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Panzer General (SSI, 1994) didn't quite have the massive manual that some MicroProse strategy games had - this one had "only" around 60 pages - but one of the biggest appeals was its simplified design and interface compared to earlier SSI titles, which were rooted in complex war/strategy simulations,... appealing to a smaller niche of players. Panzer General's structure was much simpler compared to SSI's traditional deep, simulation-heavy titles like those from Gary Grigsby (such as Panzer Strike, Battlegroup or Typhoon of Steel), but this move opened up their games to a more mainstream audience - and ultimately making Panzer General a commercial success. Sequels such as Fantasy General (1996) or Allied General (1995) were based on the same engine. I always liked turn-based strategy games (Battle Isle, Master of Orion, Civilization), so Panzer General was one of the many classics of the 90s, arguably the peak decade for such games.show more

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The 90s were a great decade for turn-based strategy games. Civilization, Colonization, Master of Orion, Heroes of Might and Magic, Warlords... and the list goes on and on. One game that feels underappreciated when looking back on that era is Ascendancy (The Logic Factory, 1995). What stood out right from the start was the design/style. Ascendancy not only looked very different, it also had a very novel approach to the tech tree (which was less linear compared to other strategy games), a unique ship design, and a well balanced and complex diplomacy system. The overall goal is to lead your alien race to victory, through colonization of other planets, building a fleet, exploring, and researching new technologies (incl. weapon and shield systems). The music is another aspect that differentiates Ascendancy from other games of the time. Hard to describe it other than "spacey, soothing, a little haunting at times" - if you played the game you know what I mean. It was fitting the game's vibe perfectly. The Logic Factory made one more game after this one: The Tone Rebellion - which flopped (sadly). So, essentially they;re one of those rare "one hit wonder" game studios that only hardcore fans will remember. If you liked Master of Orion, you should give Ascendancy a try.

The 90s were a great decade for turn-based strategy games. Civilization, Colonization, Master of Orion, Heroes of Might and Magic, Warlords... and the list goes on and on. One game that feels underappreciated when looking back on that era is Ascendancy (The Logic Factory, 1995). What stood out right from the start was the design/style. Ascendancy not only looked very different, it also had a very novel approach to the tech tree (which was less linear compared to other strategy games), a unique ship design, and a well balanced and complex diplomacy system. The overall goal is to lead your alien race to victory, through colonization of other planets, building a fleet, exploring, and researching new technologies (incl. weapon and shield systems). The music is another aspect that differentiates Ascendancy from other games of the time. Hard to describe it other than "spacey, soothing, a little haunting at times" - if you played the game you know what I mean. It was fitting the game's vibe perfectly. The Logic Factory made one more game after this one: The Tone Rebellion - which flopped (sadly). So, essentially they;re one of those rare "one hit wonder" game studios that only hardcore fans will remember. If you liked Master of Orion, you should give Ascendancy a try.

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11,827 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

Anyone remember General Zod? One of the last games of the Bitmap Brothers and also one of their best, in my opinion. Z from 1996 was such a blast. Yes, I know, Command & Conquer was published a year earlier and was more complex (and turned into a massive franchise), but I always felt that Z deserved more credit and got a bit lost in the shuffle. Great graphics, an epic soundtrack, and some fun units (who doesn't love the Psychos?) were sadly still not enough, and despite some excellent reviews, sales numbers were pretty low. Earlier games from the Bitmap Brothers, such as Speedball 2 or Xenon 2, were commercially much more successful. Maybe it was the fact that the RTS genre was already quite saturated (Dune II, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Command & Conquer), and that pushed Z into the offside a bit, who knows. Did you play it back in the day and liked it?

Anyone remember General Zod? One of the last games of the Bitmap Brothers and also one of their best, in my opinion. Z from 1996 was such a blast. Yes, I know, Command & Conquer was published a year earlier and was more complex (and turned into a massive franchise), but I always felt that Z deserved more credit and got a bit lost in the shuffle. Great graphics, an epic soundtrack, and some fun units (who doesn't love the Psychos?) were sadly still not enough, and despite some excellent reviews, sales numbers were pretty low. Earlier games from the Bitmap Brothers, such as Speedball 2 or Xenon 2, were commercially much more successful. Maybe it was the fact that the RTS genre was already quite saturated (Dune II, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Command & Conquer), and that pushed Z into the offside a bit, who knows. Did you play it back in the day and liked it?

