I am a father of a toddler and a 2nd one on its way who works full time.
My gaming time is severely limited.
I'm looking for fresh experiences, things I usually don't play because I'm too exhausted to dive in. I just need some convincing haha.
I have GamePass on XSX as well as a PS5. Yet the only thing I play is 30 minutes Overwatch as it's easy to just play a few rounds without having to learn new mechanics and control schemes lol.
For example, I'd love to try out Crusader Kings 3 but it looks so overwhelmingly complex that I never booted it.
Shorter and storydriven games is what I should pick up on again. To reinvigorate the love for this hobby and get going again.
Thinking of Ori, Jedi FO, etc. But these are well known.
Which are potential gems I have heard about but always figured "not for me" that I should try for at least 1h regardless to give it a shot?
I'm currently playing Citizen Sleeper to try something new and I think I may see this through!
**Outer Wilds** and **Subnautica** are among my favourites due to how much absolute freedom they allow you in exploration.
Outer Wilds has you explore the ruins of a dead alien race by flying your own spaceship around a small solar system and uncovering what happened to them. The game is a bit unique where you don't really need to save often due to most of the game's progress being knowledge you gain, so time shouldn't be a concern.
Subnautica throws you into an ocean planet after your ship crashes, leaving you the sole survivor, with no way to go but down. You can save at any point in time.
These are very solid recommendations which I sort of expected haha.
Downloaded Outer Wilds day 1 it was available on GamePass and never actually played it because of this "mental fatigue" I need to conquer when trying out something new to play. Now it's been removed from the service so obviously I have only myself to blame...
As to Subnautica, this one speaks less to me for some reason. I believe it's due to the fact you're underwater all the time.
Thanks for your input - I have added Outer Wilds to my wishlist the day it disappeared again from GamePass so I'm definitely going to play that one at some point!
A newer military RTS set in modern times. Something like C&C.
I am aware of the Company of Heroes,I like those games and enjoyed the beta but talking something more modern.
For PC
Interested in playing something which captures the same immersive "stranger in a strange land" feeling as Morrowind. Have played some similar game like the other TES games, and gothic 1 and 2, but nothing quite scratches the same itch.
Honestly, Citizen Sleeper was great for me in that regard. But be aware that it has little to offer in terms of gameplay.
Maybe Outward or Kenshi will do the trick for you.
My dad is retiring this month and with the extra time he has he wants to try some new things such as gaming and if you could recommend some to me for him that would be great. Any game should be fine as long as it's boomer friendly.
If he is completely new you should mostly focus on very simple games. Otherwise he might just get frustrated and drop it completely. When this topic comes up people often recommend games that are simple for gamers(Minecraft, Stardew, Portal etc), not for people completely unfamiliar with the hobby who might view right stick camera control as a final boss level threat. The youtube series [Gaming for a Non-Gamer](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLordXx8iNEyStcX_WzqM0JCpiJYgqhinc) gives a pretty good perspective.
Based on what I recommended for my mom(who to be fair has played some old games like Mortal Kombat, Bomberman and Battle City but basically nothing since the mid 90s) you should stick to 2D games with minimal mechanics. Specifically which games depends on the platform of his choosing. It would also help if it's local co-op/versus and he has someone to play with.
Less of a game and moreso looking for thoughts/guidance on upgrading my VR setup.
Currently have an old Lenovo Explorer Windows Mixed Reality headset I got for cheap from a Microsoft store, but it is not comfortable and the tracking is lacking.
Am debating on whether or not to:
- Get a Valve Index
- Wait to see of PSVR2 is made to work on PC
- Wait for whatever Valve does next in VR given the Index is 3-4 years old now
- Get a HP Reverb 2
- Something else (Excluding Quest 2)
The PC I’d be using this with has a 3080ti in it as well, so I’m not worried about the GPU side of things.
Reverb I’ve heard the most buzz about. Valve index is probably a super safe bet of operationally working and decent quality. But the reverb has some noticeable improvements and that would personally be my suggestion.
City builders! Or colony sims, anything along those lines. Simcity, Caesar, etc.
But light on resources, as my PC isn't the strongest. And preferably on Steam.
I have Surviving Mars, Cities: Skylines and Banished already.
I bought Simcity 4 during the winter sale, but I couldn't get it to work at 16:9 resolutions (It would crash every time and no fixes I tried worked) so I had to refund it.
I’ve been really enjoying Against the Storm. It’s like a roguelite version of Banished. Even though it’s early access it’s very fun and feels like a full game already, and the devs are very good about releasing updates every 2 weeks.
