Age of Empires is one of the most amazing and legendary civilisation style games that ever existed.

Now in this third part, you're taken into the New World. Players are able to develop European nations from the Age of Discovery through to the Industrial Age. There are eight playable nations that battle across a wide variety of lands - from the early beginning of the swamps of Florida to the Rocky Mountains. You can recruit Native American tribes along the way and with them, try to seize control of trade routes while being supported by your Empire back in Europe.

There's no doubt that visually, the game looks superb with some of the best graphics ever seen in the Age of Empires series. However, the developers seem to have concentrated on graphics more than the realism aspect. An exception to this is the fact that you are supported by your home European nation in your quest to plunder the New World which is something unseen in previous versions.

However, it is attention to detail and unfaithfulness to the realities of history that really let the game down. American Indians are portrayed as mercenaries rather than spiritual tribes and gold mines suddenly appear hundreds of years before they ever did!

Age of Empires 3 looks great and has the potential to be a great game but the developers probably need to pay more attention to historical facts than the graphics themselves.

Download Age of Empires III in Softonic

The SimCity saga is a classic in the world of videogames. Its attractive mixture of strategy and simulation elements along with a high level of detail has made a real success from it.

SimCity Societies is one of the last representatives of this popular series: a new title that follows the SimCity line, but adding more and more elements from The Sims, the other successful saga created by EA. In a way, we could say the game is now easier to play – something which newcomers will be thankful for – while still keeps the same addictive elements for hardcore SimCity players.

In SimCity Societies you have the possibility to create very different towns, not only in aspect, but also in their values. From creativity to spirituality, from knowledge to production, the values of your city will affect its general design and layout.

Another distinctive feature is the attention paid to your citizens, not just as a crowd of people, but actually caring about their individual needs and feelings. You can click on anyone of them and see how they're doing, where they work and whether they're happy of not.

We also find this incredible level of detail in the game's graphics. You can freely move around with your mouse and use the wheel to zoom up to street level, until you're able to see your citizens' faces. There's also a huge array of objects (homes, workplaces, shop and the like) you can choose from and combine anyway you want. On the downside, this means that you have so much information in the game's interface that it can become really overwhelming for first-time players.

SimCity Societies is, in short, a very entertaining game: the kind of title that you can play for hours without noticing the passing of time. Also, it's a great chance for you to start playing the SimCity saga if you haven't played any of these titles before.

SimCity Societies is the evolution of the original SimCity saga: a strategy building simulator that will get you hooked before you can even notice it.

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Ave Prefect! I will tell you a few things about us Romans. We are a peaceful people, and the Roman Empire appears to be blooming these days. For this reason the Roman Senate is in search of talented Governors. It is your honor to fulfill this task. For a start, have plain residential areas built. Satisfy the wishes of Roman families! Provide your people with work and basic necessities like nourishment. Maintain peace and keep everything in order. Celebrate your success by building awe-inspiring buildings like thermal baths, theatres or even a coliseum. If you do well, the Roman society will bloom and living in our city will be rewarding to every citizen.

Glory of the Roman Empire is an empire-building simulation set during the height of the glorious Roman Empire in which the player assumes the roles of city planner, governor and military leader. Successful players will need planning skills, economic savvy and -- should those fail -- military might. Glory of the Roman Empire will challenge gamers to grow a small village into a thriving community and trade with neighbors, while also expanding and defending its borders through military might.

Download Glory of the Roman Empire Demo in Softonic

I must admit strategy games are not exactly my cup of tea, but I do appreciate good strategy titles when I find any. And Sins of a Solar Empire is one of them.

This adventure will please strategy fans for sure, as it includes all the typical elements you can find in this game genre: resource management, merciless battles and smart planning to take your empire to the highest level. But don't be fooled by this apparently traditional scheme: being set in outer space, Sins of a Solar Empire is quite original for a strategy adventure.

This particular setting means that every element in the game is related to space. So, instead of using regular soldiers, horses, combat units or even tanks, you manage spaceships. And instead of conquering towns and villages, you take over planets. Graphics are just fine, certainly not as detailed as other strategy games that are set in historical environments though.

