Easy to get into Strategy Games...

[hardpixelrain]

As a PC gamer it seems that I am missing strategy games from my gaming diet. I am a bit impatient, so I find it hard to sit down and learn all the rules before I play.

I've dabbled in Civilization, Civ 5 streamlined a lot of things for me, so that helped me get into that, and I've dabbled a bit in Warcraft III and Starcraft 1, despite being rubbish.

So my question is this:
Any good single player strategy games that are easy to get into?

 

[Awexsome]

If you've got a GBA or DS I would suggest Advance Wars or Fire Emblem. Both are phenomenal turn-based games that are pretty easy to get into IMO but do have a delightfully tall difficulty curve as you progress.

They'll challenge you big time by the end of both games but they build their way up to it.

 

[dyre]

If you liked Civ 5, try Civ 4 and its huge array of mods. You should get the hang of the game fairly quickly.

 

[JaceArveduin]

If you can track down a copy of the BFME series, their always fun to play with, though to do multiplayer you'll have to go through gameranger now.

 

[superpirson]

warzone 2100: http://wz2100.net/
it's free.
it's cross-platform.
you can kill your enemies with space lasers.
The graphics are meh, but there is a nice team working on improving them right now.
Oh, and the community is one of the best in the gaming world.

 

[jawakiller]

Age of Empires...

I think we're done here.

PS: Particularly Age of Kings (That's the second game in case you were wondering). That one.

 

[Traun]

King's Bounty, I highly recommend it.

 

[JFrog84]

If you don't mind a bit of retro gaming Total Anihilation is one of if not the best RTS of all time. took the C&C model and improved it by miles.

I'd also suggest the total war series, in particular Rome or Medival 2

King's Bounty, I highly recommend it.

I'd go for heroes of might and magic 3 before a kings bounty game

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Dawn of War is pretty easy to get the hang of. Get Dark Crusade with it, though.

 

[Traun]

King's Bounty, I highly recommend it.

I'd go for heroes of might and magic 3 before a kings bounty game

I...highly vote against this. Don't get me wrong, as far as turn-based strategy goes there will never be anything better than HoMM3, at least there hasn't been 'till now, but the campaign is terribly paced.

Also, if you liked Civilization you'll probably enjoy Europa Universalis - be warned though, it's not that easy to learn.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Dawn of War 2 will really help you get a hold of infantry tactics. It isn't big on base building or unit queues, so the focus is on combat. It almost plays like Diablo with multiple units, since they level up, you gather loot, and use special abilities.

 

[BobRedshirt]

If you want a really slow-paced but fun game, try Sins of a Solar Empire. It's a lot like a slower-paced WCIII in SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE.

 

[RagnaThePig]

The Red Alert series is pretty fun and easy to get into, especially N°2.

 

[enzilewulf]

Age of Empires...

I think we're done here.

PS: Particularly Age of Kings (That's the second game in case you were wondering). That one.

This is the best game if you want strategy and easy to get into. I have played them ever since I was in the 2nd grade and loved them.

 

[Dirty Apple]

So my question is this:
Any good single player strategy games that are easy to get into?

So, just to clarify, you're only interested in real-time strategies (RTS's) or are you also open to turn-based and alternative strategy games?

 

[Mr Thin]

Age of Empires...

I think we're done here.

PS: Particularly Age of Kings (That's the second game in case you were wondering). That one.

Age of Kings can die in a fire. Age of Conquerors is where it's at. Those bloody farm queues.

OT: Dawn of War is, in my opinion, the best RTS ever made, and if you can play Warcraft/Starcraft games, you can play that.

Company of Heroes is an excellent WWII RTS, with fantastic terrain scarring.

I'd say you can play both of these without having to read up on the rules. Most of it will come to you.

 

[MightyRabbit]

Battle for Wesnoth. Free, endless amount of mods, turn-based, suits any level of difficulty. Dispenses kittens.

One of those may not be completely true.

 

[Kapol]

Atom Zombie Smasher is pretty easy to understand, but it's hard to win. In fact, I think I'm pretty good at strategy games and I've never beat it on it's normal setting.

 

[octafish]

X-Com, Jagged Alliance 2, and Silent Storm are my favourite strategy games of all time. Silent Storm does need some modding to fix a few flaws and it doesn't have quite the personality of X-Com and JA2, but it does have fully destructible terrain.