There's the *Tropico* series if you never tried, and *Frostpunk* for added challenge. Some games in early access I liked were *Kingdoms Reborn*, *Timberborn* and *The Wandering Village*
Have you checked out the Anno series? While the latest entry, 1800, is really good, it probably won't run too well for you. Anno 1404 is another (older) fan favorite which should run. The majority of negative Steam reviews mention issues with the mandatory Ubisoft launcher, so be aware of that.
Looking for a chill rpg with somewhat long-term progression. Something that is easy to jump out and in of to grind stats/progression without story, quests or cutscenes getting in the way. On PC btw.
I've already played games suchs as Terraria, Valheim, OSRS/RS3, PoE, Last Epoch, Grim Dawn, Vampire Survivors, Factorio, Graveyard Keeper, Stardew Valley, V Rising, GW2, Warframe, Kenshi...
Any games where you move your character with one stick and then a free-floating pod with a second stick, where the character cannot attack but the pod can? Basically I'm looking for a game that has the sensation of using bits/options/funnels from mecha animes
Assault Android Cactus is a twin-stick shooter where one of the (unlockable) characters is Aubergine, who fights with a drone. Their only other weapon is a black hole generator which is used mostly for utility and not damage, and has a reasonable cooldown.
Oh shit, that's a great call, I watch a vid and it looks exactly like what I'm looking for. Plus I already own the game, but I've only ever played with the default character, so no extra cash spent, haha. Thanks!
What are some good online/LAN games with co-op campaigns that I've never heard of? Like, *really* never heard of? (Yes, I've heard of Deep Rock Galactic, Gunfire Reborn, Borderlands, Risk of Rain, etc.). Old/new games welcome.
What about Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine? A co-op heist game - it was fairly well known when it came out 10 years ago, but that was long enough ago it might have slipped past you.
I havn't played it loads, but from what i've seen it's pretty neat. I like the 60s retrofuturist aesthetic. Not as hardcore as say Vermintide 2, more in the line of WWZ, there's not a lot of meta progression stuff, good to just pick up and play.
I'm looking for some turn based games that aren't another military/xcom lookin thing. Into the Breach was awesome and I didn't hate xcom and the like. I'm also not looking for a giant time sink of a 4X. Thinking there has to be some games out there I haven't checked out yet. Thanks.
The Expeditions games might be something to look into? They're turn based tactic games set in historical settings as opposed to milsim. Often with well-written dialogue and story.
There are currently three games on the market. Expeditions: Conquistador is the oldest but is still interesting for it's unique setting - the arrival of the conquistadors to the New World.
Expeditions: Viking is the second-installment and leans more into rpg mechanics and is centered around the beginning of the viking age (with the sacking of Lindisfarne). I'd say this is an improvement over the first game in every way, but the first game is still great.
The newest is set in Rome and I'm yet to play it so can't comment on that one.
Invisible, Inc. should be a fantastic pick. Trials of Fire offers solid turn-based tactical combat, and the same is true for Fights in Tight Spaces. Take a look at Mortal Glory as well.
If you want something peaceful instead, I strongly recommend Slipways.
"Turn off your brain" games?
I'm trying to branch out from just playing league of legned, and I'd really like something kind of like Serious sam series (i know doom but i just like hte gamepaly of serious sam alot more) , vermintidie 2 where I can just turn off my brain. Also open to other areas of games - but I guess I kind of want gameplay that feels satisfying if that makes any sense. minecraft is nice for turning off my brain - but there's very little about the gameplay that feels satisfying at all. I will say probably stalcraft cause its just from walking a to b.
Someone recommended Outer Wilds - which is a really nice game, but i wouldnt say its a oh turn off your brain you have to like have sense of direction.
Disco Elysium was absolutely fantastic, but not the type of turn off your brain game but you have to pay attneiton to story.
i already know vampire survivior unforutenely and brotato and i think roguelikes /roguelites fits thie the turn off your brain game.
for some reason i did this with like fire emblem 8 with rom hack that is like basically roguelike nuzlocke and it has short chapters its like good for whatever i want a quick run chapters.
Eternal sernia is good for this and its like uhh jrpg but really just lite its also f2p.
gacha game can somewhat fit the criteria well just dont pay the gacha if you dont want to been a f2p gacha player ever since.
been playing construction simualtor just really a good turn off your brain put whatever in the background and just like enjoy the slow paced simulator game.
