If there was ever a strategy game that made you feel like you were doing something productive, Surviving Mars would be it, which is why it's one of our top winners. Paradox Interactive basically made a game where you can grow and shape the kind of thriving space colony you want on a planet we dream about turning into a new Earth. Putting together your colony from a simple research station to a fully-functional city is probably one of the greatest achievements you can have, especially after leveling up your tech trees to where you have a better quality of life on a dead planet than you would back home.

The best part of Surviving Mars is that you can take pride in the accomplishment of building something from nothing. Most games in the genre have you start with little and end up with everything, but it doesn't feel satisfying. This time around you actually feel like you achieved something great. And for that, this game deserves all the accolades it can possibly get and then some. Not to mention some of your time to check it out.

2nd: Total War: Thrones of Brittania

3rd: Battletech

The winners of these awards were voted on by the gaming staff of Bleeding Cool.