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Squirrel's Pick Squirrel's PickThe best game on this page. If you only try one, try this.
Age of Mythology: Retold
PC
RTSLore-RichBase-Building
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$29.99 ~63.2 hr median co-op complexity: moderate 90.4% of 23k
The Squirrel's verdictAge of Mythology: Retold shares the remake-of-a-classic-strategy-franchise angle and faction variety, but it's real-time strategy, not turn-based 4X. You get base building, unit combat, and mythological powers instead of hex movement and spellcasting empires. Unlike Master of Magic's launch state, this one sits at 90.4% positive with co-op support.
Not for you if you want turn-based empire and spell management rather than real-time base building and combat, or you're wary of DLC stacked on a premium edition
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Budget Pick Budget PickThe best game here for the least money.
Total War: ROME REMASTERED
PCMacLinux
Grand StrategyTurn-Based StrategyAction
$5.99 ~52.8 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 76.9% of 14k
The Squirrel's verdictLike Master of Magic, this is turn-based empire management on a strategic map with province and army upkeep. The difference is combat: Rome Remastered resolves battles with real-time tactical unit control instead of MoM's automated resolution. No magic system, no wizards — this is a historical Roman conquest game for players who wanted MoM's battles to be hands-on.
Not for you if you came to Master of Magic for spellcasting and wizard mechanics, or you can't tolerate a UI that reviewers call worse than the original 2004 release.
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Hidden Gem Hidden GemLoved by the players who found it, but still under the radar.
City BuilderComedy
$19.99 ~26.9 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 88.8% of 465
The Squirrel's verdictConstructor Plus is a tycoon-style city builder based on the 1997 original Constructor, adding missions, buildings, and music while keeping the era's tone and dark humor. At 26.9 median hours and Very Positive on Steam, it sits in a different genre entirely from Master of Magic — no factions, no spellcasting, no hex movement. Players who want a complete, well-reviewed classic-game revival in the city-builder space will find it here.
Not for you if you want turn-based fantasy empire building with wizard mechanics and hex combat rather than a tycoon-style city builder.
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Grand Strategy4XMedieval
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$29.99 ~30.1 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 83.4% of 3k
The Squirrel's verdictDistrict building and diplomacy management define Endless Legend 2's empire loop rather than spellcasting or wizard factions. It shares hex-based territory expansion and faction asymmetry with Master of Magic but routes AI difficulty through production, movement, and unit recruitment stat advantages. Released in early access in 2025, it sits at Very Positive with a median playtime of 30.1 hours and no co-op.
Not for you if you want a wizard-and-spellbook fantasy layer rather than district and diplomacy systems, or find AI stat-advantage difficulty spikes frustrating.
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4XRPGFantasy
$24.99 ~130.9 hr median no co-op complexity: heavy 86.1% of 339
The Squirrel's verdictDeity Empires shares Master of Magic's turn-based empire building, wizard-led factions, spellcasting, and hex-based tactical combat, adding a roguelike dungeon-crawling layer and heavier customization. Released 2018, Very Positive on Steam, median playtime 130.9 hours, no co-op, PC only. Built for players who want the same systems taken deeper rather than remade.
Not for you if you want offline play without periodic Steam reconnection, or find dense, unhurried turn-based systems tedious rather than absorbing.
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City BuilderColony SimEconomy
$22.99 ~38.6 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 74.9% of 5k
The Squirrel's verdictPharaoh: A New Era is a city-building logistics game centered on irrigation networks, walker systems, and monument construction in ancient Egypt. Army battles resolve automatically with no player input. Reviews note skipped mechanical details and army control complaints, but the core city-planning loop runs to a median of 38.6 hours. Players who prefer managing supply chains and population needs over faction warfare will find the familiar structure here.
Not for you if you want empire management, wizard combat, or any turn-based strategic layer rather than city logistics and automated battles.
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Closest Match Closest MatchThe most similar game to the anchor, by what players say.
City BuilderComedyViolent
$29.99 ~15.8 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 76.7% of 765
The Squirrel's verdictConstructor is a city-building sabotage sim where players manage tenants, sabotage rivals, and control housing plots in real time — no hex maps, no wizards, no empire building. At a median of 15.8 hours it runs shorter and more arcade-paced than Master of Magic's turn-based systems. Players who enjoy classic city management with a dark humor tone and don't need multiplayer will find the post-patch version a faithful tribute to the 1997 original.
Not for you if you want turn-based 4X empire building, spellcasting, or hex-based combat rather than real-time city sabotage.
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4XFantasyTurn-Based Strategy
Strong Mods Strong ModsA deep, active modding scene extends it past its base content.
$29.99 ~34.6 hr median no co-op complexity: moderate 73% of 482
The Squirrel's verdictElemental: Reforged compiles three prior Elemental titles into one package built around hex-based empire building, spellcasting wizards, heroes, and city management — the same design pillars as Master of Magic. It adds custom unit construction and hero advancement systems. Steam rating sits at Mostly Positive at 73.0%, with reviews split between bug complaints and praise for the depth of its turn-based systems at a median of 34.6 hours.
Not for you if you expect a polished, bug-free release rather than a compiled trilogy that reviewers still flag for crashes and broken UI elements.