It has a historical relevance unlike Civilization IV’s safely sandbox non-opinions on history. This isn’t inherently better or worse than tactical combat about fending off alien invaders, growing a civilization over the course of 5000 years, or surviving pink fungus on a distant planet. It is game design as an opinion about history rather than a simulation of it. But it suggests a specific idea, without judgment or comment. No one will rebel against you for being a dick. The game design - what you do, how you do it, and why you do it - is a distinct perspective on the discovery and exploitation of the New World in the 16th and 17th centuries and how this affected the wars of the 18th and 19th centuries. Imperialism II is a pointed historical opinion.
There is no strategy game as good as Imperialism II.Īfter the jump, don’t even bring up chess. But the ultimate thing I would do is circle the name of Frog City’s 1999 masterpiece, Imperialism II. Go get your own list! The next thing I would do is write down titles such as X-Com, Civilization IV, and Alpha Centauri. If I were to think of a short list of the greatest strategy games ever made, the first thing I would do is rule out real-time strategy games, because they’re their own beast.