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Operation Barbarossa is very easy to get into, with no micro management or resources to worry about.
Advanced Tactics is slightly more involved and the scale is more abstract, but the random battle generator makes for a lot of replay value. Once you work out the mechanics of the game, it's easy to get into.
Panzer Command Kharkov is nice, with decent 3D graphics and another very good random battle generator when you exhaust the scenarios.
Flashpoint Germany. It doesn't get a mention often for some reason. It's easy to play and understand, decent graphics, well designed gui and intuitive to play.

TOAW 3 is everything. Resistance is futile. Not in-game of course, the scenarios are balanced. Most at least.

ORIGINAL: rowech

It's tough to judge all of these games and what they have, how involved they are or will be, and which games expect you to already have an extreme amount of wargaming knowledge. I'm looking for suggestions for the best game(s) for someone just starting out with wargames. What game would do the best without overwhelming the user? Just looking for suggestions. Don't worry about era, or level, or anything like that.

Get Mad Minutes 2nd Manassas or Bull Run and start out playing an open battle, long duration, medium difficulty with maximum units and you play an artillery detachment. Then work your way up to a brigade of something, then to a division and then a corp and finally army commander. I think it's the best entry level fun little real time game you will find. I personally enjoy now taking a Reserve Brigade most often Jubal Early's brigade and goto the rescue around the map where the ai needs assistance most. This is quite fun and makes for some very challenging games.

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ORIGINAL: killroyishere
Get Mad Minutes 2nd Manassas or Bull Run and start out playing an open battle, long duration, medium difficulty with maximum units and you play an artillery detachment. Then work your way up to a brigade of something, then to a division and then a corp and finally army commander. I think it's the best entry level fun little real time game you will find. I personally enjoy now taking a Reserve Brigade most often Jubal Early's brigade and goto the rescue around the map where the ai needs assistance most. This is quite fun and makes for some very challenging games.

That actually sounds like a lot of fun, and a good way to get into the game. I've had 2nd Manassas for a couple of years now, but haven't sat down and really gotten into it. I think I'll take your advice and start small like you recommend. Thanks for the recommendation, killroy!

There are easier games than Tiller's Campaign Series, but I think that would be a good place to start. While it is an IGOUGO it has an engine that comes close to RTS considerations. It also allows for some rather large battles along with small ones. This can help you decide at what level you would prefer to control your forces in additional games.