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36,966 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

The Dig (LucasArts, 1995) didn't achieve the same impact or cult status as Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones, but I devoured it back in the day. In terms of immersion, it was one of LucasArts' best games ever and a milestone of 90s adventure games. It was highly praised by magazines but lost points for high difficulty, making it one of the era's toughest adventure games - and thus diverging from LucasArts' usual style which was usually on the easy/moderate level of difficulty. The visuals and music of The Dig remain incredible, even 30 years later. The large sprites, the amazing choice and composition of colours, the movie like vibe - I found this one to stand out and always wondered why unlike other advneture games this one never got a sequel.

The Dig (LucasArts, 1995) didn't achieve the same impact or cult status as Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones, but I devoured it back in the day. In terms of immersion, it was one of LucasArts' best games ever and a milestone of 90s adventure games. It was highly praised by magazines but lost points for high difficulty, making it one of the era's toughest adventure games - and thus diverging from LucasArts' usual style which was usually on the easy/moderate level of difficulty. The visuals and music of The Dig remain incredible, even 30 years later. The large sprites, the amazing choice and composition of colours, the movie like vibe - I found this one to stand out and always wondered why unlike other advneture games this one never got a sequel.

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65,391 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

One of the best turn-based strategy games of the 90s was Heroes of Might and Magic III, which turns 25 this year. While RTS games took a much bigger market share (think StarCraft, Age of Empires, Command & Conquer...), I always had a soft spot for the "less hectic" and almost soothing type of turn-based games. Among the greats from the 90s era, I think the Heroes of Might and Magic series is among the very top. The incredibly beautiful, detailed, and vibrant design, the iconic soundtrack, the classic gameplay - all that made for perfect late night sessions that usually went on for way too long because "just one more turn... ok, maybe one more... oh dang, it's 3 in the morning". If you've been there, you know. Heroes of Might and Magic is one of the longest living series in gaming history, now entering its 31st year, with the first release in 1995 and latest release in 2025 (Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era). If you were/are a turn-based strategy fan, I bet you played this classic gem of a game.

One of the best turn-based strategy games of the 90s was Heroes of Might and Magic III, which turns 25 this year. While RTS games took a much bigger market share (think StarCraft, Age of Empires, Command & Conquer...), I always had a soft spot for the "less hectic" and almost soothing type of turn-based games. Among the greats from the 90s era, I think the Heroes of Might and Magic series is among the very top. The incredibly beautiful, detailed, and vibrant design, the iconic soundtrack, the classic gameplay - all that made for perfect late night sessions that usually went on for way too long because "just one more turn... ok, maybe one more... oh dang, it's 3 in the morning". If you've been there, you know. Heroes of Might and Magic is one of the longest living series in gaming history, now entering its 31st year, with the first release in 1995 and latest release in 2025 (Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era). If you were/are a turn-based strategy fan, I bet you played this classic gem of a game.

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135,147 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

Another masterpiece turning 30 this year... one of the best turn-based strategy games I ever played: Master of Orion II (Simtex, 1996). A huge improvement over the already excellent original from 1993, Master of Orion II gives sci-fi/strategy nerds everything they need: colonizing planets, terraforming, building infrastructure, researching a gazillion ships, weapons, shields and other tech, diplomacy with alien races, epic space battles, and - of course - black hole generators to swallow capital ships in one go! The graphics were excellent, the intro got you hyped right from the start, different paths to victory (with varying end credit cutscenes), a slightly eerie/spacey soundtrack, and almost endless replayability made this game near perfect. It truly deserves a spot among the great strategy games of the 90s alongside Civilization and Alpha Centauri.

Another masterpiece turning 30 this year... one of the best turn-based strategy games I ever played: Master of Orion II (Simtex, 1996). A huge improvement over the already excellent original from 1993, Master of Orion II gives sci-fi/strategy nerds everything they need: colonizing planets, terraforming, building infrastructure, researching a gazillion ships, weapons, shields and other tech, diplomacy with alien races, epic space battles, and - of course - black hole generators to swallow capital ships in one go! The graphics were excellent, the intro got you hyped right from the start, different paths to victory (with varying end credit cutscenes), a slightly eerie/spacey soundtrack, and almost endless replayability made this game near perfect. It truly deserves a spot among the great strategy games of the 90s alongside Civilization and Alpha Centauri.

