Pulpy B-movie science as the foundation of a solid RTS? Yes, please! The creature creator alone is brilliant and calls back to the Remarkable Animals and Very Mixed-Up Animals books from childhood.

A great game to wind down with. Just turn on the in-game online radio and drive around. Parking is a pain, though, and will take away your zen if you play it with a keyboard.

Not quite Phoenix Wright on PC, but rather a Victor Hugo novel with animal people. Amazing aesthetic, exciting story, and a fascinating twist on French history.

Effectively a Game of Thrones simulator (there's a great GoT mod for it btw), CK2 shows how hard it is to be king. Different regions feel different, giving CK2 great replay value. Expensive with DLC.

One of the most complex games I've ever played. Detailed economic system and a frequent shift in the balance of power in the world make Victoria II a fun nut to crack. Also: lots of good mods!

The parallels this bleak game has to the Soviets are obvious yet effective, and despite communism's fall in 1991 the game is still relevant in today's world of airport security and the refugee crisis.

I love the RPG Maker series and 2000 is a limited yet wonderful little program.You're probably better off with VX or MV but if you want a retro throwback challenge, 2000 might be the tool for you.

Piracy, trade, and early modern politics. Patrician III offers it all. Sail around the North and Baltic Sea, buy and sell goods, become rich and influential. Timeless look and mechanics.

Easy to learn, difficult to master. This satisfying little game makes you feel like a real flying ace once you've got the hang of it.