Chilled Out Strategy Games

[WildW]

Any suggestions for chilled out strategy games for PC? I'm thinking along the line of oldies like Transport Tycoon (OpenTTD) and the original Settlers - games you can play for hours and build big empires without it all coming to a sudden stop in a combat stress-fest.

 

[endlessmike]

Rollercoaster Tycoon Series
Simcity Series
Sim Tower
TTD
Capitalism 2
Tropico Series
Stronghold free build mode
Civ 4 on a very low diffuculty setting
Railroad Tycoon 2
Sid Meier's Sim Golf

 

[WildW]

I think I forgot my main point when I made my original post - doh!

Ideally looking for this kind of game with multiplayer support. I play these kind of things with my GF, looking for something new but similar. We've done RTS games like Red Alert 2, Dawn of War, etc, but she's less keen when my guys come over and kill her guys. . . so less violent while still competitive would be ideal.

Economic type competition would be fine - is Sim City 4 multiplayer? And fun?

I have Industry Giant 2 around somewhere, but never got into it, and don't think it could be persuaded to run under Vista.

 

[DangerAardvark]

Originally posted by: WildW
Any suggestions for chilled out strategy games for PC? I'm thinking along the line of oldies like Transport Tycoon (OpenTTD) and the original Settlers - games you can play for hours and build big empires without it all coming to a sudden stop in a combat stress-fest.

That's why I never finished Company of Heroes. I'm an obsessive micro-manager, and while I was trying to keep my tanks alive on one side of the map, my shit was getting pushed in on the other side.

 

[endlessmike]

Simcity 4 isn't multiplayer. The best you could do is manage neighboring cities in a region, but only from the same game, not two different pc's simultaneously, I believe. Whether or not it's any fun is arguable. :laugh: It can range from great fun to annoyingly mircomanaging to frustrating depending on your patience and expectations, really. There are some mods to make it more enjoyable, but without multiplayer it's probably not what you're looking for anyway.

Agree with the COH comments, there's a lot going on at once. Not that I dislike that or can't do it, but sometimes I just want to blow stuff up and sometimes I just want to putter around and build things without frantically jumping back and forth. I always liked the Close Combat series in that regard - focus on the tactical aspect of the battle without having to manage any supply lines or bases.

How about any of the Age of Empires games, with an agreement that you don't start wailing on her until a point much later in the game?

 

[Maximilian]

Company of heros on a bridge map

Starcraft on a custom map

Or just play any game with friends and tell them no rush 60 minutes or whatever, thats the best solution.

 

[Via]

I would go all the way back to Alpha Centauri if you haven't played it.

It's turn-based, and you can avoid combat for a long time through diplomacy if you want to. I guess it's possible to not fight at all, but I never had the patience for that. When combat comes it's pretty low-key, even when bloody.

One of these days I will go for an ecomomic victory (amassing enough credits to buy out all other players is a way to win as well).

Building big empires in Alpha Centauri is one of my all time favorite gaming memories.

 

[acheron]

Yeah, the Civ games (including Alpha Centauri) might work.

My wife loved some of the city-building type games like the Caesar series and such. Not multiplayer though, but she seemed content just kicking me off the computer and playing herself.

 

[Dorkenstein]

Alpha Centauri absolutely. I need to start a thread for that game to get some tips eventually.

 

[CPA]

Railroad Tycoon 3. I don't recommend RRT 4, not enough strategy, kind of boring and mundane.

 

[Alienwho]

The new Anno 1404 (Dawn of Discovery) is the game you are looking for. Only problem is no multiplayer, but it matches all your other criteria. Build a huge empire based on economic development, protect it and invade other lands, fight for fertile islands, etc.

 

[RedChief]

Supreme Commander on very large maps with nukes and long range artillery turn off.

 

[Kalmah]

I was going to say rollercoaster tycoon with the wild, and soaked expansions until I saw you wanted multiplayer. It would be neat if multiplayer could be implimented into this game somehow.

You could always install dungeon keeper 2, play on a huge skirmish map against each other.

 

[ericgomes]

Dawn of Discovery is an incredible game to play. No multiplayer but word of mouth has it that they're making a patch to include multiplayer. Sick.

 

[Industrial]

Originally posted by: RedChief
Supreme Commander on very large maps with nukes and long range artillery turn off.

LOL. I can see it now. The OP plays this with his girlfriend. The next day, they're single.

 

[daddyo]

Kohan and Kohan 2 didn't have a huge city-building phase, but the combat itself was slow paced and very tactical. Many different ways to build an army, with a cap of 20 units at any one time, although it never felt like a limitation.

Probably my favorite RTS ever, and largely overlooked.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I normally play Civ 4 on Noble difficulty, but sometimes if I want a relaxed game I just play Warlord. Then I just whip ass on all of them.

 

[drebo]

I always like Heroes of Might and Magic. You can play some large maps for hours, and can play coop against the computer. 2 and 3 are my favorites.

 

[JoshGuru7]

Yet another vote for Dawn of Discovery here. Plenty of time for you both to practice until the multi player patch comes out and then you can have an economic city building showdown. You can ramp your economy up to produce warships and troops but in a friendly game you could have your own ground rules where you see who can get the most nobles or whatever.

 

[endlessmike]

It's not the newest one, but Anno 1701 is the deal on Steam this weekend. According to the game's page it has multiplayer. I've never played any of this series but it looks like it could be fun, and lots of people here have recommended the newer Dawn of Discovery. May be worth a shot for $15, does anyone have any input?

 

[Dorkenstein]

Yeah, Civ 4 is a good choice. Download one of the many excellent, massive mods for it, set the difficulty low, the turn speed to Epic and let it roll.

 

[Kromis]

Star Wars: Empire at War

 

[JoshGuru7]

I liked 1701 a lot as well. The Anno series plays more like SimCity than anything else, but with a focus on building not just one city but a group of cities and setting up trade routes between them. You'll need to lay roads and place buildings and walls, but there are different resources (spices, iron, coffee, stone, whatever) you need to control and the real trick is laying out your empire so you can provide your citizens with all of those resources as cost efficiently as possible.

It's not trivial to learn unfortunately, and the combat is much more in line with Civ (3 armies beats 2 armies) then the Total War series where you actually influence the battle. I play Civ 4(BTS), Empire: Total War and Dawn of Discovery about equally lately.

 

[slightlyhuman]

heroes of might and magic.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: WildW
I think I forgot my main point when I made my original post - doh!

Ideally looking for this kind of game with multiplayer support. I play these kind of things with my GF, looking for something new but similar. We've done RTS games like Red Alert 2, Dawn of War, etc, but she's less keen when my guys come over and kill her guys. . . so less violent while still competitive would be ideal.

Economic type competition would be fine - is Sim City 4 multiplayer? And fun?

I have Industry Giant 2 around somewhere, but never got into it, and don't think it could be persuaded to run under Vista.

do any games like that exist? i mean, nmost multiplayer games are meant o destroy the other player. some RTS games do have a mode where the 1st player to reach a certain "Age" in time wins but I doubt you'll find anything like like a multiplayer Sim City.