Help ! Need a new computer game

[DCR]

I'm getting a bit bored playing chess, backgammon, and bridge on my computer. I want something different and I'm not finding it. Here are my criteria.
No shooting/killing, blowing sh*t up.
No joystick.
No fantasy, no characters, no role playing.
No 50 page manual.

I'm thinking of something along the lines of the old SimCity, a board type game I never played. Strategy is important, good graphics are not. Sports would be OK. I did enjoy Madden back in the early 90s.

My favorite all time computer game is Empire, developed in the 70s, converted to PC with EGA graphics around 1990. I've been playing it since 1992. It's a strategic game of conquest based on RISK.

Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks for your time.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

Citysky lines
Satisfactory
Plague
Hacknet
Kerbal
Portal

 

[dvd1955]

Hnefatafl, also known as The Viking Game, The King's Table or simply Tafl, is one of the rare breed of games with two unequal sides. The defending side comprises twelve soldiers and a king, who start the game in a cross formation in the center of the board. Their objective is for the king to escape by reaching any of the four corner squares. The attackers comprise 24 soldiers positioned in four groups of 6 around the perimeter of the board. All pieces move like the Rook in chess and pieces are taken by "sandwiching" i.e. moving your piece so that an opponent's piece is trapped horizontally or vertically between two of yours.

Just recently discovered this game and am enjoying learning the strategy.

 

[Mr Evilwrench]

I used to play the Sims a lot, before a lot of the features were offloaded to DLC or expansion packs. I liked Sims 2 the best. I would do various perverse things to my people. Older versions are available on ebay.

 

[Bigtanker]

Don't know if it's on PC but I'm loving Happy Glass. It's in the mobile platforms. Angry Birds is always a good choice too.

 

[DCR]

Thanks much for the responses. I've researched some of these and they're spot on for what I'm looking for!

 

[Spear Dane]

No shooting/killing, blowing sh*t up.
No joystick.
No fantasy, no characters, no role playing.

I'm guessing you don't get invited to many parties.

 

[DCR]

I'm guessing you don't get invited to many parties.

LMAO ! So true. I just got back from kayaking the Everglades. Whenever I tell people I go on vacation to get away from people, I get blank stares.

 

[JettaKnight]

Tropico 4.

Yes, the current version out is Tropico 6, but Tropico 4 is the best in terms of gameplay and the graphics are pretty good. (And it's pretty cheap now!)

As a dictator, you must manage your tiny island and keep each faction and world superpowers happy. This means planning your city and constructing building for farming, housing, tourism, etc.

[video=youtube;bliaRiFNVX4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bliaRiFNVX4[/video]

 

[JettaKnight]

Also, Zachtronics makes some really good logic based games will an emphasis on electronics. Some are free, some are for sale on Steam.

Age of Empires II, while pretty old, is still a really fun way to burn through a couple of hours.

And then there's the Total War franchise, a very well detailed historical battlefield simulations - you command an army, so you never have to pick up a gun (or spear) in those. Prices vary by age of the games.

 

[KLB]

Try one of the Civilization games.

 

[JettaKnight]

Try one of the Civilization games.

Those are typically more involved - games can take days, even weeks.
Civ 4 arguably the best, but Civ 5 is much more simpler (aka accessible).

There's also a FreeCiv, which is free and based on Civ 2, I think.

 

[CampingJosh]

Civilization is the next thing up from Empire.

Personally I prefer real-time strategy games to turn-based stuff. I've been playing the Age of Empires series off and on since 1998 or so.

 

[KittySlayer]

Tic Tac Toe

Shall we play a game?

 

[eric001]

I've been playing Civ IV Beyond the Sword for many years now and haven't ever felt the need to upgrade. Every game is different and there are so many options of what to play and how to play it that I've never gotten bored with it.

 

[target64]

Check out steam on line. They will have something to interest you. Look at Banished, or Medieval engineers.

 

[WebSnyper]

though the version I played looked more like this:

or this:

 

[PapaScout]

Leisure Suit Larry! lol

Ahem... my wife and I enjoy a game on East of the Web called Eight Letters In Search of A Word. Basically, a word jumble where you are timed to come up with as many words as possible from eight letters. The eight letters always have at least one eight-letter word and sometimes several. Addictive and no shooting/blowing **** up. (ETA: Or walking into a bar with your studly little shuffle to pick up sleazy women :-P)

 

[GLOCKMAN23C]

Railroad Tycoon.

 

[DCR]

I thought that looked familiar. LSL ! I'd forgotten all about it. Reminds me of the Space Quest series.
I'd forgotten about Civilization. THX everyone, great suggestions! You've given me enough to keep me busy for years.