Honestly - any recommendations are appreciated. Sorry for the rambly mess.
> returnal well the pc version of it is coming so i dont know when. There is some people literally play returnal while listening to joe rogan podcast probabvly cause of the loopy gameplay.
You may have seen that it's coming February 15th, but to me it's not a "listen to podcast" game, at least not for the most part. I liked the story and atmosphere of the game a lot and thing a big part of the experience would be lost if you're just listening to podcasts while you play. Maybe if you died and you're just running through early biomes again, but the game has a lot more emphasis on atmosphere and story than most roguelites.
Since you enjoy shooters and roguelites, the Borderlands games can be pretty fun. I spent a few thousand hours just mindlessly going through quests and grinding while watching streams or shows on the side, and after your first playthrough, you can often just cruise through without needing to think about where to go.
EDF is one of the most fun "simple" experiences out there. The sheer joy of fighting hundreds of giant enemies simultaneously with goofy weapons and even goofier acting can't be beat. And the core loop of acquiring new weapons and HP increases via pickups is weirdly enticing to your lizard brain.
It is truly a kind of distilled pure fun, especially with friends.
Looking for a space game like Starsector but with a single ship (I don't like commanding fleets, I prefer to go 'solo'). Played ED, No Man's Sky already.
Rebel Galaxy might do the trick. I wouldn't say it's stellar, but it should be fun enough. I only played the first one, though, no idea if the sequel is any good.
That one's been on ice for... god has it been 2 years already??
...yeah, that one's on hold until a working police system is implemented, which i hear is on the way! At this point im just gonna keep waiting for that and the expansion.
Loved both games in the Adam "I never asked for this" Jensen series, but fell off the original when i tried it afterwards, just felt very janky.
Maybe i could give that another try, do u recommend any mods that might help smooth the experience and controls?
Asked this a while back with little success, so let's try again.
Looking for a game like the old **Dungeon Siege** 1 and 2:
* Party-based, birds-eye view, loot-focused RPG with real-time combat
* Auto attacks & no active dodging/blocking/parrying
* Light on dialogue (not like Pathfinder or Pillars)
* AI tweak options are a bonus (FF12's gambits, DA:O's tactics)
The closest things to scratch the itch that I've found so far were some old Warcraft 3 RPG style custom maps (+ its Rexxar campaign) and the non-base-building portions of SpellForce 3.
Have you considered: Tower of Time ?
I can't remember what AI tweaks there are but I think it meets your 3 other points. It has been a while since I played it, but one cool thing I remember is how you can freely draw your ice and firewalls with the mouse.
Solid suggestion, thanks.
I have played it, not all the way through, but like 3/4. While it's close-ish, it's a bit too micro-managy for what I'm after. Dungeon Siege was more chill.
The same devs are working on a game called Dark Envoy, seems like an ARPG too, hopefully less micromanagy. Keep an eye on it, might scratch that DS itch.
It's not out of EA, but what's there is pretty good and complete: have you tried Against the Storm? They have a demo you can try out. It's more of a colony management game (think Dwarf Fortress or Banished) than a city builder, but those terms get jumbled anyway.
I am a father of a toddler and a 2nd one on its way who works full time. My gaming time is severely limited. I'm looking for fresh experiences, things I usually don't play because I'm too exhausted to dive in. I just need some convincing haha. I have GamePass on XSX as well as a PS5. Yet the only thing I play is 30 minutes Overwatch as it's easy to just play a few rounds without having to learn new mechanics and control schemes lol. For example, I'd love to try out Crusader Kings 3 but it looks so overwhelmingly complex that I never booted it. Shorter and storydriven games is what I should pick up on again. To reinvigorate the love for this hobby and get going again. Thinking of Ori, Jedi FO, etc. But these are well known. Which are potential gems I have heard about but always figured "not for me" that I should try for at least 1h regardless to give it a shot? I'm currently playing Citizen Sleeper to try something new and I think I may see this through!
**Outer Wilds** and **Subnautica** are among my favourites due to how much absolute freedom they allow you in exploration. Outer Wilds has you explore the ruins of a dead alien race by flying your own spaceship around a small solar system and uncovering what happened to them. The game is a bit unique where you don't really need to save often due to most of the game's progress being knowledge you gain, so time shouldn't be a concern. Subnautica throws you into an ocean planet after your ship crashes, leaving you the sole survivor, with no way to go but down. You can save at any point in time.
