For me it’s first person puzzle games. I can think of maybe a dozen off the top of my head that came out in the last decade. I especially enjoy when they’re open world. The ability to just quit a puzzle that’s stumped you and go try something else for a little bit is incredibly refreshing.
Turn based strategy. As others have said, RTS’es, as well, but TBS. Yes, Civ series isn’t dead, but everything else seems to be. Master of Magic (1994) is literally one of my favorite games of all time (none of the sequels or successors measure up). Colonization, also 1994, (warning, MANY ethical issues) had a great logistic and economic model… (Just ignore eeeeeeverything about the white-washing of history/slavery/indentured servitude/genocide.) Alpha Centauri. Maybe I’m just old.
I spent my teen years around X-Com and the sequels. When Firaxis released the new games, I spent hundreds of hours on them, but haven’t seen any games quite like them in the last decade or so.
@sparkl_motion @GrayBackgroundMusic Xenonauts for a modern xcom. The sequel is in early access and is fantastic. Terra Invicta is a slightly different take.
For MoM Age of Wonders IV is really good.
There’s still nothing like XCOM:Long War, but fortunately the aliens are always waiting to take another swipe. Maybe this time I won’t rush mec.
Also I really like Wildermyth. It scratches the XCOM itch but your soldiers retire and have kids and can leave you for more reasons that just because you fucked up. And they can turn into were bears
Do you know about Songs of Conquest?
I’ve been playing a lot of Terraformers and Slipways – they scratch a similar itch for me but only take an hour total