[FREE] Age of Wonders III [STEAM]

Same thought. Didn't use that key (yet) :D

Warlock comes to mind as a rather simplistic offering for the 4x genre, while still being designed in the same style as most mainstream 4x games. That means it's hindered by its simplicity after a point, but it also means it can serve as a good entry point into the genre. You seem to have it in your library already, so that could be an option for you.

Heroes of Might & Magic is an excellent Turn-Based series, but you would probably be better off getting them from GOG. Heroes of Might & Magic: Steam Special Edition is really not that special. It is missing all the expansions!!! The Heroes series are quite easy for beginners if you play the first two games (plus the expansions), but the difficulty ramps up big time in the third game. By then, however, you are either a fan of the series or not, and would probably be able to take it on if you are a fan of it.

Another good series is the King's Bounty series. You have King's Bounty: The Legend, but I'm not sure if you'd prefer to try the series in order. I do know that the King's Bounty: Ultimate Edition (which has all the games and expansions) goes on sale with a very high discount! I believe I bought it when it had an 80% discount! The upcoming Steam Summer Sale would be a good time to check it out, I would think. :)

There is also Royal Bounty. I haven't tried it, but it looks a LOT like the classic Heroes of Might & Magic games. It also has a huge discount from time to time, and at full price it is only $3.29 (Canadian).

Oh! There is also one game that takes flak from some people, but I enjoyed the heck out of it (I own it on CD)! It's called Fallout: Tactics. It takes place in the Fallout mythos, but some people don't consider it canon. I think that it is officially considered canon, however. Either way, it is an enjoyable game and is the only one out of the games/series that I mentioned that doesn't take place in a mystical world. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic Earth, although one set in an alternate universe.

I hope this post helped, even a little! :)

This is a pretty fun game I remember well, it's pretty tedious in a way that the battles can take very long. Mostly animations but if you take away the animations, then I feel, you take away a shine off the game. Probably not the best as a starter to the genre. As per what @shadowshiv had mentioned, HMM series is probably the one you wanted to get into. I've not played King's Bounty though it is mentioned to be one of the ancestors of the genre.

Contrary to what @shadowshiv mentioned, I actually recommend HMM III, its the most complete, well up to HMM III. I've not really played the rest of the series and not keen to, they don't look good to me. You can play on easier settings. HMM I and II are more complicated for me in the sense that I started playing from III and when I tried I and II I see restrictions. Still fun though and the pixel graphics look great for me. Yes, get them on GOG it'll be great fun.

AoE might be in the genre but I remember they also have some Unit modifications whereas the units are pretty fixed in the 1st 3 HMM series. I would not call AoE a 4X though. Its more of RPG Turn based strategy, that's it. You build but you as much as CIV and others of that genre. Its not a build to prosper game, strategic turn based in that manner imo. Cheers~

Not necessarily no

Not wrong lol

Glad I wasn't the only one thinking that.
AoW3 would n have sold so.many more copies than they did now, I am sure.

if you bought it recently, then yes, if not, it is normal that old games can get cheaper or for free

At least they could have waited after the redemption time to pass it to people who was late by the date :|

LOL, so true!