Free strategy games

[Arctic Blast]

Surprised nobody has posted Civilization : Evolution, yet. Takes the original game, but makes the AI a lot more...free thinking, rather than just always reacting to what you're doing. Pretty cool! There's also a version set in the Star Wars universe that's fun to play.

http://c-evo.org/

[Charles2222]

ORIGINAL: Arctic Blast

Surprised nobody has posted Civilization : Evolution, yet. Takes the original game, but makes the AI a lot more...free thinking, rather than just always reacting to what you're doing. Pretty cool! There's also a version set in the Star Wars universe that's fun to play.

http://c-evo.org/

Do you know if they still have the manual return plotting for the air units that is common to Civ2? I won't ever play Civ2 again because of that; it's a royal pain.

[Arctic Blast]

Really couldn't tell you for sure, no. I do agree with you on your complaint, though...it got old FAST.

[Arctic Blast]

And here's another one...Warzone 2100 was a RTS released...oh, probably 6 or 7 years ago. Had some neat ideas (your vehicle models were COMPLETELY custom based on what tech you find). A group of fans has resurrected it (it's code was released by the game maker as freeware), and is working on improvements.

http://wz2100.net/

[Widell]

It's always worth checking the Strategy category of Sourceforge. While not many of the projects are what I'd call strategy games, there are still a few that are worth checking out

[Veitikka]

This wargame is not released yet but should be worth checking out:

http://www.armoredbrigade.com/

[Hertston]

ORIGINAL: Widell

It's always worth checking the Strategy category of Sourceforge. While not many of the projects are what I'd call strategy games, there are still a few that are worth checking out

Hey.. there's a freeware Colonization version there! I must have lost hundreds of hours to playing that one.. way more fun than Civ. [:)]

[JudgeDredd]

That's the one Hertston...Colonization. I was trying to think of what the game was that I played for months....andn kept coming up with Civilisation!

Thx [&o]

[ravinhood]

Good thread of a lot of great games of the past.

[JudgeDredd]

ffs...the dork has got me on ignore...will someone else tell him to stop it.

Resurecting threads from years gone by is just so lame! This is 3 months old ffs!

[Zap]

I would not say that in all cases Judge. Sometimes if there is an update to an interesting thread or game its helpful to have the background posts.
And we have heard people complain about the fact that there was a thread already on a certain subject. So, Why did this person start a new one on the same subject.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: Zap

And we have heard people complain about the fact that there was a thread already on a certain subject. So, Why did this person start a new one on the same subject.

Becouse this person don't search forums carefully enough, or he has habit, that might originate from other forums, that posting on several months-years old thread isn't good idea.

[Kuokkanen]

Ground Control



Darn right! This is first game of Massive Entertainment, makers of recent World in Conflict, and it is FREEWARE now! Little has changed between GC and WiC, but the little differences between the two games make GC slightly better... or at least bit more manageable. In future of Ground Control, interstellar corporations and religious cult Order of the New Dawn fight over the rare habitable worlds. Game begins in side of Crayven Corporation, in boots of major Sarah Parker against New Dawn. Later in the game, player gets to play New Dawn.

Most scenarios proceed at player's discretion. Scenarios involving escort and defense can get bit hectic at times, but with most of other scenarios there won't be much of rush: player has enough time to maneuver, probe enemy defenses, repair stuff and otherwise just be idle. Player's units are limited, but so is enemy's, and there is rarely any other need to throw tanks against heavy defenses other than find targets for own mobile artillery. Largest number of units player gets to play with, is 15 groups, where 1 is command vehicle (always in mission) and 2 others are trucks to be escorted. Real combat assets are limited to 12 groups, but many early scenarios have much less available. GUI is one of the best I've seen: group icons show health of every individual in the group! Only time where pause is really required, is when declaring air targets for limited AA missiles. Oh yes, special weapons are in very limited numbers, but they make nifty fireworks: the sight when two marine squads fire their AT weapons against enemy mobile artillery...


All three DropShips are in full load. That is all the forces at your disposal in the scenario, and there are no further reinforcements beyond these units!

Download from FilePlanet

[n01487477]

I was always partial to M.A.X. (a.k.a. Mechanized Assault & Exploration) ... http://www.the-underdogs.info/game.php?id=2441

[panzers]

ORIGINAL: Zakhal

Third Reich

Very tough AI if not among the best of its genre. Just try taking europe as germany. Took me countless tries.

Clash of steel: Future edition

Another conquer europe game. Not a great AI but still worth for few rounds until you manage to beat it.

High Command: Europe 1939-1945

Yet another conquer europe game. The AI is not genious but the game is still worth for few rounds.

Crusade in west

Played and loved it on 64. So much infact (well it was one of the few strategy games available on 64 tape) that I havent tried it on PC even though its free. Great game.

Fantasy General

If you like Panzer general and fantasy stategy this game is a MUST. In som ways better than PG even.

War of the lance

Havent tried yet but having read the books I think Im going to. Was a great game during its time.

Rules of engagement + Breach3

Great space strategy combination. Havent found yet time to test it but do remember the good reviews.

Imperialism 1 & Imperialism 2

Good games. Havent found time yet to test them.

Great Naval Battles 1-5

Som of them are available, som are not. If you like naval
war on strategic level you must try them.

Pacific Theater of operations 2

Not quite WITP but still plenty of gaming fun until you beat it.

Pacific General

Superb. Much better than any of the other generals. I would rate this and Fantasy General among the best of the whole series with this on the top.

World at War Series (a.k.a. Operation Crusader, Stalingrad, D-Day: America Invades

Good bread and butter strategy games. AI is able to resist. Stalingrad I liked most I think.

Panzer general 1&2& allied general & peoples general

Som of them are available som are not. Bread and butter. AI in people's was not quite challenging.

Castles 1&2

The first one is fun, the second is not so.

While playing these you could pick som free books for read like the Hitler's War (1024 pages) to enhance the experience.

Have several of thise games, but they are not at all compatible to my computer anymore.

[panzers]

anyone remember a game from way back in the mid 80's I think called empire?
It's agame where you are thrown into space with several other races and there is a race to colonize and build your fleet before you are destroyed. Th this day, I still think that is one of the best games of all time. You can buold many different ships that have various abilities. Some, of course, take longer than others.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: panzers

anyone remember a game from way back in the mid 80's I think called empire?

I named it in first post

[Zakhal]

ORIGINAL: panzers

Have several of thise games, but they are not at all compatible to my computer anymore.

Im sure you can make them all work with compatibility modes/dosbox/virtual pc. Atleast if you have windows xp. I have zero experience of vista.

[panzers]

ORIGINAL: Matti Kuokkanen

ORIGINAL: panzers

anyone remember a game from way back in the mid 80's I think called empire?

I named it in first post

Didn't see anything where you said the word empire, but I checked the link and, indeed, it's there, but how do I know which one to download?
There are 4 items there

[junk2drive]

ORIGINAL: Veitikka

This wargame is not released yet but should be worth checking out:

http://www.armoredbrigade.com/

This game was released recently and though still in alpha/beta without a manual, it plays well and is easy to figure out if you have played SP, CC, and CM.

It looks better than this old screenshot with 2D icons ala SP.