Sins of a Solar Empire features single player and multiplayer gaming modes (though the demo only lets you play the first one). Solo gaming presents you with a series of scenarios and various challenges, including typical strategy elements such as diplomacy alliances, research and development of new strategies and a rather unconventional black market where you can trade crystal and metal without following the legal procedures. As you can see, there are many elements to be taken care of, which means that the game may feel a bit overwhelming at the beginning. This confusion is particularly noticeable when moving around the playing area, because maps are quite large and you can easily get lost.

Even if you're not a big strategy fan, you'll appreciate Sins of a Solar Empire for its original gaming environment. If you like strategy, you should definitely give it a go.

Download Sins of a Solar Empire Demo in Softonic

Launched in 1995 Transport Tycoon Deluxe is a classic economic simulation, where you aim to make it big by building and developing your own transport company. Grow your own transportation network and sell off goods to beat your main rivals and become the leader on the market.

Nostalgic fans of the game will be glad to discover OpenTTD, effectively a completely free version of the game. What's more it has been completely revamped. Graphics have been slightly improved, adding more color, and many new features are now included. The Euro is now part of currencies, you can bribe town authorities and set up international and metropolitan airports among others. Usability is also better, with new features like the autorail build tool or being able to get a cost estimation. You can even play online with up to 8 other players.

The only real drawback to the game is that you' ll the original version of Transport Tycoon Deluxe data files in order to make it work.

In all, anybody who's even the least bit interested in games should get their hands on this free version of an excellent classic simulation title.

Download OpenTTD 0.6 in Softonic

Really Rather Good Battles In Space is a real time strategy game with fleets of spaceships. It is a single player real time strategy game following the fall of the great Artillian empire.

The main gripe I have with this game is that it just too short. It doesn't seem to comprise no more than a few levels which are over before you've really got going - and without much of a challenge either. On level one, you merely have to shoot and destroy 50 ships followed by a rather unimaginative level 2 where the aim is 200 ships. The main difference in the challenge level is that the ships move a hell of a lot faster on level 2 but it's still hardly difficult. The movement of your ship is also rather odd - there seems to be some kind of lag between then movements you make with your mouse and the actual moves the ship makes - if it makes them at all. While the graphics are only 2D, they are actually one of the better aspects of the game creating a realistic feel of sometime in 4000AD when the game is set. The music also adds to a realistic and atmospheric feel and the game is proceeded by a short tutorial (which you don't really need).

Overall this is not one that space adventure fans will really love but if you just want a quick blast with some nice graphics, it does the job.

Download Really Rather Good Battles In Space 1.06 in Softonic

The Roman civilization became the world's largest empire of Antiquity. It created a powerful network of roads, had a highly developed engineering and gave rise to an impressive artistic era.

Now Imperium Romanum enables you to live the glorious days of the Roman Empire as if you were right there. This real-time strategy game challenges you to build your own portion of Roman civilization by creating a Roman settlement and turning it into a powerful, influential capital city.

Just like other similar titles, there are several elements that must be taken care of in Imperium Romanum: creating buildings, gathering and managing resources and defending your village from enemy troops. In this sense, although the game is not difficult to play by itself, it does require concentration and care for the detail.

Talking about detail, the game's graphics are rendered with an amazing realism, especially as regards landscapes and nature effects such as the day/night transition or weather. Characters are a bit more simplistic though. Unfortunately I can't say a word about music, simply because there was no music at all. Yes, I checked system volume settings and the game inner settings too, but sorry, no music for me.

As for gameplay, Imperium Romanum is fun to play (as long as you like classic strategy titles) because you not only have one general mission, but also smaller tasks (the so called "tablets") that provide you with new challenges and also guide you through the story.

Imperium Romanum is the classic real-time strategy title that lets you take part in the building of one of the most important civilizations of old times.

Download Imperium Romanum in Softonic

Warzone 2100 is a real-time strategy game, developed by Pumpkin Studios (Archived website) and published by Eidos-Interactive. In late 2004 Warzone was released by its copyright holders, Eidos-Interactive, to the public under the GNU General Public License and the Warzone 2100 Resurrection Project was born.

Although comparable to Earth2150 in many significant aspects, it does contain some that are unique. These include various radar technologies, a greater focus on artillery and counter-battery technologies, more frequent in-game cinematic updates as gameplay progress, as well as a different vehicle design method.

Download Warzone 2100 2.0.10 in Softonic

Battleships Forever is a new strategy game in real time that is focused entirely on space battles. It's distinguished by enormous ships and spectacular battle scenes plus some great gameplay.

