I am a really big fan of base building in RTS games, which is why I never liked Starcraft. Bases in Starcraft feel like they have such little rhyme or reason. They are messy and ugly. I always build a ton of bases in games like Tiberian Sun, that, while gameplay wise, are a waste of time and money, feel fun to build and fun to defend and destroy. I think a really cool strategy game idea would be a logistics themed game. One where building more realistic bases all over a map is a strategy so that they can supply and support each other. Maybe you start out with a FOB and you need to expand into guerilla held territory, but you need to build COPs and Logistics centers to keep your troops supplied and protected.
I always hated in Starcraft how clicks per second is a means to measure how effective some one is at the game. I really want to see a game where tactics and unit composition matter, where a platoon of mechanized infantry face off against like a BTR platoon and, using strategy, you pull through. Have each squad with a realistic composition of like a Squad leader, 2 team leaders, a radio man, 2 squad weapons, a crew served weapon, 2 anti tank units, a combat life saver, and 2 rifle men. I think something with that depth, but with a more coherant interface than like Shockforce, and with pausable real time combat would be awesome. Like Arma but an RTS.
Check out mindustry! Although it doesn’t quite have that tactical itch as Arma, it is 100% based around logistics and building up unit production. There is a multiplayer PvP mode, as well as 2 PvE campaigns
I want a VR shooter that actually uses the tech interestingly. Give me sections of Zero G with full 6dof. Give me quirky weapons with panels you slide open when they overheat and barrels that twist to change firing mode. Give me abilities that I could only use with a virtual pair of hands, like slingshotting grenades without dropping my primary or reaching into things to grab loot. And make the gunplay feel like Pavlov because it’s the best.
Easy enough, right? 😅
Edit: also use eye tracking to make the horror better
Bring back versus puzzle games. Puyo Puyo is more or less the only surviving IP today, and even that is only barely on life support now that Sega has banished it to Apple Arcade exclusivity.
The whole damn genre lies in ruins now and I miss it so much. Someone, anyone, make a new game please.
I’ve recently noticed that the tactical shooter genre has kinda fallen out of favor. Games like ghost recon, socom navy seals etc. Aren’t being made anymore. I think it’s a shame that some genres go dormant for a while.
But more than that, I just want to see developers take more risks again. Indie games have been the exception here, but I remember there being so many unique games in the early 2000’s.
Ready or Not is a thing and quite popular, although I haven’t tried it myself. As far as I know, it’s the closest to the old SWAT games and not exactly a low-budget Indie title. Similarly, covering the military side of things, there’s Six Days in Fallujah, which is considerably more aggressive and action-heavy than the titles of old, but similarly punishing.
And, although not as thoroughly fleshed out as Ready or Not, and not multiplayer, Black One : Blood Brothers looks interesting enough to follow. It’s basically the bones of the first Ghost Recon with modern assets. I’ve not played it yet but it’s in my library.
I’ve played 8.2 hours of BO:BB according to Steam, and it feels much closer to the OG Ghost Recon ( +Desert Siege and Island Thunder)… BUT right now the AI is pretty mediocre (and often breaks entirely and enemies just sort of stand there), and the shooting doesn’t feel as good as Ready or Not.
Incursion: Red River is a singleplayer + co-op extraction shooter that feels very Ghost Recon.
I feel like a rogue-like version of the civilization genre could work.
What I mean is:
short games that you can finish in one evening without rushing
random events and stuff that drastically change your builds without being able to do the same strat all the time
The latter is needed because the former means you would play many more games. So they have to feel different.
To make games shorter you would probably have to remove any tactical combat. Maybe just say “attack here” and the game automatically sends troops for you, battle it out and shows you the result, in a few seconds. Maybe you can see the battle itself but not play it. Not having to move units on the map should also make the IA play faster and thus reduce waiting time between turns significantly.
To compensate for the lack of depth in combat, city building, building your economy, and random events would have to be made more interesting. Without introducing micro-management that would make the games more tedious and thus take longer.
To make games feel different with randomness, a fantasy setting seems ideal, like in age of wonders. Tons of fun stuff can happen when magic is involved. Focus on telling a story.
Basically I love the fantasy 4X genre but I find the games too long for the wrong reasons (too much micro-management and tedium). Bringing in ideas from the modern rogue-like genre could help fix those issues.
I want a new, modern Battle for Middle Earth 2 with better balance, modern graphics, and maybe different modes like quick vs longer form games. Definitely some reform like making it more difficult to build walls, but the walls stand up better to infantry and you really need siege engines.
