Strategy Games on Modest Walrus

Gaming: Cities: Skylines

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Game/Publisher/Developer

Cities: Skylines, Paradox Interactive, Colossal Order

The Trailer

My Reaction

Even with a sequel now out there wearing the name, the original still feels like the definitive version of this game. Years of DLC and mods have turned it into something the follow-up hasn’t come close to matching.

Gaming: Hearts of Iron IV

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Game/Publisher/Developer

Hearts of Iron IV, Paradox Interactive, Paradox Development Studio

The Trailer

My Reaction

It’s brutal, cunning and time-consuming in the best way possible. Picking a start date changes the whole shape of the game before a single division has even moved, and every campaign afterward turns into a slow, deliberate grind of production lines, supply chains and front lines that never quite behave the way you planned.

Gaming: Master of Orion

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Game/Publisher/Developer

Master of Orion, MicroProse, SimTex Software

My Reaction

This one was outside my scope back in 1993-1994; I came to it later. It’s a turn-based game through and through, and the race you pick changes everything about how a campaign plays out. Psilon was my nemesis every single time; their research lead snowballs so fast that by the midgame they’re fielding technology nobody else can touch.

Overview

Master of Orion is a turn-based 4X strategy game released in 1993, developed by SimTex Software and published by MicroProse. Players lead one of ten playable races; Humans, Alkari, Bulrathi, Darloks, Klackons, Meklar, Mrrshan, Psilon, Sakkra and Silicoids; through exploring, expanding, exploiting and exterminating across the galaxy. Each race has its own specialty: Humans lean into trade and diplomacy, the Bulrathi dominate ground combat, the Silicoids ignore pollution and can colonize even the most hostile planets but grow slowly, and so on. Races are also predisposed to like or dislike each other, and each carries its own research strengths and weaknesses.

Gaming: Warcraft II

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Game/Publisher/Developer

Warcraft II, NA: Davidson & Associates / EU: Zablac Entertainment, Blizzard Entertainment

My Reaction

Warcraft II hooked me immediately. The choice between humans and orcs felt meaningful and the moment you start building your base and training units the game just pulls you in. The strategic depth was unlike anything else at the time. This was an easy buy and one I kept coming back to.

Overview

Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness is a real-time strategy game developed by Blizzard Entertainment and released in 1995. Players choose between the Alliance (humans) and the Horde (orcs), each with unique units, buildings and abilities. The goal is to gather resources; gold, wood and oil; build a base, train an army and crush the enemy. It features a full campaign for both factions, custom scenarios and multiplayer. A landmark title that helped define the RTS genre.