Socrates

Socrates is a 1993 DOS strategy game that takes its name from the famous Greek philosopher, although players will be spending considerably more time thinking about winning than contemplating the meaning of existence. The game focuses on strategic decision-making and challenges players to plan ahead, manage resources, and make choices that influence the outcome of play. Its presentation is firmly rooted in the early 1990s PC era, where complex ideas were often delivered through menus, statistics, and a determined-looking interface. The title suggests intellectual depth, and the gameplay does reward patience and careful reasoning rather than quick reflexes. Socrates is best suited to players who enjoy taking their time, considering alternatives, and occasionally discovering that the clever plan they spent ten minutes developing was based on one tiny mistake. It is a distinctly old-school strategy experience, where the computer does not necessarily make things exciting, but it certainly gives your brain something to do.