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17,591 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

The Dig (LucasArts, 1995) didn't achieve the same impact or cult status as Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones, but I played the crap out of it back in the day. In terms of immersion, it was one of LucasArts' best games ever and a true milestone of 90s adventure games. It was highly praised by magazines but lost points for (too) high difficulty, making it one of the era's toughest adventures - and thus diverging from LucasArts' typical style which was more on the easy/moderate level of difficulty. I wasn't able to finish it without a walkthrough from one of the game magazines back then (Internet wasn't really a mainstream thing yet). The visuals and music of The Dig remain absolutely incredible, even over three decades later. The large sprites, the amazing choice and composition of colours (The Dig just looked so different!), the movie like vibe - I found this one to stand out and always wondered why unlike many other adventure games this one never got a sequel. It certainly deserved one.

The Dig (LucasArts, 1995) didn't achieve the same impact or cult status as Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, or Indiana Jones, but I played the crap out of it back in the day. In terms of immersion, it was one of LucasArts' best games ever and a true milestone of 90s adventure games. It was highly praised by magazines but lost points for (too) high difficulty, making it one of the era's toughest adventures - and thus diverging from LucasArts' typical style which was more on the easy/moderate level of difficulty. I wasn't able to finish it without a walkthrough from one of the game magazines back then (Internet wasn't really a mainstream thing yet). The visuals and music of The Dig remain absolutely incredible, even over three decades later. The large sprites, the amazing choice and composition of colours (The Dig just looked so different!), the movie like vibe - I found this one to stand out and always wondered why unlike many other adventure games this one never got a sequel. It certainly deserved one.

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23,378 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

Maybe inspired by the synergy between the PlayStation and Namco’s arcade-compatible hardware, Sega also developed the Dreamcast and NAOMI together to make arcade-to-console ports much easier for their own games. Because of that, it wasn’t the massive leap that Model 3 had been, but it still ended up getting a huge variety of games from not only Sega, but many other companies as well. Popular titles like Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Capcom vs. SNK 2 were also NAOMI-based games. What was disappointing, though, was the irony that Virtua Fighter 4 never came to the Dreamcast and was instead released on the PlayStation 2.

Maybe inspired by the synergy between the PlayStation and Namco’s arcade-compatible hardware, Sega also developed the Dreamcast and NAOMI together to make arcade-to-console ports much easier for their own games. Because of that, it wasn’t the massive leap that Model 3 had been, but it still ended up getting a huge variety of games from not only Sega, but many other companies as well. Popular titles like Marvel vs. Capcom 2 and Capcom vs. SNK 2 were also NAOMI-based games. What was disappointing, though, was the irony that Virtua Fighter 4 never came to the Dreamcast and was instead released on the PlayStation 2.

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20,921 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

An absolute legend of gaming history turns 40 this year: Gunship by Microprose was released in 1986. For many, many years it remained the undisputed benchmark for helicopter combat simulations. It was universally praised for its graphics, weapons, sound, controls, realistic physics, and documentation (the famously long and historically accurate MicroProse manuals, this one was over 80 pages long). You fly an AH-64 Apache and can play endlessly in the career mode (no classic "end game scenario"), reaching a rank as high as Brigadier General. By the end of the 80s it had sold over half a million copies, making it one of MicroProse's most successful games of the decade.

An absolute legend of gaming history turns 40 this year: Gunship by Microprose was released in 1986. For many, many years it remained the undisputed benchmark for helicopter combat simulations. It was universally praised for its graphics, weapons, sound, controls, realistic physics, and documentation (the famously long and historically accurate MicroProse manuals, this one was over 80 pages long). You fly an AH-64 Apache and can play endlessly in the career mode (no classic "end game scenario"), reaching a rank as high as Brigadier General. By the end of the 80s it had sold over half a million copies, making it one of MicroProse's most successful games of the decade.

