14. Shadowrun Returns

In Shadowrun returns you are thrust into a world in which magic has just returned after many years of not being a component. Suddenly humans are rubbing elbows with elves, orcs, and other fantasy creatures. You are a shadowrunner.

As a shadowrunner you are a mercenary working in the margins, living life on the otuskirts of society. Your job is dangerous but it has its personal rewards. You’ll put together a team strong enough to survive out there everyday in an unruly society.

There is no lack of customization. You choose your race, your gender, and your specific attributes that make you a unique character. Joining in on the Shadowrun experience will provide you with a lot of content and a completely unique gaming experience.

Explore a futuristic city

All sorts of interesting characters

13. Expeditions: Conquistador

This game is a squad based tactical role playing game. As the player you will take on a role of a Spanish conquistador leading an expedition to Mexico. Expeditions: Conquistador is set between 1518 and 1520 during the height of the age of exploration. The player does not take on a combat role but instead has player stats that include tactics, diplomacy, healing, hunting, and leadership.

As the player in Espeditions:Conquistador you will put together a party of ten keeping in mind that each party member brings something unique to the table. Your entire team will earn a collective of experience points and from there you can put these points into strengthening the skills that are most useful to you. And when it comes time for battle you choose six members from your team and send them out for battle. 

This game allows you to explore a historical world and even alter history within the game depending on the paths you take. Spanish conquest as a part of history is not seen very often in video games so it offers a fresh perspective into an important part of history that often gets overlooked. 

Get together a party for your conquest

Explore realistic maps in an altered historical context

12. Hitman Go: Definitive Edition

I’m sure you’ve heard of the Popular Hitman game series. This is a puzzle game spinoff of the main series. However, don’t be put off if puzzle games aren’t really your thing. This is not a rip off of the popular mindless games where you match three jewels in a row. The puzzles are more engaging and the game has a board game aesthetic that those other games don’t have.

In this board game puzzler you play as Agent 47. As the player you literally move around on a board game type map that leads you to the exit square to finish out the game. Agent 47 has to navigate around the board avoiding guards but there are other characters to note as well including gardeners, workmen, and wedding guests. Taking your enemies out involves attacking from behind or from the side knocking them off the game board.

The theme is brilliantly done and if you are looking for a board game experience with a twist you’ve found it. Playing this game really feels like playing on a 3D board game right in front of you. You can see your game piece actually bump other pieces off the board and almost feel the action for real. The puzzles are just challenging enough and the aesthetic fits the game perfectly.

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Move around on the game board encountering different puzzles

Get the feel of Hitman in a totally different gaming style

 

Various types of units are available in the game

Strategic gameplay within time constraints makes this an exciting game

Panzer Corps Gameplay

10. Crusader Kings II

Crusader Kings II is a strategy game set in the middle ages. The game plays as a dynasty simulator in which you build up and rule an empire. As the player you work to achieve success for your empire. through various different strategic means. The road is not a straight and narrow path however. All manner of real life situations come up and it’s different every time. Maybe you’re destitute and penniless looking for help from neighboring kingdoms. On the other hand maybe you rule a wildly successful empire and have help to give out yourself. There are a lot of choices.  

A nice bonus, especially if you are a history buff, is that the game actually allows for the inclusion of several different historical figures including William the Conqueror, Charlemagne, Alfred the Great, and Saladin. Open-ended game play makes success a thing totally defined by the player depending on what path you want to take. Crusader Kings II brings a massive amount of choices to the table in a board game style.

Build your empire and dominate the map

Find strategic battle formations that work for you

Crusader Kings II Gameplay

9. Hearts of Iron 4

The fourth game in a series of WWII focused games, Hearts of Iron 4 is a war strategy game. Interestingly the game lets you take command of any nation that was involved in WWII. This allows the player a varied experience depending on the initial choices you make. You can literally change the course of history as we all know it  by controlling a Germany that doesn’t support the Nazi regime or maybe you’ll control a United States that does support it.  

Battle comes in all shapes and forms in this game. You can stage your battles on land, in the air, or on water. History will literally change at your fingertips; you can make any nation do anything you want them to, you are in control. Play against others or cooperatively; online play can rise to epic proportions. Rewrite history any way you want to on Hearts of Iron 4.

Play it however you like even if it means rewriting history

Battle in The United States or any other place relevant to WWII

8. The Witcher Adventure Game

The Witcher Adventure game takes place across the world familiarized by the Witcher novels and the Witcher video game trilogy. In this game as the player you assume the role of 4 different characters that you might already know from The Witcher series. These include Geralt of Rivia, Triss Merigold, Yarpen Zigren, and Dandelion. Although each character has a specific set of skills you ultimately decide what happens in the game based on your choices.

The game uses dice and development cards for all the players. Over 230 cards help to develop the storyline that your individual game will take on. And 30 monsters gives a lot of variety in what you’ll be fighting.  In addition to this PC game, the three games in the main series, and the novels, there is also an actual board game.  

The game features some really beautiful visuals to go along with the gameplay

If you love the PC game, try the board game as well.