The game was not balanced competitively (men so OP) but holy damn the battles felt epic and building your own forts and castles to defend was amazing.
In case you’re looking for something that may fit your criteria…
Warzone 2100 is an amazing game. It’s what gets me to replay the game every so often. An RTS, though I think RTT (Real Time Tactics) would be more accurate here. Choice of units matters (for ex: a main force of anti tank and anti infantry units, an auxiliary force of artillery units, another force of air support… Using these tactically is the key to victory). A special commander unit exists that increases your forces effectiveness and determines the course or movement/attack. When managed right, units obtain ranks, increasing their effectiveness and survivability. These units can be recycled to reclaim their ranks and generate better units with those ranks. You can slow down the game (and practically pause it), speed it up as well.
There’s two types of missions in it: the main map, which expands multiple times. As you progress through the missions, the map expands, you unlock new technology (buildings, units, etc), you get to use the base to defend against enemy attacks multiple times.
The other type of mission consists of using your base to send out units to surrounding zones (to reclaim technology, for ex). These surrounding zones are separate maps connected to the base on the main map.
There are 3 campaigns in it. I highly recommend Warzone2100. Oh, and it’s open source these days, and available on multiple platforms.
I’ve already seen Mindustry mentioned, but also an amazing game. It is less RTS and more resource management / tower defense. Also free and available on multiple platforms.
one thing i’d be interested in: is it possible to make a fun 4X-style game that challenges the very premises of 4X (which are mostly patterned after the models of expansion we’re familiar with in the West)?
I think it would probably become “2X” in that case, given the “exploit” and “exterminate” parts. :P
Against the Storm is sort of a citybuilder/ 4X hybrid, that’s all about a bunch of fantasy species (humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies) working together to reclaim the world from this (un)natural blight.
The Bustling World is an RPG/ Citybuilder/ 4X hybrid that looks pretty interesting, but is not out yet.
I can’t really think of a 4X that leans towards the Grand Strategy side, that isn’t pretty combat-heavy. Distant Worlds: Universe can be played without focusing on combat, but it’s definitely still there.
A multi-era multi-conflict first person shooter, with campaigns from the 18th century all the way through to the modern era. Singleplayer, and with tons of weapons, vehicles, and factions to choose from.
Basically, a game much too big and ambitious to ever be made.
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Check out mindustry! Although it doesn’t quite have that tactical itch as Arma, it is 100% based around logistics and building up unit production. There is a multiplayer PvP mode, as well as 2 PvE campaigns
i really like the idea of civilization… but its so freakin scripted it feels like im playin someone elses story.
totk is almost a masterpiece, i would not hate more of that kind of game play/world experience.
I want a VR shooter that actually uses the tech interestingly. Give me sections of Zero G with full 6dof. Give me quirky weapons with panels you slide open when they overheat and barrels that twist to change firing mode. Give me abilities that I could only use with a virtual pair of hands, like slingshotting grenades without dropping my primary or reaching into things to grab loot. And make the gunplay feel like Pavlov because it’s the best.
Easy enough, right? 😅
Edit: also use eye tracking to make the horror better
Imagine a VR game with monsters that always stay in your periphery.
Exactly! Creatures that peek around corners and slide back away when you look toward them, monsters that follow your eyesight to dodge attacks, etc.
It could be great!!
Bring back versus puzzle games. Puyo Puyo is more or less the only surviving IP today, and even that is only barely on life support now that Sega has banished it to Apple Arcade exclusivity.
The whole damn genre lies in ruins now and I miss it so much. Someone, anyone, make a new game please.
Beekeeping simulator!
I’ve recently noticed that the tactical shooter genre has kinda fallen out of favor. Games like ghost recon, socom navy seals etc. Aren’t being made anymore. I think it’s a shame that some genres go dormant for a while.
But more than that, I just want to see developers take more risks again. Indie games have been the exception here, but I remember there being so many unique games in the early 2000’s.
Ready or Not is a thing and quite popular, although I haven’t tried it myself. As far as I know, it’s the closest to the old SWAT games and not exactly a low-budget Indie title. Similarly, covering the military side of things, there’s Six Days in Fallujah, which is considerably more aggressive and action-heavy than the titles of old, but similarly punishing.
And, although not as thoroughly fleshed out as Ready or Not, and not multiplayer, Black One : Blood Brothers looks interesting enough to follow. It’s basically the bones of the first Ghost Recon with modern assets. I’ve not played it yet but it’s in my library.
I’ve played 8.2 hours of BO:BB according to Steam, and it feels much closer to the OG Ghost Recon ( +Desert Siege and Island Thunder)… BUT right now the AI is pretty mediocre (and often breaks entirely and enemies just sort of stand there), and the shooting doesn’t feel as good as Ready or Not.