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22,677 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

MicroProse was - in my eyes - the king of simulations in the 1980s and 1990s, especially in the historical/war strategy genre. Their games were of the highest quality, offering incredible depth and historical authenticity (within the limitations of the era, of course). All of them came with massive manuals - and boy, were they needed! The quality and depth of the games came at a price: Your willingness to dig deep and learn/study, you couldn't just jump in and "wing it". Red Storm Rising (1988) had a notably steep learning curve for its time. It was one of the more complex naval simulations of the late 1980s, featuring realistic submarine warfare (sonar, torpedoes, missiles, evasion tactics, and more) in a Cold War campaign based on Tom Clancy's novel (which I never read). Realism played a major role: at higher difficulties, the game punished mistakes harshly. Poor sonar use or a noisy maneuver could get you sunk faster than you could say "oh crap". Even basic play required a solid understanding of submarine tactics. In many ways, Red Storm Rising felt like the big brother of Silent Service - bigger, meaner, stronger, and much harder to master.

MicroProse was - in my eyes - the king of simulations in the 1980s and 1990s, especially in the historical/war strategy genre. Their games were of the highest quality, offering incredible depth and historical authenticity (within the limitations of the era, of course). All of them came with massive manuals - and boy, were they needed! The quality and depth of the games came at a price: Your willingness to dig deep and learn/study, you couldn't just jump in and "wing it". Red Storm Rising (1988) had a notably steep learning curve for its time. It was one of the more complex naval simulations of the late 1980s, featuring realistic submarine warfare (sonar, torpedoes, missiles, evasion tactics, and more) in a Cold War campaign based on Tom Clancy's novel (which I never read). Realism played a major role: at higher difficulties, the game punished mistakes harshly. Poor sonar use or a noisy maneuver could get you sunk faster than you could say "oh crap". Even basic play required a solid understanding of submarine tactics. In many ways, Red Storm Rising felt like the big brother of Silent Service - bigger, meaner, stronger, and much harder to master.

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11,965 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

How such a great game as Battle Isle II (Blue Byte, 1994) still had so little commercial success boggles my mind to this day. Maybe it was the limited market - developed by a German studio primarily known in Germany - or the lack of marketing power, who knows. It certainly wasn’t the gameplay, which was simply excellent for a turn-based strategy game. It even innovated some features, such as being the first CD-ROM strategy game to feature 3D combat animations and unit displays using raytracing and vector graphics. Granted, that was “just” eye candy, but it set the game apart from others in the genre that could sometimes feel a bit dry to non-experts. It also offered a huge variety of units for air, sea, and ground combat, including 12 experience levels for each unit (greatly affecting battle outcomes). Controls were easy enough for new players to learn quickly, maps varied greatly in size and terrain (requiring different strategies), and the pixel-style in-game cutscenes were a nice touch. I couldn’t get enough of the Battle Isle series (1, 2 and 3 were all great, plus Incubation, which was a later spin-off). This series is gravely underrated and overlooked, one of my all-time favourites, and yet I wonder if many non-German players have ever even heard of it.

How such a great game as Battle Isle II (Blue Byte, 1994) still had so little commercial success boggles my mind to this day. Maybe it was the limited market - developed by a German studio primarily known in Germany - or the lack of marketing power, who knows. It certainly wasn’t the gameplay, which was simply excellent for a turn-based strategy game. It even innovated some features, such as being the first CD-ROM strategy game to feature 3D combat animations and unit displays using raytracing and vector graphics. Granted, that was “just” eye candy, but it set the game apart from others in the genre that could sometimes feel a bit dry to non-experts. It also offered a huge variety of units for air, sea, and ground combat, including 12 experience levels for each unit (greatly affecting battle outcomes). Controls were easy enough for new players to learn quickly, maps varied greatly in size and terrain (requiring different strategies), and the pixel-style in-game cutscenes were a nice touch. I couldn’t get enough of the Battle Isle series (1, 2 and 3 were all great, plus Incubation, which was a later spin-off). This series is gravely underrated and overlooked, one of my all-time favourites, and yet I wonder if many non-German players have ever even heard of it.

