In Episode 31 of Critical Moves, Joe, Tim, and Adam share the strategy games that hijacked their lives, games so absorbing you won’t notice the sun’s gone down. From the grand scale of Victoria 3 to the micromanagement madness of Football Manager, the crew discusses the games that pulled them in, held them hostage, and never let go.
Victoria 3: The Numbers That Hook You
The episode kicks off with a deep dive into the Paradox beast that is Victoria 3. Tim and Adam admit to losing countless hours to the game while Joe shares his obsession with playing underdog nations like Japan, Belgium, Haiti, and Ethiopia. The team agrees: the real hook isn’t conquest. It’s the numbers. Watching the big numbers go up becomes an addictive cycle. The crew discusses the multiplayer aspect, historical quirks, and the emergent chaos that unfolds when players start colonizing random regions, dragging each other into global conflicts. Tim even shares the ‘Outlaw Prince’ trick with Ethiopia—a clever power hack for regular players. They also talk about how the game has improved post-launch and how mods like Anbennar (a fantasy-based mod) or a Byzantine Greece playthrough have extended the game's life.
Distant Worlds: Universe – The Most Complicated Game You’ll Never Finish
Tim takes over to discuss Distant Worlds: Universe, a game that’s both complex and opaque but deeply rewarding once it clicks. The game’s staggering scale includes micromanagement, ship design, automation, diplomacy, and research. Joe admits he’s installed the game multiple times, only to bounce off due to confusion, but Tim makes a case for how it’s one of the most flexible grand strategy experiences out there. You can automate everything but one system, focus on what interests you, and still build a functioning empire. The crew praises the game’s ability to let you scale your galaxy, roleplay your species, and create unique fleets with oddball tactics. However, they agree that Distant Worlds 2, while prettier in 3D, isn’t quite there yet in terms of features or performance. For now, the original remains the recommendation.
Football Manager – Spreadsheet Madness, with Heartbreak Built-In
The crew shifts to Football Manager and Joe makes a convincing case for it as a life-destroying masterpiece. Despite not being a football fan at first, Joe was drawn in by an old Reddit post about a player managing San Marino into greatness. From there, he was hooked. The conversation moves to tactics, scouting, journeyman careers, and the quiet agony of long-term planning. Joe explains how Football Manager teaches economics, resource management, and the joys of underdog stories. Tim and Adam quiz him on the game’s addictive nature, multiplayer appeal, and what makes it stand out from other strategy games. Joe insists it has multiplayer potential, especially for those who enjoy the slow progression arcs found in games where nothing explodes but everything is quietly falling apart behind the scenes.
Anno 1800 – Industry, Islands, and Inevitable Collapse
Tim wraps up the discussion with a love letter to Anno 1800, a city builder wrapped in a logistics simulator. Set in the same era as Victoria 3, it zooms in on the nitty-gritty of building homes, factories, ports, and trade routes across dozens of islands. Tim praises its beauty, detail, and how the game punishes you when your supply chain breaks down and your entire economy grinds to a halt. The group dives into the complexities of naval combat, wind mechanics, and pirate raids, which add pressure. The production chains in Anno 1800 force you to think several steps ahead and rewards players who embrace micromanagement without letting it overwhelm them.
One More Turn, One More Hour
This episode’s theme is clear: these games don’t ask for your time; they take it. But everyone here agrees they’re worth it. Each game offers a different kind of obsession. Victoria 3 hooks you with systemic storytelling. Distant Worlds traps you in a sandbox of infinite levers. Football Manager makes spreadsheets feel like stories. Anno 1800 dazzles with industry and beauty, right before everything collapses.
All of them are brilliant. All of them are dangerous. Proceed accordingly.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. Or find us on your preferred podcast service by searching Critical Moves Podcast.
Victoria 3: The Numbers That Hook YouThe episode kicks off with a deep dive into the Paradox beast that is Victoria 3. Tim and Adam admit to losing countless hours to the game while Joe shares his obsession with playing underdog nations like Japan, Belgium, Haiti, and Ethiopia. The team agrees: the real hook isn’t conquest. It’s the numbers. Watching the big numbers go up becomes an addictive cycle. The crew discusses the multiplayer aspect, historical quirks, and the emergent chaos that unfolds when players start colonizing random regions, dragging each other into global conflicts. Tim even shares the ‘Outlaw Prince’ trick with Ethiopia—a clever power hack for regular players. They also talk about how the game has improved post-launch and how mods like Anbennar (a fantasy-based mod) or a Byzantine Greece playthrough have extended the game's life.
Distant Worlds: Universe – The Most Complicated Game You’ll Never FinishTim takes over to discuss Distant Worlds: Universe, a game that’s both complex and opaque but deeply rewarding once it clicks. The game’s staggering scale includes micromanagement, ship design, automation, diplomacy, and research. Joe admits he’s installed the game multiple times, only to bounce off due to confusion, but Tim makes a case for how it’s one of the most flexible grand strategy experiences out there. You can automate everything but one system, focus on what interests you, and still build a functioning empire. The crew praises the game’s ability to let you scale your galaxy, roleplay your species, and create unique fleets with oddball tactics. However, they agree that Distant Worlds 2, while prettier in 3D, isn’t quite there yet in terms of features or performance. For now, the original remains the recommendation.
Football Manager – Spreadsheet Madness, with Heartbreak Built-InThe crew shifts to Football Manager and Joe makes a convincing case for it as a life-destroying masterpiece. Despite not being a football fan at first, Joe was drawn in by an old Reddit post about a player managing San Marino into greatness. From there, he was hooked. The conversation moves to tactics, scouting, journeyman careers, and the quiet agony of long-term planning. Joe explains how Football Manager teaches economics, resource management, and the joys of underdog stories. Tim and Adam quiz him on the game’s addictive nature, multiplayer appeal, and what makes it stand out from other strategy games. Joe insists it has multiplayer potential, especially for those who enjoy the slow progression arcs found in games where nothing explodes but everything is quietly falling apart behind the scenes.
Anno 1800 – Industry, Islands, and Inevitable CollapseTim wraps up the discussion with a love letter to Anno 1800, a city builder wrapped in a logistics simulator. Set in the same era as Victoria 3, it zooms in on the nitty-gritty of building homes, factories, ports, and trade routes across dozens of islands. Tim praises its beauty, detail, and how the game punishes you when your supply chain breaks down and your entire economy grinds to a halt. The group dives into the complexities of naval combat, wind mechanics, and pirate raids, which add pressure. The production chains in Anno 1800 force you to think several steps ahead and rewards players who embrace micromanagement without letting it overwhelm them.
One More Turn, One More HourThis episode’s theme is clear: these games don’t ask for your time; they take it. But everyone here agrees they’re worth it. Each game offers a different kind of obsession. Victoria 3 hooks you with systemic storytelling. Distant Worlds traps you in a sandbox of infinite levers. Football Manager makes spreadsheets feel like stories. Anno 1800 dazzles with industry and beauty, right before everything collapses.
All of them are brilliant. All of them are dangerous. Proceed accordingly.
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. Or find us on your preferred podcast service by searching Critical Moves Podcast.