Just got fired? Lost your girlfriend? Never fear, just pickup one of these turn-based strategy games to fill the void. Oh, and none of the above is applicable, don’t worry, it soon will be.

5.Gazillionaire

A Tycoon turn-based game from little-known indie developer Lavamind. The object of the game? To become filthy stinking rich of course! Oh, and crushing your competition in the process, because whats a game without a little backstabbing.

While the graphics aren’t top-notch (come on, it was released in ’94), the actual gameplay of the game is great, which is something that can’t be said for a lot of games released this side of the millennium.

Release: 1994
Official Site

4. Heroes of Might and Magic

One of the longest running series of any type of game, HoMaM has created numerous spin-offs on multiple platforms, and a series of novels.

Heroes of Might and Magic is an unusual strategy game in that the player is represented in game, by the hero. This gives HoMaM an almost RPG like feel in parts, with the heroes possessing specific magic spells and artifacts that can only be used by them. They can also bring stat bonuses to the players army.
Some players have been turned off the series after Ubisoft’s acquisition of the license, though Ubisoft’s first release HoMaM V, still gained a Metacritic score of 77%.

Release: 1995, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2006
Official Site

3. Master of Orion

A space-based turn-based (say that 4 times quickly ) game that is generally credited with creating the 4x (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate) genre. There are three games in the series, with Master of Orion III being the latest, but the least critically acclaimed.
Like Gazillionaire, MoO is a space-based game, but the similarities stop there. Instead of striving to rule the galaxy through trade and enterprise, MoO allows you to do it the good ol’ fashioned way, by bombing you enemies back to the stone age.

Release: 1992, 1996, 2003
Official Site

2. Galactic Civilizations

Galactic Civilizations is a 4x based game from developer Stardock, whom are best known for their desktop enhancement programs. Galactic Civilizations takes its cue from the king of turn-based games, Civilization, with its outstanding gameplay, and robust AI.
Where the game really shines though, is its ability to sit back and allow you (the player) to run your empire how you want it. Want to run empire well enough to win you the Nobel Prize for Economics? Sure. Perhaps you prefer to become the most hated war monger this side of Betelgeuse? No problem general.

Release: 2003, 2006
Offical Site

1. Civilization

No list of turn-based games would be complete without Civilization. Arguably the game that brought the genre into the mainstream, it is now into its 5th (Revolutions) iteration, also making it one of the most successful series.
With the game objective of “…to build an empire that would stand the test of time”, you can be sure this is not one to fire-up for the 15 minutes before Desperate Housewives starts (I…err…watch it for the enthralling plot?).

Release: 1991, 1996, 2001, 2005, 2008
Official Site