Endless Legend

There are few reasons not to love this title. It takes the addictive 4X formula popularized by Civilization and puts it in a diverse high-fantasy world. While other titles feel like a copy and paste of other games, Endless Legend manages to bring something new to the genre, and not just because of its stunning Game of Thrones inspired graphics. The game introduces eight factions, and they aren't just different flavors of the same thing. They play fundamentally differently, roving clans able to move their cities but not declare war, and ardent mages able to fuel magic through self-harm. It creates the feeling of diversity present in epic fantasy while simultaneously creating an interesting variance in tactics and gameplay styles. That subversion extends to many of the underlying systems. It puts a spin on classic empire-building tropes, revamping systems of politics, religion, and technology to fit perfectly with its world. Attacking a faction, for example, requires diplomatic points, which are also needed to change things internally. As a result, you always need to sacrifice something to get another, and that's a very powerful mechanic. Combat is equally different, with a chess-like turn-based system that provides a more strategic element. I could go on endlessly about the various innovations in this game, but ultimately they wouldn't convey its mastery. It's the overall feeling of polish that puts it on this list; little details that reveal a true labor of love.