Strategy games that positively push your cognitive boundaries?
Hey, folks. I'll keep it simple.
Does anyone have any recommendations for strategy games that have helped you develop new ideas that are useful in the life of an engineer/entrepreneur?
Looking to do a bit of gaming and maybe get a little bit of brain exercise. Thanks =)
Starcraft 2 is definately that. Getting good at it pushes you to actively manage your attention span so you can multitask most effectively while making reads and predictions on the opponent.
"Tactical" squad based competitive games such as Counter Strike: Global Offensive. Played at the high levels, are all about setting up an action plan, executing it the most efficient way possible, quickly reacting to a deadly yet highly rational opponent, and changing the plan as the situation evolves to prevail.
In fact, most competitive games in the professional scene are played on a strategical level, such as MOBAs.
Starcraft II, any of the Microsoft Age of Empires/Mythology series. Total Annihilation. Hearts of Iron III/IV - All pretty much made me the man I am today. I know I've surpassed the 10,000 hour mark I am reluctant to admit.
I’m surprised nobody has mentioned factorio. Easily my favourite game and right up HN’s alley.
Civilization series perhaps?
I don't think it is going to be particularly useful to push cognitive boundaries though.
There are lots that are essentially optimization exercises but that quickly becomes a diminishing returns situation.
City builders like Anno and skyline are also worth a look. I personally enjoy Anno 2205 a fair bit
Most of them do a decent job. Exceptions:
Chess - it's a solved problem, and the rest is pattern recognition that won't help. It's still a fun game, but no better than Candy Crush.
Strategy MMOs - they'll teach you leadership and training, but mostly taking responsibility. You'll learn to stay up at 3 AM putting your tribe above all else. You'll be pitted mostly against people who thought they could pay to win when things got bad enough.
1830 as many other 18xx series games. They are boardgames, but there exist an ancient msDos version of 1830, playable with dosbox. Really deep brain burner!
Not exactly strategy, but it'd be a disservice not to mention Zachtronics (EXAPUNKS, SHENZHEN I/O and TIS-100 are my personal favorites.)
Chess and specifically learning chess strategy changed the way I look at programming problems and problems in general dramatically.
That one game that positively pushes my boundaries is the Cities Skylines; many factors come into play, especially when you're managing an entire city. It will exercise your cognitive skills.
Company of Heroes
Its a real time strategy game set in WW2 and there are lots of different ways to tackle games and different factions as well.
dominions 5 is like civilization except arguably more complex and it actually has an active and competitive multiplayer scene, perhaps due to the pre planned nature of combat.
not sure if I can tell you what ideas it has given me exactly but I am relatively new to the scene.