8 Kingdoms

If the idea of building your own empire appeals but you’re allergic to complicated manuals, 8 Kingdoms might be your cure. Developed by the 8K Team, this open-source strategy game keeps things refreshingly straightforward. You build cities, recruit armies, and attempt to outmaneuver your rivals on a hex-based map. The charm lies in its simplicity: it’s not bogged down with endless stats or needless complexity, making it easy to pick up and surprisingly hard to put down. Think of it as Risk for your PC, only with more dragons and fewer family arguments at the dining table.