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22,796 Aufrufe • vor 7 Monaten

A while ago, I posted about games that looked great but had terrible gameplay/controls. The one that stuck with me was Dragon's Lair, but there were so many more mentioned in the comments that I had totally forgotten about. Today, I want to turn the question around - games that looked rather basic (or even poor) but had incredible gameplay. So, basically the polar opposite of Dragon's Lair. The choice for me was rather easy: M.U.L.E. (Ozark Softscape, 1983). Back then the graphics were ok but nothing to write home about. However, the reason why this game still has such a cult following and so many fans today - over 40 years later - is its gameplay. I never had more fun in a multi-player game. The land grabing, the auction system, supply and demand principles, and the many last second buy/sell antics have lost none of their charm. It's a game that aged beautifully because the concept and gameplay are as good today as they were back then. If you had to pick a game that ranks rather low in terms of presentation but fascinated you for its gameplay, which one would that be?

A while ago, I posted about games that looked great but had terrible gameplay/controls. The one that stuck with me was Dragon's Lair, but there were so many more mentioned in the comments that I had totally forgotten about. Today, I want to turn the question around - games that looked rather basic (or even poor) but had incredible gameplay. So, basically the polar opposite of Dragon's Lair. The choice for me was rather easy: M.U.L.E. (Ozark Softscape, 1983). Back then the graphics were ok but nothing to write home about. However, the reason why this game still has such a cult following and so many fans today - over 40 years later - is its gameplay. I never had more fun in a multi-player game. The land grabing, the auction system, supply and demand principles, and the many last second buy/sell antics have lost none of their charm. It's a game that aged beautifully because the concept and gameplay are as good today as they were back then. If you had to pick a game that ranks rather low in terms of presentation but fascinated you for its gameplay, which one would that be?

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63,284 Aufrufe • vor 8 Monaten

Pirates! (MicroProse, 1987) is one of many legendary games designed by Sid Meier. I went through a list of games he was credited for, not just by name (his name power alone sold later games he had little active involvement with). It's an incredible list of some of the best games of the 80s and 90s, but Pirates! was the first to include "Sid Meier" in its title as an effort by MicroProse to attract fans of his earlier games. It's an open-world, open-ended game, quite novel for its time. You choose loyalty to one of four nations (Kingdom of England, Dutch Republic, French Colonial Empire, or Spanish Empire) - changeable throughout the game, or go full rogue as a pirate! You battle other ships, duel captains mano a mano, invade towns, hunt treasure, and trade. My fondest memory: a gigantic map my brother and I drew, pinning roughly 20 A4 (letter) papers for a detailed coastline overview. Took many days, and a perfect example an era when games fully immersed you.

Pirates! (MicroProse, 1987) is one of many legendary games designed by Sid Meier. I went through a list of games he was credited for, not just by name (his name power alone sold later games he had little active involvement with). It's an incredible list of some of the best games of the 80s and 90s, but Pirates! was the first to include "Sid Meier" in its title as an effort by MicroProse to attract fans of his earlier games. It's an open-world, open-ended game, quite novel for its time. You choose loyalty to one of four nations (Kingdom of England, Dutch Republic, French Colonial Empire, or Spanish Empire) - changeable throughout the game, or go full rogue as a pirate! You battle other ships, duel captains mano a mano, invade towns, hunt treasure, and trade. My fondest memory: a gigantic map my brother and I drew, pinning roughly 20 A4 (letter) papers for a detailed coastline overview. Took many days, and a perfect example an era when games fully immersed you.

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24,597 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

Sim City 2000 (Maxis, 1993) still stands as the best "build a city" game I have ever played. It looks wonderful, it plays beautifully, it's neither too hard nor too easy, it is quite complex (considering its age) and it has basically an endless replay value. It was hard to stop playing, because you could always build just one more industrial complex, just one more power plant, just one more police station to fight crime... oh and look, now you have some extra funds to build a park! Pretty. Some games are truly timeless, and I feel Sim City 2000 embodies such a game. The designer was Will Wright, who went on to also make "The Sims" and the lesser known "Spore", another 2 games that were quite unique. Among the best selling games between 1993 and 1999, Sim City 2000 ranks at #9, which is remarkable because the 90s featured incredible games! I know that it didn't have the same "wow" factor that the original Sim City had, but in terms of a sequel this was such a massive step forward on so many levels. If Sim City was the seedling, then Sim City 2000 was a fully grown tree!

