What do you recommend to someone whose tastes are so obscure?

[SimuLord]

Usually when someone makes one of these "recommend me a game" threads, the criteria are so simple that any mainstream shooter, RPG, or what-have-you will do.

Not so with me; I ain't into those sorts of games (with the sole exception of Bethesda's Gamebryo-engine WRPGs, and even then I tend not to like the games that fans of Morrowind/Oblivion/Fallout 3 generally like.)

What I do like? Love, in fact? SimCity, The Sims, Patrician/Port Royale, Impressions/Tilted Mill's city-builders (Caesar/Pharaoh/Zeus/Children of the Nile), Paradox Interactive grand-strategy games (Europa Universalis/HoI and their derivatives), and the Total War series. I also own all 3 Tropico games, the entire Railroad Tycoon series, and I even dabble in open-source, namely Simutrans, Freecol, and OpenTTD.

So then...any recommendations? Or did your head a splode?

 

[Neonbob]

Given that you like Railroad Tycoon, I think you might like Roller Coaster Tycoon. Building coasters all afternoon was one of my favorite activities for years.
EDIT: Perhaps Sins of a Solar Empire as well?

 

[Hazy]

The aforementioned Roller Coaster Tycoon might do you good, as you seem to be a fan of top-down PC titles that let you command or, for lack of a better word, play God.

I might also recommend an RTS like Starcraft, Civilization, or Dawn of War, depending on how much you like the Total War series.

 

[Yureina]

Usually when someone makes one of these "recommend me a game" threads, the criteria are so simple that any mainstream shooter, RPG, or what-have-you will do.

Not so with me; I ain't into those sorts of games (with the sole exception of Bethesda's Gamebryo-engine WRPGs, and even then I tend not to like the games that fans of Morrowind/Oblivion/Fallout 3 generally like.)

What I do like? Love, in fact? SimCity, The Sims, Patrician/Port Royale, Impressions/Tilted Mill's city-builders (Caesar/Pharaoh/Zeus/Children of the Nile), Paradox Interactive grand-strategy games (Europa Universalis/HoI and their derivatives), and the Total War series. I also own all 3 Tropico games, the entire Railroad Tycoon series, and I even dabble in open-source, namely Simutrans, Freecol, and OpenTTD.

So then...any recommendations? Or did your head a splode?

Have you tried the Civilization series? I don't think its as deep as Europa Universalis or the Total War games, but it certainly has its moments.

 

[neilsaccount]

i enoyed sim theme park, but thats a pretty old game now, and probably a bit too childish for your playstyle. Sorry I can't really help you man, besides that empire, total war game coming out soon i think.

 

[SimuLord]

Usually when someone makes one of these "recommend me a game" threads, the criteria are so simple that any mainstream shooter, RPG, or what-have-you will do.

Not so with me; I ain't into those sorts of games (with the sole exception of Bethesda's Gamebryo-engine WRPGs, and even then I tend not to like the games that fans of Morrowind/Oblivion/Fallout 3 generally like.)

What I do like? Love, in fact? SimCity, The Sims, Patrician/Port Royale, Impressions/Tilted Mill's city-builders (Caesar/Pharaoh/Zeus/Children of the Nile), Paradox Interactive grand-strategy games (Europa Universalis/HoI and their derivatives), and the Total War series. I also own all 3 Tropico games, the entire Railroad Tycoon series, and I even dabble in open-source, namely Simutrans, Freecol, and OpenTTD.

So then...any recommendations? Or did your head a splode?

Have you tried the Civilization series? I don't think its as deep as Europa Universalis or the Total War games, but it certainly has its moments.

Played all 4 of 'em, buying 5 when it comes out. I should also mention Mount&Blade, a game I've championed relentlessly for two years on this very site (bought Warband---it rocks.)

(edit: Got Rollercoaster Tycoon as well. A genuine delight of a game.)

 

[DustyDrB]

Usually when someone makes one of these "recommend me a game" threads, the criteria are so simple that any mainstream shooter, RPG, or what-have-you will do.

Not so with me; I ain't into those sorts of games (with the sole exception of Bethesda's Gamebryo-engine WRPGs, and even then I tend not to like the games that fans of Morrowind/Oblivion/Fallout 3 generally like.)

What I do like? Love, in fact? SimCity, The Sims, Patrician/Port Royale, Impressions/Tilted Mill's city-builders (Caesar/Pharaoh/Zeus/Children of the Nile), Paradox Interactive grand-strategy games (Europa Universalis/HoI and their derivatives), and the Total War series. I also own all 3 Tropico games, the entire Railroad Tycoon series, and I even dabble in open-source, namely Simutrans, Freecol, and OpenTTD.

So then...any recommendations? Or did your head a splode?

I've got no recommendation for you. However, you did just make me want to give Homestarrunner.com a visit for the first time in years.

 

[TerranReaper]

I don't know if Starcraft or Warcraft would appeal to you, but if you haven't done already, I suggest trying them out. I also recommend Black & White, if being "God" is your thing.

 

[Fists]

You might like Dawn of Discovery, its a an RTS with focus more on building your empire and managing your citizens/economy/trade routes with combat being optional. It kept me and my brother entertained for a good portion of my last school holidays.

 

[MONSTERheart]

Just snoop around on Steam. I'm sure you can find some interesting little things.

 

[SimuLord]

I know you said you don't like RPGs but what is your opinion on SRPGs?

Hard to find on the PC. Except for Fallout Tactics, which was a pretty weak effort, basically Fallout 1/2's poor combat system turned into the entire game.

I'm not a huge fan of the Japanese flavor of SRPG---they tend to have really poor level designs. Although I liked FFTA and FFTA2 and reviewed Disgaea on the DS for this very site.

 

[Tallim]

X-Com
Also Dwarf Fortress

 

[RaphaelsRedemption]

Have you tried the Anno series? More a "trade game" than an RTS, but I enjoy it for its complexities. Anno 1404 is the most recent release.

Open source: well, Dwarf Fortress is one of the most weird and amzing things I've seen out there. My boyfriend swears by it... except when traders arrive

And for a VERY obscure one - try to find a copy of "Elona". I don't know all that much about it except that it is a 2D open world RPG made by some obscure Japanese company. It can be very, very funny, if you can stand the old graphics. I don't know who made it - I can't read the text!

 

[Cowabungaa]

I remember the first Theme Park having a rather deep management side, much deeper than it's sequel Theme Park World. But even that is quite fun, though not as cool as Rollercoaster Tycoon.

As for an RTS, you might enjoy Hearts of Iron. Much more a true strategy game than most RTS games which focus more on battlefield tactics.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

I know you said you don't like RPGs but what is your opinion on SRPGs?

Hard to find on the PC. Except for Fallout Tactics, which was a pretty weak effort, basically Fallout 1/2's poor combat system turned into the entire game.

I'm not a huge fan of the Japanese flavor of SRPG---they tend to have really poor level designs. Although I liked FFTA and FFTA2 and reviewed Disgaea on the DS for this very site.

What about Fire Emblem?

 

[Simonator7]

How about Spore for your god fix, some poor aspects but if managing your own civilisation is your thing some joy may be eeked from Spore.

The Supreme Commanders if RTS is your thing, guess it depends on how much you enjoy the science fiction based RTS's though. If you do it seems like it'd be your thing (or i'm just a poor judge).

 

[slipknot4]

Sim City 3000 /thread.
It's the best game I've played in the Simulator genre.