0 A.D.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’d love to build an empire but without the inconvenience of actual marauding barbarians,” 0 A.D. has your back. This open-source strategy game, developed by Wildfire Games, lets you command ancient civilizations with the calm detachment of a god who’s had one too many espressos. You’ll train troops, gather resources, and launch wars across beautifully rendered maps, all while secretly hoping your economy doesn’t implode halfway through a siege. Unlike other real-time strategy games, it doesn’t demand a wallet-draining DLC binge; everything here is free. Victory comes not only through military might, but also through your ability to multitask like a caffeinated octopus.