Sim City 2000 (Maxis, 1993) still stands as the best "build a city" game I have ever played. It looks wonderful, it plays beautifully, it's neither too hard nor too easy, it is quite complex (considering its age) and it has basically an endless replay value. It was hard to stop playing, because you could always build just one more industrial complex, just one more power plant, just one more police station to fight crime... oh and look, now you have some extra funds to build a park! Pretty. Some games are truly timeless, and I feel Sim City 2000 embodies such a game. The designer was Will Wright, who went on to also make "The Sims" and the lesser known "Spore", another 2 games that were quite unique. Among the best selling games between 1993 and 1999, Sim City 2000 ranks at #9, which is remarkable because the 90s featured incredible games! I know that it didn't have the same "wow" factor that the original Sim City had, but in terms of a sequel this was such a massive step forward on so many levels. If Sim City was the seedling, then Sim City 2000 was a fully grown tree!

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178,959 Aufrufe • vor 10 Monaten

"Yes, sir! Let's get'em. Territory taken." One of the last games of the Bitmap Brothers and also one of their best, in my opinion. Z from 1996 was such a blast, a great game with its own humorous take on the RTS genre. Yes, I know, Command & Conquer was published a year earlier and was more complex (and turned into a massive franchise), but I always felt that Z deserved more credit and is sometimes overlooked. Great graphics, a brilliant soundtrack, and some fun units (who doesn't love the Psychos?), but it was still not enough, and despite some excellent reviews, sales numbers were simply too low. Earlier games from the Bitmap Brothers, such as Speedball 2 or Xenon 2, had lower production costs and sold much better. Z was a big budget project that didn't hit the mark (commercially). Maybe the RTS genre was too saturated at the time with massive hits (Dune II, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Command & Conquer), and that caused a bit of gamers' fatigue? Maybe that pushed Z into the offside a bit, who knows. What's your verdict on this slightly forgotten gem?

"Yes, sir! Let's get'em. Territory taken." One of the last games of the Bitmap Brothers and also one of their best, in my opinion. Z from 1996 was such a blast, a great game with its own humorous take on the RTS genre. Yes, I know, Command & Conquer was published a year earlier and was more complex (and turned into a massive franchise), but I always felt that Z deserved more credit and is sometimes overlooked. Great graphics, a brilliant soundtrack, and some fun units (who doesn't love the Psychos?), but it was still not enough, and despite some excellent reviews, sales numbers were simply too low. Earlier games from the Bitmap Brothers, such as Speedball 2 or Xenon 2, had lower production costs and sold much better. Z was a big budget project that didn't hit the mark (commercially). Maybe the RTS genre was too saturated at the time with massive hits (Dune II, Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, Command & Conquer), and that caused a bit of gamers' fatigue? Maybe that pushed Z into the offside a bit, who knows. What's your verdict on this slightly forgotten gem?

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12,503 Aufrufe • vor 21 Tagen

Master of Magic (1994), developed by Simtex and published by MicroProse, is a strategy gem and fantasy spin-off of Master of Orion. Conquer dual planes (Earth-like Arcanus and exotic Myrror) via city-building, resource management, and over 200 spells across Life, Death, Chaos, Nature, and Sorcery schools. Like other MicroProse titles, it feels like gaming history. The design, sound, and immersive feel were brilliant, and the "just one more turn" trap got me countless times past bedtime back in the day. You command races like elves, trolls, and insectoid Klackons; recruit heroes; fight tactical battles and neutrals. It has a massive cult following with endless replayability. I sometimes use the word "soul" for games that had that special ingredient. This one did.

Master of Magic (1994), developed by Simtex and published by MicroProse, is a strategy gem and fantasy spin-off of Master of Orion. Conquer dual planes (Earth-like Arcanus and exotic Myrror) via city-building, resource management, and over 200 spells across Life, Death, Chaos, Nature, and Sorcery schools. Like other MicroProse titles, it feels like gaming history. The design, sound, and immersive feel were brilliant, and the "just one more turn" trap got me countless times past bedtime back in the day. You command races like elves, trolls, and insectoid Klackons; recruit heroes; fight tactical battles and neutrals. It has a massive cult following with endless replayability. I sometimes use the word "soul" for games that had that special ingredient. This one did.

