Recent reviews by Denethor, Steward of Gondor

Best game.

Knowing that the mouse will one day acquire the $10 to buy this masterpiece fills you with determination.

This is one of the first games I've ever played (along with Age of Empires II, Jedi Knight, Diablo II, and the Heroes of Might and Magic series), so this game has a great deal of nostalgic value for me.

That being said, Age of Wonders is still one of the best games I've ever played, and definately one of my absolute favorites. It truly offers a unique experience that's unseen in other fantasy/strategy games. I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

I have to say that Crusader Kings II is one of my most favorite games of all time. Essentially, you play as a medieval dynasty between the years 1066 and 1453 (you can start at 867 with the Old Gods DLC). There is no ultimate goal to the game, making it a total sandbox where all goals are solely your own. You could try to unify Ireland, create continent-spanning empires, or simply survive with your familial holdings intact. The choice is totally yours, and whatever path you take is certian to lead you through a tale of intrigue reminiscent to A Song of Ice and Fire (there's a Game of Thrones mod, by the way.)

Regardless of what you do, the world will develop and change into something completely ahistorical and awesome. William the Conquerer might fail to conquer England; Muslims might invade Southern France; a random Russian count may become the emporer of the Byzantine Empire. No playthrough is the same. Anything could happen, with or without the intervention of the player. The thing I love about the game is that unforseen forces could set your plans completely awry; events like an unanticipated assassination of your heir could lead to a complete incompentant assuming the throne after your death. I accidentally got my daughter-in-law pregnant once, greatly straining my relationship with my son and heir. You have to be able to adapt to any situation that might occur, and deal with it accordingly.

Crusader Kings II isn't for everybody; it has a steep learning curve (apparently, I picked it up after a couple hours), and a lot of the game is sitting around waiting for something to happen. But the stories that arise from the game are often humorous and/or epic. It's an awesome game, and I would highly reccomend it to anyone who is willing to put the time into it. Also, losing in the game is fun.