I'm looking for a semi-casual (maybe tick below Civ V or at that level) TBS or RTS where I can attempt to conquer the world.

I'm looking for something of a cross between the detailed and high number of territory maps that EU has (with none of the EU mechanics), and without much/any basebuilding.

I've played and enjoyed Civ, TW series, Warlock, AoE, RoN and a few others.

I'd prefer an option for an earth map, but it might not be necessary.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

10 years ago*

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Bad Rats

10 years ago
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thats conquering the sewers and your heart, of course

10 years ago
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Europa Universalis 3 or 4, Crusader Kings 2, Hearts of Iron series. Pretty much anything Paradox Interactive.

10 years ago
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You are incredibly hardcore if you consider anything from Paradox to be "semi-casual".

Other than the map style, Paradox games are about as far away as I could possibly want, unless there is some mod unbeknownst to me that automates tasks, simplifies UI, and has a REAL tutorial mode.

10 years ago
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Ha, yeah they take a little more thinking to be casual, but I do believe that after you know the system in place you can pick the game up at any time and start playing. As for a real tutorial, the wikis are your friends! =P

10 years ago
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i had to watch 4 hours of tutorial from youtube to learn how to start crusader kings 2. then it becomes my favorite game.

10 years ago
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Then I started failing on history exams because I stated that in 1677 France annexed Spain.

10 years ago
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Lol.

10 years ago
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FTW

10 years ago
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Also, have not played these yet but they look promising:

  • Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar
  • Pride of Nations
  • Commander: The Great War
10 years ago
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Thank you! Those I'll give a look to.

I have given up on Paradox as a company that produces games that are fun for me. They are a chore for me. And I have far too few real life hours to invest in simply learning how to play.

10 years ago
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Pride of Nations and any Ageod games are way more hardcore ( and better ) than the paradox games. They are however turn based with turns taking minutes which makes it hardly bearable. A title like Ageod Civil War 2 in multiplayer however is heaven since the turn resolution doesn't matter so much.

9 years ago
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CK2 and EU4 are pretty much semicasual, to be fair. They're simply targeted towards a bigger mass than the old ones and are therefore easier to learn and play.
Someone already said SW: Empire at War, which I second. And while it doesn't have the scope you're looking for, Battle for Middle-Earth II had a TBS gamemode as well.
Another kind of unconventional option would be Mount & Blade (Warband). There are mods that change the map if you so desire, it's not exactly casual either, but in a different way than EU or CK. And it's insanely fun.

10 years ago
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Besides my aforementioned gripes with the way Paradox does both UI and business, those aren't games I can put down and then pick up days later for half an hour. I'd have to take 45 minutes just to review where the hell I left off. :)

It's a time thing, as much as anything. If I had 3 hours to blow every evening, or 4-6 on a weekend day, I'd probably quite enjoy Paradox titles since I'd have time to absorb the UI and ruleset and get into them. But I simply do not have that luxury at this stage in my life.

Nor will I, I suspect, for another 10-15 years or until my daughter picks it up. :)

10 years ago
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Plague Inc: Evolved? A different kind of conquering the world where you try to kill everyone while you play as a virus. You try not to be discovered as it mutates etc. Certain countries can set up reserach centers and the like and you can look to try and target them more before they find a cure or immunisation, countries can close the borders in an attempt to stop you spreading, that kind of thing.

I've never played it myself, just watched a a couple of let's plays and it looks quite fun.

10 years ago
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I just bought this. Didn't think of it as this type, but I'll be. I think it's time to install and play. Thank you!

10 years ago
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Holy crap is this game fun.

Just played through three plagues and wow is it creepy and totally satisfying all at the same time.

10 years ago
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If you're looking for something like Civ V, you might be interested in the Warlock series.

10 years ago
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Read the OP closer.

10 years ago
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Yep, you're right... only read the first line.

10 years ago
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There is game called Knights Of Honor. A grand strategy. Maybe you'll like it.

10 years ago
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Ty.

10 years ago
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Endless Legend is pretty similar to Civ 5. it's also got a tutorial in case you`d like to take a look at that.

10 years ago
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Thanks, vap. It's on my wishlist. Will probably wait for a sale this Winter or next Spring, but it's definitely on the radar.

10 years ago
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Not exactly what you are after but this is a minimalist classic strategy game that ive loved for years, Slay. The site is a bit crappy but there's a demo u can grab, the game also has versions on iOS and android.

10 years ago
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That's interesting. And although I may not install it on my PC, I will most certainly try and grab it on Android. Thank you.

10 years ago
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While it's nothing like Civ, and is an entirely different type of strategy game, Defcon might be something that you'd be interested in, if you want to give something different a go.