You begin by choosing a number of ships from among a list destroyers, patroller or defenders. Each is composed of different "modules" that can be configured to obtain different advantages on the battlefield. From there, the whole game is controlled by using the mouse although there are hotkeys that allow you to issue orders to your fleet. The gameplay is simple but each mission is a challenge, because the artificial intelligence of the enemies and the size of some of the craft which you can also design yourself with the in game editor.

The graphics are a bit disappointing in that they are 2 dimensional but the sound effects, particularly explosions, make up for this

A great battleship game that will have space fans enthralled for hours.

Download Battleships Forever in Softonic

Vega Strike is an interesting space simulation game in 3D, fully developed under the GPL licence (and therefore free), which combines elements of an action RPG with galactic battles against all kinds of aliens and other enemies of the universe. Your task is to travel through space accepting missions using your resources wisely and interacting with other space crusaders.

It is very difficult to get to grips with at first but the rewards and gameplay make it worthwhile. Also, if you get stuck, you can always consult the Handbook on the Web.

Vega Strike features excellent 3D graphics (developed, it should be remembered for free) and it has great potential for expansion thanks to the open support for new missions, new ships and endless mods.

Download Vega Strike 0.4.3 in Softonic

Some videogame genres are more likely to be set in certain environments or historical periods, such as RPG and fantasy, FPS and World War II and real-time strategy and medieval times. However, sometimes you find exceptions to the rule like Company of Heroes, an adventure set during the Second World War which all strategy lovers are going to enjoy.

The game enables you to play as the British army or the German Panzer Elite squad, in two of the most important battles in World War II. In spite of being a real-time strategy game, you're soon immersed into action-packed skirmishes and you really need to be quick if you want to beat your enemy. This is why we strongly recommend following the tutorial level instead plunging headlong into the campaign.

Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts features extraordinary graphics, plus the ability to pan and zoom the camera with total freedom. I specially enjoyed the possibility to set the camera at ground's level and see action as if you were right in the middle of the squadron.

Get ready for some strategy and lots of action in this epic adventure.

Download Company of Heroes Oppossing Fronts Demo in Softonic

Age of Empires III strikes back with a new expansion pack and takes you to the Ancient Eastern empires. As with any other Age of Empires adventure, The Asian Dynasties is designed with an incredible level of detail, creating an involving atmosphere that makes the game really enjoyable.

In this sense, every single element in this demo is designed according to Asian stereotypes, from player menus to background music and including, of course, buildings, cities and military units. Also, if you have played any of the previous Age of Empires, you'll master the controls in no time, as they remain just the same; if not, don't worry because they're easy to learn.

Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties is pure strategy: you'll have to gather resources, build your town, create and army and battle against the enemy. This demo only allows you to get a sneak peek of the whole game but the overall impression was good... at least for an Age of Empires fan like me.

Age of Empires strikes back with more nations, more units, more challenges and more fun for you.

Download Age of Empires III Demo in Softonic

Lemmings is the kind of casual videogame you never grow tired of. This is why it's always good to have remakes of this classic title, although this time we're going to save penguins instead of those small, pink, hairy creatures.

Pingus is a very well-done Lemmings clone, both in gameplay and graphics, which challenges you in the same way the original title did. Controls are very easy, especially if you already played Lemmings before. The downside to this is that you're forced to play the tutorial whether you like it or not, and it can be quite boring if you're familiar with the game's mechanics.

Download Pingus 0.7.0 in Softonic

There's something sweet about strategy games: they allow you to play in a more relaxed way, far from all the stress produced by action-packed first person shooters. However, they do ask for a very methodical mind and a great care about detail.

This is precisely what you need to play The Settlers: Rise of an Empire. Beginning with a small medieval village, you'll eventually become a medieval lord and build your empire, which will be famous across all nations worldwide. As in other popular strategy adventures, your progression is based on your ability to gather resources and manage them properly. You'll have to raise an army and protect your people if you're to be successful in this story.

The good thing about The Setters is that you can spend as much time observing your citizens as actually playing the game. The game shows highly detailed graphics that you can admire by zooming in and out with the mouse wheel. Every creature on the screen seems to have a life of its own, which makes it fun to just observe them like Big Brother.

An excellent soundtrack, including both the background music and sound effects, adds the final touch to this great adventure. Too bad the demo ended so soon!

