Management / Sim City Builders with some combat? [Stronghold/Caesar III]

[Eyestabber]

Recently picked up Stronghold and Crusader because they were like...3 Huebucks on Steam and MANG what a blast! Now I'm craving for more so...suggestions? I already played Tropico and Caesar III. And yeah, I know about Age of Empires, don't bother mentioning. Currently reinstalling Tropico 4, but...yeah. I want something different.

 

[Nryn]

Knights & Merchants is worth a try if you liked Stronghold/Settlers 2. Its supply chain management has more depth compared to Stronghold, similar to Settlers 2, but unlike Settlers 2, it offers direct unit control like Stronghold and other RTSs of that time.

Be aware though that the game is far slower than Stronghold and generally far more difficult -- which is saying something since Stronghold 1 possesses its fair share of challenging missions as well.

 

[Demo.Graph]

Startopia.
Patrician 3 (or later). It's a trader sim, but it does have some city building.

 

[IncendiaryDevice]

Grand Ages: Rome.

It even has some RPG elements as you play as a Roman gradually getting promoted in the SPQR. The first few levels are mostly building but combat comes into play much more as you progress. At first it seems a bit simplistic but by the end you'll be thoroughly addicted, although having 40+ levels to complete is a bit much by the end.

There's also an expansion for it, Reign of Augusta, which is much fun as well.

I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I like this entry to the genre & I've played it twice now.

 

[Hoaxmetal]

ANNO 1404

 

[Kalin]

Caesar and Caesar II.

 

[Zboj Lamignat]

Beasts & Bumpkins

 

[deama]

Black and white 2? The 2nd one places more emphasis on sim than sandbox, still has combat.

Warrior Kings, although this one is very slow, like, the units take forever to move etc... I'd recommend speedhacking this.

 

[Lacrymas]

The ANNOs and Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom. Also Zeus has combat.

 

[MilesBeyond]

Play the rest of the City Building Series. Pharaoh is what happens when you take Caesar 3 and make it better in every possible way.

 

[Aemar]

Going to pick it up this week-end.