Category: Strategy and War Games

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Bullfrog GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 2001, Bullfrog Definitely the worst game to bear the “Bullfrog” name on the box, Aquarium is an awful PC conversion of an awful Playstation “aquarium management game” that was released only in Japan. In a shady attempt to capitalize…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Peter Molyneux GAME DEVELOPER:Bullfrog GAME PUBLISHER:Electronic Arts Copyright 1998, Bullfrog One of the most unique and addictive “god games” ever made, Dungeon Keeper from Bullfrog represents a high watermark in Peter Molyneux’s career and the quirky British outfit that practically reinvented the genre with Populous. There…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Mat Dickie GAME DEVELOPER:MDickie GAME PUBLISHER:MDickie Copyright 2004, Mat Dickie Popscene is a fun “band simulation” from MDickie, probably the world’s most underrated “lone wolf” game designer. In the author’s words, “Popscene is your backstage pass to the entire music industry. Build your own act, of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Tummelhofer & Guenther Rosenbaum GAME DEVELOPER:Rio Grande Games GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Guenther Rosenbaum St. Petersburg is a great PC conversion of the card/board game of the same name from Hans im Gluck/Rio Grande Games, the same publishers that brought us Carcassonne series. St. Petersburg…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rhett Mathis GAME DEVELOPER:Humongous Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Infogrames Copyright 2002, Humongous Entertainment One of the most underrated turn-based strategy games ever made, MoonBase Commander is a superb release from Humongous Entertainment that would definitely have sold much better without the “designed for kids” blurb that makes the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Josh Morris GAME DEVELOPER:Taldren GAME PUBLISHER:Activision Copyright 2002, Paramount Pictures Starfleet Command III is an excellent sequel to Starfleet Command II, arguably the best strategy game based on Star Trek franchise ever made. While it “dumbs down” many features to attract casual gamers, it still packs…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Innonics GAME PUBLISHER:Strategy First Copyright 2000, Innonics Diggles (released as Wiggles in Europe) is an ambitious, unique, and charming RTS that is ultimately bogged down with too much micro-management and snail-like pace to have a long-term appeal. The plot is set in Norse mythology,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Timothy Brooks GAME DEVELOPER:Interactive Simulations GAME PUBLISHER:Empire Interactive Copyright 1998, Empire Interactive 101 Airborne: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy is a much-overlooked and now out-of-print squad-level wargame from Empire Interactive. Alan Dunkin’s thorough review at GameSpot says it all: “Over the past few years there have…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Oxford Softworks GAME PUBLISHER:Oxford Softworks Copyright 1991, Oxford Softworks Oxford Games is a collection of three early games from Oxford Softworks: Bridge 2,000, Backgammon Royale, and Chess Player 2150. They are all solid releases compared to their peers at that time, and strong AI…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Michael Quarles GAME DEVELOPER:Interplay GAME PUBLISHER:Interplay Copyright 1991, Interplay Battle Chess for Windows is a little-known Windows 3.1 version (which works well in Windows XP and above) of Interplay’s classic chess game. The game is identical to the original (1988) release of Battle Chess in every…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Thomas Zeh GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Anonymous Copyright 1997, Thomas Zeh TZ-Colony is one of the best M.U.L.E. clones I have ever seen. Originally released as shareware with a steep price tag of US$25 for the registered version, TZ-Colony does not credit M.U.L.E. anywhere in the game,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jason Fugate GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Jason Fugate Seafarers of Catan 3D (“Sea3D” in short) is a superb multiplayer-only PC version of one of the world’s best tabletop strategy games of the same name. If you are a strategy fan and have never played…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Koushi Okada GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Koushi Okada Liberation Army is a unique and compelling blend of real-time strategy, tactical planning, and shoot ’em up from Japan. Your objective as an army commander is to defeat the computer-controlled opponent by leading your “mechs” and…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Eric Flannum GAME DEVELOPER:Shiny Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Interplay Copyright 2000, Shiny Entertainment Sacrifice is a tremendous masterpiece from Shiny that ranks as one of the most unique and compelling strategy games ever made. Despite a plethora of glowing reviews from critics, the game’s sales figure was merely…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Nikita GAME PUBLISHER:Monte Cristo Multimedia Copyright 2001, Nikita Parkan: Iron Strategy is an ambitious blend of first-person shooter, real-time strategy, and combat simulation from Nikita, a prolific Russian developer. Although it falls far short of the likes of Battlezone and Hostile Waters in many…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Julian Gollop & Nick Gollop GAME DEVELOPER:Mythos Games GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1998, Firaxis X-COM and its sequel Terror from the Deep are two veritable strategy masterpieces that need no introduction. Massively popular and deservedly so, the only reason you find them here on this site (which…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Julian Gollop & Nick Gollop GAME DEVELOPER:Mythos