's own little puzzle. Sometimes you have access to many buildings, other times you're very restricted to a small set of units. The game might seem like it's a lot of luck of arbitration at first, but more you play, the more you figure out the games bizarre logic. There are ways to combo your units and buildings properly, a good and bad way to spend money, and upgrades you should chase down and others you can skip for later. Knowing how to layout your kingdom can also make all the difference. The graphics are great, and the voice lines for the units are fun. When you get this hodgepodge of misfits to finally clear out the objective, it's very satisfying. It might be one of the greatest games for making you feel like a "king" besides King of Dragon Pass. A huge recommendation for city builder fans or RTS fans. It's an exciting twist on both.
This game takes heavy inspiration from the original X-COM, but that's not a bad thing. It doesn't use the globe view of X-COM, and doesn't have base building, but it does focus more squarely on the tactical combat and giving you specific mission maps to clear out. Your squad gains levels, have different stats, have different classes (which is a nice new addition), and can be equipped with gear in different ways. The game ramps up with each mission, bringing in new challenges but also new options for you to play with and figure out. One thing that this game definitely brings over from X-COM however is when your guy is dead, he's DEAD. There's no coming back. If you go around a bad corner or charge in against an enemy you shouldn't have, the game has no problem taking you out. Smartly moving your units across the battlefield is critical. While the UI does take a little getting used to, once you get the hang of it you can move around your units pretty quickly. The graphics are fairly charming, not beautiful, but it is 3D rendered models captured as pixelated images to put together the animations that I personally enjoy a lot. A little blurrier than Diablo 2/Baldur's Gate, but it works. It's a solid game and while you don't have to like 40k to get enjoyment out of it, it's definitely a lot more fun if you are. Who doesn't want to romp around in classic 40k lore, ugly weapons and all? Good stuff.
This game is old, its classic, and it's got that old DOS charm that just sucks you right with this era of early 90s game. The mechanics are not complicated, but they are ROCK SOLID. The random missions and locations, clues and enemies always make this an exciting romp. You really feel like an agent on a case, desperately hunting that next clue, desperate to make that last arrest before the evil plot of the games villians goes off. Youre always one step behind evil, and when virtual lives are on the line, the pressure is on. There hasn't been one time I played where I wasnt fully engaged and sucked into the story. Once the case is over, you get a breakdown of what happened between you and the villians, and it's always really satisfying. Break down doors, hack computers, and arrest the terrorists! What more do you want?
What an brilliant game this is. While the base game is fantastic, I 100 percent recommend you find the Augustus mod for this and play with it. Not only does it update the graphics and resolution to run on modern systems, but it makes tons of QOL and mechanical changes you honestly can't live without. That being said, this game is an absolute titan of the city building genre. You will be presented with different missions and map layouts, each with their own challenges and layout that make each one a brain burner. Don't be surprised if your first few attempts at a city go down in flames (maybe even literally), but stick with it. The difficulty is high, but the game does an outstanding job of slowly ramping up the difficulty as your skills grow at playing the game. There won't be a dull moment as the game presents challenges just always a little bit out of your reach. You have a lot of manage, from the economy, taxing citizens, keep them happy, having a large labor workforce, food, soldiers and weapons, exports/imports, diseases, and the list goes on and on. All of these system interlace on top of each other, and when all the conditions are perfect, those little tents and huts you build will grown into cottages, houses, and mansions. Caesar III is a must for fans of any Rome game or any city builder, and if you like both then what are you waiting for? Once you start playing, I dare you to put it down.
Stronghold is a game hardly anyone knows about, but should. Not only is it a totally unique game within the D&D franchise, but it's a great and worthwhile sim. In Stronghold, you create a character who will lead your realm. You choose a class and roll stats, in the great D&D tradition. The class you chose will determine your followers, how they fight in battle, and what unique structures they will bring to your kingdom. Each one is different enough to add unique wrinkles into how you will use them in your kingdom. Halflings for example, excel at food and income production, but are among the weakest in combat. Your stats (STR, DEX, INT, CON, WIS, CHA) will be inherited by your followers, so it's important to choose your stats wisely. This wouldn't be D&D without a party of allies, and so Stronghold allows you to bring 4 other lords with you, each with their own stats, class, and followers. Just like in D&D, having a well rounded party that works together will ensure a strong and prosperous land. Of course no D&D game is complete without horrible monsters raving the land, and this time it's YOUR lands being ravaged! There's a whole slew of monsters from the simple and easy (like giant ants or kobolds) to the truly terrifying and powerul (vampires and blue dragons). There's plenty of variety here to keep each game a surprise, and each monster provides it's own challenge. For the most part, this game holds up very well. The graphics are charming, and the animations still hold up very well. The UI is pretty clear, and the game provides helpful hints to novices. The only blemish to this game is unit movement. The system uses an esoteric "magnet" system to order your followers around. Once you get your head around it, it'll be be quick to use. It's not anything that should deter you from playing. If you enjoy civ building games, I think this is a must buy. It's a straightforward with plenty of challenge for kings and warlords alike. Good luck!
