Alpha Centauri

Sid Meier took one look at Earth and said, “Let’s leave this dump.” Thus, Alpha Centauri (1999, Windows XP) was born - a 4X strategy game that takes Civilization to space, then adds philosophy, moral dilemmas, and terrifying sentient fungi. It’s like if Civ II read too much Nietzsche and went off its meds. The factions are all deeply ideological, the tech tree is a novel in itself, and the late game makes you question your own humanity. If you've ever wanted to roleplay as an eco-fascist, cybernetic tyrant, or creepy mind-control cultist, here’s your moment. Earth who?