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17,077 Aufrufe • vor 9 Monaten

One of the most unique games ever: Loom (1990) wasn't just incredibly gorgeous to look at; it also introduced a completely novel way to play adventure games. Instead of a classic inventory or command prompts, it was controlled entirely through musical notes (spells). By combining new sequences of notes, you could cast spells to interact with the environment - like opening a door or sharpening a blade. These spells were learned by observing the world around you. You could also play some notes backwards to reverse their effect (for example, open/close a door). The game was successful and attracted a much larger portion of female gamers than traditional adventures had before. It was also more appealing to beginners due to its gentler and more accessible nature (more experienced gamers found it generally a bit too easy and short). I always wondered why such a successful and brilliant game never got a sequel. Originally, two more sequels were planned, but Lucasfilm buried the idea. No clue why.

One of the most unique games ever: Loom (1990) wasn't just incredibly gorgeous to look at; it also introduced a completely novel way to play adventure games. Instead of a classic inventory or command prompts, it was controlled entirely through musical notes (spells). By combining new sequences of notes, you could cast spells to interact with the environment - like opening a door or sharpening a blade. These spells were learned by observing the world around you. You could also play some notes backwards to reverse their effect (for example, open/close a door). The game was successful and attracted a much larger portion of female gamers than traditional adventures had before. It was also more appealing to beginners due to its gentler and more accessible nature (more experienced gamers found it generally a bit too easy and short). I always wondered why such a successful and brilliant game never got a sequel. Originally, two more sequels were planned, but Lucasfilm buried the idea. No clue why.

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30,242 Aufrufe • vor 6 Monaten

One often-forgotten legend in gaming is Geoff Crammond. Some of his games are pure genius and absolute classics, not just in terms of concept and gameplay, but especially considering what he was able to get out of systems with very limited resoruces. One of those early titles was The Sentinel (1986), a masterful 3D polygon puzzle-strategy game. You control a Synthoid robot, absorbing energy from the terrain to create new bodies and teleport uphill. The giant Sentinel scans slowly from the highest peak - if it spots you, it drains your energy. Your goal is to reach the top, absorb the Sentinel, and hyperspace to the next level. Crammond’s genius also gave us Revs, Stunt Car Racer, and the unforgettable Grand Prix franchise - the earlier ones mostly done in solo development. While many of the big blockbuster games were team efforts, Crammond would remain mostly a solo developer for most of his career. He stayed relatively quiet for many years after 2002, but in December 2025 it was announced that MicroProse had reunited with Crammond for updated rereleases of all four Grand Prix games, set for release on Steam in 2026.

One often-forgotten legend in gaming is Geoff Crammond. Some of his games are pure genius and absolute classics, not just in terms of concept and gameplay, but especially considering what he was able to get out of systems with very limited resoruces. One of those early titles was The Sentinel (1986), a masterful 3D polygon puzzle-strategy game. You control a Synthoid robot, absorbing energy from the terrain to create new bodies and teleport uphill. The giant Sentinel scans slowly from the highest peak - if it spots you, it drains your energy. Your goal is to reach the top, absorb the Sentinel, and hyperspace to the next level. Crammond’s genius also gave us Revs, Stunt Car Racer, and the unforgettable Grand Prix franchise - the earlier ones mostly done in solo development. While many of the big blockbuster games were team efforts, Crammond would remain mostly a solo developer for most of his career. He stayed relatively quiet for many years after 2002, but in December 2025 it was announced that MicroProse had reunited with Crammond for updated rereleases of all four Grand Prix games, set for release on Steam in 2026.

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13,001 Aufrufe • vor 4 Monaten

Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos (Westwood Studios, 1993) had one of the best intros and in-game cutscenes of the early 90s. Hearing Captain Picard utter those words was the ultimate nerd chill moment! It's a classic dungeon crawler, highly popular at the time when other games like Dungeon Master, Might and Magic, Wizardry, or Eye of the Beholder were hugely successful. Unlike other RPGs at the time, the goal was to appeal to a less "pro" audience, meaning that the essential aspects such as character generation (rolling/assigning stat points, etc.) was dropped in favor of pre-made characters. Less true to the traditional Advanced Dungeon's & Dragons system, Lands of Lore was supposed to be "easier to get into" even for inexperienced players. Other traditional aspects like finding armor, weapons, and potions were kept. If you liked Eye of the Beholder or the Might and Magic series, Lands of Lore was probably also high on your list. Defintely a must play for any RPG fan of the 90s.

