If you're a fan of simulation games such as Tropico, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Capitalism, Dwarf Fortress, etc, then "Banished" is a must buy. I love these types of games and this one is a true gem. "Banished" is brilliant for a few key reasons: (1) the controls and interface are simple, intuitive, and effective; (2) the simulation mechanics are also simple to comprehend and challenging, allowing players to plan and build without trying to decipher a foreign language; (3) the game-play doesn't try to go over the top with micro-management, technology, or other abstract elements (like politics or religion) "Banished" is easily one of my favorite PC games among a library of 100+ games, and I'm very picky about simulation titles. It's too easy to get into the game and realize you should have gone to bed 2 hours ago but you can't stop... just gotta finish up those new houses and figure out a way to boost food production... 2 hours later and another task to do. It's really that good.
Tropico is a great game, period. Anyone who enjoys stuff like Civilization, Master of Magic, Zeus, Pharoah, etc is going to love Tropico. Even now, it holds up to the best games and is easily better than many modern strategy titles. The more recent Tropico editions are too bloated under the weight of 3d imagery and micro-management to be as enjoyable as this edition. There's plenty of game here to keep you occupied for a long time. I knocked off 1 star because the game can get repetitive if you play it enough and sometimes it's unclear (particularly for new players) to figure out how everything works together.
