Victoria II

   In Victoria II (1836-1936) you manage your country throughout the industrial revolution. The game engine feels dated because it lacks a lot of quality of life improvements and it doesn't look too pretty. Underneath the hood, there is a complex system that keeps track of the population in great complexity, and if there was a Nobel Prize for video games, then this game would've won it. But even if there is a lot of complexity underneath, you don't really have that many options with what you can do. The AI is not that great and is vulnerable to large military stacks. You can't have more than two great powers allied, and while this is a much too "gamey" mechanic for my taste, alongside "crises" that can appear, it can lead to a lot of volatile situations. In the end, the world can be a pretty dangerous and unforeseeable place. If you have a lot of states in your sphere of influence, then your game can transform in a very tedious mini-game to properly maintain and manage them, and of course you lack at least a proper notification system for it. Overall it's a good game, with good mods, which can keep you hooked for a long time, but it really makes you yearn for a Victoria III.