Games GAME PUBLISHER:MicroProse Copyright 1998, Firaxis X-COM and its sequel Terror from the Deep are two veritable strategy masterpieces that need no introduction. Massively popular and deservedly so, the only reason you find them here on this site (which…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Peter Donnelly GAME DEVELOPER:Skookum Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Peter Donnelly Turncoat is a very interesting and original strategy game designed by Peter Donnelly. In the designer’s words, Turncoat “…is a simulation of a card game pitting one human against three AI opponents. The theme of…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, Anonymous Goats and Tigers is a solid PC implementation of “Bagha Chal,” a little-known board game popular in Nepal and Tibet. I have been looking high and low for a PC version of this very interesting game for months…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Peter Donnelly GAME DEVELOPER:Skookum Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1996, Peter Donnelly The Animal Game is a solid PC implementation of a board game of the same name that is very popular in China but little known outside. Also known as Shou Qi or The Jungle Game,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Peter Donnelly GAME DEVELOPER:Skookum Software GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1995, Peter Donnelly Sorcerer’s Cave is a fun Windows turn-based fantasy-themed board game similar to HeroQuest. Originally a board game, this PC version is coded by the designer himself, who released this Windows version as shareware in 1995,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Rod Taylor & David Taylor GAME DEVELOPER:Games Workshop GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Rod Taylor & David Taylor SpaceHulk-SP is a great fanmade PC version of Games Workshop’s Space Hulk boardgame, designed for single player (hence the “SP” in the name). Set in a far future, the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Stephen Baker & Gerwin Broers GAME DEVELOPER:Games Workshop GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Gerwin Broers HeroQuest is a superb fanmade PC version of Milton Bradley and Games Workshop’s popular but now out-of-print boardgame of the same name. In this turn-based board game in a fantasy setting, you…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Roberds GAME DEVELOPER:BSX International GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1989, BSX International Guzzle is an entertaining mix of drinking and trivia games for 2 to 4 players. The game is meant to be an “electronic companion” when you and a few friends get together for a drinking…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Roberds GAME DEVELOPER:BSX International GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1990, BSX International Leong is a decent one-player board game from Robert Roberds of BSX International. As you would expect from a shareware developer that is famous for original games, Leong is yet another invention by Mr. Roberds…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Roberds GAME DEVELOPER:BSX International GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1991, BSX International Yet another original solitaire game from Robert Roberds and BSX International, Gridly is a unique game that requires much more strategy than luck – a refreshing change from the majority of traditional solitaire variants. From…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Robert Roberds GAME DEVELOPER:BSX International GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 1989, BSX International Dammit! is another rare solitaire game by Robert Roberds and BSX International. Theodor Lauppert gives a good overview and impression of the game at his website: “Like so many solitaire games, [Dammit!] relies far more…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Terratools GAME PUBLISHER:Microsoft Copyright 1998, Terratools Urban Assault is a superb and highly underrated blend of real-time strategy and first-person shooter genres – much like Uprising but with significant differences, particularly in strategic options. The Adrenaline Vault’s detailed review says it all: “The game’s…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:ID Gaming GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, ID Gaming Meander is a good PC version of an innovative abstract board game from The Netherlands. Frequent visitors may wonder why I decide to review a freeware game that in my opinion does not merit our “Top…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Kory Heath & William Shlaer GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, William Shlaer Zendo-San is an excellent, albeit limited, freeware PC version of Zendo, a fun but highly underrated game of inductive logic invented by Kory Heath, using pyramid-shaped pieces called “Icehouse” that he also invented…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Klaus-Jurgen Wrede GAME DEVELOPER:Rio Grande Games GAME PUBLISHER:KOCH Media Copyright 2002, KOCH Media Carcassonne is a wonderful PC conversion of the excellent board game of the same name that deservedly won Germany’s much-coveted Spiel des Jahres (“Game of the Year”) award in 2001. If you have…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Keith Gross & Jonathan McCarthy GAME DEVELOPER:Avalon Hill GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2004, Jonathan McCarthy Hitler’s War is a solid fanmade translation of Avalon Hill’s tabletop war game for Windows. In this “introductory level” wargame, you can lead the German army as Hitler against human players in…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jon Dean GAME DEVELOPER:Crush! Limited GAME PUBLISHER:Vic Tokai Copyright 1995, Crush! Limited Mortal Coil is an innovative first-person squad-based real-time strategy game that plays like a poor man’s version of Rainbow Six (years before that game was released). The year is 2005. “Mortal Coil” is the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Wave Software GAME PUBLISHER:OCEAN Copyright 1995, Wave Software Offensive is a rare and very little-known isometric squad-level wargame from Wave Software, published by OCEAN in 1995 with very little fanfare. Developed by a short-lived programming group called Wave Software, the game plays like a…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Red Storm Entertainment GAME PUBLISHER:Red Storm Entertainment Copyright 1998, Red Storm Entertainment Dominant Species is a much-overlooked RTS from Red Storm Entertainment that is by no means as heavily underrated as, say, Warzone 2100, but nonetheless deserves a much closer look from strategy fans.