Incursion: Red River is a singleplayer + co-op extraction shooter that feels very Ghost Recon.
Doesn’t have a release date yet but you might like Empire Eternal, kinda like new Empire Earth.
holy shit, fucking MICROPROSE is still around!? LETSGOOOOOOOO
Fucking wishlisted
3D minesweeper
There’s Mines3D on android, although the graphics are still 2d and it’s a pain to play.
Like a sim game or Planet Sweeper?
Nah, just minesweeper. But instead of north south east west, there’s also behind and in front. And all the corners.
I haven’t played it yet, but if you have a VR headset then Minesweeper Peak VR seems to be exactly what you’re looking for.
There’s also Mine3D which plays in your browser and is a rotatable cube of mines.
I feel like a rogue-like version of the civilization genre could work.
What I mean is:
The latter is needed because the former means you would play many more games. So they have to feel different.
To make games shorter you would probably have to remove any tactical combat. Maybe just say “attack here” and the game automatically sends troops for you, battle it out and shows you the result, in a few seconds. Maybe you can see the battle itself but not play it. Not having to move units on the map should also make the IA play faster and thus reduce waiting time between turns significantly.
To compensate for the lack of depth in combat, city building, building your economy, and random events would have to be made more interesting. Without introducing micro-management that would make the games more tedious and thus take longer.
To make games feel different with randomness, a fantasy setting seems ideal, like in age of wonders. Tons of fun stuff can happen when magic is involved. Focus on telling a story.
Basically I love the fantasy 4X genre but I find the games too long for the wrong reasons (too much micro-management and tedium). Bringing in ideas from the modern rogue-like genre could help fix those issues.
More code games like screeps.
I want a new, modern Battle for Middle Earth 2 with better balance, modern graphics, and maybe different modes like quick vs longer form games. Definitely some reform like making it more difficult to build walls, but the walls stand up better to infantry and you really need siege engines.
The game was not balanced competitively (men so OP) but holy damn the battles felt epic and building your own forts and castles to defend was amazing.
In case you’re looking for something that may fit your criteria…
Warzone 2100 is an amazing game. It’s what gets me to replay the game every so often. An RTS, though I think RTT (Real Time Tactics) would be more accurate here. Choice of units matters (for ex: a main force of anti tank and anti infantry units, an auxiliary force of artillery units, another force of air support… Using these tactically is the key to victory). A special commander unit exists that increases your forces effectiveness and determines the course or movement/attack. When managed right, units obtain ranks, increasing their effectiveness and survivability. These units can be recycled to reclaim their ranks and generate better units with those ranks. You can slow down the game (and practically pause it), speed it up as well.
There’s two types of missions in it: the main map, which expands multiple times. As you progress through the missions, the map expands, you unlock new technology (buildings, units, etc), you get to use the base to defend against enemy attacks multiple times.
The other type of mission consists of using your base to send out units to surrounding zones (to reclaim technology, for ex). These surrounding zones are separate maps connected to the base on the main map.
There are 3 campaigns in it. I highly recommend Warzone2100. Oh, and it’s open source these days, and available on multiple platforms.
https://wz2100.net/
I’ve already seen Mindustry mentioned, but also an amazing game. It is less RTS and more resource management / tower defense. Also free and available on multiple platforms.
Something new that isn’t some remake of a game.
one thing i’d be interested in: is it possible to make a fun 4X-style game that challenges the very premises of 4X (which are mostly patterned after the models of expansion we’re familiar with in the West)?
Any ideas? I’ve wondered the same, don’t really vibe with the 4X pattern but I like the slow snowball
I think it would probably become “2X” in that case, given the “exploit” and “exterminate” parts. :P
Against the Storm is sort of a citybuilder/ 4X hybrid, that’s all about a bunch of fantasy species (humans, beavers, lizards, foxes, and harpies) working together to reclaim the world from this (un)natural blight.
The Bustling World is an RPG/ Citybuilder/ 4X hybrid that looks pretty interesting, but is not out yet.
I can’t really think of a 4X that leans towards the Grand Strategy side, that isn’t pretty combat-heavy. Distant Worlds: Universe can be played without focusing on combat, but it’s definitely still there.
Against the Storm is the game I was trying to think of for this, thanks for sharing it!
A multi-era multi-conflict first person shooter, with campaigns from the 18th century all the way through to the modern era. Singleplayer, and with tons of weapons, vehicles, and factions to choose from.
Basically, a game much too big and ambitious to ever be made.