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!

[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.

[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.