I thought I had an extra key for the game around somewhere, but I guess not. You could probably find it for really cheap if you look around, though. I'm pretty sure it's been in multiple bundles.

10 years ago
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Ooooh. Now that looks interesting. Gracias.

10 years ago
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Age of Wonders? Endless Legends? Eador?

10 years ago
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Making History II: The War of the World looks kinda intriguing. Anyone here played it?

10 years ago
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Endless Legend, Warlock I/II, HOI-Series, , Crusader Kings II, Victoria I/II or Rome II, Panzer General.
But seriously Paradox games are what i consider casual, in contrary to games like Supreme Commander.

10 years ago
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Paradox games make me tear my hair out and having to deal with a fair percentage of unpleasant folks on their forums is what made me finally stop playing EUIII.

I enjoyed CKII, but EUIV was a frustrating mess. I find their lack of tutorials and game manual to be lazy. It's a shame they rely on third-parties in disparate locations (and hours of searching) to even learn how to play the game. My time is worth more than what they make me go through to find out how to play. They won't get my money for their GS games again, unless they improve UI and write a proper manual. I might buy another CK game should it come out.

And I need something I can just pick up and play when I have 30-60 minutes to kill, which is about all I get consecutively any more.

10 years ago
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Divnity dragon commander (not sure if it's casual enough but i'm enjoying it).
Dawn of war soulstorm/dark crusade.
King arthur it's like total war but a bit harder.

10 years ago
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Dawn of War Soulstorm and Dark Crusade do have it where you conquer a Starsystem and Planet respectfully. But like a few suggestions not sure the OP wants basebuilding.

10 years ago
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SuperPower 2 maybe ?

10 years ago
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I believe Empire Earth III had it if I recall although that is a bit of a mess of a game.

There was also the Single Player to Rise of Legends (although that was a fantasy world).

Both have base building though in most missions though.

EDIT: Star Wars Empire at War! Galactic Conquest mode!

10 years ago
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Isn't SW E@W on sale? I'll have to go look at that and see if it might be fun...

10 years ago
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Endless Space.
Instead of conquering the world, you conquer the galaxy!! And there's many different ways to do so (Military, Exploration, Diplomacy, etc)

10 years ago
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Its Civ 4 in space.

10 years ago
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My favourite genre :D

Age of Wonders Endles Space and Legend, Etherlords, Supreme Ruler series, Eador

Too bad you had wrong impression with paradox community. Those are the best conquer games at the market (crusader kings, europa universalis, victoria, hearts of iron)

You don't need more, it's enough to play till the grave <sad>

10 years ago
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Imperium Romanum?

10 years ago
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Age of Mythology?

10 years ago
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Age of Wonders 3 is very similar to Civ V but with TW(ish) style battles and focused solely on domination victories.

10 years ago
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Just picked this up during the sale and after reading reviews on Steam with users having hundreds of hours under their belt. Hope to be able to try it out next month sometime.

Ty.

9 years ago
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Deleted

This comment was deleted 5 years ago.

10 years ago
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Wow. Thanks so much, y'all!

Ton to work with here. I just bought AI War recently and guess I'll have to crack it open, so to speak.

Put a bunch more on my wishlist, too!

10 years ago
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i saw that you have gamesgo makers in the wishlist. it's currently available at this bundle for 3.5 USD

10 years ago
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Dominions 3 or 4.

9 years ago
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I almost pulled the trigger on D4 on the flash sale. Decided I'm not ready for that kind of commitment yet. Heard tales of Paradox-like complication and it scared me off (I can tolerate CKII, but generally think Paradox aren't human beings that understand what a manual, instructions, and tutorials are). Was corrected, but will likely pick up and try this in the Summer Sale. Ty.

9 years ago
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Hearts of Iron?

9 years ago
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If it's like every other Paradox title in that it:

  1. Has no proper tutorial
  2. Has no documentation in a central location from the developer.
  3. Requires hours of searching to find out how game mechanics actually occur (rinse, repeat, rinse, repeat)
  4. I have to deal with less-than-kindly Paradox community shills.

Then...no thanks. Paradox has already wasted so much of my little time in ways that are not enjoyable or entertaining, that I've pretty much sworn them off completely except an occasional foray back to CKII till I get frustrated again.

9 years ago
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I thought you might like it since you mentioned you played EU. No sense in recommending you Crusader Kings then :-p.

9 years ago
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FWIW, CK2 is the most accessible and most fun thing I've ever played from Paradox. When I'm not pulling my hair out, CK sates my morbid sense of humor and is pretty darn entertaining. :)

9 years ago
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Have to strongly recommend Endless Legend; a few other have already mentioned it, too - it's a brilliant game.

9 years ago
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Conquer the world of Mexico in Expeditions: Conquistador :D

9 years ago
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