Shop for games

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 48 reviews

The Bottom Line: Spore merges multiple run-of-the-mill building blocks into a big, entertaining game. Read review

Specs: Everyone 10 and older, Maxis, Strategy, Miscellaneous - virtual life, Strategy / tactics / wargame - real time, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.2 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: This is a triumphant remake of a classic strategy game, featuring an intoxicating blend of action, strategy, role-playing, and pure fun. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Firaxis Games, Strategy, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.0 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: There's plenty to do in Port Royale 3, but little of it is fun. Read review

Specs: Teen, Kalypso, Strategy

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Spore's first full expansion is overflowing with wit and charm, and it offers resourceful players a chance to get creative. Read review

Specs: Everyone 10 and older, Electronic Arts, Strategy, Strategy / tactics / wargame - real time, Miscellaneous - virtual life

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Not an intensely complicated game with intricate strategic developments to begin with, it's now just a guess-fest. Read review

Specs: Everyone, NMS Software, Strategy, General Action, 1-4 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.8 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.5 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Majesty is original, fun, and challenging, and it's a winning combination of real-time strategy and role-playing elements. Read review

Specs: Teen, Cyberlore Studios, Strategy, General Strategy, Fantasy, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.5 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Flaws in the computer's artificial intelligence, the lack of a convenient save feature, and an overall lack of originality all serve to drastically weaken the game. Read review

Specs: Teen, Phantagram, Strategy, General Strategy, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.0 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: While there is a great deal of information and a brilliant concept at play here, the actual experience of Evolution drains your enthusiasm rather quickly. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Crossover Technologies, Role-Playing, 1-6 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.0 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: Entertaining gameplay overcomes a strange presentation and awkward design in this lighthearted burglary simulator. Read review

Specs: Everyone, neo Software, Adventure, General Adventure, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.9 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The engine simulates Civil War warfare about as well as a round peg fits into a square hole. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Erudite Software Inc., Strategy, General Strategy, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.5 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: It's hard to recall another game in which you have so little direct control over events, and yet are called upon for so very much micromanagement. Read review

Specs: Everyone, JoyMania, Strategy, General Strategy, 1-6 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Hasbro Interactive, Strategy

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.5 stars Spectacular

  Overall score: 9.1 (4.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

The Bottom Line: While this game may look cute, it is in fact as sophisticated and enjoyable as the very best strategy games out there. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Team 17, Strategy, General Strategy, 1-6 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  1.5 stars Poor

  Overall score: 3.0 (1.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: If this haphazard collection of minigames was the best the developer could muster for an Apprentice game, The Donald may be due for a firing spree. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Legacy Interactive, Strategy, Miscellaneous - virtual life, Adventure - first person adventure, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.5 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: From Dust provides a rich world full of engaging challenges, though there are some frustrations even a god must suffer. Read review

Specs: Everyone 10 and older, Ubisoft Montpellier, Strategy, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.0 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 1.5 stars out of 2 reviews

The Bottom Line: Dungeons' mind-numbing, repetitive gameplay never reaches the greatness of Dungeon Keeper, its classic inspiration. Read review

Specs: Mature, Realmforge Studios, Strategy, Fantasy

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The changes to the system are for the better, but they simply make it feel morelike a glorified patch than a new game. Read review

Specs: Everyone, SSI, Strategy, General Strategy, 1-2 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  0.0 stars

  Overall score: 0.0 (0.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

Specs: Teen, Strategy, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.7 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Enemy-packed level design contributes to a single-player experience that is significantly harder on the normal difficulty level than the notoriously challenging Myth and Myth II single-player campaigns. Read review

Specs: Mature, Take-Two Interactive, Strategy, General Strategy, 1-16 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.8 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The simple rules and basic control structure make it a game that anyone can learn to play in about five minutes. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Team 17, Strategy, General Strategy

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.5 stars Very good

  Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Played from a first-person perspective, this frenetic game is unlike anything else in its genre. Read review

Specs: Teen, Cyclone Studios, Strategy, General Strategy, 1-4 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.8 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: The vivid and inviting setting in Desperados can't make up for some substantial gameplay flaws. Read review

Specs: Teen, Spellbound, Strategy, General Strategy, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  3.0 stars Good

  Overall score: 6.1 (3.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: Settlers III combines city building and combat, focussing primarily on the former. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Blue Byte, Strategy, General Strategy, 1-8 Players

• CNET Editor rating:
  4.0 stars Excellent

  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: While it may seem overly familiar to fans of Caesar III, it offers enough variety and innovation to keep things interesting. Read review

Specs: Everyone, Impressions Games, Strategy, General Strategy, 1 Player

• CNET Editor rating:
  2.5 stars Average

  Overall score: 5.9 (2.5 stars)
• Average user rating: 0 stars No reviews, write one!

The Bottom Line: At its heart, Rites of War proves to be fairly enjoyable if you can get past all its many rough edges. Read review

Specs: Teen, DreamForge Intertainment, Strategy, General Strategy, 1-4 Players