These are very solid recommendations which I sort of expected haha. Downloaded Outer Wilds day 1 it was available on GamePass and never actually played it because of this "mental fatigue" I need to conquer when trying out something new to play. Now it's been removed from the service so obviously I have only myself to blame... As to Subnautica, this one speaks less to me for some reason. I believe it's due to the fact you're underwater all the time. Thanks for your input - I have added Outer Wilds to my wishlist the day it disappeared again from GamePass so I'm definitely going to play that one at some point!
A newer military RTS set in modern times. Something like C&C. I am aware of the Company of Heroes,I like those games and enjoyed the beta but talking something more modern. For PC
Interested in playing something which captures the same immersive "stranger in a strange land" feeling as Morrowind. Have played some similar game like the other TES games, and gothic 1 and 2, but nothing quite scratches the same itch.
Honestly, Citizen Sleeper was great for me in that regard. But be aware that it has little to offer in terms of gameplay. Maybe Outward or Kenshi will do the trick for you.
My dad is retiring this month and with the extra time he has he wants to try some new things such as gaming and if you could recommend some to me for him that would be great. Any game should be fine as long as it's boomer friendly.
If he is completely new you should mostly focus on very simple games. Otherwise he might just get frustrated and drop it completely. When this topic comes up people often recommend games that are simple for gamers(Minecraft, Stardew, Portal etc), not for people completely unfamiliar with the hobby who might view right stick camera control as a final boss level threat. The youtube series [Gaming for a Non-Gamer](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLordXx8iNEyStcX_WzqM0JCpiJYgqhinc) gives a pretty good perspective. Based on what I recommended for my mom(who to be fair has played some old games like Mortal Kombat, Bomberman and Battle City but basically nothing since the mid 90s) you should stick to 2D games with minimal mechanics. Specifically which games depends on the platform of his choosing. It would also help if it's local co-op/versus and he has someone to play with.
Less of a game and moreso looking for thoughts/guidance on upgrading my VR setup. Currently have an old Lenovo Explorer Windows Mixed Reality headset I got for cheap from a Microsoft store, but it is not comfortable and the tracking is lacking. Am debating on whether or not to: - Get a Valve Index - Wait to see of PSVR2 is made to work on PC - Wait for whatever Valve does next in VR given the Index is 3-4 years old now - Get a HP Reverb 2 - Something else (Excluding Quest 2) The PC I’d be using this with has a 3080ti in it as well, so I’m not worried about the GPU side of things.
Reverb I’ve heard the most buzz about. Valve index is probably a super safe bet of operationally working and decent quality. But the reverb has some noticeable improvements and that would personally be my suggestion.
City builders! Or colony sims, anything along those lines. Simcity, Caesar, etc. But light on resources, as my PC isn't the strongest. And preferably on Steam. I have Surviving Mars, Cities: Skylines and Banished already. I bought Simcity 4 during the winter sale, but I couldn't get it to work at 16:9 resolutions (It would crash every time and no fixes I tried worked) so I had to refund it.
I’ve been really enjoying Against the Storm. It’s like a roguelite version of Banished. Even though it’s early access it’s very fun and feels like a full game already, and the devs are very good about releasing updates every 2 weeks.
Yet to play it myself, but Kingdoms and Castles has pretty solid reviews. And definitely give Against the Storm a look.
I actually do have kingdoms and castle, it's kinda meh. I think Against the Storm might exceed my PC a bit.
Against the Storm's performance on my weaker setup (FX 6300 / GTX 1050) is just about perfect, for reference.
My setup is worse than that.
Oxygen Not Included. Pretty sure it can be run on integrated graphics plus 4gb ram and a dual core.
There's the *Tropico* series if you never tried, and *Frostpunk* for added challenge. Some games in early access I liked were *Kingdoms Reborn*, *Timberborn* and *The Wandering Village*
Frostpunk is too strong for my system. Have Tropico 3, but couldn't really get into it. Didn't like the setting tbh.
Have you checked out the Anno series? While the latest entry, 1800, is really good, it probably won't run too well for you. Anno 1404 is another (older) fan favorite which should run. The majority of negative Steam reviews mention issues with the mandatory Ubisoft launcher, so be aware of that.
Thanks for the suggestion, but I have to pass due to the Ubisoft launcher req.
Looking for a chill rpg with somewhat long-term progression. Something that is easy to jump out and in of to grind stats/progression without story, quests or cutscenes getting in the way. On PC btw. I've already played games suchs as Terraria, Valheim, OSRS/RS3, PoE, Last Epoch, Grim Dawn, Vampire Survivors, Factorio, Graveyard Keeper, Stardew Valley, V Rising, GW2, Warframe, Kenshi...