Download The Settlers: Rise of an Empire Demo in Softonic

Like most people, I'm not a huge fan of war but I guess it's harmless enough on a computer and Combat Mission: Strike Force represents a good way to experience the strategy of desert battles. Although highly realistic, the game is incredibly difficult and you soon realise the perils of desert combat such as the fact there are few places to hide and a massive line of sight for the enemy.

The game features some several interesting options such as one-to-one infintary representation, land that changes when walked over, and partial artifical intellegence. Graphically, the set-pieces aren't too impressive but the armies and weapons are represented very accurately. The sound isn't amazing, which contributes to an experience that isn't as immersive as I would have liked.

Download Combat Mission: Shock Force in Softonic

Pacific Storm is a game about the war in the Pacific between the U.S. and Japan. It has the elements of a global strategy, tactical game and an arcade air simulator.

Playing either for the United States or Imperial Japan, you walk through a dramatic sequence of large-scale naval and air military operations. The game covers the time from 1940 - 1948. As you play, you can develop new technologies, build and deploy new weapon systems or even change history.

Thanks to a smooth and seamless combination of strategy, tactics and simulator, you are completely free to take whatever strategic or tactical decisions you consider best or abandon for a time all strategy and tactics and inhabit any of your units so as to take part in the fighting personally. Steel Monster's gameplay combines exceptional depth and scale of the strategic mode, superior authenticity of the tactical mode and exciting dynamics of the simulator.

This is what this game has to offer:

• 3D graphics
• Three genres (strategy, tactics and simulator)
• Large-scale naval and air operations in the Pacific from 1940 - 1948
• Capability to change history as the global campaign develops
• Large selection of accurately reproduced historical scenarios
• Units that possess learning capabilities
• Ability to develop new technologies - from increasing the power rating of aircraft engines to guided missiles technology, biological and nuclear weapons

Download Pacific Storm: Allies in Softonic

"Rush for the Bomb" is the explosive add-on for the real-time strategy game "Rush for Berlin" by the award-winning developing company, Stormregion.

German spies have managed to infiltrate the laboratories of the U.S. Manhattan Project and steal the plans for the atomic bomb. Your job is to transport the top secret documents to Berlin via Spain… or, if you are playing as the Allies, to prevent the Nazis from doing this!

Two campaigns with a total of 12 missions for both the Germans and the Allies, new units and officers with three additional skills each ensure explosive strategizing pleasure.

Download Rush for the Bomb in Softonic

Bos Wars is a real-time strategy game, following the style of the classic strategy games such as Age of Empires but set in a futuristic atmosphere. The game has been created under an open-source license with a whole developer community behind it constantly upgrading and improving it. Their main objective is to create a completely original and fun open-source RTS adventure.

Bos Wars features two campaigns (one of them, a tutorial), more than 20 missions, support for multiplayer mode to play against human opponents over LAN or the Internet, a map editor and a bunch of different war vehicles and soldiers to battle for victory. Of course, you will also have to take care of resources, gathering as much of them as you can.

Download Bos Wars 2.3 in Softonic

Theatre of War is a new real time strategy game set, as many other titles, in the II World War. However, Theatre of War stands out for offering an incredible level of realism in both battlefield scenarios and military units. Gameplay is very comfortable, as developers have created a special interface that enables you to control all of your units in a very easy, quick way.

Take a look at what this game has to offer:

• Real World Military Tactics
• Amazing Freedom of Action
• Advanced Individual Unit AI
• 5 Historical Campaigns, each with unique units and equipment
• Over 40 campaign missions based on real WWII battles
• Over 30 different maps designed using historical military documents
• 9 Single (non-campaign) Battles plus 4 Training scenarios
• 8 Multiplayer Missions (Internet/LAN) with a maximum of 8 players
• Unique Role Playing Elements: soldiers gain experience and new skills as they progress
• Huge assortment of units, uniforms, equipment and vehicles
• State of the art 3D character animation and graphics

Download Theatre of War in Softonic

Westward is an addictive sim-city like strategy game set in the crazy days of the Wild West era. Enter the wild, rough-and-tumble world of Westward, where adventure and untold fortune await you.

Control the destiny of the West as you build thriving towns where there once was just sagebrush, while chasing down the nefarious Mad Russian and bringing him to justice.

If you liked Virtual Villagers, you'll love Westward. Control a town full of people who do your bidding as you try to bring law and order to the wild, wild west.

Download WestWard in Softonic