3 Free Web-Based Strategy Games You Can't Afford Not to Play

In my many years of surfing the net I've played many gamed. In my early years they were mostly text games. Below I've compiled a list of my 3 favorite free web based strategy games and some of the basic information about them.

Utopia
Available at http://games.swirve.com/utopia
In this text-based medieval fantasy game the gamer creates a province (think small country) which can vary in race (everything from Elves & Dwarves to Undead) and personality (yes, you even choose your rulers personality) that provide various pros/cons that will affect your ability to defend and attack other provinces. Once your province is created you are placed in a kingdom. Each kingdom generally consists of 20-25 provinces (other people). Every decision you make in game effects how your province will function. Race, Personality, and Building strategy all add or subtract various bonuses. Often this game turns into number crunching as you try and mathematical calculate all your bonuses and your opponents before you make an attack (the more sure you are, the less likely you'll fail the attack). As far as attacks go, land is the most usually type of attack; though there are even different types of attacks and can range from targeting wizards of another province or simply burning down any building your army sees. This game can be very fun; a lot of people take it very seriously and even stay "In-Character" in the kingdom forums. Close bonds tend to form around kingdom mates that have played with each other for a few years (or ages, in Utopian Talk).

Earth 2025
Available at http://games.swirve.com/earth/
In this text, turn-based futuristic sci-fi game allows the gamer to create a small nation and control every aspect of its production. It's important to note that games are not part of a larger kingdom (though you can, if you choose join an alliance of some sort). You make decisions like what you want your nation to build every turn (whether you want to focus 40% on tanks, or maybe 5% on jets and 15% on turrets, etc.). It's a pretty fun game in total. Aside from the individuality of it and the futuristic names and numbers it is structured a lot like Utopia.

Nationstates
Available at http://www.nationstates.net/
In this text, time based political science game allows the gamer to create a nation and make every decision about it. How so? Every day (either once or twice, depending on your settings) you will receive an issue. Each of these issues present a problem, like "Our national animal's population is out of control" and it will several extreme solutions like: A law against hurting the animal, Instate a law that allows people to eat the animal, etc. Every decision you make is exaggerated greatly and will greatly affect your nation. For instance if someone decided to eat the animal in the above xample then their nation begins to become barren and inhospitable (though you don't see this, you read that this is happening to your nation). This game is based on the political writings of Max Barry, most closely to his book "Jennifer Government" which entails corporations that own the world.