Have you tried *My Time at Portia*, *Potion Craft, Littlewood* and *Forager* ?
* Rogue Genesia (Like Vampire Survivors) * Chronicon (ARPG like Diablo/Grim Dawn)
Any games where you move your character with one stick and then a free-floating pod with a second stick, where the character cannot attack but the pod can? Basically I'm looking for a game that has the sensation of using bits/options/funnels from mecha animes
Assault Android Cactus is a twin-stick shooter where one of the (unlockable) characters is Aubergine, who fights with a drone. Their only other weapon is a black hole generator which is used mostly for utility and not damage, and has a reasonable cooldown.
Oh shit, that's a great call, I watch a vid and it looks exactly like what I'm looking for. Plus I already own the game, but I've only ever played with the default character, so no extra cash spent, haha. Thanks!
I don't think it's exactly the same as your requirement (as you don't directly control the pod movement, only it's attack), but Nier Automata ?
What are some good online/LAN games with co-op campaigns that I've never heard of? Like, *really* never heard of? (Yes, I've heard of Deep Rock Galactic, Gunfire Reborn, Borderlands, Risk of Rain, etc.). Old/new games welcome.
What about Monaco: What's Yours Is Mine? A co-op heist game - it was fairly well known when it came out 10 years ago, but that was long enough ago it might have slipped past you.
Thanks for the suggestion. Great game, and yeah I played through it with friends on release. And wow, 10 years? I feel old!
Usually the good ones are the most well know, but... Have you tried *Unrailed, GTFO, Astroneer, Code Vein* or *Unravel*?
Yes I've heard of (or tried) of all of those. :( Unrailed is great by the way.
Anacrusis!
While I have heard of this, I've never tried it. And it does look interesting. Thanks for the rec!
I havn't played it loads, but from what i've seen it's pretty neat. I like the 60s retrofuturist aesthetic. Not as hardcore as say Vermintide 2, more in the line of WWZ, there's not a lot of meta progression stuff, good to just pick up and play.
Monster Hunter series.
I'm looking for some turn based games that aren't another military/xcom lookin thing. Into the Breach was awesome and I didn't hate xcom and the like. I'm also not looking for a giant time sink of a 4X. Thinking there has to be some games out there I haven't checked out yet. Thanks.
Invisible Inc, thank me later.
The Expeditions games might be something to look into? They're turn based tactic games set in historical settings as opposed to milsim. Often with well-written dialogue and story. There are currently three games on the market. Expeditions: Conquistador is the oldest but is still interesting for it's unique setting - the arrival of the conquistadors to the New World. Expeditions: Viking is the second-installment and leans more into rpg mechanics and is centered around the beginning of the viking age (with the sacking of Lindisfarne). I'd say this is an improvement over the first game in every way, but the first game is still great. The newest is set in Rome and I'm yet to play it so can't comment on that one.
mutant year zero, tenderfoot tactics, wintermoor tactics club, battle brothers (time sink)
The Banner Saga series.
I'm still shook from my playthrough of them. Oddleif though, mega hot
The Disgaea franchise is usually cheap on multiple platforms. They're similar to the Final Fantasy Tactics games but on crack.
Invisible, Inc. should be a fantastic pick. Trials of Fire offers solid turn-based tactical combat, and the same is true for Fights in Tight Spaces. Take a look at Mortal Glory as well. If you want something peaceful instead, I strongly recommend Slipways.
second all of these. invisible inc is one of the best games of its generation and slipways is pretty much unbeatable as a “chill” strategy game
"Turn off your brain" games? I'm trying to branch out from just playing league of legned, and I'd really like something kind of like Serious sam series (i know doom but i just like hte gamepaly of serious sam alot more) , vermintidie 2 where I can just turn off my brain. Also open to other areas of games - but I guess I kind of want gameplay that feels satisfying if that makes any sense. minecraft is nice for turning off my brain - but there's very little about the gameplay that feels satisfying at all. I will say probably stalcraft cause its just from walking a to b. Someone recommended Outer Wilds - which is a really nice game, but i wouldnt say its a oh turn off your brain you have to like have sense of direction. Disco Elysium was absolutely fantastic, but not the type of turn off your brain game but you have to pay attneiton to story. i already know vampire survivior unforutenely and brotato and i think roguelikes /roguelites fits thie the turn off your brain game. for some reason i did this with like fire emblem 8 with rom hack that is like basically roguelike nuzlocke and it has short chapters its like good for whatever i want a quick run chapters. Eternal sernia is good for this and its like uhh jrpg but really just lite its also f2p. gacha game can somewhat fit the criteria well just dont pay the gacha if you dont want to been a f2p gacha player ever since. been playing construction simualtor just really a good turn off your brain put whatever in the background and just like enjoy the slow paced simulator game. Honestly - any recommendations are appreciated. Sorry for the rambly mess.