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Object Software GAME PUBLISHER:Object Software Copyright 1998, Object Software Metal Knight is a fun Command & Conquer-style real-time strategy game from Object Software, an independent Chinese outfit who later developed Fate of the Dragon and Prince of Qin. One of the first games from…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Gunnar Games GAME PUBLISHER:Expert Software Copyright 1999, Gunnar Games Perfect Checkmate is a decent, but by all means special, chess program from Gunnar Games and Expert Software. Apart from nice 2D and 3D graphics, over one dozen board designs, and a mouse-based interface, the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Jeffrey Belt GAME DEVELOPER:Anonymous GAME PUBLISHER:Impulse Games Copyright 1995, Jeffrey Belt Funball is a fun and little-known shareware 2-player boardgame from Jeffrey Belt, published by Impulse Games. Your goal in this unique Checkers variant is two-pronged: either reach the enemy’s base, or destroy all the enemy…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brad Wardell GAME DEVELOPER:Stardock Systems GAME PUBLISHER:Stardock Systems Copyright 2003, Stardock Systems One of the best 4X space strategy games I have ever played, Galactic Civilizations is a “masterpiece” in every sense of the word. It may not have the complexities of Space Empires or the…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Yasumi Matsuno GAME DEVELOPER:Quest GAME PUBLISHER:Enix Copyright 1994, Quest Ogre Battle and Tactical Ogre are arguably the best entries in Quest’s line of superb strategy/RPG hybrids that were very popular in Japan, up until Quest was bought out and absorbed into Squaresoft (in fact, Final Fantasy…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Yasumi Matsuno GAME DEVELOPER:Quest GAME PUBLISHER:Atlus Copyright 1997, Atlus Ogre Battle and Tactical Ogre are arguably the best entries in Quest’s line of superb strategy/RPG hybrids that were very popular in Japan, up until Quest was bought out and absorbed into Squaresoft (in fact, Final Fantasy…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Squaresoft GAME PUBLISHER:Squaresoft Copyright 1995, Squaresoft Front Mission is a superb turn-based strategy game for SNES platform by Squaresoft (now Square Enix) that unfortunately was never released outside Japan. Thanks to efforts of a fangroup, you can now play this underrated classic in English.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Tony Van GAME DEVELOPER:Westwood Studios GAME PUBLISHER:Infocom Copyright 1991, Infocom Set in the same futuristic universe of gigantic robots’ warfare, the sequel of BattleTech: The Crescent Hawks’ Inception continues the story of the young MechWarrior Jason Youngblood and his quest to rescue his father and retaliate.…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Winky Soft GAME PUBLISHER:Banpresto Copyright 1993, Banpresto Virtually unknown outside Asia, Banpresto’s Super Robot War is a popular series of video wargames that began on the NES way back in 1990. The series is based on Banpresto’s wide range of “mecha” franchises including Gundam,…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Justin Kinchen GAME DEVELOPER:DigiPen Institute of Technology GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2003, DigiPen Institute of Technology Developed by Juniors at DigiPen Institute of Technology, Bontgo is a unique and intense 3D abstract wargame. From the official site: “Players begin with flags (one color for each player) spaced…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Justin Halliday GAME DEVELOPER:Beam International GAME PUBLISHER:Melbourne House Copyright 1997, Beam International KKnD Xtreme is a great “expanded edition” of KKnD, one of the most underrated – and funny – real-time strategy games ever made. The official site explains why KKnD fans should get this version:…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Karel Pool GAME DEVELOPER:Freeware GAME PUBLISHER:Freeware Copyright 2002, Karel Pool Medieval Clash is the English version of Tornime, a simple but fun strategy game from Estonia. Set in a nondescript country in 1387, your purpose is to destroy the opposing king’s castle while protecting your own…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:Brian Rice GAME DEVELOPER:Capstone GAME PUBLISHER:Capstone Copyright 1992, Capstone Monte Carlo Baccarat is another decent release in the genre that Capstone seems best at doing (at least compared to their horrendous action and adventure titles): casino games. Similar to Trump Castle 2, this is a reasonably…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER: GAME DEVELOPER:Keypunch GAME PUBLISHER:Keypunch Copyright 1985, Keypunch Yet another compilation by Keypunch in which the company essentially stole freelance designers’ works (most released as freeware or shareware on various BBS’s), took out all credits, and sold them as the company’s own games. That the company…

From the Database of Home of the Underdogs GAME DESIGNER:John Cutler GAME DEVELOPER:CutlerCreative GAME PUBLISHER:Simon & Schuster Copyright 2000, CutlerCreative One of the most unique and in my opinion underrated strategy games ever made, Last Call is a fun game that puts you in a bartender’s shoes. Your goal is to earn as much tips…