What strategy games are there that focus on logistics, economics and politics over combat?

[Mantonio]

Hello all. I had a shocking revelation earlier today, whilst I was playing Medieval 2 Total War.

I was playing as the French. And I realised that (beyond the mandatory uniting of France) I had gone nearly two hundred years without attacking a single place! I'd defended a few times, sure, but I'd spent all my turns improving my cities and agriculture, letting the money pour in through trade and taxes, and trying to keep my neighbours happy with me while at the same time playing them off against each other. I'd realised that I had completely forgotten about the whole 'war' aspect! Instead of ruling, I'd been leading!

This made me start to wonder, are there any strategy games that cater to this type of playstyle? Real time, turn based, it doesn't matter. I've heard the Civilization series is a bit like that?

 

[Johnmw]

Anno 1404 is a great trade based city building game it is also very pretty and has a sci-fi sequel out soon! Seriously, this game has eaten so much of my time, you have been warned.

 

[StorytellingIsAMust]

Civilization is exactly what you're looking for. War is simply a tool that you can use to expand your influence. Other tools include science, architecture, diplomacy, art, and economics. Very fun game, even if I suck at it.

 

[HerbertTheHamster]

Victoria 2.

enjoy learning to play, though.

 

[Mantonio]

Anno 1404 is a great trade based city building game it is also very pretty and has a sci-fi sequel out soon! Seriously, this game has eaten so much of my time, you have been warned.

That future one does look very good! It's such a shame I'd need to upgrade to play it though.

Civilization is exactly what you're looking for. War is simply a tool that you can use to expand your influence. Other tools include science, architecture, diplomacy, art, and economics. Very fun game, even if I suck at it.

Sounds right up my alley!

Victoria 2.

enjoy learning to play, though.

Complicated, is it? Less or more than Dwarf Fortress?

 

[Capachinola]

Annon 1404, though you can compete and wage war in the game, I have never once included enemy AI in my world. You can spend dozens of hours building a civilization economically, without once needing to fight anybody else.

Stronghold series, the first and second are a little dated, the third was just recently released. Its a little raw on content, but fun anyway. The economy and industry is important, for example, wheat to the mill to bread, and the efficent pathways to get it there. Still, very raw at this point on maps and features.


Classic city builders like Ceaser and, my all time favorite, emperor rise of the middle kingdom, we're incredibly amazing games, but are dated and don't have, or have very poor, modern equivalents.


Tropico 3 and (I haven't played) 4. Both are intensive on the political side, and like stronghold are detailed on the industry (logs to lumbar to furniture to export, tobacco to cigars ect.)

The Settlers series is also great, but the best were the old games, which are now dated for new players. The latest in the series have been disappointing, graphics over content.

Civilization, as said above.

Obviously Sim City 3000 and 4 are great for this.