In strategy games, there are two distinct flavours of game: Turn-based strategy and real-time strategy. In turn-based strategy, players are often allowed free rein to micromanage their respective economies, marshal troops and build buildings; the game doesn't advance until the player is happy they have accomplished everything they can do on a particular turn.
In real-time strategy, the onus is much more on direct, reactive thinking. Events happen in 'real-time', hence the name, so players are required to think quickly and adapt their strategies to suit what is unfolding in the game. While only ten minutes may have passed in reality, fifty years of game-time may have elapsed in that period.
Strategy games tend to appeal more to those who are deeply interested in giving their brain a good workout and may not appeal to those who prefer to get into the thick of the action from the first mouse-click. However, if PC strategy is something you'd like to try, or you're already a fan and looking for the best that the genre offers, why not try some of the following?
