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

[DarkHourPrince]

Alot of my family plays those, as do I from time to time.

Okay so you have SimCity (3000 = <3), the Sims, and from the looks of it now Rollercoaster Tycoon (which is indeed a great game)

Have you tried Zoo Tycoon? Spore?
Probably any of the "tycoon" games could serve you well (though I can't vouch for them all)

Myst maybe? That's more of a point-and-click adventure like the Nancy drew series but involves some pretty weird thinking puzzles.

I also highly recommend the Phoenix Wright series on the DS if you're into serious thinking games. Those will definitely keep you on your toes (and it's frickin' hilarious). Hard copies are a pain in the ass to come by though, I could give you a site with a good emulator and ROMs for the games.

The Professor Layton series is also another one for big thinkers but I've never played it myself.

 

[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.

What about Fire Emblem?

Fire Emblem has the most blatant, cheapest AI cheating I've ever encountered in a game. 99% chance to hit, my ass.

 

[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?

Fire Emblem has the most blatant, cheapest AI cheating I've ever encountered in a game. 99% chance to hit, my ass.

Puzzle Quest is cheaper, and you know it!

 

[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.

It actually called Anno 1404 for everyone who isn't in America. I'm quite sure there is also an expansion or something out now. And everyone loves Sins of a Solar Empire.

Well all the people I know who have played it anyway.[footnote]Which includes me and my friends who I LAN it with...[/footnote]

My copy does call it Anno 1404 but that name (the Anno bit) doesn't make any sense to me so DoD works better

 

[Amnestic]

Jet Set Radio Future

Just because I recommend it to everyone.

 

[Aux]

Do you think "Black and White" are too mainstream?

Very close to the Sims but more sloppy in my opinion. I found the game enjoyable but I could never really get into it.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[More Fun To Compute]

I would recommend that you do more research and follow more specialist sites. Games that are in my current playlist that I would recommend are Sword of the Stars + expansions, DCS Black Shark, UFO: Enemy Unknown.

 

[Continuity]

hardly obscure, you're a strategy/management fan.

You haven't listed Civ4 so get that. As mentioned by others UFO enemy unknown is awesome.

 

[Daveman]

I guess I'd suggest Football Manager games as they're alright provided you don't mind putting up with a bit of football.

 

[xdgt]

I know it some old stuff but have you heard of Age of Wonders 1/2 ? Master of Orion 1/2/3 ? If all else fails Heroes of might and magic 1/3/5 (only the odd in the series are good)...
Also warlords series (turn based) and maybe warlords: battlecry (RTS).

 

[veloper]

Space empires 4 (I liked 4 better than SE5)
Try the demo. It's a good old fashioned 4X.

 

[Keava]

Except for the mentioned already there wasnt that many of God Games released recently and i suppose you at least tried out most of the older ones. Could probably add Settlers 7 to the list as its much closer to the first ones before the whole mix up with AoE/Keep.
Homeworld and Hegemonia: Legions of Iron werent bad either if you fancy space setting as well.