Map Based Strategy Games

[Brigand]

I'm on the lookout for an in-depth strategy game, and in the past I've seen a few of these 'map based' games that are all about shuffling icons around maps, rather than direct control. On steam I've found Command: Modern Air / Naval Operations http://store.steampowered.com/app/321410/ which is the sort of thing I'm looking for, but at an eye-watering £45-£60 I'm not in a position to buy it.

Can anyone suggest similar titles that take place in the modern world? I'm more interested in the air warfare side of things, but land based games are just as good.

If any come with a demo that would be best, as much as I'm interested in this genre right now, chances are I'll baulk at the complexity and give up, so paying out a big chunk of money isn't a good idea for me straight away!

[mizx]

Brigand said:

If any come with a demo that would be best, as much as I'm interested in this genre right now, chances are I'll baulk at the complexity and give up, so paying out a big chunk of money isn't a good idea for me straight away!

I know the feeling, there's some genres I want to play that are generally more complex, but my brain didn't even want to understand Civ! Takes something really particular for me to get into one.

Not very familiar with this genre, though I had a look around out of interest; these two look good, the first one is free.

http://triplea.sourceforge.net/mywiki/TripleA
http://palladian-guard.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/pc-g...

Edited by mizx on Tuesday 30th September 10:24

[Brigand]

Interesting finds, will have a look at those.

I took the plunge (being a day after payday) and bought the Command game I listed in my first post, and from the quick go I've had so far I've managed to stomach it. I think that came from spending a few days watching videos of it on YouTube, so I wasn't completely bamboozled by the walls of text and check boxes that the game throws at you as soon as you start.

[DoubleSix]

RUSE is far deeper than it first appears - a very well balanced RTS

[DMN]

Have you tried Hearts of Iron 3?

[Brigand]

Yeah I have HOI 2 & 3, certainly enjoyed the second one, but couldn't get into the third, mainly because my attention span waned a lot in the intervening years.

I've not played RUSE, but I have the Wargame: Air/Land battle and European Escalation spin-offs, those are excellent games but very much on the small scale tactical level. The Command game I was on about is theatre wide operations.

[RizzoTheRat]

Excuse the thread resurrection.

How are you finding Command now you've had some time with it? It is by all accounts supposed to be very detailed and relatively accurate but as you mentioned at an eye watering price. Have you played with the scenario editor? You're supposed to be able to set up your own scenarios fairly easily, and can access the database behind it.

I've picked up HOI3 again after a few years off and loving it, forgot how complex it is, but playing as Germany I'm finding the allies are a bit disorganised, the stupid Brits have just sacrificed a large part of their army trying to land in Kiel on their own when I had a complete Panzer army a couple of days drive away.

[JB!]

Civ 5 Gold edition?

Its turn-based but one of the best of the strategy genre.

[Martin_Hx]

Another vote for the Civilization games here, massive time sink.... easy to pick up and hard to master but always satisfying trying to take over the world Muhahahaha!

[Grumfutock]

Try Matrix Games.

Highly recommend War in East, War in the West and if you really want a big game try War in the Pacific. All made by Gary Grigsby who is the master of these things.