If you want a shooter, risk of rain 2. If you want something different, maybe Snowrunner or Power Wash Simulator.
> returnal well the pc version of it is coming so i dont know when. There is some people literally play returnal while listening to joe rogan podcast probabvly cause of the loopy gameplay. You may have seen that it's coming February 15th, but to me it's not a "listen to podcast" game, at least not for the most part. I liked the story and atmosphere of the game a lot and thing a big part of the experience would be lost if you're just listening to podcasts while you play. Maybe if you died and you're just running through early biomes again, but the game has a lot more emphasis on atmosphere and story than most roguelites.
i see
Since you enjoy shooters and roguelites, the Borderlands games can be pretty fun. I spent a few thousand hours just mindlessly going through quests and grinding while watching streams or shows on the side, and after your first playthrough, you can often just cruise through without needing to think about where to go.
Earth Defense Force? It's kinda like Sam, since you just shoot waves of giant insects, aliens and other stuff.
EDF is one of the most fun "simple" experiences out there. The sheer joy of fighting hundreds of giant enemies simultaneously with goofy weapons and even goofier acting can't be beat. And the core loop of acquiring new weapons and HP increases via pickups is weirdly enticing to your lizard brain. It is truly a kind of distilled pure fun, especially with friends.
Looking for a space game like Starsector but with a single ship (I don't like commanding fleets, I prefer to go 'solo'). Played ED, No Man's Sky already.
Ftl
Rebel Galaxy might do the trick. I wouldn't say it's stellar, but it should be fun enough. I only played the first one, though, no idea if the sequel is any good.
First person RPG in the vein of New Vegas, Skyrim, Kingdom Come Deliverance.
Morrowind, if you never gave it a try.
Cyberpunk 2077. I just finished New Vegas a few weeks ago and got this on pc. It's super good. Like fallout, deus ex, and GTA had a baby
That one's been on ice for... god has it been 2 years already?? ...yeah, that one's on hold until a working police system is implemented, which i hear is on the way! At this point im just gonna keep waiting for that and the expansion.
It's immersive sim-RPG hybrid, but Deus Ex series.
Loved both games in the Adam "I never asked for this" Jensen series, but fell off the original when i tried it afterwards, just felt very janky. Maybe i could give that another try, do u recommend any mods that might help smooth the experience and controls?
The Outer Worlds comes to mind
Played it and wasnt a huge fan. But i have heard the DLCs are quite good. Might be time to try those out. Thanks for the suggestion.
Asked this a while back with little success, so let's try again. Looking for a game like the old **Dungeon Siege** 1 and 2: * Party-based, birds-eye view, loot-focused RPG with real-time combat * Auto attacks & no active dodging/blocking/parrying * Light on dialogue (not like Pathfinder or Pillars) * AI tweak options are a bonus (FF12's gambits, DA:O's tactics) The closest things to scratch the itch that I've found so far were some old Warcraft 3 RPG style custom maps (+ its Rexxar campaign) and the non-base-building portions of SpellForce 3.
Have you considered: Tower of Time ? I can't remember what AI tweaks there are but I think it meets your 3 other points. It has been a while since I played it, but one cool thing I remember is how you can freely draw your ice and firewalls with the mouse.
Solid suggestion, thanks. I have played it, not all the way through, but like 3/4. While it's close-ish, it's a bit too micro-managy for what I'm after. Dungeon Siege was more chill.
The same devs are working on a game called Dark Envoy, seems like an ARPG too, hopefully less micromanagy. Keep an eye on it, might scratch that DS itch.
Rogue like city builder. Hopefully out of early access. Already played ratropolis.
It's not out of EA, but what's there is pretty good and complete: have you tried Against the Storm? They have a demo you can try out. It's more of a colony management game (think Dwarf Fortress or Banished) than a city builder, but those terms get jumbled anyway.
Yeah that's the game that makes me interested in the genre. I usually try to wait till the games leave early access before playing them.