Lands of Lore: The Throne of Chaos (Westwood Studios, 1993) had one of the best intros and in-game cutscenes of the early 90s. Hearing Captain Picard utter those words was the ultimate nerd chill moment! It's a classic dungeon crawler, highly popular at the time when other games like Dungeon Master, Might and Magic, Wizardry, or Eye of the Beholder were hugely successful. Unlike other RPGs at the time, the goal was to appeal to a less "pro" audience, meaning that the essential aspects such as character generation (rolling/assigning stat points, etc.) was dropped in favor of pre-made characters. Less true to the traditional Advanced Dungeon's & Dragons system, Lands of Lore was supposed to be "easier to get into" even for inexperienced players. Other traditional aspects like finding armor, weapons, and potions were kept. If you liked Eye of the Beholder or the Might and Magic series, Lands of Lore was probably also high on your list. Defintely a must play for any RPG fan of the 90s.

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11,047 Aufrufe • vor 21 Tagen

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (Blizzard, 1995) was such a badass game back in the day. Sure, from today's perspective it looks outdated, the graphics a bit clunky, the rendered cutscenes will at best get a "pass", but for anyone who plated RTS games in the 90s, Warcraft 2 was among the best. There was a time when Blizzard just rolled out incredible games: Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, and then World of Warcraft - all four of those had such a massive impact on the gaming culture. It all started with "Warcraft: Orcs & Humans", but I chose the sequel for this post, since I believe this was their real break through game. Hard to believe for modern gamers... but Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness was once peak gaming! Within the period from 1993 to 1999, Warcraft II was the 6th best selling game among all that were released during that time.

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness (Blizzard, 1995) was such a badass game back in the day. Sure, from today's perspective it looks outdated, the graphics a bit clunky, the rendered cutscenes will at best get a "pass", but for anyone who plated RTS games in the 90s, Warcraft 2 was among the best. There was a time when Blizzard just rolled out incredible games: Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft, and then World of Warcraft - all four of those had such a massive impact on the gaming culture. It all started with "Warcraft: Orcs & Humans", but I chose the sequel for this post, since I believe this was their real break through game. Hard to believe for modern gamers... but Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness was once peak gaming! Within the period from 1993 to 1999, Warcraft II was the 6th best selling game among all that were released during that time.

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23,617 Aufrufe • vor 10 Monaten

When I think of MicroProse, I think of Sid Meier. When I think of their games, the list usually starts with Civilization (my all-time favorite), but a very close second is Railroad Tycoon (1990). You manage a railroad company, buy trains, set schedules, connect towns, build infrastructure, and watch your railway network (and empire) grow. The attention to historical detail only later caught my eye. The steam engine trains of the early era, the electrical trains that came later, the wonderful pixel-style graphics, and the game's pace all blended into a beautiful game. Last but not least, the era-typical massive manual with a crapload of information and historical data. The end of fiscal year rating was pretty funny, with the different "titles" that were bestowed on you - from Hobo to President of the United States - depending on how well you performed. MicroProse was a real powerhouse in the 80s and 90s, and Railroad Tycoon was one of the many reasons why.

When I think of MicroProse, I think of Sid Meier. When I think of their games, the list usually starts with Civilization (my all-time favorite), but a very close second is Railroad Tycoon (1990). You manage a railroad company, buy trains, set schedules, connect towns, build infrastructure, and watch your railway network (and empire) grow. The attention to historical detail only later caught my eye. The steam engine trains of the early era, the electrical trains that came later, the wonderful pixel-style graphics, and the game's pace all blended into a beautiful game. Last but not least, the era-typical massive manual with a crapload of information and historical data. The end of fiscal year rating was pretty funny, with the different "titles" that were bestowed on you - from Hobo to President of the United States - depending on how well you performed. MicroProse was a real powerhouse in the 80s and 90s, and Railroad Tycoon was one of the many reasons why.

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19,278 Aufrufe • vor 5 Monaten